; ▁the ▁ 8 th ▁ranking ▁German ▁ace ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I ; ▁also ▁received ▁the ▁Pour ▁le ▁M ér ite ; ▁later ▁a ▁Colonel ▁General ▁in ▁the ▁Luft wa ffe . ▁ ▁The o ▁O ster k amp ▁– ▁ 1 8 ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 7 ; ▁naval ▁av i ator ▁and ▁Pour ▁le ▁M ér ite ▁recip ient ; ▁also ▁fle w ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁and ▁rose ▁to ▁Lieutenant ▁General ▁in ▁the ▁Luft wa ffe . ▁ ▁Man fred ▁von ▁Rich th of en ▁- ▁award ▁date ▁unknown ; ▁top ▁ace ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I ; ▁also ▁received ▁the ▁Pour ▁le ▁M ér ite , ▁Sax ony ' s ▁Military ▁Order ▁of ▁St . ▁Henry , ▁Wür ttemberg ' s ▁Military ▁Mer it ▁Order ▁and ▁numerous ▁other ▁decor ations . ▁ ▁Kurt ▁Student ▁– ▁award ▁date ▁unknown ; ▁later ▁a ▁Colonel ▁General ▁in ▁the ▁Luft wa ffe ▁and ▁commander ▁of ▁German ▁air bor ne ▁troops . ▁ ▁Ernst ▁U det ▁– ▁ 1 7 ▁August ▁ 1 9 1 6 ; ▁second ▁highest ▁scoring ▁German ▁ace ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I ; ▁also ▁received ▁the ▁Pour ▁le ▁M ér ite ; ▁later ▁a ▁Colonel ▁General ▁in ▁the ▁Luft wa ffe . ▁ ▁The ▁Imperial ▁German ▁Navy ▁had ▁its ▁own ▁av iation ▁forces ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁and ▁created ▁its ▁own ▁non - port able ▁award ▁for ▁victory ▁in ▁aer ial ▁combat . ▁This ▁was ▁the ▁Ehren preis ▁für ▁Vern ichtung ▁eines ▁fe ind lichen ▁Flug zeug s ,