Ulrich Neckel

Ulrich Neckel (23 January 1898 - 11 May 1928) Pour le Merite, Iron Cross First and Second Class, was a World War I fighter ace credited with 30 victories. cite web|url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/neckel.php|title=Ulrich Neckel|publisher=The Aerodrome|accessdate=2008-10-08] He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and enlisted after he turned 18. He served in an artillery regiment, but was then transferred to flying service. He discovered that he was quite versatile, and flew a multitude of planes, such as an Albatros, and a Fokker Dr.I.

He became a 'kanone', or a German ace after his 10th kill on 21 April, 1918. His Fokker had his personal insignia of white chevrons on his fuselage. Neckel died in Italy after a brief bout with tuberculosis.

Early Life and Enlistment

Ulrich Neckel was born in Gustrow, part of Mecklenburg, which is in northeastern Germany. It seems unlikely he enlisted before 1916, as German enlisted men had to be 18 years old to serve. He served originally in an artillery regiment on the Eastern Front before he transferred to flying service as an 'unteroffizer'. He was assigned to Prussian Jagdstaffeln 12 on 8 September 1917. This squadron was one of four in Jagdgeschwader II under command of ace Adolf Ritter von Tutschek. On the 21st, Neckel marked his first score, on a Sopwith Pup. A week later, the victim was an Airco D.H.5. A third win on 18 October closed out his year.cite book|last=VanWyngarden|first=Greg|title=Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader 'Berthold': Geschwader Berthold|publisher=Osprey Publishing|date=2005]

Flying in World War I

Neckel was privileged during his time with Jasta 12. He had a choice of personal airplanes to fly. Both an Albatros and a Fokker Dr.I triplane bore his personal insignia on white chevrons on the fuselage. Neckel didn't score again until 18 January 1918. He then began to steadily accumulate triumphs, with his fifth on 26 February. His next victory was over another ace, John McCudden. He scored his tenth on 21 April. This made him a 'kanone'--the German equivalent of an ace. By then, the twenty year old Neckel had been promoted from Vizfeldwebel (Sergeant) and commissioned Leutnant de Reserves (Lieutenant of Reserves). At about this time, he transferred to Prussian Jasta 13; an officer promoted from the ranks would be ripe for a fresh start.cite book|last=Van der Linden|first=F. Robert|title=Best of the National Air and Space Museum|publisher=Harper Collins|date=2006]

Neckel went scoreless in May. However, June 1918 was Neckel's greatest month, as he notched up another eight wins. He added two more in July. On 12 August, the day after his 21st win, Neckel was picked by JG II Commander Rudolf Berthold to provisionally command Jasta 19. The following day saw Neckel's greatest victory, as he downed 29 time winner Charles Dawson Booker. Booker died gallantly, fighting six to one odds to preserve the life of the rookie pilot with him. This was Neckel's 22nd victory.cite book|last=Vanwyngarden|first=Greg|coauthors=Harry Dempsey|title=Richthofen's Circus: Jagdgeschwader Nr 1|publisher=Osprey Publising|date=2004]

Neckel proved a satisfactory squadron commander. On 1 September, the much-traveled Neckel was posted to command Prussian Jasta 6 in the famed Flying Circus. Here he would finish the war, flying a Fokker D.VII with an ironic teddy bear perched atop his rear view mirror, tallying his final six victories. Number 30, scored on 6 November, would fetch him the Pour le Merite on the 8th. It was the penultimate Blue Max awarded in World War I.

Neckel was notable for his adaptability. In the space of a couple of years, he went directly from his artillery unit to flying fighter planes, without the usual intermediary experience flying reconnaissance craft. He served in four different squadrons, commanding two of them. He flew at least three differing types of fighters--the Albatros, the Fokker triplane, and the Fokker D.VII. In his 30 victories, he was responsible for at least a dozen deaths; yet the twenty-year-old ace sought out and shook hands with his final victim, Lieutenant Ben E. Brown.cite book|last=Guttman|first=John|title=SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War I|publisher=Osprey Publishing|date=2002]

Ulrich Neckel survived the war, only to succumb to tuberculosis while in Arco, Italy. He was buried in Berlin. He was barely 30 years old.

In the 1930s, Lufthansa named one of its Junkers 52 passenger airliners after Neckel.

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