Erich Löwenhardt

Erich Löwenhardt (* April 7th 1897 with Breslau; † August 10th 1918) was a German fighter pilot of the First World War. He had with his credit the third highest score of German hunting during the " Large Guerre" after Manfred von Richthofen and Ernst Udet.

Löwenhardt was the son of a doctor. It launched out in a military career and entered the school of officers ( Hauptkadettenanstalt ) of Lichterfelde. From there, it was transferred to the 141e regiment of infantry which was engaged on the face of the east at the beginning of the war.

The October 2nd 1914, Löwenhardt was named second lieutenant but, at the end of October, it was seriously wounded and it remained at the hospital until January 1915. It was then again engaged on the face of the east where it saved the life with five German soldiers wounded in the Carpates, which been worth to him to be decorated with the Croix with iron of 2nd class.

Löwenhardt was then transferred to the Deutsche Alpenkorps (Alpine hunters), then, in October 1915, on its own choice, in aviation. After its formation, it began its career like observer before being transferred, with the beginning of the year 1916, the air section of the Artillerie N°265 in order to be formed as a pilot. In March 1917, it joined the Jasta 10 ( Jagdstaffel (flotilla) n°10), which belonged to the squadron of Richthofen. Until the end of March 1918 it cut down 15 enemy planes and, at the beginning of April 1918, at the age of only 20 years, it was named ordering Jasta 10.

Many aerial combats, which it left always victorious, were connected then. Until the end of July 1918, Löwenhardt, which flew then on new the Fokker D.VII, entered already 47 victories. From time to time it replaced its commander of squadron in his function and, the May 31st 1918, it obtained highest German decoration, the order “For the Merit”. The August 10th 1918, close to Chaulnes, it cut down its 54e enemy plane, a British plane. But, the same day, during a combat with British planes of the Squadron 56, it entered in collision with another German apparatus controlled by Alfred Wenz of the Jasta 11. The two pilots succeeded in jumping their respective apparatuses, but the Parachute of Löwenhardt did not open and it committed suicide. Wenz, as for him, survived the accident.

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