Source for German pre-war Ballonführer?

[rammjaeger]

Hi Forumites,

for some reasons (like adding data to the biography of a specific German WWI aviator) I need a good source with overviews of German pre-war balloon aviators and their journeys.

I own "Jahrbuch des Deutschen Luftfahrer-Verbandes 1912" which includes a "Führerliste" (pilot list for balloonists) and a list of all reported balloon journeys for 1910/11. BTW niece little book.

I search for a later issue or a similar source with the lists of pilots and balloon journeys for 1912-1914.

Any hint welcome.

VBR
Rammjaeger

[jempie]

Hi!

If you have a list of names (licensed) balloonists from this era, could you mail it once onmy e-amil address?

( joel.lauwers@pandora.be )

I have the balloonpilots (aeronautes) & airshippilots from Belgium until WWI and baloonpilots from Switserland until end 1938!(With number of license and
the photo of each from Switserland)

The French ones I have until 17th March 1910.

On the Germans I have some famous aeronautes covered, but no list!

Freiballonsport is also covered into f.e. Ansbert Vorreiter book

Jährbücher ¨ber die Fortschritte auf allen Gebieten der Luftschifffahrt

I have the edition 1911, but also an edition 1912 is excistent!
No idea about later editions!

There is also in Germany a balloonmuseum into an old former watertower at Gersthofen and I accept sponsored by the former owner of the August Riedinger Balloon Fabrik. Many documents there are from his archives I mean to remember!

Difficult to tell, but wondring if amongst the DFSV members (modern ballooning) Deutscher Freiballonsport Verband e.V. are people to find which
could help you? (They have a website!)

But I never saw a listing with the names of German aeronautes licenses!
Ballooning and airships history was in fact my own speciality!

VBR

Jempie

[rammjaeger]

Jempie,

thank you very much for your advices! I am very grateful.

The above mentioned "Jahrbuch of the DLV für 1912" includes 824 Freiballonführer and 23 Luftschiff-Führer with their profession, Verein or Militärbehörde, date of licence, number of Ballonfahrten as crew member or Führer.

I do not have an electronical list for you until now and I have not the time to "hammer" all this stuff into the PC. As well scanning will not work well because of the little book pages.

Alternative I could photograph the pages with my digital camera (works niece and fast) and burn the jpgs on CR-ROM (or print them on paper)?
Another opportunity are XEROX-copies but my little copier makes only very pale copies and is not a so-called book copier.

I would prefer the photographing + burning CD version. I think I have your address anywhere in my files (you did send me some stuff 2 or 3? years ago)
but you should send me your address again on the direct way or via private messages. That saves some time for the searching of your address.

VBR
Rammjaeger

[jempie]

Hi!

I am not so smart with such things as burning CD-rom!
Tried it a few times and failed!
I am 61 and doesn't know in fact what went wrong, but when adding a file I burned it over another one!Maybe my programming after a reload of PC a year ago wasn't good loaded..didn't do it myself as the firm who was reloading it has the copyrights! I never got the CD-rom in question (nero-burner) in possession! So can't reload it eventually myself!

I do myself always scan on photomode indeed and forward it mainly by e-mail!

But my address is ;

Jean-Pierre Lauwers
Langestraat 23-3
B-8000 BRUGGE (= Brügge in Belgium!)


Anyway thanks for the effort, but don't hurry up if its a big effort to do!
A pilots (license list) is already O.K.


VBR

Jempie.

[rammjaeger]

O.K. Jempie, I will find a way to send a list to you.

I am often using the very smart Russian-programmed ABBY FineReader but the tiny little writing of the lists in this book (maybe 3 points and not 8, 10 or 12) and the "problem zone" in the middle between every 2 pages will prevent successful scanning here.

Anyway - I send you a list but it can last some time. Send me a reminder if it is lasting too long.

VBR
Rammjaeger

[jempie]

Hi!

To me a simple outprint (scancopy on paper ) is also O.K.
However might cost ore than a CD-rom?

VB

Jempie

P.S. Just bought a book on "Fallen Heroes of Belgium 14-18!" in French...

Also brest-photos in it from WWI fallen Belgian pilots and 3 obs.ballooncrew!
Not all victims of WWI are on photo in it, but mainly the high and lower ranking officers until eventually corporals are to find in it on little photo's with some comments!
Quite interesting!

Notice : into the book "Above Flander Fields" (Walter M Pieters) I couldn't find a trace of a Belgian aviator pre-WWI Count d' Hespel ... I knew he was during 1913 participating on the Mlitary Manoevres as pilot with his Deperdussin.
private plane as Caporal......Had also some 1911-1912 earlier photopostcard on him with his Sommer plane too..
I was sure about him, he must have been volunteer Military Aviator as well by the start of WWI...But as he was a "Count" he was named commander of the Military Flight School of Berchem-St. Agathe (Brussels) +/- first week of WWI! (I figured out later)
However he has chosen for fighting himself as good Belgian Patriot active into WWI against the Germans and wentover by own request to the artillery as Lieutenant!
Got 3 citations for bravery for more!

Was hit by a bullet and KIA on 14th October 1918 at Rumbeke (West-Flanders during a battle!

[rammjaeger]

Interesting P.S., Jempie!

With some tricks I succeeded in copying the list. I will bring it to the post office tomorrow! So you will get the required information soon.

VBR
Rammjaeger