German Ace Max Immelmann In Memoriam! Postcard from a drawing by Gehrig, 1916. Immelmann was shot down on June 18, 1916.
Gehrig, 1916Immelmann In Memoriam!Reverse:Sekretariat Sozialer StudentenarbeitM. Gladbach.Zeichnung von Oskar Gehrig (Karlsruhe): Immelmann.Secretariat of Social Work studentsM. Gladbach.Drawing by Oskar Gehrig (Karlsruhe): Immelmann.Message dated December 30, 1916, postmarked 1917.
An early German ace, and one of the first celebrity fighter pilots, Max Immelmann was known as the Eagle of Lille, fighting over that occupied French city.On August 1, 1915, Immelmann, flying with Oswald Bölcke, shot down a British plane on a bombing run. Both men were flying the new Fokker E.I with Fokker's synchronized machine gun that fired through the path of the rotating propeller. The E.I retained air superiority into early 1916.Like Bölcke, Immelmann was awarded the Pour le Mérite, the Blue Max, one of Prussia's highest honors, the two men receiving their medals the same day.He was credited with inventing the Immelmann turn, reversing direction by executing a half roll while climbing in a half loop, beginning and ending the maneuver with the plane level. There is some question whether the E.I was capable of such a maneuver.Immelmann was killed on June 18, 1916, while attacking, with three other pilots, seven British FE2b two-seaters. While pursuing a plane flown by Lt. John R.B. Savage, Immelmann was shot down by Lt. G.R. McCubbin.Immelmann is credited with 15 victories. He may have shot down Savage's plane, but the victory was credited to another.
Birth Date: September 21, 1890
Date of Death: June 18, 1916
National Affiliation: Germany
