Karl Bolle

Rittmeister Karl Bolle, (20 June 1893 - 9 October 1955), Pour le Merite, Military Merit Cross, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Iron Cross, was a fighter ace with 36 victories during World War I. He became a squadron leader during that war, and an advisor to the Luftwaffe during World War II.

His Life Before Flying

Karl Bolle was born in Berlin, to a family owning a well-known dairy. He was studying economics at Oxford University in 1912. He returned home to Germany to enlist as a leutnant (lieutenant) in the 7th von Seydlitz "Kurassier" (cavalry) Regiment. This regiment entered battle on the Western Front, to fight in Belgium and the First Battle of the Marne. It was then transferred to the Eastern Front to fight in Russian held Poland. By the end of 1915, Bolle had won an award for bravery, the Iron Cross, Second Class. He then transferred to the "Luftstreitkräfte" in February, 1916.

Aerial Service in World War I

There are two differing accounts of where Bolle received pilot's training. One says he undertook his training at Johannistal, then was forwarded to FEA 5 in Hannover, Germany. The other insists he trained at Valenciennes, France. It is congruent with German policy of the time that he could have trained preliminarily in Germany and polished up in France.

At any rate, upon completion, he was assigned to the bombing group Kagohl IV in July, 1916. Bolle was wounded in October, 1916. He was set upon by five French fighters. He managed to crashland within friendly lines and ignored his own injury to drag his injured observer safely out of the shellfire directed at their downed aircraft.

Upon his recovery, he had been moved to Kampstaffel 23; Lothar von Richthofen was assigned as his observer/gunner. It was about this time that Bolle was awarded the 2nd Class Knight's Cross of the Friedrich Order.

Bolle went to Jastaschule (fighter pilot's training) in early 1917. In July, he was assigned to Jasta 28. He began his success as an ace with a victory over a DeHavilland 4 on 8 August 1917. He scored again in August, took a break, and returned with wins in December, 1917 and January, 1918 that made him an ace by 30 January.

He was then promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) and transferred to command of Jasta 2 at Marcke, France. This was the squadron that Oswald Boelcke had commanded as he invented the first fighter tactics, strategy, and organization. It was being re-equipped with Fokker Dr.I triplanes, even as it was being incorporated into a fighter wing dubbed Jagdstaffel 3. It was a dispirited squadron, having had three consecutive Pour le Merite winners as commander, and having lost all three killed in action. Bolle was destined to be Jasta 2's final commander.

Despite seemingly modest credentials, Bolle set his mark upon his squadron. The Fokker Dr.I supplied to his squadron was a plane of limited speed but great maneuverability and climb rate. Its slower speed made it more difficult to close to short distance for gunnery against faster fighters. Bolle's solution was the use of an Oigee telescopic sight for his guns. He also painted distinctive white stripes on his upper wings, to denote his leadership role, along with a yellow fuselage band edged by black and white to honor his old cavalry regiment.

He opened his tally of triumphs with Jasta 2 on 25 April 1918, as part of a huge air offensive launched to support ground assault on Kemmel Ridge. He then began a steady collection of of single and double wins, with five victories in May, seven in June, nine in July, and three in August.

In August, 1918, when he had scored 28 victories, he received the Pour le Merite (commonly known as the Blue Max), the Military Merit Cross, and the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.

He didn't score again until 1 November. On 4 November, he closed out his career as an ace with his finest performance, downing four British fighters.

His final score of 36 victories included a preponderance of wins over enemy fighters; he downed 25. The other 11 victories were 11 two seater reconnaissance, ground attack, and bomber aircraft. More importantly, he was one of the commanders who led Jasta 2 to the second highest victory total in the German Air Force, with 336 wins total by his Jasta.

Post World War I

After war's end, he became a flying instructor. He also became the Director of the German Transportation School in the 1920s.

During World War II, he served as an advisor to the Luftwaffe.

Karl Bolle died in his native city of Berlin.

References/Outside Links

* http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/bolle.php Accessed 14 September 2008.

* http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCrassier-Regiment_%E2%80%9Evon_Seydlitz%E2%80%9C_(Magdeburgisches)_Nr._7 Accessed 14 September 2008. Translated from German to English via Google.

* http://web387.basicbox7.server-home.net/KaSta/kasta.htm Accessed 14 September 2008. Translated from German to English via Google.

* Norman Franks, et. al. "Fokker Dr.I Aces of World War I". 2001, Osprey Publishing.

* Greg VanWyngarten, et al. "Jagdstaffel 2 Boelcke". 2007, Osprey Publishing.