Gerhard Fizeler German pilot ace of the First World War Date of Birth: 15.04.1896 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Gerhard Fieseler
2. A Career in Aviation
3. Aeronautical Innovations and World War II
4. Post-War Activities

Biography of Gerhard Fieseler

Gerhard Fieseler was a German flying ace of World War I, an aircraft designer, and an entrepreneur. He was born into a printer's family. In 1915, he joined the German Air Force and became an observer pilot in 1916. In 1917, he became a fighter pilot. He served in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and later in Macedonia, where he shot down 19 enemy planes. Fieseler was awarded the Iron Cross of both the first and second class, as well as the Golden Cross for his military achievements.

A Career in Aviation

After the war, Fieseler returned to the printing business. However, in 1926, he closed his business and became a flight instructor at the Raab-Katzenstein aviation factory in Kassel. After honing his flying skills, he became a renowned master of aerobatics. In 1927, following his performance in Zurich, he became a highly paid pilot in air shows. In 1928, he designed his first aircraft, the Fieseler F1, followed by the Raab-Katzenstein RK-26, which was produced in a small series under license in Sweden.

In 1930, Raab-Katzenstein went bankrupt, and Fieseler decided to start his own aircraft production. He acquired the Kassel factory, which was producing gliders, and renamed it Fieseler Flugzeugbau. In 1932, Fieseler released the first sports aircraft, and in 1934, he won the international aerobatics championship in Paris with his own manufactured plane.

Aeronautical Innovations and World War II

In 1935, Fieseler joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) and gained access to military contracts from the Luftwaffe. The following year, he won a competition for a military liaison aircraft with his best design, the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch. From 1937 to 1949, nearly 2,900 Storch aircraft of various modifications were produced. Fieseler's project for the Fieseler Fi 98 ground-attack aircraft was rejected in favor of the Junkers Ju 87. The Fieseler Fi 167 naval torpedo bomber did not go into production as Germany abandoned the construction of aircraft carriers. Only 14 aircraft were produced between 1937 and 1938.

During the years 1941-1942, Fritz Gosslau, an engineer from Fieseler's company, designed the Fieseler Fi 103 flying bomb, also known as V-1. Fieseler produced approximately 30,000 rockets by the end of World War II.

Post-War Activities

After the end of World War II, Fieseler briefly served a prison sentence before returning to entrepreneurship. He started producing automotive components.