World War I Jan Olieslagers

1 world war i

1.1 aerial activities
1.2 professional conduct
1.3 aerial career summary

world war i

at beginning of world war i, when germans invaded native belgium, german government tried enlist olieslagers in aerial observation duties. volunteered himself , blériot xi airplane nation s military, did 2 brothers, jules , max. jan olieslagers promoted sergeant, commissioned before end of 1914.

aerial activities

on 5 january 1915, crashlanded, injuring left arm , leg, chest. on 12 september, became first belgian pilot, 1 of first pilots overall, claim aerial victory, when forced down aviatik c.i. @ time, flying nieuport 10 dubbed le demon, craft in belgian air force painted camouflage markings , outside circle of roundels inscribed in black.

he had string of 4 unconfirmed claims before traded nieuport 10 nieuport 11. scored second confirmed victory on 17 june 1916, destroying fokker d.ii on pijpegale, belgium. 7 more unconfirmed claims aerial victories while flying nieuport 11 closed out 1917.

olieslagers seems have begun 1917 newer nieuport, 2 more unconfirmed victories in newly acquired hanriot hd.1. then, on 14 june, destroyed german reconnaissance plane on schore. following day, scored fourth time, setting fokker d. ii afire on keiem. 2 more unconfirmed wins followed. then, on 4 november 1917, fainted while flying , crashed onto les moeres aerodrome. taken hospital in coma, aroused few days later.

he returned flight duty in january 1918, not score again until 3 may. on day, had 1 of 2 claims confirmed. on 19th, set albatros d.v aflame on woumen last official victory, although have 1 more unverified win.

professional conduct

as if olieslagers poor record of approvals not sufficient keep score low, habitually took fight germans , indifferent paperwork staking claims. although submitted 1 combat report on 30 march 1916 witnessed triumph behind enemy lines, went unverified lack of officer s confirmation, did not bother claims wins behind german lines.

jan olieslagers seldom took leave, although did visit colonel isaac newton lewis, machine gun inventor, in london on many occasions. tended busy himself around home aerodrome , airplanes assigned him. habitually broke in rookie pilots, cushioning entry deadly art of aerial warfare.

aerial career summary

olieslagers excellent pilot; had brother jules talented mechanic. combination meant reliable airplane under ace, on 9 november 1918, engine problems brought jan olieslagers down in field near eeklo. 518th , final combat sortie; had fought in 97 dogfights on four-year stretch.