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Graves of Military Pilots, WWI & WWII, Vienna


Roman Schilhart

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Dear fellow Britmodellers,

last weekend I took a long walk at Vienna's Central Cemetery, one of the largest in Europe.

It holds a number of graves of interest for aviation historics, such as that of Franz Wels (Wels-Etrich Taube) or Franz Mannsbarth (designer of the first Austro-Hungarian airship).

Also, Austria's most successful fighter pilots from both World Wars have been laid to rest here.

First picture is at the grave of Godwin Brumowski, the most successful fighter ace of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

He was credited with 40 victories (some sources say 35).

He went on to become a flight instructor with Austrian Aero Club after the war.

In June 1936, he got killed when an airplane piloted by one of his students crashed at Amsterdam-Shiphol airport.

 

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This is the grave of Walter Nowotny, Carrier Of The Golden Honor Ring of the city of Vienna, youngest Major in the Luftwaffe and commander of the very first operational jet squadron in history, credited with 258 aerial victories.

He died November 8th, 1944, when his Me-262 crashed near Epe, Westaflia/Germany.

The inscription reads: “Carrier of Oak Leaves with Swords and Brilliants to the Knight’s Cross, Eternal is his fatal fame”.

 

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May we never forget, never repeat history!

With greetings from Vienna,

Roman Schilhart

 

Edited by Roman Schilhart
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