Have you heard of the Dicta Boelcke?

Words to live by

I’ve already written an article related to the very exciting world of WWI aviation. That article detailed the life (and death) of Quentin Roosevelt, the only child of an American president to be killed in combat. Quentin was the eldest (and favorite) son of former President Theodore Roosevelt, and had volunteered to join the American Army Air Corps despite the extremely high casualty rates for fighter pilots at that time. He was killed during a large dogfight during the opening phases of the Second Battle of the Marne.

I read a lot these days, and I’m always running into cool things. Probably the coolest thing I found related to WWI aviation was the Dicta Boelcke, a set of maxims for fighter pilots composed by Capt. Oswald Boelcke, the “Father of Air Combat.”

Boelcke was a former champion athlete and cavalryman who found himself in the infant German Air Force as World War I dragged on. Although he was initially very skeptical of aviation, he proved to be a natural pilot. Not only was Boelcke skilled at an individual level, he also pioneered the sophisticated group fighter tactics that would allow the German Air Force to punch above its weight even after it was far surpassed in numbers and technology by the Entente forces.

Boelcke was extremely influential as a trainer. Many of the men who fought under his command would go on to play very prominent roles in both WWI and WWII. When Manfred von Richthofen, the “Red Baron,” was first starting out, he asked Boelcke what his advice for new pilots was. Boelcke replied “Get close.”

Boelcke wrote a detailed list of rules, the Dicta Boelcke, for fighter pilots in his squadron. I know it’s a little fortune cookie, but I really was struck by how good this advice is for any number of different situations. The list is as follows:

1. Always try to secure an advantageous position before attacking. Climb before and during the approach in order to surprise the enemy from above, and dive on him swiftly from the rear when the moment to attack is at hand.

2. Try to place yourself between the sun and the enemy. This puts the glare of the sun in the enemy's eyes and makes it difficult to see you and impossible for him to shoot with any accuracy.

3. Do not fire the machine guns until the enemy is within range and you have him squarely within your sights.

4. Attack when the enemy least expects it or when he is preoccupied with other duties such as observation, photography, or bombing.

5. Never turn your back and try to run away from an enemy fighter. If you are surprised by an attack on your tail, turn and face the enemy with your guns.

6. Keep your eye on the enemy and do not allow him to deceive you with tricks. If your opponent seems damaged, follow him down until he crashes to be sure he is not faking.

7. Foolish acts of bravery only bring death. The Jasta (squadron) must fight as a unit with close teamwork between all pilots. The signals of its leaders must be obeyed.

8. For the Staffel (squadron): Attack in principle in groups of four or six. When the fight breaks up into a series of single combats, take care that several do not go for one opponent.

Infallibly polite, humble, and professional, Boelcke was well-regarded even by his opponents. He was the prototypical image of a chivalric fighter pilot that emerged from the period. In late 1916, Boelcke died of a skull fracture following an accidental collision with a friendly aircraft during battle. He was just 25 years old.

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