Max Immelmann 100 Years -- June 18, 2016

 

 

Max Immelmann, the Eagle of Lille, the first German flying ace, died 100 years ago today, on 18-June-1916, at the age of 25. He scored his first confirmed victory in 1915, flying a Fokker Eindecker. He received the highest military medal, the Pour le Mérite, on 12-January-1916. Immelmann became very popular in Germany and was the subject of much propaganda.  On 18-June-1916, Immelmann led a flight of Eindeckers against against a flight of British observation planes.  The British said that they shot him down, while the Germans claimed he fell to friendly fire. 

Luftwaffe squadron AG-51 is named after Immelman.