Theodor Quandt
Major Theodor Quandt (22 June 1897 – 6 June 1940) was a World War I German flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.[1] He would return to his nation's service for World War II, being killed on 6 June 1940 duirng the Fall of France.
Theodor Quandt | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 22, 1897 Mollaud, East Prussia |
| Died | June 6, 1940 (aged 42) France |
| Allegiance | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} German Empire |
| Service/ | Luftstreitkräfte |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery) 270; Jagdstaffel 36 (Fighter Squadron 36) |
| Commands held | Jagdstaffel 53 (Fighter Squadron 53) |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Royal House Order of Hohenzollern |
| Other work | Flew combat in WWII Luftwaffe |
Birth and early military service
Theodor Quandt was born in Mollaud, Prussia on 22 June 1897.[2]
He enlisted in the infantry on 4 August 1914, while he was still 17 years old. He later served as an artilleryman. He was a combatant in the Battle of Tannenberg on the Eastern Front. He was switched to the Western Front in early 1916. On 1 July, he began aerial service, training as a pilot. Once qualified, he was posted to Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery) 270), an artillery direction unit, on 1 January 1917. He served with them until transferred to Jagdstaffel 36 (Fighter Squadron 36) on 1 April. Rather unusually, he did not undergo fighter training before making the switch.[2]
World War I flying service
Quant began his victory roll with Jagdstaffel 36 as a balloon buster, setting a pair of observation balloons on fire on 21 May 1917.[3] This string of wins ran until the eighth one, on 8 November 1917, the seventh having been over British aces Arthur Taylor and William Benger.[1][2]
On 24 December 1917, Quandt was transferred to Jagdstaffel 53 as its commanding officer. After almost a ten month lapse, Quant resumed scoring on 27 August 1918 with a double victory. His eleventh triumph, on 1 September 1918, was over American ace John Donaldson. He then scored four more times in the next three days, and finished the war as a lieutenant.[1][2]
World War II flying service
Quandt was killed in action while flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 during the Fall of France in the beginning of World War II.[1]
Sources of information
- "The Aerodrome", Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918, p. 184
- Albatros Aces of World War I. p. 31.
References
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
Further reading
- ACES OF JAGDGESCHWADER Nr III, Greg VanWyngarden. Osprey Publishing, 2016. ISBN 978-1-4728-0843-1