Franz Gräser

Name:

Franz Gräser

Country:

Austro-Hungarian Empire

Rank:

Leutnant

Units:

Flik 2, 32, 42J, 61J

Victories:

Born:

26 October 1892

Place of Birth:

Nyir-Mada, Hungary

Died:

17 May 1918

Place of Death:

Treviso

Gräser joined the army in 1914 and served on the Eastern Front until he was wounded. He volunteered for the Army Air Service in 1916 and served as an observer with Flik 2 on the Isonzo front. Here he scored his first victory from a Hansa-Brandeburg C.I (28.58). Posted to Flik 32 in May 1917, Gräser received informal flight training from Feldwebel Franz Fraueneder who remarked that Gräser was "a born pilot." On 1 October 1917, Gräser was posted to Flik 42J as a pilot. Though he never received a pilot's certificate, Gräser scored 16 victories flying the Albatros D.III during World War I. He was killed in action on an escort mission when he was shot down near Treviso by Antonio Chiri.

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	10 Feb 1917	a.m.	Flik 2	Hansa-Brandenburg C.I (29.58)	Farman	W of Tolmein
2	20 May 1917	0920	Flik 32	Hansa-Brandenburg C.I (229.20)	SPAD 1	Monte Sabotino
3	25 Oct 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.13)	Seaplane	Sdobba Estuary
4	26 Oct 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.13)	Balloon
5	26 Oct 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.13)	Nieuport Scout	Lake Doberdo
6	27 Oct 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.13)	Seaplane
7	15 Nov 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.61)	Sopwith Camel	Meolo-Monistier
8	23 Nov 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.44)	Macchi L3	Agenzia
9	27 Nov 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.44)	SAML 2	San Dona di Piave
10	29 Nov 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.61)	SAML 2	Vianello
11	05 Dec 1917		Flik 42J	Albatros D.III (153.44)	Savoia-Pomilio	San Biaggio-La Fossa
12	26 Jan 1918	1810	Flik 61J	Albatros D.III (153.106)	Seaplane	Laguna Palude
13	30 Jan 1918		Flik 61J	Albatros D.III (153.110)	R.E.8	Cana Reggia
14	24 Feb 1918		Flik 61J	Albatros D.III (153.106)	Macchi M5	Marcello
15	08 Mar 1918		Flik 61J	Albatros D.III (153.106)	Balloon	Cenesa Canal
16	12 Mar 1918		Flik 61J	Albatros D.III (153.106)	Ansaldo S.V.A.5	Monistier di Treviso
u/c	12 Mar 1918		Flik 61J	Albatros D.III (153.106)	Ansaldo S.V.A.5	Monistier di Treviso
17	16 Mar 1918		Flik 61J	Albatros D.III (153.106)	Ansaldo S.V.A.5	Casonetti
18	23 Mar 1918		Flik 61J	Albatros D.III (153.111)	SAML 2	Noventa di Piave

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)