First use of a parachute (aircraft) during WW1 ...

[Volker_Nemsch]

Just a short list of questions today:

When was the parachute used for the first time in an aircraft (in combat)?

Who was the first to see that his opponent (most probably a German) left his damaged aircraft with this lifesaving device?

Who was this parachutist (fighter, 2-seater crew, etc.)?

What type of aircraft were the "involved parties" flying?

Where did the fight happen?

Was there a report about this "novelty" in the allied or German documents?


The only things I found out are, that most probably a German left his plane in (early?) 1918 somewhere over the western front. But this is just a well estimated guess ...

Thank you very much for your help.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Volker:
The first reported use of a parachute, was by Ltn. Helmut Steinbrecher, a pilot in Jasta 46 on 27 June 1918 when he jumped out of his blazing Alb.D.V. Shortly after 0900 hrs a Kette of Jasta 46 engaged 12 aircraft of Sopwith and S.E.5a machines NW of Amiens at 4500 meters about 2 km behind the british lines. He was engaged by a British plane which had holed his gas tank, Ltn. Steinbrecher dove to escape and leveled out around 2500 meters, the flames enveloped to fuselage and also came into the cockpit, without hesitation, he unfastened his seat belts and and put the plane into a dive and was ejected from the plane and somerrsaulted as the parachute opened he was suspended head down, making some move freed his feet and he descended feet down in the normal manner.
He landed in the German lines without injury and return to Jasta 46.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[rammjaeger]

Hallo Volker,

so sehr ich mir wünschte, daß der Sachse Steinbrecher der erste gewesen wäre, so glaube ich mich jedoch an frühere Datumsangaben zu erinnern, doch meine einst ca. 70 Absprünge umfassende Datei ging schon vor Jahren ohne Sicherheitskopie ins "Datennirvana".

MfG

Rammjaeger