Max Immelmann

Max Immelmann
Max Immelmann in 1916
Nickname(s)	Der Adler von Lille (The Eagle of Lille)
Born	(1890-09-21)21 September 1890 Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Died	18 June 1916(1916-06-18) (aged 25) Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
Allegiance	German Empire
Service/branch	Imperial German Army Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Army Air Service)
Years of service	1911–1912 (Army) 1914–1916 (Army Air Service)
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	Eisenbahnregiment Nr. 2, Eisenbahnregiment Nr. 1, FEA 2, FFA 10, FAA 62
Awards	Prussia: Pour le Mérite Iron Cross, First Class Iron Cross, Second Class Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Saxony: Military Order of St. Henry, Commander's Cross Military Order of St. Henry, Knight's Cross Albert Order, Knight 2nd Class with Swords Silver Friedrich August Medal Bavaria: Military Merit Order 4th Class with Swords Anhalt: Friedrich Cross Hamburg: Hanseatic Cross Germany: Army Pilot's Badge

Max Immelmann (21 September 1890 – 18 June 1916) PLM was the first German World War I flying ace.^[1] He was a pioneer in fighter aviation and is often mistakenly credited with the first aerial victory using a synchronized gun, which was in fact achieved on 1 July 1915 by the German ace Kurt Wintgens. Immelmann was the first aviator to receive the Pour le Mérite, colloquially known as the "Blue Max" in his honour, being awarded it at the same time as Oswald Boelcke. His name has become attached to a common flying tactic, the Immelmann turn, and remains a byword in aviation. He is credited with 15 aerial victories.