Ace of the Month

[Barrett]

I'm late in declaring this month's featured aviator owing to the longest wheat harvest in NE Oregon that I recall (or that Dad recalls, and he's been at it since before The Second War.) Rain, rain go away and let us cut this crop someday...
Our ace of the month is Ltn Heinrich Gontermann, the 7th-ranking balloon buster of WW I and second among Germans only to Ltn. Fritz Roth.
Gontermann, born in Westphalia in 1896, was like MvR an uhlan--a lancer--before transferring to aviation. He received his pilot's rating in 1915 and first flew Albatros and AGO observation or bombing aircraft. However, he began to make a name for himself in a Roland "Walfische" and thereafter went to Jastaschule Cologne, then on to Jasta 5.
Gontermann scored within 5 days of his arrival and shortly became CO after Ltn Berr was killed in a midair collision. Soon thereafter Gontermann developed "balloon fever" and burned his first "sausage" on Easter Sunday 1917. His leadership ability was well recognized, as the 21-year-old ex cavalryman assumed command of J.15 at the end of the month. He then began scoring quickly, running his score to over 20 in the next two weeks.
The Pour le Merite was awarded Gontermann on 15 May, but after leave he returned none the less enthusiastic about combat. On 18 August he claimed 5 victories including 4 balloons, one of a handful of WW I "aces in a day."
Re-equipped with Dr.Is, J.15 had an uneasy transition period, and reportedly Gontermann was concerned about the problems reported by JG.I. He was flying a tripe on 30 October when the top wing failed and he crashed to his death.
The young staffelfuhrer, survivor of two years of aerial combat, died owing to faulty workmanship in his own aircraft. With 39 victories he was at the time of his death second only to von Richthofen among active German aces.

Barrett;
He was also a very fine officer and a gentleman.