Otto Brauneck


Otto Brauneck was a German World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed and five unconfirmed aerial victories.
Originally assigned to fly on the Macedonian Front to support Germany's ally, the Ottoman Empire, between September 1916 and April 1917 Brauneck shot down four enemy observation balloons and three aircraft, with a further five claims going unproven. Transferred to the Red Baron's Jagdstaffel 11 in France, Brauneck scored a further three victories before being killed in action on 26 July 1917.

Early life

Otto Brauneck was born on 27 February 1896 in Sulzbach, the German Empire.

Aerial service

In Macedonia

Brauneck joined the air service and was posted to FFA 69 in Macedonia. He scored first in September 1916. His second victory, over an observation balloon on 14 December, earned him the Iron Cross First Class. After an unconfirmed victory on Christmas Day, he shot down two balloons on 5 January 1917. He then transferred to Jagdstaffel 25 on 14 January 1917. On 19 January, he received the Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. Between 19 January and 6 April 1917, he claimed seven triumphs, only three of which were confirmed.

Victories in Macedonia

"U/C" marks an unconfirmed victory.
No.Date/timeUnitFoeLocationNotes
1September 1916FFA 69BiplaneBitola, vicinity of Manastir
214 December 1916FFA 69Observation balloonVicinity of Monastir
U/C25 December 1916FFA 69Enemy aircraftFoe forced to land
35 January 1917FFA 69Observation balloonVicinity of Negočani
45 January 1917FFA 69Observation balloonCernabogen
519 January 1917Jagdstaffel 25Caudron G.IVNorth of Gjevgjeli
U/C20 January 1917Jasta 25FarmanSouthwest of Doiran Lake
U/C20 January 1917Jasta 25Enemy aircraftSouthwest of Doiran Lake
611 February 1917 @ 1200 hoursJasta 25Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8South of Hudova, vicinity of BalinceVictim was from No. 47 Squadron RFC
U/C1 March 1917Jasta 25Enemy aircraft
731 March 1917Jasta 25Observation balloonCernabogen, south of MonastirVictim was from 27th Kite Balloon Squadron
U/C6 April 1917Jasta 25Observation balloon

In France

On 20 April 1917, he moved to Jasta 11 on the Western Front, to serve under Manfred von Richthofen. He scored twice in early June. On 22 July 1917, he shot down a 10 Naval Squadron Sopwith Triplane, probably Canadian seven-victory ace Flight Lieutenant John Albert Page. On 26 July 1917, Brauneck fell to the guns of 70 Squadron's Captain Noel Webb.

Victories in France

No.Date/timeUnitFoeLocationNotes
81 June 1917 @ 1158 hoursJagdstaffel 11Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8Méricourt, FranceVictim from No. 16 Squadron RFC
95 June 1917 1120 hoursJasta 11Sopwith 1 1/2 StrutterTerhandVictim from No. 45 Squadron RFC
1022 July 1917 @ 1125 hoursJasta 11Sopwith Triplane N5478BecelaereVictim from No. 10 Squadron RNAS

Decorations and awards