Franz Rudorfer | |
Birth Date: | 29 July 1897 |
Death Date: | 19 November 1919 |
Birth Place: | Vienna, Austria |
Allegiance: | Austro-Hungarian Empire |
Branch: | Infantry; aviation |
Serviceyears: | 1914–1919 |
Rank: | Oberleutnant |
Unit: | Flik 19D, Flik 51J |
Awards: | Order of the Iron Crown, Military Merit Cross |
Laterwork: | Pioneered European civil aviation |
Oberleutnant Franz Rudorfer (1897-1919) was an Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with eleven confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories.[1]
Franz Rudorfer was born on 29 July 1897 in Vienna, Austria, when it was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Rudorfer had volunteered for service before World War I began.[2] He was posted to Infanterieregiment No. 59 as a new leutnant in August 1916. In May 1917, he requested transfer to aviation. His first posting after observer training at Wiener-Neustadt was Flik 19J on the Italian front, under the command of Adolf Heyrowsky. Here he scored his first victory, becoming a balloon buster on 15 November 1917. It was also during his Flik 19J assignment that Rudorfer began to teach himself to fly.[1] [2] He would become a pilot without undergoing formal training.[3]
In April 1918, he was posted to Flik 51J to fly Albatros D.III fighters.[1] Between 17 April and 27 October 1918, he reeled off confirmed victories over eight enemy airplanes and two more observation balloons, along with two unconfirmed.[2] During the crucial Battle of Vittorio Veneto, Rudorfer was one of the few Austro-Hungarians flying, bringing down a balloon on 24 October, and a couple of Sopwith Camels on the 27th. He would score no more victories before the war ended on 11 November 1918.[1]
On 30 December 1918, Franz Rudorfer received Austrian Pilot's Certificate No. 2647.
Franz Rudorfer died of unknown causes on 13 November 1919.