Karl Emil Schäfer (17 December 1891 – 5 June 1917) was a German pilot during World War I; he became one of the major German flying aces of the war, with 30 confirmed aerial victories.[1]
Schäfer was born in Krefeld and joined the Jäger Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 10 of the Prussian Army for his One-year volunteer military service. An engineering student who spoke fluent French and English, he was a fine draughtsman, and was studying in Paris when the war broke out, but managed to return to Germany and was assigned to the Reserve Jäger Bataillon 7 in Bückeburg. He won the Iron Cross 2nd class and was promoted to Vizefeldwebel during September 1914, before being badly wounded[2] and hospitalised for six months. After returning to the front line he was commissioned as Leutnant in May 1915.
Flying serviceedit
Requesting flying duties Schäfer trained as a pilot and served over the Eastern Front with Kampfgeschwader 2 from July 1916 onwards. He moved to the west and now flew with Kampfstaffel 11 of KG 2, where he gained his first victory. With just this single victory, he impudently telegraphed Manfred von Richthofen, who was assembling a "top gun" (kanone) squadron at Jasta 11, "Can you use me?" Richthofen replied, "You have already been requested."[citation needed]
Schäfer was then posted to Jasta 11 on 21 February 1917. In intensive operations during Bloody April he became a flying ace, being credited with 21 victories and awarded the Pour le Mérite. While a member of Jasta 11, "Karlchen" (Charlie) became known as the squadron's prankster and recorded many vivid incidents in combat and at play.[citation needed] He flew an Albatros D.III with red and black markings.[1] Somehow amidst all this he found time to pen his autobiography, Vom Jaeger zum Flieger ("From Soldier to Pilot").[citation needed]
Command and death in actionedit
Schäfer was then given command of Jasta 28 on 26 April, and after gaining further victories for a total of 30 claims, Schäfer was shot down and killed on 5 June 1917 in combat with No. 20 Squadron. An F.E.2d flown by Lt. Harold Satchell and observer Lt. Thomas Lewis disabled his plane, which broke apart in midair. Both men reported that the Albatros fell in flames. Max Ritter von Müller of Jasta 28 reported seeing it break up, but noted no fire. Photos of the wreckage show no scorching and the wings still attached to the aircraft.[3] His Jasta 28 comrades recovered Schäfer's body, noting that it had no bullet wounds, but that every bone in his body had been broken.[citation needed]
With 29 of his victories flying the Albatros D.III, he was one of the most successful pilots in the type.[citation needed]
^"Karl Emil Schäfer". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
Bibliography
Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W. & Guest, Russell F. (1993). Above The Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service, and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN978-0-948817-73-1.
Guttman, Jon (2009). Pusher Aces of World War I. illustrated by Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-84603-417-6.
External linksedit
IWM Interview with Harold Satchell
January 01, 1970
karl, emil, schäfer, december, 1891, june, 1917, german, pilot, during, world, became, major, german, flying, aces, with, confirmed, aerial, victories, emil, schäfernickname, karlchen, charlie, born, 1891, december, 1891krefeld, germanydied5, june, 1917, 1917,. Karl Emil Schafer 17 December 1891 5 June 1917 was a German pilot during World War I he became one of the major German flying aces of the war with 30 confirmed aerial victories 1 Emil SchaferNickname s Karlchen Charlie Born 1891 12 17 17 December 1891Krefeld GermanyDied5 June 1917 1917 06 05 aged 25 Becelaere Zandvoorde BelgiumAllegianceGerman EmpireService wbr branchLuftstreitkrafteYears of service1914 1917RankLeutnantUnit10th Jager Regiment 7th Jager Reserve Regiment Kampfgeschwader 2 Kampfstaffel 11 Jagdstaffel 11Commands heldJagdstaffel 28Battles warsWorld War I Eastern Front Western FrontAwardsPour le MeriteIron Cross First amp Second ClassKnight s Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Wound Badge Contents 1 Early life and infantry service 2 Flying service 3 Command and death in action 4 Combat record 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and infantry service editSchafer was born in Krefeld and joined the Jager Regiment zu Pferde Nr 10 of the Prussian Army for his One year volunteer military service An engineering student who spoke fluent French and English he was a fine draughtsman and was studying in Paris when the war broke out but managed to return to Germany and was assigned to the Reserve Jager Bataillon 7 in Buckeburg He won the Iron Cross 2nd class and was promoted to Vizefeldwebel during September 1914 before being badly wounded 2 and hospitalised for six months After returning to the front line he was commissioned as Leutnant in May 1915 Flying service editRequesting flying duties Schafer trained as a pilot and served over the Eastern Front with Kampfgeschwader 2 from July 1916 onwards He moved to the west and now flew with Kampfstaffel 11 of KG 2 where he gained his first victory With just this single victory he impudently telegraphed Manfred von Richthofen who was assembling a top gun kanone squadron at Jasta 11 Can you use me Richthofen replied You have already been requested citation needed Schafer was then posted to Jasta 11 on 21 February 1917 In intensive operations during Bloody April he became a flying ace being credited with 21 victories and awarded the Pour le Merite While a member of Jasta 11 Karlchen Charlie became known as the squadron s prankster and recorded many vivid incidents in combat and at play citation needed He flew an Albatros D III with red and black markings 1 Somehow amidst all this he found time to pen his autobiography Vom Jaeger zum Flieger From Soldier to Pilot citation needed Command and death in action editSchafer was then given command of Jasta 28 on 26 April and after gaining further victories for a total of 30 claims Schafer was shot down and killed on 5 June 1917 in combat with No 20 Squadron An F E 2d flown by Lt Harold Satchell and observer Lt Thomas Lewis disabled his plane which broke apart in midair Both men reported that the Albatros fell in flames Max Ritter von Muller of Jasta 28 reported seeing it break up but noted no fire Photos of the wreckage show no scorching and the wings still attached to the aircraft 3 His Jasta 28 comrades recovered Schafer s body noting that it had no bullet wounds but that every bone in his body had been broken citation needed With 29 of his victories flying the Albatros D III he was one of the most successful pilots in the type citation needed Combat record editList of aerial victories 4 No Date time Unit Aircraft Foe Location 1 22 January 1917 Jasta 11 Albatros D II Caudron West of Pont a Mousson 2 4 March 1917 1150 Jasta 11 Albatros D III Sopwith 1 Strutter A1109 South west of Haisnes u c 4 March 1917 Jasta 11 DH 2 or F E 8 Near Lens u c 4 March 1917 Jasta 11 DH 2 or F E 8 Near Bethune 3 6 March 1917 1145 Jasta 11 Sopwith 1 Strutter A978 Lens 4 6 March 1917 1155 Jasta 11 Sopwith 1 Strutter Lens 5 9 March 1917 1120 Jasta 11 F E 8 6397 Faschoda 6 9 March 1917 1122 Jasta 11 F E 8 4874 Pont a Vendin 7 11 March 1917 1120 Jasta 11 B E 2c 6232 Loosbogen 8 24 March 1917 0900 Jasta 11 Sopwith 1 Strutter Anzin near Arras 9 3 April 1917 1620 Jasta 11 F E 2d 6371 South of Lens 10 6 April 1917 1020 Jasta 11 B E 2 Givenchy 11 6 April 1917 1037 Jasta 11 B E 2 West of Vimy 12 7 April 1917 1745 Jasta 11 Nieuport 23 Mecatal 13 8 April 1917 1440 Jasta 11 DH 4 Epinoy 14 9 April 1917 1900 Jasta 11 B E 2d 5742 Aise Roulette 15 11 April 1917 0910 Jasta 11 Bristol F 2A A3318 Fampoux 16 11 April 1917 1250 Jasta 11 B E 2e Arras 17 13 April 1917 1830 Jasta 11 F E 2b A6372 Le Point du Jour 18 14 April 1917 1705 Jasta 11 F E 2b 4877 Lievin Eleu 19 14 April 1917 1720 Jasta 11 B E or Bristol F 2a La Coulette 20 21 April 1917 1745 Jasta 11 Nieuport Scout A6797 East of Fresnes 21 22 April 1917 2020 Jasta 11 F E 2b North west of Moncy Tilloy 22 25 April 1917 1040 Jasta 11 F E 2b A837 Bailleul 23 25 April 1917 2030 Jasta 11 Bristol F 2a A3352 Bahnhoff Roeux 24 1 May 1917 1240 Jasta 28 Farman Diksmuide 25 1 May 1917 1300 Jasta 28 Nieuport Scout East of Poperinge 26 9 May 1917 1900 Jasta 28 Sopwith 1 Strutter Warneton 27 18 May 1917 1110 Jasta 28 F E 2d Hollebeke 28 23 May 1917 1615 Jasta 28 F E 2d Warenton 29 23 May 1917 1845 Jasta 28 Sopwith Pup Wytschaetebogen 30 4 June 1917 1410 Jasta 28 D H 4 A7420 MoorsledeSee also editList of World War I aces credited with 20 or more victories Aerial victory standards of World War IReferences editCitations a b Guttman 2009 p 81 German Casualty Rolls Prussian Roll Nr 61 of October 27 1914 p 1884 Guttman 2009 pp 80 82 Karl Emil Schafer The Aerodrome 2015 Retrieved 10 May 2015 Bibliography Franks Norman Bailey Frank W amp Guest Russell F 1993 Above The Lines The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 1918 London UK Grub Street ISBN 978 0 948817 73 1 Guttman Jon 2009 Pusher Aces of World War I illustrated by Harry Dempsey Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84603 417 6 External links editIWM Interview with Harold Satchell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karl Emil Schafer amp 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