Reinhold Poss

Reinhold Poss (11 September 1897-26 August 1933) was a German flying ace and racing pilot. Poss enlisted with the German Navy during World War I and scored eleven kills as a naval pilot. In May 1918 he took command of the Seefrontstaffel and in September 1918 of the IV. Marinefeldjasta, which he led until October 15, when he was shot down and captured. He spent the final month of the war in a POW camp.

Following the war, Poss achieved further fame as a pilot, completing, with Hermann Köhl, the first nighttime flight between Warnemünde and Stockholm, Sweden. Poss competed in three Federation Aeronautique Internationale air races, Challenge 1929 (finishing 15/16th overall), Challenge 1930 (2nd overall), and Challenge 1932 (tying Fritz Morzik for 2/3rd).

On August 26, 1933, Poss and his copilot, Paul Weirich, crashed after striking a church tower while flying near Neuruppin. Neither survived. Poss is buried in the Parkfriedhof of Berlin-Lichterfelde.

See also

Challenge 1929

Challenge 1930

Challenge 1932

List of World War I flying aces by nationality

External links

* [http://www.fliegergraeber.de/Reinhold_Poss.htm Reinhold Poss] (German)

* [http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/wiki/index.php/German_Naval_Air_Service German Naval Air Service]

* [http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/poss.php Reinhold Poss at The Aerodrome] Includes a detailed kill list.