Max Immelmann "Der Adler von Lille"

°21-Sep-1890 – †18-Jun-1916 (Annay, Département Pas-de-Calais, France).

1905 - 1912 : Kadett, königlich-sächsischen Kadettenkorps Dresden.

04-Apr-11 : Fähnrich mit Portepee, Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr 2.

Apr-11 : transfer to Kriegsschule Anklam.

Mar-12 : left to army to study mechanical engineering in Dresden.

20-Aug-14 : re-joined the Eisenbahn-Regiment when the war broke out as Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter .

12-Nov-14 : pilot training at Feld-Flieger-Abteilung 2, (FFA2) one of the observation and reconnaissance units of the Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches.

1915 :

11-Feb-15 :  award of the Militär-Flugzeugführer badge.

Mar-15 : transfer to Feld-Flieger-Abteilung 10.

03-Jun-15 : Flying an unarmed Luftverkehrsgesellschaft L.V.G. B.1 with observer Ehrhardt von Teuben, Immelmann was attacked by an armed Farman MF.11.

28-Apr-15 : transfer to Feld-Flieger-Abteilung 62.

14-Jul-15 : Leutnant, Royal Saxony Army Reserves.

01-Aug-1915 : Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampf

Aug-1915 : Fokker E.I 3.15

Aug-1915 : Fokker E.I 1.15

21-Sep-15 : Immelman's 25th birthday.  Photograph taken at the scene of the wreckage of his third victim.

Oct-1915 : Fokker E.II 37.15

 

Oct-1915 : Fokker E.II

12-Jan-1916 : Awarded the "Pour le Mérite" {Max Immelmann was the first one to recieve the Pour le Mérite in World War I and becasue of this and its colour it is also callet "blauer Max" (the blue Max)}

Mar-1916 : Fokker E.IV 127.15

Apr-16 : Oberleutnant, Royal Saxon Army (active list).

Jun-1916 : Fokker E.III 246.15

1916 : Kommandeur Kampf-Einsitzer-Kommando III.

18-Jun-16 : Killed in Action over Annay in Fokker E.IV 174.16 in aerial combat with an Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b of No.24 Sqn, Royal Flying Corps (pilot Captain G.R. McCubbin - observer/gunner Corporal J.H. Walker).

25-Jun-16 : State funeral in Dresden

03-Apr-1935 :  In his memory Sturzkampfgeschwader 162 was bestowed the honor name "Immelmann"

01-May-1939 :  In his memory Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 was bestowed the honor name "Immelmann"

18-Oct-1943 :  In his memory Schlachtgeschwader 2 was bestowed the honor name "Immelmann"

April-1993 :  In his memory Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 was bestowed the honor name "Immelmann"

 

Awards

Militär-Flugzeugführer Abzeichen 11-Feb-15

Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse (Königriech Preußen), 03-Jun-15, after flying a successful reconnaissance mission with Leutnant von Teubern (observer)

Friedrich-August-Medaille in silber, "For Gallantry in the Face of the Enemy" (Königreich Sachsen) 15-Jul-15

Albrechtsorden, Ritterkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (Königreich Sachsen), 10-Sep-15

Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse (Königriech Preußen), 01-Aug-15 (after his 1st aerial victory)

Königlicher Hausorden von Hohenzollern, Ritter, 01-Aug-15

Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampf, 01-Aug-15 (after his 1st aerial victory)

Militär-St. Heinrichs-Orden, Ritterkreuz (Königreich Sachsen) 21-Sep-15

Fürstlicher Hausorden von Hohenzollern, Ritterkreuz mit Schwertern, (Fürstentum Hohenzollern), Nov-15

Militär-Verdienstorden, 4te Klasse mit Schwertern (Königreich Bayern), around 08-Dec-15

Orden Pour le Mérite für Militärverdienst, (Preußen) 12-Jan-16 (after his 8th aerial victory)

Hanseatenkreuz (Hansestadt Hamburg), 15-Mar-16, after flying aerial defence for the Mayor of Hamburg

Militär-St. Heinrichs-Orden, Kommandeur II. Klasse (Königreich Sachsen) 30-Mar-16 (after his 12th and 13th aerial victories)

Harp Madalyası (Ottoman Empire), Apr/May-16

İmtiyaz Madalyası in Silver (Ottoman Empire), Apr/May-16

 

Aerial victories :

Credited with 15 aerial victories 

 

No Unit Date Aircraft Type Air Force  
1 FA 62 01.08.1915 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c Reconnaissance/Bomber No. 2 Sqn RFC

2 FA 62 26.08.1915 Unknown aircraft, probably French single seater biplane    
3 FA 62 21.09.1915 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c Reconnaissance/Bomber No. 10 Sqn RFC
4 FA 62 10.10.1915 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c Reconnaissance/Bomber No. 16 Sqn RFC
5 FA 62 26.10.1915 Vickers F.B.5 Fighter No. XI Sqn RFC
6 FA 62 07.11.1915 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c Reconnaissance/Bomber No. 10 Sqn RFC
7 FA 62 15.12.1915 Morane-Saulnier LA Reconnaissance/Fighter No. 3 Sqn RFC
8 FA 62 12.01.1916 Vickers F.B.5 Fighter No. XI Sqn RFC
9 FA 62 02.03.1916 Morane-Saulnier BB Reconnaissance No. 3 Sqn RFC
10 FA 62 13.03.1916 Bristol Scout C Reconnaissance No. IV Sqn RFC
11 FA 62 13.03.1916 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c Reconnaissance/Bomber No. 8 Sqn RFC
12 FA 62 29.03.1916 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2b Reconnaissance/Bomber No. 23 Sqn RFC
13 FA 62 30.03.1916 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c Reconnaissance/Bomber No. XV Sqn RFC
14 FA 62 23.04.1916 Vickers F.B.5 Fighter No. XI Sqn RFC
15 FA 62 16.05.1916 Bristol Scout C Reconnaissance No. XI Sqn RFC

 

The Immelmann turn :

The Immelmann turn was a maneuver used after an attack on another aircraft to reposition the attacking aircraft for another attack.  After making a high-speed diving attack on an enemy, the attacker would then climb back up past the enemy aircraft, and just short of the stall, apply full rudder to yaw his aircraft around.  This put his aircraft facing down at the enemy aircraft, making another high-speed diving pass possible.  This is a difficult maneuver to perform properly, as it involves precise control of the aircraft at low speed.  With practice and proper use of all of the fighter's controls, the maneuver could be used to reposition the attacking aircraft to dive back down in any direction desired.
 

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