An Aviator's Field Book (Illustrated Edition) (Dodo Press)

Oswald Bolcke (Boelcke) (1891-1916) was a German flying ace of the First World War and one of the most influential patrol leaders and tacticians of the early years of air combat. He is considered the father of the German fighter air force, as well as the "Father of Air Fighting Tactics"; he was the first to formalize rules of air fighting, which he presented as the Dicta Boelcke. While he promulgated rules for the individual pilot, his main concern was the use of formation fighting rather than single effort. Boelcke won his first individual aerial combat on 19 August 1915. In March 1916 he was made leader of the newly formed Fliegerabteilung Sivery and led them in action over Verdun. The German air force (Luftstreitkräfte) was being reorganized in mid-1916; this reorganization was inspired by Boelcke. At this time, Boelcke codified his Dicta. He also shared his views on creation of a fighter arm, and the organization of fighter squadrons. On 28 October 1916 the great Oswald Boelcke, victor of 40 aerial engagements, was dead at age 25.