Kurt Küppers

Kurt Küppers
Born 1894
Died 24 June 1971(1971-06-24) (aged 76–77)
Allegiance Germany
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Leutnant
Unit Flieger-Abteilung 45,
Jagdstaffel 6,
Kampfstaffel 14
Commands held Jagdstaffel 48
Awards Iron Cross First Class (which presupposes prior award of the Second Class)

Leutnant Kurt Küppers was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]

Biography

Early life

Kurt Küppers was born in 1894, birthplace unknown. An early interest in aviation led him to gain pilot's license No. 492, granted on 22 August 1913.[2]

Service in military aviation

Küppers was serving in the Luftstreitkräfte when World War I began. However, his first known assignment was as a pilot of two-seater reconnaissance aircraft in the vicinity of Dunkirk in 1916. After that, he served on the Eastern Front with Flieger-Abteilung (Flier Detachment) 45, a recon unit. Although it goes unmentioned in records, he must have undergone fighter pilot's training, because his next posting was to a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 6 (Jasta 6), in March 1917. Between 16 March and 12 July 1917, he scored four aerial victories.[2]

However, in August 1917, Küppers transferred to Kampfstaffel (Tactical Bomber Squadron) 14 as a bomber pilot; there he flew a Gotha bomber to convey his friend Fritz Lorenz on several raids on England. Küppers returned to Jasta 6 in October. He scored his fifth credited aerial victory on 23 November 1917.[2]

On 16 December 1917, he was tasked to form and command a new fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 48 (Jasta 48). On 6 March 1918, he scored his sixth and final victory. He remained in command of Jasta 48 until he was relieved from combat on 23 August 1918.[2]

Later life

Having won the Iron Cross First Class,[note 1] Kurt Küppers survived World War I to slip into obscurity. He is known to have died on 24 June 1971.[2]

Footnote

  1. ↑ German regulations mandated award of the Second Class before the First Class Iron Cross.

Sources of information

  1. ↑ The Aerodrome website Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Franks et al 1993, p. 152.

References

  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.


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