Fritz Anders (aviator) explained

Fritz Gerhard Anders
Birth Date:23 August 1889
Birth Place:Cottbus, The German Empire
Rank:Leutnant
Unit:Schutzstaffel 8,
Jagdstaffel 35,
Jagdstaffel 4
Commands:Jagdstaffel 73
Battles:World War I
Awards:Iron Cross (both classes)

Leutnant Fritz Gerhard Anders was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He was the world's first night fighter ace.

Early life

Fritz Gerhard Anders was born in Cottbus on 23 August 1889.[1] He was a prewar pilot, gaining pilot's license 592 on 12 November 1912.[2]

World War I service

Anders began his aerial service for the First World War as a pilot in Schutzstaffel (Protection Squadron) 8. He would serve with this early fighter-bomber unit until he was transferred to a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 34 in March 1917. On 14 April 1917, he was wounded in action; he returned to duty ten days later. On 2 June 1917, he transferred to Jagdstaffel 4. He scored his initial aerial victory on 7 July 1917, when he downed a Sopwith Pup from Nine Naval Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service.[2]

On 20 February 1918, Anders was appointed as Staffelführer to command Jagdstaffel 73. He scored his second victory on 14 June 1918, downing a SPAD, possibly flying a Fokker Triplane. Then, flying with his squadron's pioneering nightfighting detail, Anders ran off a string of five aerial victories at night between 20 August and 25 September 1918 to become history's first nightfighter ace. On 13 October 1918, Anders was transferred to Jastaschule II, a school for fighter pilots.[2]

During the war, Anders earned both classes of the Iron Cross.[2]

Post World War I

Fritz Gerhard Anders died on 8 November 1919.

References

Notes and References

  1. http://flieger-album.de/blog/index.php?rs_id=view&s=164#164 Anders, Fritz Gerhard
  2. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918, pp. 61-62.