Oberleutnant Franz Rudorfer (1897-1919) was an Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with eleven confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories.[1]
Rudorfer had volunteered for service before World War I began.[3] He was posted to Infanterieregiment No. 59 as a new leutnant in August 1916. In May 1917, he requested transfer to aviation. His first posting after observer training at Wiener-Neustadt was Flik 19J on the Italian front, under the command of Adolf Heyrowsky. Here he scored his first victory, becoming a balloon buster on 15 November 1917. It was also during his Flik 19J assignment that Rudorfer began to teach himself to fly.[1][3] He would become a pilot without undergoing formal training.[2]
In April 1918, he was posted to Flik 51J to fly Albatros D.III fighters.[1] Between 17 April and 27 October 1918, he reeled off confirmed victories over eight enemy airplanes and two more observation balloons, along with two unconfirmed.[3] During the crucial Battle of Vittorio Veneto, Rudorfer was one of the few Austro-Hungarians flying, bringing down a balloon on 24 October, and a couple of Sopwith Camels on the 27th. He would score no more victories before the war ended on 11 November 1918.[1]
Postwar careeredit
On 30 December 1918, Franz Rudorfer received Austrian Pilot's Certificate No. 2647.
Franz Rudorfer died of unknown causes on 13 November 1919.
Notesedit
Flik = Fliegerkompanie, a basic Air Force unit of Squadron size though was often understaffed numbering on average 8 pilots. [4]
Flik with'J' = 'J' denoted Jagdfliegerkompanie which was composed of dedicated Fighter aircraft.[4]
Flik with 'F' = 'F' Fernaufklärerkompanie was the designation for a Long Range Reconnaissance unit such as Flik 47F. [4]
Sources of informationedit
^ abcdAustro-Hungarian Aces of World War 1. pp. 78–79.
^ abAbove the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918: Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series: Volume 4 of Air Aces of WWI, p. 198.
^ abcThe Aerodrome website [1] Retrieved on 5 April 2010.
^ abcAir aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, 1914-1918, p. 258.
Referencesedit
Chant, Christopher (2002). Austro-Hungarian Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-84176-376-7.
Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914–1918. Grub Street. ISBN978-1898697565.
O'Connor, Martin (1994). Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914 - 1918. Flying Machines Press. ISBN978-0-9637110-1-4.
Герої українського неба - пілоти визвольної війни 1917-1920 рр. Ярослав Тинченко. Темпора, 2010. ISBN978-966-8201-94-3.
April 12, 2024
franz, rudorfer, oberleutnant, 1897, 1919, austro, hungarian, world, flying, credited, with, eleven, confirmed, unconfirmed, aerial, victories, jpgborn29, july, 1897vienna, austriadied19, november, 1919allegianceaustro, hungarian, empireservice, branchinfantry. Oberleutnant Franz Rudorfer 1897 1919 was an Austro Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with eleven confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories 1 Franz RudorferFranz Rudorfer jpgBorn29 July 1897Vienna AustriaDied19 November 1919AllegianceAustro Hungarian EmpireService wbr branchInfantry aviationYears of service1914 1919RankOberleutnantUnitFlik 19D Flik 51JAwardsOrder of the Iron Crown Military Merit CrossOther workPioneered European civil aviation Contents 1 Early life 2 World War I 3 Postwar career 4 Notes 5 Sources of information 6 ReferencesEarly life editFranz Rudorfer was born on 29 July 1897 in Vienna Austria when it was still part of the Austro Hungarian Empire 2 World War I editRudorfer had volunteered for service before World War I began 3 He was posted to Infanterieregiment No 59 as a new leutnant in August 1916 In May 1917 he requested transfer to aviation His first posting after observer training at Wiener Neustadt was Flik 19J on the Italian front under the command of Adolf Heyrowsky Here he scored his first victory becoming a balloon buster on 15 November 1917 It was also during his Flik 19J assignment that Rudorfer began to teach himself to fly 1 3 He would become a pilot without undergoing formal training 2 In April 1918 he was posted to Flik 51J to fly Albatros D III fighters 1 Between 17 April and 27 October 1918 he reeled off confirmed victories over eight enemy airplanes and two more observation balloons along with two unconfirmed 3 During the crucial Battle of Vittorio Veneto Rudorfer was one of the few Austro Hungarians flying bringing down a balloon on 24 October and a couple of Sopwith Camels on the 27th He would score no more victories before the war ended on 11 November 1918 1 Postwar career editOn 30 December 1918 Franz Rudorfer received Austrian Pilot s Certificate No 2647 Franz Rudorfer died of unknown causes on 13 November 1919 Notes editFlik Fliegerkompanie a basic Air Force unit of Squadron size though was often understaffed numbering on average 8 pilots 4 Flik with J J denoted Jagdfliegerkompanie which was composed of dedicated Fighter aircraft 4 Flik with F F Fernaufklarerkompanie was the designation for a Long Range Reconnaissance unit such as Flik 47F 4 Sources of information edit a b c d Austro Hungarian Aces of World War 1 pp 78 79 a b Above the War Fronts The British Two seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces the British Two seater Fighter Observer Aces and the Belgian Italian Austro Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces 1914 1918 Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series Volume 4 of Air Aces of WWI p 198 a b c The Aerodrome website 1 Retrieved on 5 April 2010 a b c Air aces of the Austro Hungarian Empire 1914 1918 p 258 References editChant Christopher 2002 Austro Hungarian Aces of World War 1 Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 376 7 Franks Norman Guest Russell Alegi Gregory 1997 Above the War Fronts The British Two seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces the British Two seater Fighter Observer Aces and the Belgian Italian Austro Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces 1914 1918 Grub Street ISBN 978 1898697565 O Connor Martin 1994 Air Aces of the Austro Hungarian Empire 1914 1918 Flying Machines Press ISBN 978 0 9637110 1 4 Geroyi ukrayinskogo neba piloti vizvolnoyi vijni 1917 1920 rr Yaroslav Tinchenko Tempora 2010 ISBN 978 966 8201 94 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franz Rudorfer amp oldid 1190633219, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
