Oswald Boelcke

Germany’s First Fighter Ace and Father of Air Combat

By: BGen R. G. Head

Narrated by: David de Vries

With a total of 40 victories, Oswald Boelcke was Germany's first ace in World War I-and a century later he remains a towering figure in the history of air warfare, renowned for his character, inspirational leadership, organizational genius, development of air-to-air tactics, and impact on aerial doctrine.

Paving the way for modern air forces across the world with his pioneering strategies, Boelcke had a dramatic effect on his contemporaries. The famed Red Baron's mentor, instructor, squadron commander, and friend, he exerted a tremendous influence upon the German air force. He was one of the first pilots to be awarded the famous Pour le Merite, commonly recognized as the "Blue Max." All of this was achieved after overcoming medical obstacles in childhood and later life with willpower and determination.

Boelcke even gained the admiration of his enemies: After his tragic death in a midair collision, Britain's Royal Flying Corps dropped a wreath on his funeral, and several of his captured foes sent another wreath from their German prison camp. His name and legacy live on, as seen in the Luftwaffe's designation of the Tactical Air Force Wing 31 "Boelcke." This definitive biography reveals his importance as a fighter pilot who set the standard in military aviation.

©2016 R. G. Head (P)2019 Tantor

Great Biography of Boelcke

Great biography of famous German Ace pilots. Well done. A lot of good information in great detail. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

Bravest of Pilots

There is not a subject more fascinating than the amazing pilots of WWI. What they had to do, and work with, in the beginnings of air combat is unbelievable. They literally flew with nothing up there but guys and grit. And Oswald Boelcke was the first ace. Having overcome ill health, specifically asthma, he became an Olympic athlete (aside from the fact the Olympics were cancelled due to WWI) and then leader of German bomber command. . He was the leader and everyone else followed him. Though von Richthofen gets the credit, Boeckle was his teacher. This biography can't be recommended more highly. It's outstanding.

Recommended!

For people interested in world war one, and even those who are not, this highly readable book sheds light on one of the first German aces, Oswald Boelke. I was not familiar with this German officer. He had a habit of trying not to injure the pilots of enemy planes. For example, he shot down a British plane, checked on the pilot, and ended up inviting him to dinner. Boelke himself died in an accident involving his wing man. He left a rich legacy, including the Dicta for rules of flight, Which are still used today.

Promising biography but disorganised

I was looking forward to this biography of Oswald Boelcke but feel this would be more accurately described as a light and slightly disorganised history of the German air force in the First World War with a scattered biography of Oswald Boelcke as the unifying thread. Quite often the author repeats himself almost verbatim in some instances multiple chapters apart. Repeating the same information that he’s already written. It feels as if this biography is comprised of a collection of independent articles that were fashioned into a book or that he was padding the word count in order to reach a certain length. Reason to say the information is bad, it is good, but the book could definitely use with some editing to tighten up and remove extraneous pieces. That said I would recommend this book as long as the listener understands strictly speaking it is not a biography focusing entirely on Boelcke.