# Julius Busa

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Short description|Austro-Hungarian flying ace}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix   = 
| name               = Julius Busa
| honorific_suffix   = 
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| image              = Busa Gyula.jpg
| image_size         = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1891|02|18|df=y}}
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1917|05|13|1891|02|18|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [Budapest](/source/Budapest), [Hungary](/source/Hungary)
| death_place        = Near [Plava](/source/Plav%2C_Montenegro), [Italy](/source/Italy)
| burial_place       = 
| burial_label       = 
| burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| nickname           = 
| birth_name         = Gyula Busa
| allegiance         = 23px [Austro-Hungarian Empire](/source/Austro-Hungarian_Empire)
| branch             = [Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops](/source/Austro-Hungarian_Aviation_Troops)
| service_years      = 1914–1917
| rank               = ''[Feldwebel](/source/Feldwebel)''
| service_number     = <!--Do not use data from primary sources such as service records.-->
| unit               = ''Fliegerkompanie 14''<br>''Fluggeschwader I''
| commands           = 
| battles            = {{Tree list}}
*[World War I](/source/World_War_I)
**[Eastern Front](/source/Eastern_Front_(World_War_I))
**[Italian Front](/source/Italian_campaign_(World_War_I))
***[Battles of the Isonzo](/source/Battles_of_the_Isonzo){{KIA}}
{{Tree list/end}}
| battles_label      = 
| awards             = Gold [Medal for Bravery](/source/Medal_for_Bravery_(Austria-Hungary));<br>Two First Class and one Second Class Silver Medals for Bravery
| memorials          = 
| spouse             = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced -->
| relations          = 
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| website            = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
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}}
''[Feldwebel](/source/Feldwebel)'' '''Julius Busa''' (18 February 1891 – 13 May 1917) was an Austro-Hungarian World War I [flying ace](/source/flying_ace) credited with five aerial victories during 1916. He was also notable for twice surviving direct hits by antiaircraft shells, saving his aircraft and [aerial observer](/source/aerial_observer) on both occasions. Busa scored all his aerial victories while engaged in general purpose missions in two-seater reconnaissance airplanes. His valor would be rewarded with [Austria-Hungary](/source/Austria-Hungary)'s highest award for [non-commissioned officers](/source/non-commissioned_officers), the Gold [Medal for Bravery](/source/Medal_for_Bravery_(Austria-Hungary)). He also won three Silver Medals for Bravery—two First Class and one Second Class. Busa was killed in action by [Francesco Baracca](/source/Francesco_Baracca) on 13 May 1917.

==Early life==

Julius Busa (born Gyula Busa) was born in [Budapest](/source/Budapest), Hungary, on 18 February 1891. He joined the Austro-Hungarian military when World War I broke out in 1914.{{sfn|Franks|Guest|Alegi|1997|p=176}}{{sfn|O'Connor|1994|p=173}}

==Aviation training and posting==
thumb|A Lloyd C.II
Busa completed pilot's training in December 1915, earning Austrian Pilot's Certificate No. 294. His first assignment was to a general service squadron, ''Fliegerkompanie 14'',{{sfn|O'Connor|1994|p=173}} on the [Russian Front](/source/Russian_Front_(World_War_I)). There he flew various two-seater [reconnaissance](/source/reconnaissance) aircraft--the [Lloyd C.II](/source/Lloyd_C.II), the [Aviatik B.II](/source/Aviatik_B.II), and the [Hansa-Brandenburg C.I](/source/Hansa-Brandenburg_C.I) among them.{{sfn|Franks|Guest|Alegi|1997|p=176}}

By 10 January 1916, he had flown enough missions to qualify for the Field Pilot's Badge; two weeks later, it was presented to Busa. Meanwhile, on 18 January, he survived a direct hit by an antiaircraft shell and managed to return to base. On 1 February 1916, he was promoted to sergeant. On 4 June 1916, he took a direct hit from an anti-aircraft shell for the second time; however, he continued his flight, completed his mission, and received a commendation.{{sfn|O'Connor|1994|p=173}}

==Aerial victories==
{{See also|Aerial victory standards of World War I#Austria-Hungary}}

On the evening of 23 June 1916, Busa was credited with using a Lloyd C.II to force two Russian biplanes to land at Rudnia Airfield. His observer used only 60 rounds of ammunition in the skirmish.{{sfn|O'Connor|1994|pp=173, 319}} Busa's prowess did not go unrewarded. He was granted several [Medals for Bravery](/source/Medal_for_Bravery_(Austria-Hungary)); a Second Class Silver award was followed by two First Class Silvers. He was also promoted to ''[Feldwebel](/source/Feldwebel)''{{sfn|Franks|Guest|Alegi|1997|p=176}} on 20 October 1916.{{sfn|O'Connor|1994|p=173}}

Also in October 1916, Busa and his squadron were transferred to northern Italy. On 23 November 1916, while flying a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I, Busa was credited with three aerial victories.{{sfn|Franks|Guest|Alegi|1997|p=176}}  Colonel [Emil Uzelac](/source/Emil_Uzelac) signed off on a commendation for Busa's pilot, then scrawled upon its margin, "Who was the NCO pilot?" Subsequently, Busa  was awarded the premier decoration for Austro-Hungarian [non-commissioned officer](/source/non-commissioned_officer)s, the Gold Medal for Bravery.{{sfn|O'Connor|1994|p=174}}

==Death in action==
left|thumb|A Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
In December 1916, Busa was transferred to ''Fluggeschwader I''. This squadron was based near [Trieste](/source/Trieste) and was fighting in the [Battles of the Isonzo](/source/Battles_of_the_Isonzo).{{sfn|O'Connor|1994|p=174}} On 13 May 1917, Busa fell under the guns of leading Italian ace [Francesco Baracca](/source/Francesco_Baracca).{{sfn|Franks|Guest|Alegi|1997|p=176}} Baracca, in his new [SPAD S.VII](/source/SPAD_S.VII), hit Busa in a head-on pass over [Plava](/source/Plav%2C_Montenegro), Italy, at {{convert|3000|m|sp=us}} and set his Hansa-Brandenburg C.I afire. While Busa's observer leapt out with no parachute in desperation, Busa's body fell to earth in his burning airplane.{{sfn|O'Connor|1994|p=173}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
*{{cite book|last=Franks|first=Norman|author-link=Norman Franks|last2=Guest|first2=Russell|last3=Alegi|first3=Gregory|year=1997|title=Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914–1918|publisher=Grub Street|ISBN=978-1898697565}}

*{{cite book|last=O'Connor|first=Martin|year=1994|title=Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914 - 1918|publisher=Flying Machines Press|ISBN=978-0-9637110-1-4}}

{{wwi-air}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Busa, Julius}}
Category:1891 births
Category:1917 deaths
Category:Austro-Hungarian World War I flying aces
Category:Austro-Hungarian military personnel killed in World War I
Category:Military personnel from Budapest
Category:Recipients of the Medal for Bravery (Austria-Hungary)

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