Franz Buchner enlisted in the infantry at the age of 16 in 1914. He fought on the Russian front in 1915 before being transferred to the Western Front. Wounded on April 3, 1916, he requested a transfer to aviation after his recovery.
Rise as an Aviation Ace
Buchner achieved his first victory on August 17, 1917, securing another before the year’s end. His combat tally significantly increased in the summer of 1918, downing three aircraft in June alone.
He claimed his seventh victory on July 2, 1918, when he shot down a Sopwith “Dolphin” flown by Irishman Joseph Callaghan. Five days later, he downed another Allied ace, Merrill Taylor from Canada.
An Unexpected End
He survived a collision with another German pilot on October 10, 1918, and ultimately the war itself. However, Franz Buchner was tragically killed during the 1918-1919 revolution.