Allegiance Germany Rank Leutnant | Name Otto Hohne | |
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Died 22 November 1969(1969-11-22) (aged 74)
Jachenau, Oberbayern, Germany Service/branch Luftstreitkrafte
Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht) Unit Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Nord, Jagdstaffel 1, Jagdstaffel 2, Jagdstaffel 59 | ||
Commands held KG 54 (World War II) | ||
Leutnant Otto Paul Wilhelm Höhne (30 April 1895 – 22 November 1969) was a German World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed aerial victories. Höhne was a pioneer ace; he was the first pilot to score a victory while flying the Albatros D.1 During World War II he was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
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Early life
On 30 April 1895, Otto Paul Wilhelm Höhne was born in Woinowitz near Ratibor, Upper Silesia (Oberschlesien) in present-day Poland.
World War I aviation career
Höhne initially flew with Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Nord, before moving on for a brief posting to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1 in early August 1916. On 27 August, he became one of the original pilots in the newly formed original fighter squadrons. He was assigned to Jagdstaffel 2 serving under Oswald Boelcke when he downed a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b from 11 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps on 16 September 1916, scoring the first victory for the Albatros D.1 and sending both men in the FE.2 crew into captivity. Six days later, Höhne shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.12 over Combles. A month later, on 25 October, at ten minutes to noon, it was the turn of a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2d. On 3 November, Höhne shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c over Hébuterne. Six days later, on 9 November 1916, he shot down Canadian ace Alan Duncan Bell-Irving's Nieuport 17 fighter to become an ace. He would score one more time, eight days later.
Otto Höhne was himself wounded in action on 10 January 1917. After spending most of 1917 in hospital, he later returned as commander of Jasta 2 in early 1918. He served in that capacity for one month, flying the Fokker D.1, before stepping aside as seeing himself still not sufficiently recovered to lead the squadron.
World War II
Höhne returned to service during World War II, serving in the Luftwaffe and rising to Major General. As lieutenant colonel in KG 54, he led one of the two bomber columns during the Rotterdam Blitz, but managed to abort the attack of his column at the last minute. He was again badly injured in the crash of a Heinkel 111 on 15 August 1941 and subsequently served as Generalmajor and commanding officer of the flight combat school in Fürstenfeldbruck (Bavaria).