Fritz Otto Bernert
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Oberleutnant (English: First Lieutenant) is a senior lieutenant Officer (armed forces), officer rank in the German (language), German-speaking armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr), the Austrian Armed Forces, and the Swiss Armed Forces. In Austria, ''Oberle ...
'' Fritz Otto Bernert (commonly called Otto) (6 March 1893 – 18 October 1918) was a leading German
fighter ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...
of World War I. After being invalided from infantry duty after his fourth wound, Bernert joined the aviation branch. After pilot training, he scored 27 victories between 17 April 1916 and 7 May 1917 despite being essentially one-armed and wearing
pince-nez Pince-nez ( or , plural form same as singular; ) is a style of glasses, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that are supported without earpieces, by pinching the bridge of the nose. The name comes from French language, French ''pi ...
. Among his 15 victories during
Bloody April Bloody April was the (largely successful) British air support operation during the Battle of Arras (1917), Battle of Arras in April 1917, during which particularly heavy casualties were suffered by the Royal Flying Corps at the hands of the Germ ...
were five scored in 20 minutes on 13 April 1917. He was promoted to squadron command, first of '' Jagdstaffel 6'', then of ''
Jagdstaffel 2 Jasta 2 (Jagdstaffel Zwei in full and also known as ''Jasta Boelcke'') was one of the best-known German Luftstreitkräfte squadrons in World War I. Its first commanding officer was the great aerial tactician Oswald Boelcke, and it was the incubato ...
''. Removed from command on 18 August 1918 by wounds and illness, he died of
influenza Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These sympto ...
on 18 October 1918.


Early life and infantry service

Fritz Otto Bernert was the son of a ''Bürgermeister'' (mayor). He was born in Ratibor, Silesia, which now is
Racibórz Racibórz (, , , ) is a city in Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the administrative seat of Racibórz County. With Opole, Racibórz is one of the historic capitals of Upper Silesia, being the residence of the Duchy of Racibórz, Du ...
, Poland. At the time of his birth, Ratibor was German and part of the
Kingdom of Prussia The Kingdom of Prussia (, ) was a German state that existed from 1701 to 1918.Marriott, J. A. R., and Charles Grant Robertson. ''The Evolution of Prussia, the Making of an Empire''. Rev. ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1946. It played a signif ...
. Bernert was commissioned into the 173rd Infantry Regiment in 1912. He was serving with them when World War I began. He was wounded in ground combat in both November and December 1914; his fourth wound, inflicted by a bayonet,The Aerodrome webpage on Berner

Retrieved on 4 January 2021.
severed the major nerve in his left arm. Upon recovery, it became apparent his left arm was essentially useless, and he was invalided out of the infantry.


Aerial service

Bernert then applied to the ''
Luftstreitkräfte The ''Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte'' (, German Air Combat Forces)known before October 1916 as (The Imperial German Air Service, lit. "The flying troops of the German Kaiser’s Reich")was the air arm of the Imperial German Army. In English-langu ...
'' and trained to be an
aerial observer Aerial may refer to: Music * ''Aerial'' (album), by Kate Bush, and that album's title track * "Aerials" (song), from the album ''Toxicity'' by System of a Down Bands * Aerial (Canadian band) * Aerial (Scottish band) * Aerial (Swedish band) ...
. Upon graduation, he flew reconnaissance missions for ''
Feldflieger Abteilung Feldflieger Abteilung (''FFA'', Field Flying Detachment) was the title of the pioneering field aviation units of (The Air Forces of the German Empire) formed in 1912, which became the ( German air service) on 8 October 1916, during the First World ...
'' 27. He then transferred to ''Feldflieger Abteilung 71'', where he served through November. Bernert then applied for pilot's training; he hid his disability successfully and was accepted. The fact that he wore
pince-nez Pince-nez ( or , plural form same as singular; ) is a style of glasses, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that are supported without earpieces, by pinching the bridge of the nose. The name comes from French language, French ''pi ...
also did not bar him from service. He transferred to ''Kampfeinsitzerkommando
Metz Metz ( , , , then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle (river), Moselle and the Seille (Moselle), Seille rivers. Metz is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments ...
'', a temporary grouping of pilots mostly from ''Feldflieger Abteilung 71'', for his initial assignment to a fighter unit. By March, 1916, he had his pilot's license and was assigned to ''Kampfeinsitzerkommando Vaux''. On 17 April 1916, he scored his first victory while flying a
Fokker Eindecker The Fokker ''Eindecker'' fighters were a series of German World War I monoplane single-seat fighter aircraft designed by Netherlands, Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker.Boyne 1988 Developed in April 1915, the first ''Eindecker'' ("Monoplane") was the ...
, over a
Nieuport Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars. History Beginnings Originally formed as Nieuport-Duplex in ...
fighter. The
ad hoc ''Ad hoc'' is a List of Latin phrases, Latin phrase meaning literally for this. In English language, English, it typically signifies a solution designed for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a Generalization, generalized solution ...
''Kampfeinsitzerkommando Vaux'' was equipped with
Halberstadt D.II The Halberstadt D.II was a biplane fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by German aircraft company Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke. It was adopted by the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Army Air Service) and served through the period ...
planes and reorganized into a full-fledged permanent Prussian fighter squadron. It became '' Jagdstaffel 4'' on 25 August 1916. On 6 September, Bernert scored the new squadron's first victory. He became an ace on 9 November 1916, scoring his fifth, sixth, and seventh triumphs. On 1 March 1917, he was transferred to ''Jagdstaffel'' 2. This squadron, named in honor of
Oswald Boelcke Oswald Boelcke PlM (; 19 May 1891 – 28 October 1916) was a World War I German professional soldier and pioneering flying ace credited with 40 aerial victories. Boelcke is honored as the father of the German fighter air force, and of air ...
, the founder of fighter aviation tactics and strategy, was considered the premier unit of the German Air Service. Bernert scored his first victory in this unit on 19 March; on 1 April, he achieved the status of double ace with his tenth win. Bernert continued to shoot down British airplanes during early April 1917. He claimed his 18th and 19th victims on the 11th. Then, rather unusually, he was awarded the ''
Pour le Merite Pour is a name which can be used as a surname and a given name: * Kour Pour (born 1987), American artist of Iranian and British descent * Mehdi Niyayesh Pour (born 1992), Iranian footballer * Mojtaba Mobini Pour (born 1991), Iranian footballer * P ...
'' on either 23 or 24 April 1917.Customarily, the ''Pour le Merite'' was recommended as an award after 20 confirmed victories. Bernert's award was granted only 12 days after his 19th victory, and he may have been recommended for an even lower number, given administrative processing time. However, it was on the 24th that he carried off one of the notable aerial feats of the war. On a morning patrol, Bernert managed to shoot one of an enemy patrol of
Sopwith 1½ Strutter The Sopwith Strutter is a British single- or two-seat Multirole combat aircraft, multi-role biplane aircraft of the First World War.Lake 2002, p. 40. It was the first British two-seat tractor configuration, tractor fighter and the first Briti ...
s at 0830 hours, killing the pilot and burning the aircraft. Breaking off combat with the Sopwiths, Bernert next found a formation of Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2es. The three bombers were flying without aerial observers manning their rear guns; their gunners had been left home so more bombs could be loaded. Slower than Bernert's fighter, with no rear defense, they were easy prey for him, and he blasted them from the sky between 0840 and 0845. Two of the unfortunate British pilots were killed, and the third captured after his crash. Then, with fuel and ammunition remaining, Bernert found an
Airco DH.4 The Airco DH.4 is a British two-seat biplane day bomber of the First World War. It was designed by Geoffrey de Havilland (hence "DH") for Airco, and was the first British two-seat light day-bomber capable of defending itself. It was desig ...
and shot it down at 0850 hours, killing the observer and wounding the pilot. Five victories on a single mission was astounding. It had only happened once before, when the bomber crew of
Austro-Hungarian Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...
aces
Julius Arigi Julius Arigi (3 October 1895 – 1 August 1981) was a flying ace of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I with a total of 32 credited victories. His victory total was second only to Godwin von Brumowski. Arigi was considered a superb natur ...
and
Johann Lasi ''Stabfeldwebel'' Johann Lasi (born 1890, date of death unknown) was a World War I Austro-Hungarian flying ace, a Croat by ethnicity, credited with five aerial victories on 22 Aug 1916, while acting as an unauthorized rear gunner for Julius Arigi. ...
shot down five Italian assailants on 22 October 1916.


Bernert in command

On 1 May, Bernert was appointed to command ''Jagdstaffel'' 6. His final three victories came in May, with an unconfirmed 28th on 19 May.Interestingly, these victories scored while flying with ''Jagdstaffel 6'' were credited to ''Jagdstaffel 2''. In mid-May, Bernert crashlanded behind German lines after his engine quit in mid-combat. A few days later, he landed long, ran out of airfield, and crashed next to his home aerodrome, breaking his jaw and bruising himself severely. Although unable to fly, Bernert did not give up his command. On 9 June 1917, Bernert was transferred back to ''Jasta'' 2, and would command it to the end of his flying career. The previous commanding officer had scored no victories to inspire his pilots; as it turned out, because of his injuries, Bernert could do no better. However, he hosted a delegation of pilots from neutral Sweden. He also welcomed several pilots from
Austro-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
during his tenure, including Raoul Stojsavljevic, and thus influenced the fighter tactics of Germany's allies. He also took some leave during June and July. Bernert was severely wounded again on 18 August 1917. This wound was the final straw that took him off flight status and removed him from command. On the 28th, he was transferred to aid the Inspector of the Flying Service. However, he actually spent three months in hospital. He was seriously ill in addition to his wounds. He was also diagnosed with ''Kriegsmudigkeit'' (war weariness). He was promoted to ''
Oberleutnant (English: First Lieutenant) is a senior lieutenant Officer (armed forces), officer rank in the German (language), German-speaking armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr), the Austrian Armed Forces, and the Swiss Armed Forces. In Austria, ''Oberle ...
'' upon his release from hospital. However, in May 1918, he was back in hospital at a sanitarium, probably with lung problems. As the
Spanish flu The 1918–1920 flu pandemic, also known as the Great Influenza epidemic or by the common misnomer Spanish flu, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 subtype of the influenza A virus. The earliest docum ...
swept through the German populace, Bernert caught it. He died from influenza in his home town's hospital, on 18 October 1918.


Decorations and awards

*
Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...
(1914), 1st and 2nd class *
Albert Order The Albert Order () was created on 31 December 1850 by King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony to commemorate Albert III, Duke of Saxony (known as Albert the Bold). It was to be awarded to anyone who had served the state well, for civil virtue, s ...
, Knight 2nd Class with Swords * Knight's Cross of the
Royal House Order of Hohenzollern The House Order of Hohenzollern ( or ') was a dynastic order of knighthood of the House of Hohenzollern awarded to military commissioned officers and civilians of comparable status. Associated with the various versions of the order were crosses an ...
with Swords * ''
Pour le Mérite The (; , ), also informally known as the ''Blue Max'' () after German WWI flying ace Max Immelmann, is an order of merit established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. Separated into two classes, each with their own designs, the was ...
''


Footnote


References


Bibliography

* * * Franks, Norman. ''Jasta Boelcke''. Grub Street Publishing, 2004. * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bernert, Fritz Otto 1893 births 1918 deaths Military personnel from the Province of Silesia People from Racibórz German World War I flying aces Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class) Deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic Prussian Army personnel Luftstreitkräfte personnel German aviation record holders German military personnel killed in World War I