Hans Gottfried von Häbler
| Hans Gottfried von Häbler | |
|---|---|
| Born |
17 May 1893 Gross Schonau, German Empire (present day Velký Šenov, Czech Republic) |
| Died |
23 March 1918 Vicinity of Bapaume, France |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/branch | Infantry; aviation |
| Years of service | 1913 - 1918 |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | Infantry; FA(A) 273, Jagdstaffel 36 |
| Awards | Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross |
Leutnant Hans Gottfried von Häbler was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1]
On 17 May 1893, Hans Gottfried von Häbler was born in Gross Schonau, the German Empire; subsequent changes in national boundaries mean that it is now Velký Šenov, the Czech Republic.[2]
He enlisted in one of the Kingdom of Saxony's Guard Regiments on 1 October 1913. He served with the infantry for the first two years of World War I before volunteering for aviation duty in the Autumn of 1916. He trained at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 9 before going operational with Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) Flier Detachment (Artillery) 273.[2]
Häbler received further training on single-seat fighters at Jastaschule 1, then joined Jagdstaffel 36 on 30 September 1917. He scored his first aerial victory on 7 October 1917; on 18 March 1918, he scored his eighth confirmed victory. On 22 March, while flying Fokker Triplane number 509/17, he engaged and bested a Sopwith Camel over Metz-en-Couture, though the victory went unconfirmed. He was subsequently hit by anti-aircraft fire. His triplane fell virtually undamaged behind British lines. Hans Gottfried von Häbler died of his wounds the following day while in British captivity.[2]
Honors and awards
- Iron Cross both classes
- Kingdom of Saxony's Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Saint Henry: Awarded 2 October 1917
- Saxony's Order of Albert
- Saxony's War Merit Cross
- Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern[2]
Sources of information
References
- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. 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.