Fritz Anders

Leutnant Fritz Gerhard Anders was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He was the world's first night fighter ace^[1]

Early life

Fritz Gerhard Anders was born in Cottbus on 23 August 1889.^[2] He was a prewar pilot, gaining pilot's license 592 on 12 November 1912.^[3]

World War I service

Anders began his aerial service for the First World War as a pilot in Schutzstaffel (Protection Squadron) 8. He would serve with this early fighter-bomber unit until he was transferred to a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 34 in March 1917. On 14 April 1917, he was wounded in action; he returned to duty ten days later. On 2 June 1917, he transferred to Jagdstaffel 4. He scored his initial aerial victory on 7 July 1917, when he downed a Sopwith Pup from Nine Naval Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service.^[3]

On 20 February 1918, Anders was appointed as Staffelführer to command Jagdstaffel 73. He scored his second victory on 14 June 1918, downing a SPAD, possibly flying a Fokker Triplane. Then, flying with his squadron's pioneering nightfighting detail, Anders ran off a string of five aerial victories at night between 20 August and 25 September 1918^[3] to become history's first nightfighter ace. On 13 October 1918, Anders was transferred to Jastaschule II, a school for fighter pilots.^[3]

During the war, Anders earned both classes of the Iron Cross.^[3]

Post World War I

Fritz Gerhard Anders died on 8 November 1919.

References

• Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.

Endnotes