Benno Schlüter

Who can give me info on this Flugmeister (killed in an accident on 22 5 1916).

[Rick]

Frontflieger,

* *First I have it spelled with two T's, Schlütter. *I show him in M FA I from Dec14 (probably from your book), then transferred to M FA II, from at least Mar16 until killed. *I also show him as a pilot. * Not much, I'm afraid. * * *R,

[Regulus]

Hi,

Schluter Benno, Flugmeister

He was born on the 27th of february 1894 at Dorsten.
joined the naval aviation volunteers at outbreak of war.

Pilots certificate 399 of the German series, dated 7/5/1913
Seems to have had quite some pre war flying experience
Flew with I Marine Feldflieger Abteilung.
Flew sometimes with Vizeflugmeister Ilges (from Ilges and Brandt, first bombing by plane of London)

On the 4th of may 1916, a number of enemy planes were sighted above Oostende and they reacted at the unit with a number of planes to attack them. Schlüter was the first one in the air, and at 1500 meters he saw an enemy biplane, flying seawords at high speed. Schlüter dived upon him with his Fokker and opened fire. The Caudron IV - 9118 was not
able to loose him and firing continued untill he was only 30 meters away from the enemy plane, both planes still flying at only 150 meters ! All of a sudden the plane dived and
crashed near the beach of Middelkerke. Schlüter landed in the immediate surroundings and ran towards the plane and pilot. Just before he reached him he collapsed and fell dead
to the ground. The 22 year ols Schlüter had in his hurry, touched a hightension cable, resulting to his death. His adversery, the British Flight Sub Lieutenant Kenneth Marsden
van Allen of 5th Wing RNAS was also dead.
They were burried side by side with full military honours on the cemetery of Westende.
A black ribboned biplane flew over also during the ceremony. The grave of Benno Schlüter can now also be found at Vladslo German Military Cemetary. van Allen was from
Chatham, Ontario and is burried at Ingoyghem Military Cemetary at Anzegem.

Hope this helps a little.

VBR from Regulus