Looking for Information on Kurt Wiebe FEA12

G Sting · 24 February 2012, 03:15 PM

Hi dear folks,

I stumbled across this fine forum and am looking for information, photos about my grandfather Kurt Wiebe who was assigned in 1918-1919 to FEA 12, Cottbus, Brandenburg.

If you can provide any information concerning him, or pictures of the unit and it's aircraft, it would greatly be appreciated.

From a long letter, dated May 1974, he stated he flew the Albatross and the LVG.

Thank you.

frontflieger · 25 February 2012, 08:47 AM

Hallo from Hamburg !

Have a look at FEA 12- please contact me there!

G Sting · 26 February 2012, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frontflieger

Hallo from Hamburg !

Have a look at FEA 12- please contact me there!

Hello frontflieger from Hamburg!

Thank you for the link with the information letter on FEA 12. It gave me a little information.

So, who does a person contact to find out any more information on people and missions of FEA 12, and maybe specific information on my grandfather who was in FEA 12 during 1918 and part of 1919?

What does an FEA do? Since it is a "replacement unit," do the pilots go an fly in the Jasta squadrons somewhere else?

Thank you.

G Sting · 27 February 2012, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G Sting

So, who does a person contact to find out any more information on people and missions of FEA 12, and maybe specific information on my grandfather who was in FEA 12 during 1918 and part of 1919?

What does an FEA do? Since it is a "replacement unit," do the pilots go an fly in the Jasta squadrons somewhere else?

I have a hand typed resume from my grandfather, Kurt Wiebe, which stated his education and service--a portion of which I will attach below. Thanks for any informative links or information any of you aviation history enthusiasts can supply.

Have a great week... and keep the shiny side up.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1...taryservic.pdf

G Sting · 28 February 2012, 09:09 AM

A better pic of the his hand typed education and service is below. Born in 1899, Danzig. "Volunteered" for military service 10 days before his 16th birthday. I know of at least one (funny) story about his time in the German Cavalry... if anyone is interested.

Or should I post a picture of his Cavalry unit? ... I know this is a flying forum. But some Jasta pilots came from the Cavalry, yes?

I have ordered the book "The Jasta Pilots..." Maybe I can get more information from that source, too. But if anyone can provide more information, pics or links on the Jaeger-Reg. zu Pferde #4, 2 Eskadron... or FEA 12... or Zweigfliegerschule in Kamenz... it would be supremely appreciated.

Kurt G. Wiebe (a small portion of his life):

G Sting · 4 March 2012, 07:16 AM

Yesterday, I received the excellent book, "The Jasta Pilots." I found this:

Wiebe (no first name), Oblt
J45______ 20 Aug 1918 --

This could possibly coincide with the dates above, which he hand typed 2 years after immigrating to the U.S. in 1929. Not the best of years to immigrate (Great Depression), but.... as Grandpa wrote in a long letter to his daughter when he was 75, "Where there is a will, there is always success."

Just curious if the source of this information would be from documents or a photo?

Raineranton · 4 March 2012, 10:32 AM

Hi G Sting,

when your grandfather was born in 1899, so he could not be a Oblt. at war. Simply too young for this rank.

BTW he surely had mentioned it if he was a member of a Jasta and you have a complete record of his service at war.....so the man of Jasta 45 is not your grandfather.

Regards

Rainer

G Sting · 4 March 2012, 02:46 PM

Hello Rainer,

Thank you for your inputs, kind sir. This may not be him. Or... of course it could be some sort of error.

However, I realize he was very young when he entered service (not even 16) with the Jaeger-Reg. zu Pferde #4, 2 Eskadron, from June 1915 to May 1918. This is nearly 3 years on the Eastern front... apparently the German army was very successful there.

He was not one to brag. But knowing him, he was good at what he did, whatever it was. But I'm sure luck and providence kept him alive, too. And if you know people who have seen the ugliness of war on the ground... they do not talk much about it. I only know of one story that he told about being in the Cavalry and it had a humorous side to it.

Could it be possible, in those 3 years and with the success of the army in the east, that he could have made this rank? (Senior Lieutenant).

In the letter (to his daughter) I mention above he said:

"Toward the end of 1914 I passed a special examination which entitled me to become an officer in the German Army. In the German army, heroism was awarded by getting just like here a distinguished sign, medal, cross or what have you but not promotion. To become an officer, you had to have first of all education, so that men under you could really look up to you. -- On Febr. 1st 1915, 10 days before my 16th birthday I entered the German armed forces i.e., I volunteered."

Secondly, his list of units was typed in 1931, 2 years after immigrating to America. I do not know why he typed it. Maybe for as a summary for a job application? But I do know he was trying to get his citizenship... which he eventually did. Maybe it is possible he didn't mention being in a Jasta on the western front, because this would make him a "bad guy?" I am not sure. Maybe he only flew in the east. Seems like pilots were needed all over to fly all those new aircraft the factories were putting out. In the letter he said he flew the Albatros and L.V.G. "The later was very sensitive to fly," he stated.

My ideas could be completely out to lunch and I am not trying to justify anything. Just trying to get to the bottom of it. I will check with some other family members, too, and see if they know anything about his rank or locations.

Have a great week... and again, Danke.

rammjaeger · 9 March 2012, 11:08 AM

Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 4:
Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 4
The members of this unit were probably in service especially on the East front.
A regimental history (if existing) could maybe help to unearth more information.

Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung (FEA) 12 in Cottbus (sometimes spelled Kottbus) was a Royal Prussian unit. These FEA units have to train flying and ground personnel, have to establish new flying units for the front and have to deliver replacements (soldiers, ground crews and aviators etc.) and machines to the front units. Some did even help to produce new airplanes, e.g. FEA 1.

The data for your father could, maybe, indicate the beginning of a flying career because it was typical that future pilots would stay a short time with the FEA, then move to a flying school (here: Zweigfliegerschule Kamenz) for some time to learn the basics of flying and returned to the FEA to get further training. If they would succeed in the last (3rd) examination there then they would go to a park at the front and finally become a member of a front unit (Jasta, FA, FA(A) etc.).

A "Zweigfliegerschule" was a flying school for beginners in 1918. However, Kamenz was a Saxon - and not a Prussian - flying base. It seems the urgent need for pilots caused Idflieg to set a Prussian flying school on Saxon soil. The Royal Saxon Major v. Minckwitz, member of Idflieg, responsible for construction works all over Germany and commander of FEA 6 Großenhain himself at the same time, complained against the Prussian order to beginn training at the unfinnished constructions of Kamenz. However, inspector Siegert refused and in early June 1918 training on the (in Minckwitz opinion too dangerous) airfield started.

To my knowledge there was - different to Kamenz or Großenhain - no book published covering a bit of the history of FEA 12 Cottbus untill now. However, I know there is a very lively aviation museum. There are only little chances to discover any important information about your granfather after two world wars and nearly 100 years. However, you could get a bit of the big picture.

Regards from Dresden / Saxony
Hannes

G Sting · 9 March 2012, 05:09 PM

Hannes,

Thank you so very much for the valuable information on Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 4, Cottbus FEA 12, and Zweigfliegerschule Kamenz.

The history you provided is fascinating and absolutely provides a "bigger picture."

What I am finding in reading, more reading and researching is that one never knows what big or little clue will bring results. So everything you, Rainer, frontflieger and others have provided is very helpful. I look at maps, go to your websites, read other resources, look at photographs, order books, and re-read documents I have on my grandfather.

Every time I notice more and more details. It is all very interesting... very amazing and humbling at the same time. The whole history of WWI... and those who fought.

Anyway, now I am focused on the possibility of his being in a Jasta since it seems after 4 months of training, he may have been assigned to one.

I know these possibilities:
-- He wrote that he flew the Albatross and L.V.G.
-- He wrote "Frankly, I loved the military life and flying airplanes."
... and a few other details around this time.

Again, thank you,
G-Sting