Oswald Boelcke

Oswald Boelcke was less known in the English-speaking world than his friend and contemporary Max Immelmann. This was due to Immelmann primarily fighting against the British, whereas the majority of Boelcke’s early victories were against French aircraft.

Oswald Boelcke qualified as a pilot on August 15, 1914. For the next ten months, he flew Albatros B.IIs on reconnaissance missions. After several unsuccessful engagements, he demonstrated his skill on July 4, 1915, maneuvering his aircraft so an observer could successfully shoot down a French Morane. This may have been only Germany’s second aerial combat victory. Prior to this, he had already begun flying the single-seater Fokker Eindecker.

Early Victories and Tactical Beginnings

Progress was slow. On December 29, 1915, Boelcke, along with Immelmann and four other Eindeckers, encountered two BE.2s. Although considered “turkeys” by the Royal Flying Corps, the BE.2s mounted a strong defense, and two Eindeckers disengaged from the fight. While Immelmann was engaged in a fierce battle, Boelcke pursued another opponent.

Boelcke described it as a “beautiful fight.” He faced a resilient and stubbornly defending pilot, later identified as Sholto Douglas, who would command the 43rd and 84th Squadrons and lead Fighter Command during WWII. Boelcke immediately forced Douglas into a defensive posture. Douglas attempted various maneuvers to escape and even tried to attack from a weak side (possibly the side the Eindecker had to turn against the engine’s torque).

Boelcke’s attempts to finish him were unsuccessful, and all he could achieve was forcing the enemy aircraft lower. They began at 2,000 meters, and in a short time, Boelcke had him below 1,000 meters. Finally, Douglas could no longer defend himself, as Boelcke believed he had fatally wounded his observer. (Boelcke was mistaken; Douglas’s observer was incapacitated by airsickness and vomiting onto the pilot).

At this point, Boelcke ran out of ammunition. Immelmann then joined him, but his machine gun immediately jammed. After a 45-minute engagement, with fuel running low and oil leaking from the tank, Douglas spiraled down almost to ground level and disappeared behind his front line, demonstrating a virtuoso “agricultural flight.” This preceding excerpt highlights two points: first, a well-flown BE.2 was not necessarily an easy target, and second, the Eindecker was far from being a “super-fighter.”

Boelcke achieved his eighth victory on January 12, 1916. By later standards, his score increased slowly, but at that time, it was a pioneering achievement that illuminated future possibilities.

The “Dicta Boelcke” and Leadership

Like in other aspects, Boelcke was cautious and analytical. He understood the need to seek advantages, and gradually his tactical thinking improved. This culminated in his so-called “Dicta Boelcke,” where he defined the rules of air combat, earning him the title “Father of Air Combat.” Curiously, these rules make no mention of the Immelmann turn, focusing instead on achieving surprise and the most advantageous position. These rules remain useful today, albeit with some modifications. He was also the first to study enemy aircraft by utilizing captured flyable examples.

Boelcke was more than just a fighter ace or a tactician; he was a leader in the fullest sense of the word. He formed Jasta 2 in August 1916 and meticulously trained his pilots in cooperation before allowing them to fly against the enemy. He died on October 28, 1916, as a result of a mid-air collision with one of his colleagues. By this time, he had achieved 40 victories. His title was inherited by Manfred von Richthofen, who doubled Boelcke’s number of victories but added little to the nascent art of air combat.

The Tragic End: Richthofen’s Account

Manfred von Richthofen describes Boelcke’s death on October 28, 1916, in his book “The Red Fighter” as follows:

“One day, we were flying, once again led by Boelcke against the enemy. We always felt remarkably safe when he was with us, for there was no one else like him. The weather was windy and cloudy, with no other aircraft visible apart from the combat machines. From a distance, we noticed two impudent Englishmen in the air who seemed to be enjoying this miserable weather. There were six of us against their two. Even if there had been twenty of them, and Boelcke had given us the signal to attack, we would not have been surprised.

A normal fight ensued. Boelcke engaged one, and I engaged the other. I had to disengage because one of the German machines interfered. I looked back and noticed Boelcke dealing with his victim about 200 meters from me. This was a common sight – Boelcke fighting an opponent, and I merely having to observe. His good friend was flying nearby. The fight was interesting; both were firing. It looked as if the Englishman was about to fall.

Suddenly, an unnatural movement of the two German aircraft caught my attention. I immediately thought: ‘Collision.’ However, I had never witnessed an aerial collision before and had imagined it differently. In reality, the two machines simply touched. Yet, when aircraft are moving at such enormous speed, even the slightest contact results in a tremendous shock.

Boelcke fell behind his victim and descended in large circles. I didn’t have the feeling that he was falling, but seeing him below me, I discovered that a part of his aircraft had broken off. I couldn’t see what happened next. Once in the clouds, his machine became uncontrollable. It was falling. All this time, Boelcke’s loyal friend accompanied him.

When we returned home, the news was already waiting: ‘Boelcke is dead!’ We were unable to comprehend it. The man who witnessed this catastrophe suffered especially hard. It’s astonishing how everyone who knew Boelcke imagined themselves to be his only true friend. I knew about forty people, each of whom believed that Boelcke loved only them. Sometimes, a person Boelcke didn’t even know by name was convinced that he had a special fondness for them. I have never observed such a trait in anyone else. Boelcke had no personal enemies at all. He was always equally benevolent to everyone, without distinction.

The only person closer to him than the others was the one who witnessed his death. ‘It is God’s will’ — such is the only consolation for the soul during wartime.”