Lt. Freiherr von Schlieben Joachim Bosta 14

Regulus · 29 September 2003, 02:06 PM

Hi,

Talking about Gotha killers, does anyone know more on the circumstances of his death in a crash at Landegem on the 16th February 1918 ?

Thanks and best from Johan

Immo_Frese · 29 September 2003, 03:26 PM

Hi Regulus,

are you sure about his name? I have him as Jochem Meinhard Graf von Schlieben :-/ He was born 26.Dec 1894 in Halberstadt, his Stammregiment was Kgl. Preuß. Garde-Jäger-Bataillon. According to my notes he was killed in aerial combat between Brügge and Gent.

Regards, Immo

Regulus · 30 September 2003, 10:47 AM

Hi Immo,

I'm not 100 % certain about his name. Probably the incident occured only the next day or late in the evening, as there are the following casulaties on the 17 th and also at Landeghem :
17 February 1918
+ Oblt. Graf von Adelmann und zu Adelmannsfelden Wilhelm Siegfried, CO of Bosta 14 was killed in a crash, no details known at Landegem (D)
+ Vizefeldwebel Fels August, pilot with Bosta 14 also killed in an accident at Landegem (D)
+ Lt.d.R. Jackson Wilhelm observer with Bosta 14 was killed in a crash at Landegem (D)

I have no more details on what happened if these things are related or not. Do you have anything more on the circumstances of the combat between Brugge and Gent ?

Best and thanks from Johan

Immo_Frese · 30 September 2003, 12:44 PM

Hi Johan,

I searched a little bit more in my papers and I think I found what you are looking for *

Olt.Graf Adelmann, Lt.Graf Schlieben and Lt.Jackson all belonged to the same crew of the Staffelführers aircraft. They tried a forced landing during a night mission from 16. to 17. Feb 1918 at Maria Aalter. Perhaps the crash occured around midnight, therefore the different dates of death for Adelmann/Jackson (both 17.) and Schlieben (16.)
The Gotha exploded when touched the ground.

According to Ricks Casualty list they were all three observers. One of them must have had a pilot licence too or there is a fault in the list *:-/

Any hints who could have been the pilot?

Best, Immo

Regulus · 1 October 2003, 10:42 AM

Hi Immo,

There seems to be no doubt about the fact that Fels was also in this plane, probably being the pilot.
On a number of occasions we found four occupants in a plane, instead of the usual three.
Also the location of death is the same and Landeghem is indeed in the Maria Aelter area.
It seems that also another plane got in trouble the same night with Graf von Schwerin and Emil Niemeyer, and both have also a different date of death but were in the same plane of Bosta 16.
Any details on the mission they had that night ? Seems not to be very clear in what I have.

Best from Johan

Soderbaum · 1 October 2003, 11:35 AM

Hi

I have a note that Oblt Graf Adelmann...(these nobles has terrible long names..

) was the pilot..!
..he had arrived only 14 days earlier...

8)
Gunnar

Regulus · 1 October 2003, 11:41 AM

Hi Gunnar,

Great to hear from you ! Things are getting mysterious. Two pilots in one plane ? Did you find anything on Fels in this case ?

Thanks and best from Johan

Soderbaum · 1 October 2003, 01:36 PM

Sorry Regulus

Dont have any notes on Fels other than yours...

I also dont have any credible source which give information on who where in which a/c...!

:-/
Gunnar

Immo_Frese · 2 October 2003, 02:28 AM

Hi Johan,

Graf Schwerin was KIC the same night. His Gotha crashed immediately after take off...

No clue about the targets of the missions. I suspect tactical bombing in northern France *:-/

Regards,
Immo

Regulus · 8 October 2003, 12:20 PM

Thank you very much for the help Immo and Gunnar. The quest for the truth will continue

Ah those Kagohl units, so many mystery's !

Best from Johan