Karl Emil Schäfer

Karl Emil Schäfer (17 December 1891 – 5 June 1917) was a German pilot during World War I; he became one of the major German flying aces of the war, with 30 confirmed aerial victories.[1]

Emil Schäfer
Nickname(s)Karlchen
("Charlie")
Born(1891-12-17)17 December 1891
Krefeld, Germany
Died5 June 1917(1917-06-05) (aged 25)
Becelaere-Zandvoorde, Belgium
AllegianceGerman Empire
Service/branchLuftstreitkräfte
Years of service1914–1917
RankLeutnant
Unit
Commands heldJagdstaffel 28
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Eastern Front
 • Western Front
AwardsPour le Mérite
Iron Cross First & Second Class
Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern
Wound Badge

Early life and infantry service

Schäfer was born in Krefeld and joined the Jäger Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 10 of the Prussian Army for his One-year volunteer military service. An engineering student who spoke fluent French and English, he was a fine draughtsman, and was studying in Paris when the war broke out, but managed to return to Germany and was assigned to the Reserve Jäger Bataillon 7 in Bückeburg. He won the Iron Cross 2nd class and was promoted to Vizefeldwebel during September 1914, before being badly wounded[2] and hospitalised for six months. After returning to the front line he was commissioned in May 1915.

Flying service

Requesting flying duties Schäfer trained as a pilot and served over the Eastern Front with Kampfgeschwader 2 from July 1916 onwards. He moved to the west and now flew with Kampfstaffel 11 of KG 2, where he gained his first victory. With just this single victory, he impudently telegraphed Manfred von Richthofen, who was assembling a "top gun" (kanone) squadron at Jasta 11, "Can you use me?" Richthofen replied, "You have already been requested."

Schäfer was then posted to Jasta 11 on 21 February 1917. In intensive operations during Bloody April he became a flying ace, being credited with 21 victories and awarded the Pour le Mérite. While a member of Jasta 11, "Karlchen" (Charlie) became known as the squadron's prankster and recorded many vivid incidents in combat and at play. He flew an Albatros D.III with red and black markings.[1] Somehow amidst all this he found time to pen his autobiography, Vom Jaeger zum Flieger ("From Soldier to Pilot").

Command and death in action

Schäfer was then given command of Jasta 28 on 26 April, and after gaining further victories for a total of 30 claims Schäfer was shot down and killed in action on 5 June 1917 in combat with No. 20 Squadron, by ace crew Lt. Harold Satchell and Lt. Thomas Lewis. Satchell and Lewis' fire did not strike Schäfer, but disabled his plane, which broke apart in midair. They reported that the Albatross fell in flames; German ace witness Max Ritter von Müller reported seeing it break up, but noted no fire. Photos of the wreckage show no scorching and the wings still attached to the aircraft.[3] Nevertheless, his Jasta 28 comrades recovered Schäfer's body, noting that it had no bullet wounds, but that every bone in his body had been broken.

Having scored 29 of his victories in the Albatros D.III, he was one of the most successful pilots in the type.

Combat record
List of aerial victories [4]
No. Date/time Unit Aircraft Foe Location
122 January 1917Kasta 11Albatros D.IICaudronWest of Pont-à-Mousson
24 March 1917 @ 1150Jasta 11Albatros D.IIISopwith 1½ Strutter (A1109)South-west of Haisnes
u/c4 March 1917Jasta 11D.H.2 or F.E.8Near Lens
u/c4 March 1917Jasta 11D.H.2 or F.E.8Near Béthune
36 March 1917 @ 1145Jasta 11Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A978)Lens
46 March 1917 @ 1155Jasta 11Sopwith 1½ StrutterLens
59 March 1917 @ 1120Jasta 11F.E.8 (6397)Faschoda
69 March 1917 @ 1122Jasta 11F.E.8 (4874)Pont-à-Vendin
711 March 1917 @ 1120Jasta 11B.E.2c (6232)Loosbogen
824 March 1917 @ 0900Jasta 11Sopwith 1½ StrutterAnzin, near Arras
93 April 1917 @ 1620Jasta 11F.E.2d (6371)South of Lens
106 April 1917 @ 1020Jasta 11B.E.2Givenchy
116 April 1917 @ 1037Jasta 11B.E.2West of Vimy
127 April 1917 @ 1745Jasta 11Nieuport 23Mecatal
138 April 1917 @ 1440Jasta 11D.H.4Épinoy
149 April 1917 @ 1900Jasta 11B.E.2d (5742)Aise Roulette
1511 April 1917 @ 0910Jasta 11Bristol F.2A (A3318)Fampoux
1611 April 1917 @ 1250Jasta 11B.E.2eArras
1713 April 1917 @ 1830Jasta 11F.E.2b (A6372)Le Point du Jour
1814 April 1917 @ 1705Jasta 11F.E.2b (4877)Lievin-Eleu
1914 April 1917 @ 1720Jasta 11B.E or Bristol F.2aLa Coulette
2021 April 1917 @ 1745Jasta 11Nieuport Scout (A6797)East of Fresnes
2122 April 1917 @ 2020Jasta 11F.E.2bNorth-west of Moncy-Tilloy
2225 April 1917 @ 1040Jasta 11F.E.2b (A837)Bailleul
2325 April 1917 @ 2030Jasta 11Bristol F.2a (A3352)Bahnhoff Roeux
241 May 1917 @ 1240Jasta 28FarmanDixmude
251 May 1917 @ 1300Jasta 28Nieuport ScoutEast of Poperinghe
269 May 1917 @ 1900Jasta 28Sopwith 1½ StrutterWarneton
2718 May 1917 @ 1110Jasta 28F.E.2dHollebeke
2823 May 1917 @ 1615Jasta 28F.E.2dWarenton
2923 May 1917 @ 1845Jasta 28Sopwith PupWytschaetebogen
304 June 1917 @ 1410Jasta 28D.H.4 (A7420)Moorslede

See also

References
Citations
  1. Guttman (2009), p. 81.
  2. German Casualty Rolls / Prussian Roll Nr. 61 of October 27, 1914, p.1884)
  3. Guttman (2009), pp. 80-82.
  4. "Karl Emil Schäfer". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
Bibliography
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W. & Guest, Russell F. (1993). Above The Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service, and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Guttman, Jon & Dempsey, Harry (2009). Pusher Aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-417-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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