Otto Esswein

Otto Esswein
Otto Esswein
Born 3 March 1890
Walbinges, Kingdom of Württemberg
Died 21 July 1918
Vicinity of Hartennes-et-Taux
Allegiance Germany
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Offizierstellvertreter
Unit Jasta 26
Awards Military Merit Cross, Iron Cross First and Second Class, Württemberg Military Medal in Gold and Silver

Offizierstellvertreter Otto Esswein was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories. [1][2]

Esswein transferred from ground service to aviation in mid-1915. On 30 October 1917, he was assigned to Jasta 26. He scored his first victory, shooting down a Sopwith Camel on 15 November.[3] He was then slightly wounded in the right eye on the 27th.[4]

When he returned to the squadron in early 1918, a new Fokker Dr.I triplane awaited him. He used it to shoot down another Camel on 2 February, three more the next day, and two more British fighters on the 5th. By 26 March 1918, he was an Überkanone with ten victories. On 31 May, he rounded off his tally at a dozen with his two last victories.[5] He was awarded the Military Merit Cross on 3 June 1918 to join his Iron Crosses; then he was awarded his home kingdom's Württemberg Military Medal in Gold and Silver. On 16 July, in one of the pioneer usages of a parachute, he successfully bailed out of his burning plane. Five days later, he was not so lucky; he was killed in action.[6]

Sources of information

  1. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918. p. 105. 
  2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/esswein.php Retrieved on 14 April 2010.
  3. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/esswein.php Retrieved on 14 April 2010.
  4. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918. pp. 105–106. 
  5. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/esswein.php Retrieved on 14 April 2010.
  6. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918. pp. 105–106. 

Reference

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, et al. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0948817739, 9780948817731.


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