| Walter Göttsch | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 June 1896 Altona, Hamburg, Germany |
| Died | 10 April 1918 Bois Gentelles |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Years of service | 1915–1918 |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | FA 33, Jasta 8 |
| Commands held | Jasta 19 |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross |
Leutnant Walter Göttsch was a German World War I flying ace credited with 20 aerial victories.[1]
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Walter Göttsch volunteered for the German army on 1 July 1915. He was originally assigned to FA 33 to fly artillery cooperation missions in Flanders.[2]
After training as a fighter pilot,[1] he was assigned to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 8 on 10 September 1916. On 4 November 1916, he destroyed a Belgian observation balloon for his first victory.[2] He then scored twice more before winning a momentous dogfight on 7 January 1917; his opponent that day was Thomas Mottershead, who won a posthumous Victoria Cross. Göttsch won a double victory on 1 February, but then was shot down and wounded in action for the first time two days later.[1]
Because of his wounding, he would not score again until 6 April 1917. By 5 May, he had doubled his victory total to twelve. He was once again downed by the observer of a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d on 29 June. After this wounding, he did not win again until 17 July 1917. By 16 September, he had pushed his tally to 17, downing a Sopwith Camel that day. On 25 September, he fell under the guns of a Bristol F.2 Fighter, wounded once again. He returned to duty, but had no luck, being wounded for the fourth time on 25 November 1917[1] by James Dennis Payne.[3]
Göttsch would not return to action until January 1918. On 14 February, he was given command of Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 19.[2] The new Staffelfuhrer would score only twice before his end, with back to back triumphs on 31 March and 1 April.[1]
Göttsch was killed in action on 10 April 1918, apparently by return fire from the observer in his final victim, although German accounts also claim he was hit by ground fire. His Fokker Dr.I triplane,[4] marked with a swastika,[2] fell behind British lines and was salvaged.[4]