Shopping cartLtn. Werner Voss (48 wins)
On July 21, 1917 Voß was chosen to test the new prototype Fokker Dreideckers, designated V4 Prototypes. He was extremely impressed with this plane and said it was the edge that would once again swing air supremacy back to the German side. The first two Fokker DrI prototypes were issued to JG1 on 28 August 1917 and were given to Manfred von Richthofen (The Red Baron) and Werner Voß.
Voss declared that with this plane he would quickly become the number one ace in all of Germany. It was at this time that von Richthofen took notice and gave the triplane a second chance.
On Sunday September 23, 1917, Voss had just returned to his aerodrome having bagged his 48th, to find his two brothers waiting to discuss their upcoming leave. The last photograph of Werner is of him flanked by his brothers, standing in front of his hanger shortly before his last flight.
At 6:25 PM that evening, Voss was engaged in a fight with some SE5s of #60 squadron that had been returning home low on fuel. It was at this time that Voss and his wingman were 'bounced' by 'B' flight of #56 squadron, composed of six SE5s led by British ace J.T.B. McCudden. B flight was made up of all veteran pilots and Voss soon found himself alone facing some of England's best.
For nearly ten minutes he fought his enemies to a standstill, throwing his little triplane around the sky in a dazzling display of airmanship. McCudden later wrote: "He was in the middle of our formation and his flying was wonderful to behold. That pilot seemed to be firing at all of us simultaneously."
But, eventually the 6 to 1 odds caught up with him and Lt. A.P. Rhys-Davids managed to get in a long burst from close behind. Voss' triplane was seen to roll over and dive headlong into the ground just inside the allied lines. His body was found by British infantrymen and buried, with little ceremony, in an unmarked grave on the spot where he fell.
Although victorious several members of #56 seemed genuinely upset that the conflict had ended in Warner's death. When congratulated Rhys-Davids only comment was, "Oh, if only I could have brought him down alive".
#56 squadron did not escape unscathed:
1. Muspratt(60 Squadron) had to force land with a shot up radiator.
2. Chidlaw-Roberts managed to limp his badly shot up SE5 home.
3. Mayberry's machine had to be returned to the repair depot.
4. Hamersly force landed at a nearby aerodrome and his plane was written off.
5. Cronyn managed to get home.. but his plane was also written off.
Although von Richthofen and others scored more victories, many of his comrades AND adversaries considered Voss to be one of THE best fliers of the war.
- 1916
1 27 Nov Nieuport Scout (a) Miraumont 0940 J2
2 27 Nov DH2 (b) S Bapaume 1415 J2
3 21 Dec BE2d (c) Miraumont 1100 J2
1917
4 1 Feb DH2 (d) Essarts 1730 J2
5 4 Feb BE2d (e) Givenchy 1540 J2
6 10 Feb DH2 (f) SW Serre 1225 J2
7 25 Feb DH2 (g) St. Sauveur 1455 J2
8 25 Feb DH2 (g) Arras 1500 J2
9 26 Feb BE2c (h) Ecurie 1650 J2
10 27 Feb BE2C (i) Blaireville 1045 J2
11 27 Feb BE2c (j) St. Catherine 1648 J2
12 4 Mar BE2d (k) S Berneville 1130 J2
13 6 Mar DH2 (1) Favreuil 1635 J2
14 11 Mar FE2b (m) Combles 1000 J2
15 11 Mar Nieuport Scout (n) Baillcul 1430 J2
16 17 Mar FE2b (o) NE Warlemont 1215 J2
17 17 Mar DH2 (p) SW Bapaume 1225 J2
18 18 Mar BE2d (q) Neuville 1840 J2
19 18 Mar BE2d (r) Boyelles 1850 J2
20 19 Mar RE8 (s) St. Leger 0930 J2
21 24 Mar FE2b (t) SE St. Leger 1610 J2
22 24 Mar BE2d (u) SE Mercatel 1645 J2
23 1 Apr BE2C (v) E St. Leger 1145 J2
24 6 Apr BE2e (v) S Lagnicourt 0945 J2
25 7 May SE5 (w) Etaing 1925 J2
26 9 May BE2e (x) Havrincourt 1400 J2
27 9 May Pup (y) Lesdain 1645 J2
28 9 May FE2b (z) Le Bosquet 1650 J2
29 23 May FE2b (aa) N Havrincourt 1425 J5
30 26 May Pup (bb) SW Gouzeaucourt 1545 J5
31 28 May FE2d (cc) SE Douai 1400 J5
32 4 Jun Pup (dd) Aubenscheul-aux-Bois 0710 J5
33 5 Jun FE2b (ee) N Vaucelles 0930 J5
34 6 Jun Nieuport Scout (ff) W Graincourt 1310 J5
35 10 Aug Spad XIII (gg) S Dixmude 1625 J10
36 15 Aug FE2d (hh) Zillebeke Lake 1910 J10
37 16 Aug Camel (ii) St. Julien 2100 J10
38 23 Aug Spad SW Dixmude 1010 J10
39 3 Sep Camel (jj) N Houthem 0952 J10
40 5 Sep DH5 (kk) St. Julien 1550 J10
41 5 Sep Caudron Bixschoote 1630 J10
42 6 Sep FE2d (11) SE Boesinghe 1635 J10
43 10 Sep Camel (mm) Langemarck 1750 J10
44 10 Sep Camel (mm) SW Poelcapelle 1755 J10
45 10 Sep Spad (nn) E Langemarck 1815 J10
46 11 Sep BF2b (oo) Langemarck 1030 J10
47 11 Sep Camel (pp) E St. Julien 1625 J10
48 23 Sep DH4 (qq) S Roulers 0930 J10
His fighter planes
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