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Name: Rudolf Friedrich Otto Windisch
Orden Pour le Mérite (Blue Max)
Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern
Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class		 Rudolf Windisch
Country: Germany
Rank: Leutnant
Units: FEA 6
FFA 62
KG II
Jasta 32, 50, 66
Victories: 22
Born: 27 January 1897
Place of Birth: Dresden, Germany
Died: On or after 27 May 1918
Place of Death: Gouvrelles, France
 
 
When the war began, Rudolf Windisch was serving in the 177th Infantry Regiment. Wounded in action on 21 November 1914, he joined the German Air Force on 22 January 1915. After training at the Military Pilot's School in Leipzig-Lindenthal, he was promoted and assigned to FEA 6 as an instructor. On 1 May 1916, he joined FFA 62, flying two-seaters on the Russian front and downing an observation balloon for his first victory on 25 August. Carrying out a special mission on 2 October, Windisch landed his plane behind Russian lines and left his observer behind to destroy a strategic railway bridge near Rowno-Brody. Returning the following day, Windisch picked up his observer, Oberleutnant von Cossel, and flew back across the lines. For having successfully destroyed the bridge, the two men were personally decorated by the Emperor on 18 October 1916. On that day, Windisch became the first and only pilot during the war to receive the Prussian Order of the Crown, 4th Class with Swords. The following month, he joined KG II as a reconnaissance pilot on the Western Front. With the formation of new Jastas, experienced pilots were needed and Windisch was posted to Jasta 32 on 20 February 1917. After further training, he returned to the front as a fighting pilot, scoring 7 more victories by 4 January 1918. On 10 January, he was posted to Jasta 50 for two weeks before assuming command of Jasta 66 on 24 January 1918. Before he was shot down on 27 May 1918, Windisch scored 14 more victories. Thought to be a prisoner of war in the hands of the French, his Blue Max was approved on 6 June 1918 but Windisch was never seen again and his death remains shrouded in mystery.
Bavaria, Germany, WWI Personnel Rosters, 1914-1918
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 25 Aug 1916 FA 62   Balloon SE of Brody
2 18 Sep 1917 1547 Jasta 32   AR2 Fleury
3 27 Sep 1917 1028 Jasta 32   SPAD Betheville
4 01 Nov 1917 Jasta 32   SPAD W of Bray
5 07 Nov 1917 Jasta 32   SPAD Brancourt
6 18 Nov 1917 Jasta 32   SPAD Laval
7 03 Jan 1918 Jasta 32   Balloon Villers
8 04 Jan 1918 Jasta 32   SPAD S of Staubecken
9 15 Mar 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD Vitry-Reims
10 17 Mar 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD Vitry-Reims
11 23 Mar 1918 Jasta 66   Sopwith 2 Le Bruin Ferme
12 24 Mar 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD 2 Bretigny
13 24 Mar 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD Tergnier
14 24 Mar 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD Tergnier
15 11 Apr 1918 Jasta 66   Bréguet 14 S of Noyon
16 21 Apr 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD Guy
17 21 Apr 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD Guy
18 03 May 1918 Jasta 66   Balloon Juvigny
19 04 May 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD Carlepont
20 15 May 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD 2 Trosly-Loire
21 16 May 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD Thiescourt
22 27 May 1918 Jasta 66   SPAD 2 Couvrelles-Lesges
 
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