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Between Two Worlds: a Pilot’s Story
About 1,000 Fokker D. VII fighters were produced toward the end of World War I, which finally reached the front and active service from May 1918. Today, only a half dozen original examples of this advanced-for-its-day German aircraft remain.
Despite the fame of one survivor out of this handful—known as the „U.10” among Great War aviation enthusiasts—very few know the name, let alone the story, of the pilot who was flying this historic aircraft on the day it was captured intact. In fact, if one had not heard his Germanic first name, it would have been easy to mistake him as having been French.
This is the true story of that largely unknown German pilot, Leutnant Heinz Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay—long associated with an aircraft better known than he himself—that’s prominently exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Through this account, it is hoped that this will bring some measure of recognition and establish von Beaulieu-Marconnay’s rightful place in aviation history. From the Foreword by Professor John H. Lienhard, “[Callen] has done a very deep dive into the life and times of the pilot. His work now gives us a remarkably filigreed look at the texture of German air power throughout two wars, and the people engaged in it. He came to know the pilot as though he had known him in life.”
Included are over 100 photographs (many from private sources and never seen before), 5 illustrations and 3 tables.
Short excerpt: “We had to test a new type of plane on which I made the first flight. The students flew at the same time and practiced local flights and precision landings. I was in the air at a greater altitude and enjoyed the good flying characteristics of the new machine, performing loops and rolls, turns, inverted flights, etc. Occasionally, I looked down on the airfield and watched the flight operations.
While I was doing that, I was surprised to see that three planes were arranged beside the starting pad, with their engines turned off; two additional ones came in to land, and the anxiety and commotion seemed to reign upon the students. And now, I also noticed that our ambulance moved toward the starting pad, and seeing those preparations I thought that something must have happened. Since no other planes were in the air, I gradually had to assume that it had to do with me. A look to the right showed everything was in good order. I could see half of the right wheel under the shorter wing. Now to the left; wings also okay, but… I stretched my neck as far as possible… not a trace of the left wheel was visible. I evidently must have a damaged chassis, perhaps the wheel has come off and fallen down, perhaps even the entire left half of the chassis is damaged or lost. That was an awkward business.”
Despite the fame of one survivor out of this handful—known as the „U.10” among Great War aviation enthusiasts—very few know the name, let alone the story, of the pilot who was flying this historic aircraft on the day it was captured intact. In fact, if one had not heard his Germanic first name, it would have been easy to mistake him as having been French.
This is the true story of that largely unknown German pilot, Leutnant Heinz Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay—long associated with an aircraft better known than he himself—that’s prominently exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Through this account, it is hoped that this will bring some measure of recognition and establish von Beaulieu-Marconnay’s rightful place in aviation history. From the Foreword by Professor John H. Lienhard, “[Callen] has done a very deep dive into the life and times of the pilot. His work now gives us a remarkably filigreed look at the texture of German air power throughout two wars, and the people engaged in it. He came to know the pilot as though he had known him in life.”
Included are over 100 photographs (many from private sources and never seen before), 5 illustrations and 3 tables.
Short excerpt: “We had to test a new type of plane on which I made the first flight. The students flew at the same time and practiced local flights and precision landings. I was in the air at a greater altitude and enjoyed the good flying characteristics of the new machine, performing loops and rolls, turns, inverted flights, etc. Occasionally, I looked down on the airfield and watched the flight operations.
While I was doing that, I was surprised to see that three planes were arranged beside the starting pad, with their engines turned off; two additional ones came in to land, and the anxiety and commotion seemed to reign upon the students. And now, I also noticed that our ambulance moved toward the starting pad, and seeing those preparations I thought that something must have happened. Since no other planes were in the air, I gradually had to assume that it had to do with me. A look to the right showed everything was in good order. I could see half of the right wheel under the shorter wing. Now to the left; wings also okay, but… I stretched my neck as far as possible… not a trace of the left wheel was visible. I evidently must have a damaged chassis, perhaps the wheel has come off and fallen down, perhaps even the entire left half of the chassis is damaged or lost. That was an awkward business.”
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2022
2 people want to read
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