Franz Büchner

Franz Büchner was born with Leipzig on January 2nd 1898. He is the son of a richissime businessman and a German ace of the First World War.

In 1914, it joined the German army and integrates the 106e regiment of Saxony which is quartered with Ypres. One year later it is found successively on the face of the East then in France.

Disgusted life of troupier, he asks his integration in the Air force, a weapon which, believes he, promises a romantic life full with action, adventures and occasions to achieve remarkable prowesses. He is useful first of all like observer with F 270 before flying on single-seater with Jasta 9 from March at August 1917. During this period it obtains only one victory, a Nieuport in the south-east of Chappy on August 17th. When it integrates Jasta later 13 one month, it is a pilot largely in lower part of the average. It does not have much success in the air duels but its capacities of leader are very appreciated. June 15th 1916 it becomes " Staffelführer" (chief of formation) whereas it obtained only 4 " Luftsksiege" until there! This promotion seems to stimulate Franz Büchner who appears finally in the sky. It thus accumulates a number impressing of successes. July 2nd it cuts down Sopwith Dolphin of the Irish ace Joseph Callaghan. 5 days later, it obtains its 8th victory by putting out of combat the Sopwith Camel, of another combined ace, the Canadian Merril Taylor. At the end of the war the score of the native of Leipzig will reach 40 victories! Only for the only month of September 1918, it cut down 17 apparatuses. The Franz October 10th comes very close to death when it is struck in full flight by the aircraft of one of its wingers. The 2 men will leave themselves there thanks to their parachute.

The recognition of the Germans with regard to the Büchner second lieutenant is reflected in the list of the distinctions of which it was the object:

Cross of iron 1st and 2nd class,
Cross of Knight about Hohenzollern with swords,
Commander of the Saint-Henry Order,
Saxon Order of Merit 2nd class with swords,
Knight of the Order Albert 2nd class with swords,
Order For the Merit on October 25th, 1918.

After the war, Büchner remains in the Reichswehr and fights against the insurrectionists spartakists. March 18th 1920, it finds death in an ambush set-up by the revolutionists close to his birthplace of Leipzig. Just like Rudolf Berthold, it survived the war to be made kill by its own compatriots!

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