Heinrich Kostrba

Hauptmann Heinrich (Jindřich) Kostrba was an Austro-Hungarian aviator (of Czech origin), the first which to score three victories in a single day, on 18 February 1916, and three more on 29 June 1916. He went on to amass eight aerial victories and become a squadron leader and flying ace.

Jindřich Kostrba
Born22 October 1883
Kutná Hora, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary
Died24 September 1926
Prague, Czechoslovakia
AllegianceAustro-Hungarian Empire; Czechoslovakia
Service/branchAviation
RankHauptmann
UnitFlik 8; Flik 4
Commands heldFlik 23; Fliegerersatzkompanie 2; Prague Military Police; Czechoslovak Air Force
AwardsMilitary Merit Cross 3rd Class, German Iron Cross
Other workFounder and first Commanding Officer of Czechoslovak Air Force

As World War I ended, Kostrbra helped the Czech independence movement overthrow the Austro-Hungarian government. He became the first commanding officer of the Czechoslovak Air Force. On 24 September 1926, he was killed in a midair collision.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.