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Name: Sebastian Festner
Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Member's Cross with Swords
Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class
Sebastian Festner
Country: Germany
Rank: Vizefeldwebel
Units: FA 5, 18
Jasta 11
Victories: 12
Born: 30 June 1894
Place of Birth: Holzkirchen, Bavaria
Killed In Action: 25 April 1917 Killed In Action
Place of Death: Between Gavrelle and Bailleul
 
Wounded while serving in the infantry, Festner joined the German Air Force in 1914. He served as a mechanic before becoming a pilot in 1916. After flying two-seaters, he was assigned to Jasta 11 where he scored all of his victories. Flying an all red Albatros D.III, Festner shot down ten opponents during April 1917. One of these was Victoria Cross winner William Robinson. Festner shot down Robinson's Bristol F.2a near Mericourt during the Battle of Arras. Two days after becoming the second man to receive the Member's Cross of the Order of the House of Hohenzollern, Festner was killed in a crash during combat.
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 05 Feb 1917 1700 Jasta 11   B.E.2c Neuville
2 16 Feb 1917 1555 Jasta 11   F.E.8 (7635) Lieven
3 02 Apr 1917 1050 Jasta 11   F.E.2d (A1944) Auby
4 05 Apr 1917 1100 Jasta 11   Bristol F.2a (A3337) Mericourt
5 05 Apr 1917 1300 Jasta 11   Nieuport 17 (A6693) SW of Bailleul
6 07 Apr 1917 1750 Jasta 11   Nieuport 17 (A311) Mount St. Eloi
7 08 Apr 1917 0930 Jasta 11   Nieuport 17 E of Vimy
8 11 Apr 1917 0905 Jasta 11   B.E.2d N of Fampoux
9 13 Apr 1917 0851 Jasta 11   R.E.8 (A3199) Etaing-Dury
10 13 Apr 1917 1930 Jasta 11   F.E.2b (A784) Harnes
11 14 Apr 1917 0915 Jasta 11   Nieuport 17 (B1523) Gavrelle
12 16 Apr 1917 1030 Jasta 11   Nieuport 17 (B1507) NE of Biaches
 
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