Wilhelm Gisbert Groos

Wilhelm Gisbert Groos was a German World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.

Wilhelm Gisbert Groos
Born10 August 1894
German Empire
Died1997
Germany
Allegiance German Empire
Service/branchLuftstreitkräfte
Years of service1914–1918
RankLeutnant
UnitJagdstaffel 4
Jagdstaffel 11
AwardsIron Cross
Honour Cross

Early life

Wilhelm Gisbert Groos (often written Gisbert Wilhelm) was born on 10 August 1894 to Dr. Ernst Gisbert Karl Julius Georg Groos and Laura Maria Colsman.[1] He was admitted to the Prussian Cadet Corps and later served in an Uhlan Regiment.[2] While an Ensign before the First World War, he had been training to compete in the 3000 meter race at the 1916 Summer Olympics.[3]

World War I service

Groos received his pilot's license from the Halberstadt Civil Flying School. He joined Jasta 4 in May 1917. On 17 May, he scored his first victory while flying over Droucourt, France against a British Sopwith triplane. Shortly afterwards, he was transferred to Jasta 11 on 24 May. He is credited with achieving five further victories between 24 June and 23 August.[4] After Wilhelm Reinhard was wounded, Groos was briefly given command of Jasta 11 between 6 and 11 September. He relinquished command when Kurt Wolff returned from leave. Groos was wounded on 14 September and Wolff was killed the following day. After Wolff's death, Groos briefly reassumed command again between 15 and 25 September until Lothar von Richthofen was given the position.[3]

After Groos recovered he was appointed a position within Jastaschule II in Nivelles. However, he returned to Jasta 11 on 10 July 1918 for a short time when there became a shortage of pilots. On 1 August 1918, he scored his last victory against a British SPAD aircraft. Shortly afterwards, he returned to Jastaschule II on 16 September and remained there for the rest of the war.[3]

Post World War I

Gross retired from the Luftstreitkräfte after the war. He married three times and had two sons, Manfred Wilhelm and Ernst Gisbert. He became the director of the Westdeutschen Steinzeug-Werke company in Euskirchen. In 1994, Groos celebrated his 100th birthday.[5] He died in 1997 near Cologne/Bonn, around 103 years old. At the time of his death he was the last surviving member of Jasta 11.[1]

References
  1. "An Honour Goblet Group to Leutnant Gisbert Groos of von Richthofen's "Flying Circus"". Emedals.com. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  2. Kilduff, Peter (2012). Red Baron – The Life and Death of an Ace. F+W Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  3. "Cross & Cockade Journal". Vol. 18. Cross & Cockade. 1977. p. 325. Retrieved 30 March 2018. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. "Gisbert-Wilhelm Groos". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  5. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (August 1994). "Personalien" (in German). Retrieved 30 March 2018.


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