Wilhelm Thöne
Leutnant zur See Wilhelm Thöne was a German World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]
Wilhelm Thöne | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Willy |
| Born | 22 January 1893 Hattenbach, Germany |
| Died | 17 January 1974 Mülheim, Germany |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/ | Aviation |
| Rank | Leutnant zur See |
| Unit | Marine-Feld Jagdstaffel 1 |
| Awards | Iron Cross |
Biography
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
Wilhelm Thöne was a German naval pilot who flew for Marine-Feld Jagdstaffel 1 during the last year of the First World War. On 30 June 1918, he shot down two British Sopwith Camels--one from No. 204 Squadron RAF, the other from No. 213 Squadron RAF. On 31 July, he shot down a third Camel, also from 204 Squadron. However, he also took some bullets to his craft's engine, forcing him down behind German lines. Back in action, he shot down a pair of Camels to become an ace on 12 August 1918. Also in August, he was downed a second time. He swam ashore from the English Channel despite a bullet in his shoulder.[2]
Thöne became an engineer postwar. He would also become a director of German Civil Aviation.[2]
Sources of information
Reference
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.