Several modules mention the the development of aerial combat during World War I, referencing the names Max Immelmann, Oswald Bolcke, and Manfred von Richthofen alongside new combat tactics. This brief module will cover who these pilots were and the general tactical ideas they devised for aerial combat, which are still applicable in combat today.
After reviewing this module, you will be able to describe and explain the following concepts:
Boelcke's rules for aerial combat (dogfighting)
Baron von Richthofen's contributions to organized squadron tactics
Max Immelman was a German pilot who amassed fifteen kills before his death in June 1916 (marking the unofficial end of the 'Fokker Scourge' discussed in the last lesson). Flying with Oswald Boelcke, who would also be killed in combat in 1916, the two developed a set of rules to govern aerial combat, which they then taught to new pilots coming into the Imperial German Air Service. The goal was to help the young pilots survive and fight more effectively as part of a unit.
Their list of rules includes:
Whenever possible, attack from above and from the rear
Try to attack from out of the Sun
Do not fire until you have closed with the enemy and have him squarely in your sights
Attack when the enemy least expects it, or when he is preoccupied with other tasks
Never run from an attack, but turn to meet it head on
Keep your eye on the enemy and do not be deceived. If an aircraft appears to be fatally damaged, follow it to the ground to be certain.
Foolish acts of bravery lead to death. Always obey the signals of the leader.
Many of these maxims still hold true for aerial combat, also called dogfighting, even today. Before Immelman and Boelcke were killed, however, they taught these ideas to one of their most prominent protégés, Manfred von Richthofen or the Red Baron. The video below provides a quick overview of his life.
Jasta 11 (Fighter Squadron 11 in the Imperial German Air Service) was a typical squadron until Manfred von Richthofen took command in January of 1917. Under his leadership the squadron became one of the most successful in the German Air Service claiming 350 kills. Richthofen himself was credited with 80 kills during his time as a pilot (1915-1918). The key to success for Jasta 11 was the implementation of Boelcke's rules into squadron-level tactics.
Richthofen drilled the men in close flying formations, attacking from high and behind the enemy, and whenever possible coming at the enemy from the Sun making it difficult to spot them until it was too late. The training and discipline were highly successful, with Jasta 11 playing a significant role in what is known as "Bloody April" 1917 when German fighters dominated the skies. Richthofen was eventually wounded by ground fire in April 1918, dying soon after landing his damaged aircraft behind enemy lines. His contributions to Boelcke's tactics, however, continue to influence squadron and "wingman" (two planes flying and fighting as one unit) today.
World War I saw the development of aerial combat tactics that were successful for both individual pilots and squadrons. The notion of sticking with your "wingman" or squadron and collectively trying to outmaneuver an enemy pilot--almost like a pack of wolves hunting together--as well as tried-and-true tactics that give an advantage to fire first, like attacking from high and behind or from the direction of the Sun, were first tried and perfected by men like Max Immelman, Oswald Boelcke, and Manfred von Richthofen.
Williamson Murray, War in the Air 1914-1945 (New York: Smithsonian Books and HarperCollins, 1999).