Roman Schmidt

Roman Oto Kažimir Schmidt or Roman Šmidt was a World War I flying ace of the Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops (air force), credited with six aerial victories.[1]

Roman Schmidt
Roman Schmidt wearing his military decorations
Born6 November 1893
Varaždin, Croatia
Died5 April 1959 (1959-04-06) (aged 65)
AllegianceAustro-Hungarian Empire
Service/branchAviation
RankOberleutnant
UnitFlik 7, Flik 13, Flik 30J, Flik 74J, Flik 26
AwardsOrder of the Iron Crown, Military Merit Cross, Military Merit Medal

His first aerial victory was scored on the Russian front, whilst posted with Fliegerkompanen 7 (Flik 7, for Aviation Company 7), and flying a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I, when he together with pilot Paul Hablitschek on April 13, 1917 shot down a Russian Nieuport Scout in the vicinity of Bohorodzany. (In accordance with Austro-Hungarian practice as Oberleutenant and officer Schmidt was acting as observer and gunner.) Later that year he was transferred to Flik 13, which was also fighting on the Russian front. On September 8, over Razbita in a twin-seater type Oeffag C.II, he and Oberleutenant Miroslav Navratil downed a Russian Nieuport fighter. On October 4, flying a Lloyd 40.11 twin-seater with the pilot Zugsführer Adolf Wiltsch, they shot down another a single-seat fighter, marking Schmidt's third kill in 1917.[2]

Schmidt flew with Flik 30J on the Italian front from May 1918. On July 12, whilst flying a Phönix D.I numbered 128.12, he downed an Italian twin-seater (type SAML) over enemy territory. His fifth kill occurred eleven days later, on July 23, when he shot down an RAF Bristol F.2 Fighter from 139th Squadron over Godega di Sant'Urbano; both the pilot and the observer perished in the crash.[3] During that period, Flik 30J was based at the San Pietro di Campo airfield.[4] His sixth and last victory was gained on October 27, 1918, when he shot down an Italian Caproni Ca.3 heavy bomber in the area around Belluno.


References
  1. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/austrhun/schmidt3.php
  2. Grosz, 1993. p 204, 472.
  3. Chant, 2002. p 94.
  4. Grosz, 1993. p 119.

Bibliography
  • Chant, Christopher (2002). Austro-Hungarian Aces of World War 1. Wellingborough, UK: Osprey Publishing.
  • Grosz, Peter M. (1993). Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One. Mountain View, CA: Flying Machines Press.

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