Heinrich Henkel
Introduction Leutnant '''Heinrich Henkel''' (born 11 May 1896, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.
Biography Heinrich Henkel was born in Hamburg, the German Empire on 11 May 1896.On 1 September 1914, Henkel volunteered for military service in Reserve Fusilier Artillery Regiment Nr. 3.He went into battle with them at Nancy, France, at Antwerp, and at Ypres. On 1 July 1915, he was transferred to the infantry. He was wounded in action on 25 September 1916.He was subsequently promoted to the officer's ranks as a Leutnant in December 1916.He volunteered for aviation duty and began training at ''Fliegerersatz-Abteilung'' (Replacement Detachment) 1 in February 1917.Henkel would also undergo fighter pilot's training at Valenciennes, France before joining Jagdstaffel 37 in May 1918.He scored his first aerial victory on 9 July, and had scored seven more by 31 October 1918.Three of his eight victories were shot-down observation balloons, making him a "balloon buster". Heinrich Henkel survived the war, having won the Iron Cross for his gallantry, but faded into obscurity.
Sources of information
References * Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. ''Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918''. Grub Street, 1993., .