A WW1 GERMAN FLUGBUCH, MILITARPASS AND 3 WW2 LUFTWAFFE FLYING LICENCES BELONGING TO A PILOT WHO FLEW WITH FA(A)217 DURING THE CLOSING MONTHS OF WW1 AND LATER BECAME A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

A WW1 Flugbuch, Militarpass and 3 WW2 Luftwaffe Luftfahrerschein’s belonging to Heinrich Schnitger a pilot who flew with FA(A)217 during the closing months of WW1.

Heinrich Schnitger was born on 24 December 1898 and from June 1917 served with 4Bad Feld Artillerie Regt No 66, an Ersatz-Abteilung but joined 2 Kompanie, Flieger Ersatz-Abteilung 2 as a Flieger in December 1917. He commenced pilot training from 20 March 1918 at Fliegerschule Schnedemuhl which is where the Albatros-Flugzeugwerke was, along with FEA 2.

After pilot training, on 15 September 1918, Schnitger joined a front line unit, Flieger Abteilung (Artillerie) 217. His final entry for FA(A)217, stamped and dated 28 November 1918, notes he was promoted Gefreiter on 20 October 1918 and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 14 November 1918. This is signed by his Squadron Commander, Oberleutnant Paul Freiherr von Pechmann who was the first artillery and reconnaissance pilot to earn the Pour le Merite. On 5 March 1919, he is noted as being at Fliegerhorst Graudenz.

Flugbuch with about 24 pages of entries throughout his training and unit stamps and is listed as flying Albatros B II’s, B III’s, C I’s, C III’s and CXII’s. Along with various types of BU’s and DFW CV’s.

The 3 Luftwaffe Luftfahrerschein’s for pilots are dated 1937, 1941 and 1943 and it seems post WW1, Schnitger became a flight instructor.