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Name: Heinrich Kostrba
Military Merit Cross
Iron Cross		 Heinrich Kostrba
Country: Austro-Hungarian Empire
Rank: Hauptmann
Units: Flik 4, 23
Victories: 8
Born: 22 October 1883
Place of Birth: Prague, Czechoslovakia
Died: 24 September 1926 Killed In Flying Accident
Place of Death: Prague, Czechoslovakia
 
 
Kostrba joined the Austrian army and served in the infantry before his transfer to aviation. He became a pilot in October 1914 and was sent to the Italian front. He was the first Austro-Hungarian ace to down three enemy aircraft in one day. When the war ended, Kostrba founded the Czechoslovakian Flying Corps and was its first commanding officer.
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 18 Feb 1916 0845 Flik 4 Fokker E.I (03.51) Caproni Ca.I 3 Palmanova
2 18 Feb 1916 0925 Flik 4 Fokker E.I (03.51) Caudron Near Monfalcone
3 18 Feb 1916 0950 Flik 4 Fokker E.I (03.51) Caproni Ca.I 4 Merna
4 07 Jun 1916 0930 Flik 23 Hansa-Brandenburg C.I (26.09) 1 Farman SE of Borghetto
5 29 Jun 1916 0715-0820 Flik 23 Hansa-Brandenburg C.I (26.09) 1 Farman Leogra Valley
6 29 Jun 1916 0715-0820 Flik 23 Hansa-Brandenburg C.I (26.09) 1 Farman Val Ronchi
7 29 Jun 1916 0715-0820 Flik 23 Hansa-Brandenburg C.I (26.09) 1 Farman E of Vignola
8 20 Aug 1916 Flik 23 Hansa-Brandenburg C.I (26.09) 2 Farman Arsiero
1 Observer Oblt Johann Frint
2 SharedNo observer
2 Shared with Hptm M Bernath
3 Shared
 
Books
Above the War Fronts
by Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi / Hardcover / Grub Street (September 1997)
Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914-1918
by Dr. Martin O'Connor / Hardcover / Flying Machines Press (January 1986)
Austro-Hungarian Aces of World War 1
by Chris Chant, Mark Rolfe (Illustrator) / Paperback / Osprey Publishing (February 25, 2002)
 
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