Hans Bethge (1890-1918) was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 20 confirmed aerial victories. He scored his first three aerial victories as a member of Germany's first dedicated fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 1. On 14 January 1917, he was posted to command of a forming squadron, Jagdstaffel 30. He would score 17 more victories while in their lead. His 20th victory, a week before his death on 17 March 1918, qualified him for Germany's highest military honor, the Pour le Merite, or Blue Max, but his death in action scotched the award.[1][2]
The victory list
editHans Bethge's victories are reported in chronological order, which is not necessarily the order or dates the victories were confirmed by headquarters.
| No. | Date | Time | Foe | Unit | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 August 1916 | 1205 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c | No. 15 Squadron RFC | South of Auchonvillers, France |
| 2 | 31 August 1916 | 0815 hours | Martinsyde G.100 | No. 27 Squadron RFC | Fins, France |
| Unconfirmed | 20 December 1916 | Enemy airplane | |||
| 3 | 26 December 1916 | 1210 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2d | Beugny, France | |
| 4 | 28 March 1917 | 1024 hours | Nieuport Scout | No. 1 Squadron RFC | Roubaix, France |
| 5 | 6 April 1917 | 1048 hours | Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter | No. 45 Squadron RFC | Vicinity of Tournai, Belgium |
| 6 | 25 May 1917 | 2055 hours | Nieuport Scout | Vicinity of Douai, France | |
| 7 | 1 June 1917 | 2130 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory FE.8 | No. 41 Squadron RFC | Warneton |
| 8 | 5 June 1917 | 1245 hours | SPAD | Frelinghen | |
| 9 | 15 July 1917 | 2110 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 8 Naval Squadron RNAS | BetweenLoison, France and Harnes, France |
| 10 | 20 July 1917 | 2130 hours | Sopwith Pup | Diernacourt | |
| 11 | 15 August 1917 | 2045 hours | Nieuport | West of Annay, France | |
| 12 and 13 | 17 August 1917 | 1905 hours | Two Sopwith Camels collided | No. 8 Naval Squadron RNAS | Wingles, France |
| 14 | 21 August 1917 | 0805 hours | Martinsyde G.100 | Seclin, France | |
| 15 | 4 September 1917 | 1945 hours | Bristol F.2 Fighter | La Bassée, France | |
| 16 | 4 September 1917 | 1950 hours | Bristol F.2 Fighter | La Bassée, France | |
| 17 | 18 September 1917 | 1035 hours | Airco DH.5 | No. 41 Squadron RFC | Viz-en-Artois |
| 18 | 31 October 1917 | 1310 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 | Blouvain | |
| 19 | 19 February 1918 | 1405 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 80 Squadron RFC | North of Lorgies, France |
| 20 | 10 March 1918 | 1210 hours | Airco DH.4 | No. 18 Squadron RFC | Allennes, France[1][2] |
Abbreviations were expanded by the editor creating this list.
Citations
edit- ^ a b Franks, Bailey & Guest 1993, p. 73.
- ^ a b The Aerodrome webpage on Hans Bethge
Sources
edit- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank; Guest, Russell (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 Publishing. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.