Paul Aue


Paul Aue was a World War I flying ace from the Kingdom of Saxony in the German Empire. Partial records of his early aviation career credit him with 10 aerial victories. He would join the nascent Luftwaffe during the 1930s and serve Germany through World War II. He died in a Russian prison camp in 1945.

Early life

Paul Aue was born on 7 October 1891 in Söbringen, Kingdom of Saxony. He matured into a small man; some sources even call him "diminutive".

World War I

In 1916, Aue served with Kampstaffel 30 of Kampgeschwader 5. Flying a two-seater reconnaissance plane, Aue and his observer managed to down a similar craft, a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c, on 25 October 1916. Aue was then credited with two more victories before being transferred to Jasta 10 that same month.
He scored his—and his new squadron's—first victory on 25 March 1917. He struck again on 7 June, wounding a British Spad VII pilot, and driving pilot and plane into captivity. Aue was wounded in action on 19 September 1917 while piloting a Pfalz D.III. During a dogfight at 3,000 meters with two dozen British Royal Naval Air Service planes from Naval 10 Squadron above Roulers, France the German sergeant ace was hit by three English bullets, one of them an explosive round. Though he refused to leave his unit, his wounds kept him out of action until February 1918; he would not score another victory until 3 May 1918, when he shot down a Bristol F.2 Fighter, killing the pilot and wounding the gunner. It would be his last victory while flying the Pfalz, as Jasta 10 was upgrading to Fokker D.VIIs.
On 16 June 1918, Aue attacked and destroyed an enemy observation balloon for his seventh confirmed win. He went on to shoot down three more enemy fighter planes, his last victory coming on 4 September 1918.

Between the wars

Paul Aue joined the nascent Luftwaffe during the 1930s.

World War II

On 1 November 1939, Oberst Paul Aue was appointed to command of Blindflugschule 1 of the Luftwaffe. Blindflugschule 1's 's airfield was shared with a formation of Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket planes. Aue would head the school until 16 April 1945, when the school disbanded. He was captured by the Soviet Army, and died in a prisoner of war camp.

List of aerial victories

Details of Paul Aue's victories are incomplete. An attempt to collate these details and produce a complete victory list appears below.
Please include a source/citation for any additions.
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes
125 October 1916Reconnaissance two-seaterRoyal Aircraft Factory BE.2cConfirmed
2Enemy aircraftConfirmed
3Enemy aircraftConfirmed
425 March 1917Pfalz D.IIINieuport serial number 3418ConfirmedChamps, FranceJasta 10's first victory
—23 May 1917 @ 2115 hoursPfalz D.IIISopwith TriplaneUnconfirmedCarvin, France
—27 May 1917 @ 0810 hoursPfalz D.IIIRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5Unconfirmed
57 June 1917Pfalz D.IIISpad VII serial number B1524ConfirmedMenen, BelgiumBritish pilot and aircraft captured
—7 June 1917Pfalz D.IIISpadUnconfirmedCoucou
63 May 1918 @ 1215 hoursAlbatros D.VBristol F.2 FighterConfirmedProyart, FranceAue's first victory after serious wounding
716 June 1918 @ 0645 hoursFokker D.VIIObservation balloonConfirmedVillers-Cotterêts, France
819 August 1918 @ 0900 hoursFokker D.VIISopwith CamelConfirmedSouthwest of Puisieux, France
929 August 1918 @ 0955 hoursFokker D.VIISopwith CamelConfirmedEstrées, France
104 September 1918 @ 1130 hoursFokker D.VIISpadConfirmedMontfaucon, France

Honors

Paul Aue is known to have earned the following honors:
Kingdom of Saxony: Silver Military Order of Saint Henry awarded on 24 April 1917

Kingdom of Saxony: Gold Military Order of Saint Henry awarded during July 1918

Iron Cross First Class

Silver Friedrich-August Medal

Paul Aue also may have been awarded two other decorations:
Saxon Honor Cross with Crown and Swords

Saxon War Merit Cross

Endnotes