Richard Wenzl


Leutnant Richard Wenzl was a German World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.

World War I service

Wenzl flew first for an artillery cooperation unit, FAA 236. He transferred, first to KEK Ost, then to Jagdstaffel 31 in the spring of 1917. For his first victory, he shot down and destroyed a Spad on 19 April 1917. He had an unconfirmed claim the following month. He would not score again for a year, after he had switched into Jagdstaffel 11 on 27 March 1918. After his second victory, on 16 May, he transferred to Jagdstaffel 6 the next day. He began a five-month scoring streak on 5 June, running his total to 11 destroyed enemy aircraft and an observation balloon on 5 November 1918. Wenzl also served as the squadron's acting commander from 10 August to 9 September 1918.

Victory list

Confirmed victories are numbered; unconfirmed claims are denoted as U/C.
No.Date/timeUnitFoeLocationNotes
119 April 1917Jasta 31SPADSouth of Moronvillers
U/C26 May 1917Jasta 31CaudronMalmyCaudron forced to land
216 May 1918 @ 1930 hoursJasta 11Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5aSouth of Bois de VaireVictim from No. 56 Squadron RAF
35 June 1918 @ 1735 hoursJasta 6Breguet 14Soissons
422 July 1918 @ 1620 hoursJasta 6SPAD
51 August 1918 @ 0915 hoursJasta 6Nieuport 28Fere-en-TardenoisVictim from 27th Aero Squadron
68 August 1918 @ 1940 hoursJasta 6Airco DH.9Genermont
74 September 1918 @ 1100 hoursJasta 6Sopwith CamelSouth of Raillencourt-Sainte-OlleVictim from No. 3 Squadron RAF
85 September 1918 @ 1525 hoursJasta 6Observation balloonCroissellesBalloon serial number 45-12-13
929 October 1918 @ 1100 hoursJasta 6SPADSommerance
103 November 1918 @ 1455 hoursJasta 6SPAD S.XIIMontfaucon
113 November 1918 @ 1455 hoursJasta 6SPAD S.XIIMontfaucon
125 November 1918 @ 1010 hoursJasta 6Airco DH.4 Stenay, MalmyVictim from 20th Aero Squadron. 1st Lt. S. P. Mandell and 2nd Lt. R. B. Fulton