PEEBLES PROFILES
EPISODE 179
Hans Imelmann
Hans Imelmann was born in Hannover on May 14, 1897. His first known military service was piloting a Fokker Eindekker for one of the early fighter units, Kampfeinsitzerkommando Metz (Combat Single-Seater Command Metz, or KEK Metz) in 1916. Imelmann was then selected by Oswald Boelcke for Germany’s new fighter squadron, Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 2.
In a little over a two-month period (October 10 to December 20, 1916), Imelmann was officially credited with six victories. His first triumph on October 10th was over a Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A382) near Lagnicourt. Number two came twelve days later against an F.E.2b (7684) near Bailleul. Imelmann’s third victory set a Nieuport 17 (A162) from RFC Number 60 Squadron alight near Serre. However, its pilot (British ace Ernest Foot) somehow escaped the crash-landing uninjured.
On November 3rd, Imelmann grounded a Nieuport 16 (A125) near Douchy… then a B.E.2c (2502) near Lagnicourt less than a week later. Finally on December 20th, he defeated a F.E.2b (A5452) near Bapaume for victory number six.
But near the French village of Miraumont (northeast of Albert, west of Bapaume) on January 23, 1917, Imelmann’s Albatros D.III faced a B.E.2c from RFC Squadron Number Four. It was piloted by Captain J.C. McMillan with Second Lieutenant Hopkins as an observer.
Sadly, Imelmann’s machine burst into flames after McMillan’s guns perforated the fuel tank of the Albatros. Hans Imelmann became one of the first German aces of the Great War to be killed in action.
The lieutenant and Iron Cross recipient was only nineteen years old…