Robert Heibert
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'' Offizierstellvertreter'' Robert Heibert (8 January 1886 – 10 May 1933) was a German
flying 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 ...
during World War I. He was credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories; he also had seven unconfirmed claims.


Early life and service

Heibert was a native of Oberfell in the Mosel region, being born there on 26 January 1886. He joined the German army in August 1914.


World War I

He transferred to aerial duty in May 1915 and began service as a two-seater pilot on artillery cooperation duty with FA(A) 207 in October. He then transferred to FA(A) 207. He was active in the skies over Verdun. He then became a
fighter pilot A fighter pilot or combat pilot is a Military aviation, military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, Air-to-ground weaponry, air-to-ground combat and sometimes Electronic-warfare aircraft, electronic warfare while in the cockpit of ...
, and beginning 17 August 1917 was stationed with
Jagdstaffel 33 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 33 was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score a minimum ...
.Franks & van Wyngarten, p. 43 He enjoyed his first aerial success there, downing a Sopwith northeast of
Diksmuide (; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of proper and the former communes of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke ...
on 20 August 1917. After a transfer on 17 December 1917 to help found
Jagdstaffel 46 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 46 was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 20 confirme ...
, he resumed his winning ways with a double win on 16 February 1918. He would run off a string of ten more confirmed wins through 9 August, including busting two balloons on 1 August. He ended the war with 13 victories certified;Franks et al 1993, p. 125. some or all of the seven more unconfirmed victories may have failed to gain approval as the German administrative system bogged down in the war's ending days. After winning both classes of the
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 ...
, Robert Heibert was awarded the highest award for valor available to a German enlisted man, the Military Merit Cross on 5 July 1918. He had been wounded four times, which should have qualified him for a Silver
Wound Badge The Wound Badge () was a German military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was first awarded to soldiers of the Imperial German Army, German Army who were wounded during World War I. Between the worl ...
, though no award to him has been reported.The Aerodrome website's page on the Wound Badge http://www.theaerodrome.com/medals/germany/wb.php Retrieved 21 January 2011. He also received his final promotion in
military rank Military ranks is a system of hierarchy, hierarchical relationships within armed forces, police, Intelligence agency, intelligence agencies, paramilitary groups, and other institutions organized along military organisation , military lines, such ...
in July 1918. Heibert would survive the war.


Post World War I

Heibert committed suicide on 10 May 1933.


Endnotes


References

* Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. ''Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918''. Grub Street, 1993. , . * Franks, Norman. ''Albatros Aces of World War 1: Volume 32 of Aircraft of the Aces; Volume 32 of Osprey Aviation Series; Volume 32 of Osprey Aircraft of the Aces''. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. , . * Franks, Norman, & van Wyngarten, Greg. ''Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1, Part 2: Aircraft of the Aces, 63; Osprey Aircraft of the Aces''. Osprey Publishing, 2004. , . {{DEFAULTSORT:Heibert, Robert 1886 births 1933 deaths German World War I flying aces Luftstreitkräfte personnel People from Mayen-Koblenz Military personnel from the Rhine Province Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class 1933 suicides Military personnel from Rhineland-Palatinate Suicides in Germany