Who is Erich Löwenhardt, WW1 Ace

Upon transfer to the Imperial German Army Air Service, Löwenhardt qualified as an observer, then finished pilot training in 1916. Following additional service in two-seaters he transferred to fighters and joined Jagdstaffel 10 in March 1917. "Jasta" 10 was one of four squadrons in Manfred von Richthofen's geschwader (wing), and the 20-year-old flier soon made a name for himself. By year end he had eight victories, and upon doubling his score he became the commander of Jasta 10.

Oberleutnant Löwenhardt was an aggressive, skilled fighter whose score grew steadily. At the end of May 1918 he received Germany's highest honour, the Pour le Mérite (Blue Max) after 24 kills. Flying the new Fokker D.VII, he added eight more in June and no fewer than 16 in July. His tally climbed to 53 on August 9.

The next day (August 10, 1918) Oblt. Löwenhardt shot down a British fighter near Chaulnes (Somme area of France). However, he collided with another Fokker D.VII (of Jasta 11) and though he jumped from his aircraft, his parachute failed to open, thus causing the young man to plummet to his death from around 12,000 feet. His body was recovered 4 days later, battered and beaten. He was 21.

Leutnant Alfred Wenz, who collided with him, successfully bailed out and lived...

WW1 ACES OF GERMANY

-80- Manfred Von Richthofen
-62- Ernst Udet
-48- Werner Voss
-48- Josef Jacobs
-45- Fritz Rumey
-44- Bruno Loerzer
-44- Rudolph Berthold
-43- Paul Baeumer
-40- Oswald Boelcke
-40- Franz Buchner
-40- Lother Von Richthofen
-39- Heinrich Gontermann
-33- Kurt Wolff
-24- Erwin Bohme
-22- Hermann Goring
-17- Max Immelmann