Heinrich Focke

Gentlemen,

Can you find anything about Heinrich Focke's World War I service. I only know that he was a pilot and would become famous in the aircraft industries in the 1930's and 40's.

Sincerely,

Edward

Gentlemen,

I wonder if there was a biography book about Heinrich Focke's life? Surely someone knows about him and his World War I aviation service which was little known.

Sincerely,

Edward

[frontflieger]

Hi,

from 1917 onwards Heinrich worked in Berlin-Adlershof.

BTW: his brother WILHELM was a fighter pilot at the Turkish front.

Thorsten

Dear Sir,

I wonder how many brothers and sisters did Heinrich Focke had in his family? Wilhelm Focke is new to me! What air units did Wilhelm served during WWI? What was his final wartime rank? Was Wilhelm younger than Heinrich?

Sincerely,

Edward

[Hal Oele]

Good Morning Edward,

first of all ...
Henrich Focke not Heinrich!!!
Henrichs sister was born in 1893,
his Brother Wilhelm in 1878!
I don´t believe that Wilhelm was a fighter pilot, because he lost his interesting in aviation after the financial "Ente" desaster in 1909 / 1910.

Henrich had never a pilots licence!
In autumn 1914 he served in IR 75 Bremen
a short time on the eastern Front,
then in spring 1915 to the Fliegertruppe (Thorn & Kowno) as an engine-mechanic.
1916 Malaria!
1917 Funkerlehrgang Döberitz
Fliegerabteilung A 248 (Seraincourt / Reims)
After a checkflight (as passenger) Focke´s pilot crashed the DFW C V.
Hospital, then Flugzeugmeisterei Adlershof.
Thats all ...

Hal

[frontflieger]

Hi - months ago I received an email of someone who had met Wilhelm Focke in his youth. ...


"Wilhelm Focke, der ältere Bruder des Flugzeugkonstrukteurs Henrich Focke, war Flieger im 1.Weltkrieg und zwar sowohl als Aufklärer über der Nordsee, wie im Kampfeinsatz im Galipoli, Türkei. Ich erinnere mich noch gern seiner - immer phantastisch ausgeschmückten - Abenteuergeschichten aus dieser Zeit, die er immer zum höchsten Vergnügen von uns Kindern zum Besten gab. So flog er, um nicht entdeckt zu werden, so dicht über den stürmisch bewegten Nordseewellen, dass die Gischt bis in sein Cockpit sprühte. Das wird so ein mit Leinen bespannter Doppeldecker gewesen sein."

... The text says that Wilhelm was an recc flyer on the North Sea as well as a fighter pilot at Gallipoli...

Thorsten

Dear Hal,

I recalled that there were a few sources that mentioned the first name of Focke the aircraft designer as Heinrich. There were however other sources mentioned the first name as Henrich. I couldn't decide which first name was correct. Henrich it is! And thank you for the information regarding Henrich Focke's WWI service.

Sincerely,

Edward

[Soderbaum]

Hi Thorsten

Interesting information about Wilhelm Fockes possible service at the north sea and Dardanellen...

However, I doubt (like Hal) that he served as flyer during the War...
North sea indicates clearly a Marine aviation unit, but I havent find anyone with that name yet who served within the Marine Air Force. Neither have I any notes on any flyer serving within the Marine Air Force in Dardanellen or the Turkish Air Force...

However, I still havent complete information about Marine flyers at the north sea and far from complete information regarding the Turkish front...

He could however had been some sort of "ground-crew". Some of them made many "Platzflüge", and also rather seldom actual front flights...


Gunnar