Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Ding, ding, ding!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner. Although Switzerland was not a combatant, Nathanael served with the German Air Force and scored 15 victories. The top Swiss ace, he is almost unknown today. You're up, SimonCraig1. Please post your question. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) Although he was the top ace from his country, in his conflict, he still remains almost an unknown today.

(2) Quite old for a fighter pilot; perhaps particularly so in his time and place.

(3) Flew a very well known type of aircraft; one almost ubiquitous in its day.

(4) He was the first pilot to shoot down another very well known aircraft.

(5) He was shot down and killed by another ace; an Irish ace.

(6) His aircraft burst into flames and lost its wings before crashing.

(7) The reason his name is almost unknown, despite being his country’s highest scoring ace, is pretty easy to understand, once all the facts are known.

(8) The ace who shot him down was flying a SPAD.

(9) The aircraft in (3) was an Albatross.

(10) The aircraft in (4) was an SE-5.

(11) His country was not a belligerent.



Answer: WWI Swiss Ace Edmund Nathanael



Born 18 December, 1889 in Dielsdorf
Flew with FFA 42, Jasta 5 and 22
15 victories
Killed in action 11 May, 1917 near Bourlon Wood
After serving with FFA 42, Nathanael was assigned to Jasta 22 in late 1916. In March 1917, he was reassigned to Jasta 5. Scoring his 14th victory on 30 April 1917, he was the first pilot to shoot down an S.E.5. Five days after scoring his 15th victory, Nathanael was killed in action during a fight with the SPADs of 23 Squadron. Shot down by Irish ace William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, Nathanael's Albatros burst into flames and lost its wings before it crashed.