Wisseman's demise

Other than being credited with Guynemer, I'd never really seen much written about Kurt Wissemann. From the active Guynemer thread, it looks like his papers or letters have survived and possibly the tail assembly or photos of his wreckage. Does anyone have more information on his career.

What were the circumstances of his death ??? I know that he was credited to Hoidge of 56 SQ. Any details ??? Was he bounced ??? Do the 56 SQ patrol reports still exist and include Hoidge's claim ???

Thanks in advance.

Sorry guys. It dawned on me to use search function and I found some other very interesting threads that will either clear up Wisseman/Guynemer to some extent or add fuel to the fire.

Who Killed Guynemer?

Ltn. Wissemann

[Graeme]

From RFC Communique No 107:

"Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Squadron, dived with his formation at EA and selected one which he destroyed. The wings were seen to fall off this EA before it reached the ground, and the pilot fell out at about 8,000 feet. Lt L M Barlow dived at another which was seen to crash, while Capt G H Bowman and Lt R T C Hoidge each destroyed an EA. Lt A P F Rhys Davids shot one down out of control, and it has since been reported by French infantry to have crashed."

The Communique is somewhat misleading as it describes two separate events; McCudden's claim was timed at 08:00 over Houthulst Forest, Rhys Davids' at 08:15 near Comines and Barlow's at 08:15 south of Houthulst Forest. The "each destroyed" claimed for Hoidge and Bowman was actually shared between them at 17:20 east of Westroosebeke (a good fit for Wisseman's loss).

I have seen McCudden's victory ascribed to the loss of Ltn Herbert (or Gunther?) Pastor of Jasta 29 who was killed on this date; the location in Casualties of the German Air Service is Veldhoek - just south west of Houthulst - so seems possible.

Graeme