von Pechmann INFO

[frontflieger]

I am needing any information about von Pechmann? When was he born, when did he die?

[Rick]

Paul Pechmann, the PLM winner? He was born on 18 December, 1889 at Gauchsmühle by Nürnberg. Source: Zuerl

From " the Pour le Merite and Germany's First Aces"

by Angolia and Hackney. Paul Freiherr von Pechmann

PLM: 31 July 1917
Highest Service Rank: Oberleutnant (WWI), Hauptmann (1920)

Oberleutnant Paul Freiherr von Pechmann became the first artillery and reconnaissance pilot to earn the Pour le Merite.

Born on 28 December 1889 in Gaudismuhl near Nurnberg, von Pechmann entered active military service with the Foot Artillery Regiment 7 billeted in Cologne. By 1911 he was already a Leutnant. just prior to the outbreak of the war, he was assigned to the Artillery Flying Unit at Wahn, the home of the, VIII Army Corps artillery range. He moved to the field with this unit, but was soon transferred to Field Flying Unit 6. However, he served more than three years as an artillery flier assigned to Flying Unit A217 in Flanders. His abilities quickly earned him a series of decorations and promotion to the rank of Oberleutnant. Having already been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Hohenzollern Order, he was awarded the Pour le Merite on 31 July 1917. This award came in recognition of more than 700 sorties against the enemy, many with outstanding results.

He also earned command of his unit in the summer of 1917. His unit was assigned by the Army High Command to the focal point of the battlefield in November during the Battle of Cambrai. Britain had made considerable gains with the use of armored vehicles, but with the help of von Pechmann's unit, Germany was able to launch a successful counter?attack. The same scenario was repeated in the spring of 1918. In addition to directing artillery fires and providing scouting reports, his unit was also given the mission of flying in supplies that were critical to the success of the attack. Each aircraft ferried eight to ten bundles, each of which contained 12 signal cartridges, 2 loaves of bread, 2 cans of preserved meat, 60 cartridges and 10 first aid kits. Flying into the worst battle areas, his planes were often the only means of resupply. Paul Freiherr von Pechmann considered these lifesaving flights more important to the morale of the front?line fighters than an air victory.

When the war ended, he remained active in military aviation, but the dismemberment of German aviation left little for a man of his calibre. On 31 December 1920 he retired from active military service as a Hauptmann.

[rammjaeger]

Pechmann died on 11 May 1955 but I don´t know the location.

[frontflieger]

I am going to add him to my site! Thanks a lot for all your quick help!!

Hi, allow me to add that Freiherr von Pechmann also flew with Flieger Abteilung 33 here at Moorsele in spring 1917. My book "Moorsele, één dorp, twee vliegvelden" (Moorsele, one village, two airfields)tells the history of our airfield in WW I and contains some interesting photographs of him at Moorsele.
Lothair

With some 9 years of service, a lot of it in wartime, and retiring as a major, would Pechmann have received any sort of pension?

Oops, I meant to say 'retiring as a captain'. Sorry for the unwitting promotion.