Lt. Bruckhammer Kusta I VS FSLt. Greene 13th N Sqd

Regulus · 18 November 2003, 02:21 PM

Hi,

On the 29th January 1918 the Artilleriestaffel of Kusta I was attacked by British Sopwith planes, and Flight Sub Lt. J.E. Greene from 13th Naval Squadron claimed to have shot down a seaplane near Blankenberge Pier at 2 PM in Camel B3909.

I presume this was Lt. Bruckhammer, observer, in his seaplane, who went down in it as he was dead and had received a bullet in the head, while his pilot seems to have been saved.

Does anyone know more on the circumstances of the fight ? How many planes involved on both sides, where did the fighting actually start, where did the plane come down exactly and who was the pilot of Bruckhammer ?

There seem to be a number of unclear details on this fight and one version does disagree with another one.

Thanks and best from Johan

Rick · 19 November 2003, 08:39 AM

Johan,

According to the von Eberhardt necrology, this man was Ltn.d.R. Wilhelm Drückhammer. I do not know who his pilot was. Perhaps Gunnar ?? R.

Soderbaum · 19 November 2003, 01:17 PM

Hi Johan

I have Drückhammer with the rank Lt dR MA. His pilot on this ocassion was Fz.Ob.Mtr Gustav Mull who was ok and picked by another German aircraft. Mull was later promoted to Fl.Mt on 1 Jun 1918..
Their aircraft was 1159 which sunk together with the dead observer...

I have a description of the incident from a German view, however on micro-film and handwritten and sadly hardly readable(for me). I will try if I can find some information from the text later on..

Gunnar

Rick · 19 November 2003, 03:49 PM

Gunnar, Solves the problem once again. Thanks. R.

Regulus · 20 November 2003, 01:02 PM

Hi Rick And Gunnar,

Thank you very much for the extra info on this incident. I would really enjoy hearing more on what really happened that day !

Thanks and best from Johan

Soderbaum · 21 November 2003, 01:55 PM

Hi Johan

Here are my trie to interpret parts of the handwritten text from the
KTB of Grulf Küst.

"13.45 - 15.20 started two aircraft(1159 and 1245) for "some duties" with some boats(MS?) in 036b and 037b.
In 061b were the aircraft attacked by four enemy Sopw-1 in a height of 600 m. 1159 with the crew(Mull and Drückhammer) was quickly set on fire.
The pilot brought the burning aircraft down to the water outside Blankenberge. The pilot was saved by aircraft 1245 while the dead observer sunk with the aircraft."

This is aproximate the text as I are able to read it...!

Gunnar