1914 - 1918
| Parachute use in World War I |
1914 - 1918 |
| Prior to the Great War the use of parachutes was seen as foolhardy and undertaken only by showmen and women to thrill crowds of voyeuristic spectators. Cavalry units were the main reconnaissance and observers of enemy positions who then reported back to enable artillery to accurately engage enemy positions. The war of 1914 was to change this role. It was the advent of artillery with greater ranges and the ability of aerial machines to rise high enough to observe and report back more comprehensively the layout of the unfolding battle that changed this aspect of warfare. Observation of the enemy from a stable platform was achieved by the use of tethered observation balloons carrying beneath them a wicker basket occupied by observers. The very stability and static nature of the balloons rendered them as a tempting target for enemy aircraft and the method of winching down a balloon by its ground crew was not always fast enough to ensure a safe descent and saving of its occupant. To secure the safety of the observers parachutes were used as "life-savers". They were attached to the balloon rigging and all the observer had to do in theory was to jump out and his falling mass would snatch the parachute from its container and the parachute would open. As the war continued the use of the parachute became an accepted and trusted method to save lives. No such device was considered appropriate for aviators and crews to fixed wing aircraft. | |
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Aeronauts
- Observers who parachuted from Balloons Only balloon claims and information that indicate the observers used their parachutes are included in this listing. Not every balloon downed was destroyed, neither did the observers of every balloon that was downed take to their parachutes. Many who used their parachutes successfully did not survive.
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| Date | Air Service | Balloon & Unit | Parachute descent by | Location | Cause of descent |
| 16th August 1916 | British | No.1 Army Kite Balloon | Lt. Moxon | Aucheux Road behind Beaumont Hamel | Balloon broke free - heading for enemy lines. Both observers jumped. Captain Radford (Basil Hallam - "Glibert the Filbert") was KIA when his parachute failed to open - possibly harness problem. |
| 10th January 1917 15:40h | British | 2-5-2 (f.25) 2nd Balloon Wing |
2nd Lt. Gavin 2nd Lt. Whitlock |
Ypres | Shot down by Uffz Kürner |
| 14th February 1917 | French | 85o Cie Aerostatieres | Adj. Jean-Marie Dunand | Gironville | Shot down by Ltn. Lothar Rehm. Observer slightly wounded in attack but still fired upon his attacker. |
| 1st March 1917 17:15h | British | 14-4-4 (FM.72D) 4th Balloon Wing |
Lt. G. K. Simpson A/M G. Chesson |
West of Frise | Shot down by Ltn. Renatus Theiller. Balloon flamed and fell on Lt. Simpson who later died of his severe wounds. |
| 16th March 1917 | French | 58o Cie Aerostatieres | Marechal-des-Logis Berger | Souilly -Verdun | Shot down either by Vzfw. Manschott or Obltn. von Bonsart |
| 16th March 1917 | French | 78o Cie Aerostatieres | Marechal-des-Logis Bes | Souilly - Verdun | Shot down either by Vzfw. Manschott or Obltn. von Bonsart. Balloon flamed and fell on Marechal-des-Logis Bes killing him during his descent |
| 16th March 1917 09:30h | French |
36o Cie Aerostatieres |
Adj. Andre Bry | Moiremont | Shot down by Ltn. Wilhelm Allemenroder |
| 28th March 1917 | French | 58o Cie Aerostatieres | Lieutenant Staehle | Belleville or Recicourt - Verdun Sector | Shot down by either Vzfw. Ulrich or Ltn. Erich Löwenhardt. |
| 28th March 1917 | French | 38o Cie Aerostatieres | Marechal-des-Logis Collin | Belleville or Recicourt - Verdun Sector | Shot down by either Vzfw. Ulrich or Ltn. Erich Löwenhardt. |
| 3rd April 1917 19:22h | British | 13-17-5 (FM.26) |
Major Geddes Lt. F. Mears |
Ervillers | Shot down by Ltn Otto Bernert. |
| 3rd April 1917 19:22h | British | 18-17-5 (FM.25) |
Lt. D. Kershaw Lt. J. Morgan |
north west of Bapaume | Shot down by Ltn Otto Bernert |
| 28th September 1917 | Italian | ? | Tenente Paolo Calisse | Isola Morosini, in the Sbobba estuary | Shot down by Godwin Brumowski, shared with by Linke-Crawford and Kurt Gruber |
| 9th October 1917 17:00h | Italian | 20o Sezione | Tenente Guido Vendittelli | ||
| 17th November 1917 | Italian | ? | unknown | Lagoon, near the mouth of Piave River | Shot down by Godwin Brumowski |
| 16th June 1918 | Italian | 3^ Gruppio (?) | Cap. V. Morpurgo (?) | Spresiano | Shot down by Godwin Brumowski |
| 19th June 1918 15:45h | Italian | 11o Sezione (?) | Tenente M. Zanini (?) | near Passarella in the Val Grassabo | Shot down by Godwin Brumowski |
| 8th August 1918 | German | ? | unknown | Shot down by Reed Landis | |
| 29th August 1918 | German | ? | unknown | Shot down by Harry Botterell | |
| More details and names to be included in the near future |
| It was not until 1918 that parachutes became available to fixed wing aircrew and then only in the German and Austro-Hungarian Air Services. | |||||
| German Air Service Pilots | |||||
| Aviators who used parachutes during World War 1 | |||||
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Uffz Max BAUER Jasta 23 Shot down in flames – parachuted to safety 11th August 1918 18:30 h |
Ltn Ernst BAUMGARTEL Jasta 56 flying DVII 2063/18 Parachuted over Gheluve - KIA 4th October 1918 19:30 h |
Ltn. Julius BENDER, Jasta 4 Parachuted from aircraft, sprained ankle on landing 16th July 1918 |
Carl BERR Jasta 51 Injured foot on landing, Fokker DVII 8th October 1918 |
Gefr. Kurt BLUMENER Jasta 6 Parachute failed 8th September 1918 |
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Ltn. Herbert BOY Jasta 14 Schusta 30 Burning parachute – shot down by Canadian Ace Camille Lagesse – injured on landing - captured 7th October 1918 |
BRAMME FAA/263 2 seater with HANSEN 6th September 1918
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Flg Siegfried BRAUN Jasta 23b Parachute flamed, Pfalz DXII 16th September 1918 18:50h |
Ltn. Franz BUCHNER, Jasta 13 Mid-air collision with Gfr Michaelis 10th October 1918 |
Helmut DILTHEY Jasta 40 9th July 1918 |
Otto ESSWEIN Jasta 26 Shot down attacking a balloon 16th July 1918 17:50h |
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Friedrich Fritz FRIEDRICHS Jasta 10 flying DVII 309/18 Parachute caught on tailplane and ripped – fell to his death 15th July 1918 09:00h
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Vfw Otto FRUHNER Jasta 26 Collision with RAF Camel of 203 Sqn – Parachuted safely 20th September 1918 15:45 |
Ltn. Hilmar GLOCKLEN Jasta 21 Shot down, parachuted broke right foot on landing 16th July 1918 |
Ltn. GUTSCHE Jasta 36 Bussny, WIA 13th August 1918 |
HANSEN FAA/263 2 seater with BRAMME 6th September 1918 |
Albert HAUSSMAN Jasta 13 Killed – shot down in flames – parachute failed to open 16th October 1918 |
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Ltn. Hans JEBENS Jasta 59 Parachute failed KIA 27th September 1918
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Erich KAMPFE 18th September 1918
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Ltn Wilhelm KOLBACH Jasta 10 10th October 1918
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Olt Erich LOWENHARDT Jasta 10 Collided with WENZ – parachute failed to open 10th August 1918 12:15h |
Ltn. Emil MAYER Jasta 31 Mid-air with Ltn Kurt Bruninghaus, KIA – parachuted to safety 14th August 1918 |
Vfw Friedrich MEGERLE Jasta 70 Parachute failed, KIA Saarburg 16th July 1918 |
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Werner MEYER Jasta 34b Wounded in Action, Died of Wounds 21st July 1918 20th July 1918
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Gustav NOLTE Jasta 36 by a 2 seater, Died of Wounds 16th July 1918
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Hans PIPPART Jasta 19 AA fire. Killed – baled out at 150 ft -parachute failed to open 11th August 1918
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Jasta 43 25th July 1918 |
Ltn. Adolf REINAU Jasta 19 Shot down by a Spad. Parachuted after combat Mid-air collision with George Edgar Bruce, RAF (South African) 13th September 1918 19:00 h |
Jasta 5 27th September 1918
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Ltn Wilhelm SAINTE MONTE Jasta 52 Near Lille. burned, KIA 1st June 1918
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Jasta 43 Shot down in flames – parachuted OK – slight burns 12th August 1918 |
Max SCHNELL Jasta 58 Parachuted but hit house on landing, KIA 28th October 1918 |
Ltn. Helmut STEINBRECHER Jasta 58 flying Albatros DV Shot down in combat between Camels and SE5s 27th June 1918 09:00h
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Ltn ??? STIER MFJ5 Shot down in flames – parachuted OK 1st November 1918 |
Jasta 4 flying DVII 4253/18 29th September 1918 07:40h |
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Ltn. Paul VOGEL Jasta 23 Parachuted – in combat over Hill 475 30th July 1918 11:45h
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Vfw WEIMAR Jasta 56 Albatros Dva Parachuted from burning aircraft over Gontelles. POW 1st April 1918 |
Ltn Alfred WENZ Jasta 11 Collided with LOWENHARDT – used parachute OK 10th August 1918 12:15h |
Ltn. Joachim von WINTERFELD Jasta 4 flying DVII Parachuted but parachute caught fire KIA 5th September 1918 19:00h |
Ltn. Heinrich ZEMPEL Jasta65 Shot down in flames, slightly injured in parachute drop 17th July 1918 |
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Sincere thanks to Mr Norman Franks for his assistance with photographs and information on German Air Service use of parachutes |
| FEEDBACK 1. Can anyone confirm that Ltn. Felix d. R. Buchner parachuted on 11th November, 1918 ? 2. Can anyone provide further photographs to help make this webpage as accurate as possible ? |
| Austro - Hungarian Air Service Pilots | |||||
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Frigyes Hefty Flik 42J 22nd August 1918 |
Lt. Morath Flik 61 17th September 1918 |
Lt. Singer Flik 61 17th September 1918 |
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| Italian Air Service Pilots | |||||
| An Italian Aérostatier seen here with a French design "Flower-Pot" parachute |
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