Heinrich Arntzen

Who is Heinrich Arntzen?

Leutnant Heinrich Arntzen was a World War I flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories.

Arntzen flew as an observer with two artillery cooperation units during 1916, FFA 34 and FFA 2. He scored four victories with the latter unit, though details are sketchy. He then underwent pilot training and was assigned to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 15 as both pilot and technical officer. On 13 August 1917, he shot down a Caudron to become an ace. On 15 October 1917, he shot down a French observation balloon. On 13 January 1918, he was promoted to command of Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 50. Between 25 January and 4 April 1918, he downed three more French balloons, a British RE.8, and a French Breguet 14, to bring his total to four enemy balloons and seven opposing airplanes. On 27 May 1918, his career as a balloon buster ended with his being wounded by anti-aircraft fire while attacking one.