Main article: Max Näther
Max Näther (1899–1919) was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 26 confirmed aerial victories. Between 16 May and 29 October 1918, he shot down 16 enemy airplanes, including 11 first-rate fighters—ten SPAD S.XIIIs and a Sopwith Dolphin. He also destroyed ten observation balloons; they were crucial artillery observation and direction posts. As such, they were so heavily defended that attacks on them were considered near-suicidal. In addition to carefully calibrated antiaircraft guns defending these posts, a fighter patrol usually lurked nearby to pounce on intruders.
The victory list
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War IThe victories of Max Näther are reported in chronological order, which is not necessarily the order or dates the victories were confirmed by headquarters.
| No. | Date | Time | Foe | Unit | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 May 1918 | 1100 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Trigneires | |
| 2 | 1 June 1918 | Observation balloon | 54 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Cuvilly, France | |
| 3 | 5 June 1918 | 1445 hours | French observation balloon | Cuvilly, France | |
| 4 | 7 June 1918 | Observation balloon | Montigny, France | ||
| 5 | 16 June 1918 | 1002 hours | Observation balloon | Amienois | |
| 6 | 27 June 1918 | 0951 hours | Observation balloon | Ailly, France | |
| 7 | 28 June 1918 | 0915 hours | Observation balloon | 51 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Mesnil, France |
| 8 | 1 July 1918 | 1250 hours | Sopwith Dolphin | No. 23 Squadron RAF | Guerbigny, France |
| 9 | 15 July 1918 | 1500 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Prosnes, France | |
| 10 | 16 July 1918 | 1217 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Thuizy | |
| 11 | 22 July 1918 | 1250 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Courtagnon, France | |
| 12 | 6 September 1918 | 1842 hours | Bréguet 14 | Silllery | |
| 13 | 14 September 1918 | 1635 hours | Observation balloon | 76 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Mailly, France |
| 14 | 26 September 1918 | 0710 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Trescauvoux | |
| 15 | 26 September 1918 | 1535 hours | Observation Balloon | Thienville (Thionville?) | |
| 16 | 26 September 1918 | 1545 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Avencourt | |
| 17 | 27 September 1918 | SPAD S.XIII | Montzeille | ||
| 18 | 9 October 1918 | 1740 hours | Observation balloon | 7th United States Balloon Company | Montfaucon, France |
| 19 | 9 October 1918 | 1745 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Montfaucon, France | |
| 20 | 10 October 1918 | 1203 hours | Bréguet 14 | Haumont, France | |
| 21 | 10 October 1918 | 1223 hours | SPAD S.XI | Haumont, France | |
| 22 | 18 October 1918 | 1425 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Gercourt, France | |
| 23 | 23 October 1918 | 1340 hours | Observation balloon | 7th United States Balloon Company | Cierges, France |
| 24 | 29 October 1918 | SPAD S.XIII | Exermont, France | ||
| 25 | 29 October 1918 | Airco DH.9 | Sivry | ||
| 26 | 29 October 1918 | Airco DH.9 | Montfaucon, France |
Abbreviations were expanded by the editor creating this list.
Endnotes
- The Aerodrome webpage on Max Näther
- Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993), pp. 172–173.
- Guttman 2005, pp. 7–9.
References
- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. London UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
- Guttman, Jon (2005). Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-877-9.