Leutnant Walter Kypke (22 September 1893—6 June 1924) HOH, IC was an early military aviator in the predecessor to the Luftwaffe, the Luftstreitkräfte. This itinerant flying ace accumulated nine official aerial victories, which were scored in four of the seven flying units with which he served; the wins were spread over a three-year period. Kypke served for the entirety of World War I, rising to command during his final year of combat.[1]
Kypke volunteered for ground service at the start of World War I. In April 1915, he began pilot's training. During the remainder of 1915, he served in a couple of artillery cooperation units, first in FFA 2, then in FFA 57. In February 1916, as aerial combat came into being, Kypke transferred to an ad hoc unit formed for the new circumstances, KEK Avillers. In August, he scored his first aerial victory while the Fokker Scourge was beginning. He then had a fleeting assignment to Jasta 14, before moving on to Jasta 41. On 3 September 1917, he scored his second win, downing a Salmson over Rodern for Jasta 41's first victory. He followed that with a Sopwith 1½ Strutter over Colmar on the 16th. A month later, on 16 October 1917, he scored twice, shooting down enemy airplanes on mid-day and afternoon patrols, and became an ace. On 27 October, he was transferred to temporarily command another ad hoc unit, Kest 5. While leading them, he notched win number six by destroying a Nieuport over Hagenbach on 5 November 1917. He left this command on 6 December; on the day after Christmas, he assumed command as the Staffelführer of Jasta 47. Kypke would score three more times while leading this squadron from the front–a Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 on 12 April 1918 over Merris, another RE.8 on 25 May 1918, and a Spad on 16 July 1918.[1]
Deathedit
Walter Kypke survived World War I with the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and the First Class award of the Iron Cross. He was killed in an airplane crash on 6 June 1924 at Magdeburg.[1]
Endnotesedit
^ abcAbove the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. p. 152–153.
Referencesedit
Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN0-948817-73-9, ISBN978-0-948817-73-1.
walter, kypke, leutnant, september, 1893, june, 1924, early, military, aviator, predecessor, luftwaffe, luftstreitkräfte, this, itinerant, flying, accumulated, nine, official, aerial, victories, which, were, scored, four, seven, flying, units, with, which, ser. Leutnant Walter Kypke 22 September 1893 6 June 1924 HOH IC was an early military aviator in the predecessor to the Luftwaffe the Luftstreitkrafte This itinerant flying ace accumulated nine official aerial victories which were scored in four of the seven flying units with which he served the wins were spread over a three year period Kypke served for the entirety of World War I rising to command during his final year of combat 1 Born22 September 1893StettinDied6 June 1924 1924 06 06 aged 30 MagdeburgAllegianceGermanyService wbr branchAviationYears of service1914 1918RankLeutnantUnitFFA 2 FFA 57 KEK Avillers Jasta 14 Jasta 41Commands heldKest 5 Jasta 47AwardsKnight s Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Iron Cross First Class Contents 1 Military service 2 Death 3 Endnotes 4 References 5 External linksMilitary service editKypke volunteered for ground service at the start of World War I In April 1915 he began pilot s training During the remainder of 1915 he served in a couple of artillery cooperation units first in FFA 2 then in FFA 57 In February 1916 as aerial combat came into being Kypke transferred to an ad hoc unit formed for the new circumstances KEK Avillers In August he scored his first aerial victory while the Fokker Scourge was beginning He then had a fleeting assignment to Jasta 14 before moving on to Jasta 41 On 3 September 1917 he scored his second win downing a Salmson over Rodern for Jasta 41 s first victory He followed that with a Sopwith 1 Strutter over Colmar on the 16th A month later on 16 October 1917 he scored twice shooting down enemy airplanes on mid day and afternoon patrols and became an ace On 27 October he was transferred to temporarily command another ad hoc unit Kest 5 While leading them he notched win number six by destroying a Nieuport over Hagenbach on 5 November 1917 He left this command on 6 December on the day after Christmas he assumed command as the Staffelfuhrer of Jasta 47 Kypke would score three more times while leading this squadron from the front a Royal Aircraft Factory RE 8 on 12 April 1918 over Merris another RE 8 on 25 May 1918 and a Spad on 16 July 1918 1 Death editWalter Kypke survived World War I with the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and the First Class award of the Iron Cross He was killed in an airplane crash on 6 June 1924 at Magdeburg 1 Endnotes edit a b c Above the Lines The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 1918 p 152 153 References editAbove the Lines The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 1918 Norman L R Franks Frank W Bailey Russell Guest Grub Street 1993 ISBN 0 948817 73 9 ISBN 978 0 948817 73 1 External links edithttp www theaerodrome com aces germany kypke php has a detailed list of Kypke s victories It also has a photo showing that he was one of the rare aces known to have worn eyewear Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Kypke amp oldid 1189919368, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
