Oberleutnant Hasso von Wedel (12 May 1893–1945) IC began his career as a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

credited with five aerial victories. He served as a fighter pilot during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

; in the

Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...

, after a spell as a prisoner of war, he was repatriated and fought in the

Battle of Berlin The Battle of Berlin, designated as the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, and also known as the Fall of Berlin, was one of the last major offensives of the European theatre of World War II. After the Vistula– ...

Prewar life

Hasso von Wedel was born in Vogelsang on 12 May 1893. On 22 March 1912, he enlisted as a cadet in the 11th Dragoon Regiment. Franks et al 1993, pp. 226–227.

World War I service

Once the war began, Wedel transferred to aviation duty. He trained as an

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in November 1915. Once trained, he served in reconnaissance aircraft until May 1917 in a series of artillery spotting squadrons. During this spell, on 22 September 1916, he was credited with downing an enemy aircraft. For a short spell in February 1918, Wedel joined a fighter squadron,

Jagdstaffel 14 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 14 was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 57 aerial v ...

. On 21 February, he was transferred to command Jagdstaffel 75. On 16 May 1918, he shot down an

observation balloon An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War ...

for his second victory. He was wounded in action on 28 June. On 21 August, Wedel was appointed to two posts. He would command Jagdgruppe 12 while also leading one of its squadrons,

Jagdstaffel 24 Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 24 was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 89 verified ae ...

. During September, Wedel would shoot down three enemy aircraft, two of which were

SE-5 The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 is a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory by a team consisting of Henry Folland, John Kenworthy and Major Frank Goodden. It was one of the ...

a fighters. By war's end, Wedel would have won both classes of the

iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...

World War II service

Wedel flew a

Messerschmitt Bf 109 The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War an ...

into the

. At 12:15 hours on 15 September 1940, he was shot down near

Bilsington Bilsington is a village and civil parish in the Ashford district of Kent, England. The village is about south of Ashford, on the B2067 road, Hamstreet to Hythe road north of the Royal Military Canal. About of a quarter of the parish is wooded ...

. He survived the crash and was repatriated. He died in the final defense of Berlin in 1945.

Endnotes

References

* Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. ''Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918''. Grub Street, 1993. , . 1893 births 1945 deaths German World War I flying aces Luftwaffe pilots Shot-down aviators German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II Wedel family Military personnel from Brandenburg {{Germany-airforce-bio-stub