Ltn.d.R. Hans Klein, Jasta 4 and 10

Gregvan · 31 December 2005, 06:10 PM

Hello,

Can anyone out there tell me what sort of military post the famous

Hans Klein (22 vic's, Pour le Merite) held after his wounding on 19 February 1918. At 1:00p.m. on that day, according to Bodenschatz, Klein returned from a Jasta 10 patrol in Pfalz D IIIa 4283/17 and "clambered out of his machine, greatly upset." I should say so! His right index finger had been shot off and his right arm suffered a 'glancing shot'. He obviously left for the hospital (I have a photo of him with his arm in a sling) but he never returned to combat flying.

I don't know how much the use of his right arm was impaired. He shows up again, appearing fully recovered (except for a missing index finger) in the famous photo of

Ernst Udet, Constantin Krefft and other bigwigs at the Pfalz factory at Speyer, in front of one of the new D.XIIs. He also shows up in some of the famous movie film shot at the Pfalz factory, grinning for the camera in front of a Pfalz D.VIII. I would bet that he had some job with Idlfieg or served as some sort of liaison officer to the aircraft industry, but I'd like to know if there is any official record of his positions, etc. A number of other ex-combat pilots (Krefft, Mallinckrodt, and Schubert) seem to have held some such sort of positions in the military-industrial complex late in the war.

Greg

1 January 2006, 07:56 AM

Hi Greg,

According to the website, Axis Biographical Research ( http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/ ), while Klein was recovering from his wounds in hospital, he was placed at the disposal of FEA 9, and apparently granted leave from 19 Feb 1918 - 12 Apr 1919.

Maybe someone else has more detailed information....

regards,

Darren

Gregvan · 1 January 2006, 09:42 AM

Hi Darren,

Thanks for that info and the link. Here's what Rick has:

In Hospital - 19 February to 17 March '18

FEA 9 - 17 March '18 to 26 April '19

Jasta 10 Stab (Staff) 26 April to end of war

That would help account for him traveling to Speyer to evaluate aircraft in mid-1918.

Thanks again, and Happy New Year!

Greg