Hans Imelmann

{{Infobox military person | name = Hans Imelmann | image = Hans Imelmann.jpg | caption = ''Hans Imelmann Picture'' | birth_date = {{Birth date|1897|05|14}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1917|1|23|1897|5|14}} | burial_label = | burial_place = | birth_place = [[Hannover]], [[German Empire]] | death_place = near [[Miraumont]], [[France]] | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = | allegiance = [[German Empire]] | branch = Aviation | service_years = | rank = [[Leutnant]] | unit = [[KEK Metz]], [[Jasta 2]] | commands = | battles = | awards = [[Iron Cross]] | relations = | other_work = }} [[Leutnant]] '''Hans Imelmann''' (14 May 1897 – 23 January 1917) was a [[World War I]] [[flying ace]] credited with six aerial victories. As a founding member of one of Germany's original fighter squadrons, he was shot down and killed before he reached his twentieth birthday.

==Biography== Hans Imelmann was born in [[Hannover]], the [[German Empire]], on 14 May 1897.<ref name=lines134>Franks et al 1993, p. 134.</ref>

His first known military service was as a [[Fokker Eindekker]] pilot for one of the early ad hoc fighter units, ''Kampfeinsitzerkommando'' (Combat Single-Seater Command) [[Metz]], in 1916. He was selected by [[Oswald Boelcke]] as a pilot for Germany's new fighter squadron, [[Kingdom of Prussia|Royal Prussian]] ''[[Jagdstaffel 2]]'', upon its formation. Between 10 October and 20 December 1916, he was credited with six confirmed victories.<ref name=lines134/> Imelmann's third victory set [[Nieuport 17]] no. A162 from [[No. 60 Squadron RAF|No. 60 Squadron RFC]] aflame, but its pilot, British ace [[Ernest Foot]] somehow escaped its crash-landing uninjured.<ref>Shores et al 1990, p. 154.</ref>

On 23 January 1917, Imelmann became one of the first aces killed in action. Imelmann attacked a [[Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2]]c belonging to [[No. 4 Squadron RAF|No. 4 Squadron RFC]] near [[Miraumont]], France. A burst of machine gun fire through his fuel tank sent Imelmann down in flames.<ref>[http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/imelmann.php ''The Aerodrome'']</ref>

==Endnotes== {{Reflist|2}}

==References== * [[Norman Franks|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. {{ISBN|0-948817-73-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-948817-73-1}}. * Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell. ''Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920''. Grub Street, 1990. {{ISBN|0-948817-19-4}}, {{ISBN|978-0-948817-19-9}}.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imelmann, Hans}} [[Category:1897 births]] [[Category:1917 deaths]] [[Category:Aviators killed by being shot down]] [[Category:German World War I flying aces]] [[Category:German military personnel killed in World War I]] [[Category:Luftstreitkräfte personnel]] [[Category:Military personnel from Hanover]] [[Category:Military personnel from the Province of Hanover]]