# Hans Imelmann

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hans_Imelmann
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hans_Imelmann.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Imelmann
> Source revision: 1352941631
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Hans Imelmann Hans Imelmann Picture Born (1897-05-14)May 14, 1897 Hannover, German Empire Died 23 January 1917(1917-01-23) (aged 19) near Miraumont, France Allegiance German Empire Branch Aviation Rank Leutnant Unit KEK Metz, Jasta 2 Awards Iron Cross

[Leutnant](/source/Leutnant) **Hans Imelmann** (14 May 1897 – 23 January 1917) was a [World War I](/source/World_War_I) [flying ace](/source/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](/source/Hannover), the [German Empire](/source/German_Empire), on 14 May 1897.[1]

His first known military service was as a [Fokker Eindekker](/source/Fokker_Eindekker) pilot for one of the early ad hoc fighter units, *Kampfeinsitzerkommando* (Combat Single-Seater Command) [Metz](/source/Metz), in 1916. He was selected by [Oswald Boelcke](/source/Oswald_Boelcke) as a pilot for Germany's new fighter squadron, [Royal Prussian](/source/Kingdom_of_Prussia) *[Jagdstaffel 2](/source/Jagdstaffel_2)*, upon its formation. Between 10 October and 20 December 1916, he was credited with six confirmed victories.[1] Imelmann's third victory set [Nieuport 17](/source/Nieuport_17) no. A162 from [No. 60 Squadron RFC](/source/No._60_Squadron_RAF) aflame, but its pilot, British ace [Ernest Foot](/source/Ernest_Foot) somehow escaped its crash-landing uninjured.[2]

On 23 January 1917, Imelmann became one of the first aces killed in action. Imelmann attacked a [Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c](/source/Royal_Aircraft_Factory_BE.2) belonging to [No. 4 Squadron RFC](/source/No._4_Squadron_RAF) near [Miraumont](/source/Miraumont), France. A burst of machine gun fire through his fuel tank sent Imelmann down in flames.[3]

## Endnotes

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lines134_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lines134_1-1) Franks et al 1993, p. 134.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Shores et al 1990, p. 154.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*The Aerodrome*](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/imelmann.php)

## References

- [Franks, Norman](/source/Norman_Franks); 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](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-948817-73-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-948817-73-9), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-948817-73-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/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](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-948817-19-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-948817-19-4), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-948817-19-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-948817-19-9).

This biographical article related to the German Air Force is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Germany-airforce-bio-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3AGermany-airforce-bio-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Germany-airforce-bio-stub)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hans Imelmann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Imelmann) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Imelmann?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.