General-major Hans-Eberhardt Gandert (2 September 1892 – 24 July 1947) was a German professional soldier who began his 33-year military career in 1912. He learned to fly in the early days of World War I, went on to become a flying ace credited with eight aerial victories, including killing British ace Edwin Benbow, and ended the war in command of a fighter group. In the wake of Germany's defeat, he would serve in the German Army until 1934. He would then transfer into the newly established Luftwaffe and serve in increasingly responsible posts until mid-World War II. He retired on 28 February 1945. Early life Hans-Eberhardt Gandert was born in Sandberg on 2 September 1892. On 22 March 1912, he entered military service by joining Jäger Battalion Nr. 8 as a Fähnrich. He was commissioned as a leutnant on 16 June 1913. He then attended aviation training at Niederneuendorf from 2 June to 18 August 1914. World War I Activities Gandert then began service as a pilot in two-seater units of the Luftstreitkräfte. During these postings, he served on the Russian Front; he was shot down on 10 October 1914, but evaded capture and returned to German lines on 13 October. Gandert continued to serve in two-seaters, being often transferred. He was promoted to oberleutnant on 18 August 1916. Gandert finally scored his first two victories while serving in Romania in November 1917. At some point during his service on the Eastern Front, probably while he was in Romania, Germany's ally, Austria-Hungary, awarded him its Military Merit Cross. On 9 January 1918, he moved out of two-seaters into a fighter unit, Jasta 51, which was stationed on the Western Front in France. He was assigned to command the squadron until being promoted to command a fighter group. He would lead from the front, scoring five confirmed victories and one unconfirmed, including killing British ace Edwin Benbow. In August 1918, he was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern; he had previously been awarded both classes of the 1914 Iron Cross. On 29 September 1918, Gandert was shot down and wounded while attacking British observation balloons, either by ground fire or by No. 210 Squadron RAF. He was detained as a prisoner of war. Unit assignments 14 September 1914: Posted to Feldflieger Abteilung 31 27 December 1914: Transferred to Army Flight Park South 6 June 1916: Transferred to Flieger-Abteilung 54 3