Fritz Pütter (1895–1918) was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 25 confirmed aerial victories, including eight observation balloons. Notably, he began his combat career by the rare feat of downing five observation balloons to become an ace. After scoring ten victories with Jagdstaffel 9, he was transferred to command another fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 68, to score his remaining triumphs. On 16 July 1918, incendiary ammunition aboard his airplane was set off by extremely hot weather, inflicting lingering mortal wounds on Pütter.[1][2]
The victories of Fritz Pütter are reported in chronological order, which is not necessarily the order or dates the victories were confirmed by headquarters.
Abbreviations were expanded by the editor creating this list.
Footnote
^With their wide fields of view, observers in observation balloons were deadly components for artillery direction. The balloons were accordingly well defended by antiaircraft guns and patrolling fighters (per Guttman, pp. 7-9)
Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. London UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN978-0-948817-73-1.
Guttman, Jon (2005). Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1. Oxford UK, Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-84176-877-9.
Information related to List of aerial victories of Fritz Pütter