Major Josef Mai was born in Otterwalde (now Otorworo) in the province of Posen on March 3, 1887. His military service began on October 3, 1907 with the Tenth Lancers.
When the First World War began, Mai was a participant in the opening offensive aimed at the capture of Paris. He later saw action around Warsaw in Russian Poland. In 1915, Mai campaigned along the Dniester River. The following year, he took part in the battles at Verdun and the Somme.
Mai joined the German air service in 1915; he trained at the Fokker plant at Leipzig. He earned his pilot’s brevet on July 28, 1916 and flew reconnaissance aircraft for Jasta 29. Mai then underwent fighter training and joined Jagdstaffel 5 in March 1917. As a Vizefeldwebel, he was one of three non-commissioned pilots (along with Fritz Rumey and Otto Koennecke) who flew together so successfully… that they ended up claiming forty percent of the Jasta’s victories between them. Their contributions made Jasta 5 the third highest scoring unit of the war; the trio earned the nickname “The Golden Triumvirate”.
On August 20, 1917, Mai scored his first aerial victory, flying an Albatros D.V. and downing a British Sopwith Camel of Number 70 Squadron. His fifth victory (over an RAF SE.5a) was achieved on the last day of November.
Mai did not score again until January 13, 1918. On April 25th, he forced down British ace Lieutenant Maurice Newnham of Number 65 Squadron for victory number ten.
By May 1918, Jasta 5 was sharing an airstrip with Jagdgeschwader 1, the famous “Flying Circus”… now re-equipped with new Fokker D.VIIs. Mai started flying a cast-off Fokker Dr.I triplane (serial number 139/17). His next victory was achieved fighting a Bristol F.2B from Number 11 Squadron. Pilot Lieutenant Herbert Sellars was killed, although Observer Lt. Charles Robson survived… and was taken prisoner. Mai claimed three more victories with the Fokker Dr.1 triplane.
But Josef Mai was prone to paint his planes in a “zebra stripe” pattern, with black and white striping on the fuselage angled to the left viewed from the starboard side. His theory was that the optical illusion would throw off an enemy pilot’s aim. Painted on this background was his insignia: a star and crescent. Mai’s Albatros and D.VII were known to bear this paint scheme, but the design on his Dr.1 was (and still is) uncertain.
On August 19, 1918, Mai had his most successful day! He attacked two Bristol F.2B fighters from the Number 48 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. As he hit one of the enemy planes with incendiary ammunition, the other swerved away from the incoming fire and collided with his wrecked companion! Mai followed up this double kill by downing an SE.5a from Number 56 Squadron.
On September 3rd, Mai was wounded in the left thigh. Nevertheless, he scored again two days later, downing an SE5a from Number 64 Squadron… and added five more victories later that month.
The day of his 29th success (September 27th), Mai was promoted to Leutnant. Sadly, his friend Fritz Rumey was killed in action the same day! Two days later, Mai claimed his 30th and last score (a Bristol F.2B of Number 20 Squadron), killing the ace crew of Lieutenant Nicholson Boulton and Second Lieutenant C.H. Chase.
Mai was nominated for Germany’s highest military honor: the Pour le Merite, nicknamed the “Blue Max”. But before it could be approved, the armistice was signed at Compiegne on November 11th.
Josef Mai is believed to have become a flying instructor for the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. He eventually died at the age of ninety-four on January 18, 1982.