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{{Short description|German World War I flying ace}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Otto Fruhner
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1893|9|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Brzeg|Brieg]], [[Silesia]] (present-day [[Poland]])
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1965|6|19|1893|9|6|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Villach]], [[Austria]]
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname =
| allegiance = Germany
| branch = Air Service
| serviceyears = 1914 – c. 1918; 1935 – c. 1945
| rank = [[Generalmajor]]
| unit = ''[[Feldflieger abteilung|Feldflieger Abteilung]]'' (Field Flier Detachment) 4;<br>''Flieger-Abteilung'' (Flier Detachment) 51;<br>''Flieger-Abteilung'' 20;<br>''[[Jagdstaffel 26|Jagdstaffel 26 (Fighter Squadron) 26]]''
| commands =
| battles =
| awards = [[Military Merit Cross (Prussia)|Military Merit Cross]], [[Iron Cross]]
| relations =
| laterwork = [[Generalmajor]] in [[Luftwaffe]] during [[World War II]]
}}

[[Generalmajor]] '''Otto Fruhner''' (6 September 1893 – 19 June 1965) [[Military Merit Cross (Prussia)|MMC]], [[Iron Cross|IC]], was a German [[World War I]] [[flying ace]] credited with 27 victories. He was one of the first aviators to [[parachute]] from a stricken aircraft.<ref name="ejection-history.org.uk">Parachute use in World War I website http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/Parachutes/1914_18.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215021201/http://ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/Parachutes/1914_18.htm |date=2010-12-15 }}</ref>

Beginning as an enlisted mechanic in late 1914, Fruhner rose into the officer's ranks. He was eligible for Germany's highest officer's decoration for valor, the [[Pour le Mérite]], when [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]]'s abdication scotched the award and the German military largely disbanded after its defeat.

Fruhner would return to his nation's service to join the nascent [[Luftwaffe]] as a [[Major (Germany)|Major]] in 1935. He would serve in various training commands throughout World War II, rising to become a [[Generalmajor]].

==Early life and service==

Otto Fruhner was born on 6 September 1893. He was born in [[Brzeg|Brieg]], Germany (now [[Brzeg]], Poland). Frunhner began his military career as an aviation mechanic on 14 November 1914 for ''[[Feldflieger abteilung|Feldflieger Abteilung]]'' (Field Flier Detachment) 4.<ref name=lines112>Franks et al 1993, pp. 111–112.</ref>

==Aerial service==

He then underwent pilot training, and beginning in June 1916, flew as an enlisted pilot of two seater aircraft for ''Flieger-Abteilung'' (Flier Detachment) 51 on the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]] against the Russians. In August, he received the [[Iron Cross]] Second Class and was promoted to ''[[Unteroffizier]]''.<ref name=lines112/>

He then volunteered for fighter duty in July 1917, and was assigned to ''[[Jagdstaffel 26]]'', commanded by [[Bruno Loerzer]]. Fruhner's combat successes began when he was serving in ''Jagdstaffel 26''. He shot down two [[Sopwith Aviation Company|Sopwith]]s in two separate engagements on 3 September 1917.<ref name="Franks 2000 54">Franks 2000, p. 54</ref>

There was a four month lapse. Then, on 3 January 1918, he scored for the third time, and continued his success through until March, with his ninth victory on 26 March. On 3 June, he received the First Class Iron Cross. At the same time, he was awarded the Prussian [[Military Merit Cross (Prussia)|Military Merit Cross]], the highest award for valor available to enlisted men in the German military.<ref name=lines112/><ref>The Aerodrome website page on the Military Merit Cross [http://www.theaerodrome.com/medals/germany/prussia_mmc.php?pageNum_recipients=1&totalRows_recipients=22#recipients] Retrieved 1 November 2020</ref>

On 1 July, he downed his tenth victim to become a double ace. From that point on, he accrued victories until 4 September 1918, when he shot down three [[Sopwith Camel]]s from [[No. 70 Squadron RAF]]<ref name=lines112/> as his share of the eight losses by the British; this dogfight was the largest loss of fighters ever suffered by the RAF in a single engagement in [[World War I]].<ref>The Aerodrome website page on Forman [http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/forman.php] Retrieved 3 February 2013.</ref>

Fruhner was subsequently [[commission (document)|commissioned]] a [[Leutnant]]. He was also proposed for the ''[[Pour le Mérite]]'', the German military's highest award for bravery by officers. There were only five German aces who won both awards.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} However, the Kaiser abdicated before approving the award.<ref name="Franks 2003 80 - 81">Franks, VanWyngarden, pp 80–81 </ref>

On 20 September 1918, while in a dogfight with Sopwith Camels of [[No. 203 Squadron RAF]], he collided with one of them. Although injured, he leapt from his irreparably damaged aircraft and parachuted to safety. The Camel he had collided with also crashed; it was credited as Fruhner's 27th victory. After this, Fruhner was withdrawn from combat duty.<ref name="ejection-history.org.uk"/><ref name="Franks 2003 80 - 81"/>

==Post World War I service==

In 1935, Fruhner joined the [[Luftwaffe]] as a major commanding a flying school. He later rose in rank in the Luftwaffe during World War II.<ref name="Franks 2000 54"/> Remaining in training commands, he eventually attained the rank of ''[[Generalmajor]]'' (major general).<ref name="Franks 2003 80 - 81"/>

Otto Fruhner died in [[Villach]], Austria, on 19 June 1965.<ref name=lines112/>

==Inline citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==

* [[Norman Franks|Franks, Norman]]; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. ''Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918''. Grub Street, 1993. {{ISBN|978-0-948817-73-1}}.

* Franks, Norman. ''Albatros Aces of World War 1''. Osprey Publishing, 2000. {{ISBN|978-1-85532-960-7}}.

* Franks, Norman; VanWyngarden, Greg. ''Fokker D VII Aces of World War I''. Osprey Publishing, 2003. {{ISBN|978-1-84176-533-4}}.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fruhner, Otto}}
[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1965 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Brzeg]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the Province of Silesia]]
[[Category:Major generals of the Luftwaffe]]
[[Category:German World War I flying aces]]
[[Category:Luftstreitkräfte personnel]]
[[Category:Luftwaffe World War II generals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class]]

Otto Fruhner - Revision history

imported>Atremari at 11:11, 31 January 2024