OffiziersstellvertreterEdmund Nathanael (18 December 1889 – 11 May 1917) was a World War Iflying ace credited with 15 aerial victories. He flew both two-seaterreconnaissance aircraft and single-seater fighter craft. He scored all his victories while flying for Royal PrussianJagdstaffel 5, and received a rare award of theHouse Order of Hohenzollern for his valor. He was killed in action while serving theGerman Empire.

Edmund Nathanael
Nathanael in March 1917
Born	18 December 1889 Dielsdorf,German Empire
Died	11 May 1917(1917-05-11) (aged 27) Bourlon Wood, Belgium
Allegiance	German Empire
Service/ branch	Luftstreitkräfte
Rank	Offiziersstellvertreter
Unit	Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 42,Jagdstaffel 22,Jagdstaffel 5
Awards	House Order of Hohenzollern,Iron Cross First Class,Wilhelm Ernst War Cross, General Honor Decoration in Gold with Swords

Edmund Nathanael was born on 18 December 1889 in Dielsdorf, theGerman Empire.^[1][2]

It is not known if Edmund Nathanael first served in a ground unit, although that was the usual practice for German aviation volunteers. However, Nathanael's first aviation service was withFlieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 42 (FAA 42). This unit operated two-seaterreconnaissance aircraft and carried out the hazardous task of directing artillery fire from its aerial station. While serving withFlieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 42, Nathanael served with enough distinction that he earned the seldom awardedWilhelm Ernst War Cross from his nativeGrand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, as well as the Grand Duchy's General Honor Decoration in Gold with Swords. The German military customarily seasoned its aviation personnel in combat; the most promising were then "promoted" to fighter pilots. The system conserved the single-seater fighter pilots, as they would not easily fall victim to rookie errors when they entered combat.^[1][2][3]

Nathanael was forwarded to a fighter unit in late 1916; it was then customary to reassign a pilot to one of the four national air forces that constituted the German Air Service. In Nathanael's case, his native Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach adjoined theKingdom of Saxony. He was not only assigned to a Saxon squadron, he seemed to be a founding member ofRoyal SaxonJagdstaffel 22, which formed in November 1916. He would serve with this unit until March 1917. He gained no victories while with this squadron.^[1][2] The squadron itself would amass 57 victories by war's end.^[4]

However, he served well enough that in March 1917, he transferred to the prestigiousRoyal PrussianJagdstaffel 5. With this reassignment, he was posted to serve with some very successful aces—Renatus Theiller,Werner Voss,Hans Karl Müller, andHans Berr among them.^[5] Nathanael was assigned to fly anAlbatros D.V.^[6] In contrast to Jagdstaffel 22, Jagdstaffel 5 would be credited with 253 victories during World War I.^[7]

Nathanael scored his first aerial victory with Jagdstaffel 5 on 6 March; he would run hisvictory total to 15 in two months. Nathanaels 14th victory on 30 April 1917 made him the first pilot in history to shoot down an SE-5 (ofNo. 56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps). Five days after his 15th victory was credited, Nathanael's plane was shot down in flames as the ninth of 21 victories of Scottish ace CaptainWilliam Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick ofNo. 23 Squadron RFC, which killed Nathanael in action.^[1][2][8] Captain Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick was flyingSpad VII serial number B1580 when he shot down Nathanael.^[9]

Nathanael was one of only 18 German fliers to receive theHouse Order of Hohenzollern during the First World War.

Nathanael was listed, without proof of sources and likely because of his surname, as a German of jewish faith / origins in the media on occasions.[1] Extensive recent archival research has proven this to be untrue, he was of protestant faith and no jewish family connections could be traced over the last ca. 200 years.[2]

All victories were scored while flying with Royal PrussianJagdstaffel 5.^[2]

• Albatros Aces of World War 1: Part 1 of Albatros aces of World War I.Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000.ISBN 1-85532-960-3,ISBN 978-1-85532-960-7.