Kagher Neiber-Shieg

Kagher Neiber-Shieg (February 5, 1897 – 1910s) was a Canadian-born German fighter ace.

Birth and early life

Neiber-Shieg was born to a German family in downtown Ottawa. His father worked in an industrial plant, while his mother lived at home. For three years, 1912-1915, he attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute, where he was abused because of his German parentage. He then conspired to escape to Germany.

Escape

In mid-November 1915, Neiber-Shieg sneaked aboard a transport ship carrying Canadian soldiers to the front in World War I. He posed as a deck hand, and upon arrival in England, pretended to be a physician's helper. He sneaked across No man's land and came upon German lines. He then joined the Imperial German Army Air Service and was highly successful.

Life in the Air Force

Neiber-Shieg, upon graduation from the Air Academy, was a very successful pilot. On his first tour, he shot down an amazing 6 aircraft, destroyed 8 on the ground, and had 3 probable shot downs. However, his victory was short-lived, when one day, while returning to his base, his plane was clipped by a bird. Though this did not damage the plane in anyway, it surprised Neiber-Shieg, who immediately pulled his plane into a dive. This was unwise, as he was only 30 feet above the ground. Neiber-Shieg was instantly killed as his plane exploded into the country side. He is buried in Amiens, France.

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