Heinrich Henkel
{{For|the German composer|Heinrich Henkel (composer)}}
{{Infobox military person
| name =Heinrich Henkel
| image =
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| birth_date = 11 May 1896
| death_date = Unknown
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
| birth_place =Hamburg, German Empire
| death_place =
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| nickname =
| allegiance =Germany
| branch =Aviation
| serviceyears =
| rank =Leutnant
| unit =Jasta 37
| commands =
| battles =
| awards =Iron Cross
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}}
Leutnant Heinrich Henkel (born 11 May 1896, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.The Aerodrome website page on Henkel http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/henkel.php Retrieved 18 February 2013.
Biography
Heinrich Henkel was born in Hamburg, the German Empire on 11 May 1896.Franks et al 1993, p. 128.
On 1 September 1914, Henkel volunteered for military service in Reserve Fusilier Artillery Regiment Nr. 3. He went into battle with them at Nancy, France, at Antwerp, and at Ypres. On 1 July 1915, he was transferred to the infantry. He was wounded in action on 25 September 1916. He was subsequently promoted to the officer's ranks as a Leutnant in December 1916. He volunteered for aviation duty and began training at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 1 in February 1917.
Henkel would also undergo fighter pilot's training at Valenciennes, France before joining Jagdstaffel 37 in May 1918. He scored his first aerial victory on 9 July, and had scored seven more by 31 October 1918. Three of his eight victories were shot-down observation balloons, making him a "balloon buster". Heinrich Henkel survived the war, having won the Iron Cross for his gallantry, but faded into obscurity.
Sources of information
{{Reflist|2}}
References
- 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|0-948817-73-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-948817-73-1}}.
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Category:German World War I flying aces
Category:Year of death missing
Category:Military personnel from Hamburg
Category:Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914)
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