Allegiance Germany Battles/wars Battle of Verdun Service/branch Army; aviation Name Robert Heibert | Years of service 1914–1918 Died May 10, 1933 Rank Offizierstellvertreter | |
Awards Military Merit Cross, Iron Cross Unit Federal Aviation Administration, Jagdstaffel 33, Jagdstaffel 46 | ||
Battles and wars Battle of Verdun | ||
Offizierstellvertreter Robert Heibert (8 January 1886 – 10 May 1933) was a German flying ace during World War I. He was credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories; he also had seven unconfirmed wins.
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World War I
Heibert was a native of Oberfell in the Mosel region, being born there on 26 January 1886. He joined the German army in August 1914. He transferred to aerial duty in May 1915 and began service as a two-seater pilot on artillery cooperation duty with FA(A) 207 in October. He then transferred to FA(A) 207. He was active in the skies over Verdun. He then became a fighter pilot, and beginning 17 August 1917 was stationed with Jagdstaffel 33. He enjoyed his first aerial success there, downing a Sopwith northeast of Dixmude on 20 August 1917. After a transfer on 17 December 1917 to help found Jagdstaffel 46, he resumed his winning ways with a double win on 16 February 1918. He would run off a string of ten more confirmed wins through 9 August, including busting two balloons on 1 August. He ended the war with 13 victories certified; some or all of the seven more unconfirmed victories may have failed to gain approval as the German administrative system bogged down.
After winning both classes of the Iron Cross, Robert Heibert was awarded the highest award for valor available to a German enlisted man, the Military Merit Cross on 5 July 1918. He had been wounded four times, which should have qualified him for a Silver Wound Badge, though no award to him has been reported. He also received his final promotion in military rank in July 1918. Heibert would survive the war.
Post World War I
Heibert committed suicide on 10 May 1933.