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Leutnant Hans von Keudell (5 April 1892 – 15 February 1917) was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.[1][2]
Hans von Keudell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 April 1892 |
| Died | 15 February 1917 (aged 24) near Vlamertinge, Belgium |
| Buried | Ferme Olivier British Military Cemetery |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service | Cavalry; Imperial German Air Service |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | Jasta 1 |
| Commands | Jasta 27 |
| Awards | Royal House Order of Hohenzollern |
Keudell was educated in Berlin. In 1904, he joined the cadets at Bensberg. In 1911, he joined the Uhlans. He began World War I with the Uhlans, and went into combat with them in both France and Poland. He was commissioned by April 1915, transferred to aviation and began training on 7 June. On 13 December, he was posted to fly bombing missions, objectives Verdun, Toul, and Dunkirk, for Brieftauben Abteilung Ostende.[1][3]
By early summer of 1916, Keudell was training as a fighter pilot. On 4 August, he joined KEK B under the command of Hans Bethge. From there, on 22 August, Keudell became a founding member of Jagdstaffel 1, destined to fly successively a Fokker D.I, a Halberstadt D.II and an Albatros D.III for them.[1] On 31 August 1916, he shot down a Martinsyde Elephant for his first win. He then scored steadily through the rest of the year, reaching ten on 22 November.[2]
On 1 January 1917, Keudell was awarded the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. He shot down his eleventh victim on 24 January 1917. On 5 February, he was appointed to raise and command Jagdstaffel 27.[1] He then scored the brand new jasta's first victory on 15 February,[2] only to be in turn killed in action flying Albatros D III #2017/17 by Lt. Stuart Harvey Pratt, flying a Nieuport two-seater of No. 46 Squadron RFC. Keudell's Albatros landed behind British lines and was salvaged by the Royal Flying Corps to become an item in their fleet of captured aircraft.[1]
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