Fritz Kosmahl
Offizierstellvertreter Fritz Gustav August Kosmahl HOH, IC (5 September 1892—26 September 1917) was one of the first flying aces of Germany's Luftstreitkräfte during World War I. He was one of the few German two-seater aces of the war, being officially credited with nine aerial victories. He was also one of the first ten German aviators to earn the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. Early life Fritz Gustav August Kosmahl was born on 5 September 1892 in Leipzig. World War I military service Kosmahl started pilot's training very early in World War I, on 12 August 1914, at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 2. On 11 January 1915, he joined Feldflieger Abteilung 22 in France. During 1916, he scored three aerial victories while operating a two-seater reconnaissance plane; details of his first two wins is lost to history, but his third win came on 10 October 1916. As a result, on 9 January 1917, Kosmahl was awarded the Member's Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern. He was one of the first ten German fliers to receive this prestigious award, second only to the famed Blue Max. He was also awarded the Saxe-Meiningen Medal for Merit in War while with Feldflieger Abteilung 22.