Oswald Boelcke

With 40 victories to his name at the time of his death, Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke was Germany's greatest fighter pilot and air unit commander. Boelcke was born in Giebichstein, (near Halle, Saxony) the fourth child of six in a schoolteacher's family. Ever an active youth, he excelled at gymnastics, swimming and mountain climbing. In 1911, after he graduated from high school, he joined the Prussian Cadet Corps Communication battalion and was later posted to a Telegraph battalion …

… ruses. In any form of attack it is essential to assail your opponent from behind. If your opponent dives on you, do not try to evade his onslaught, but fly to meet it. When over the enemy's lines, never forget your own line of retreat. Attack on principle 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.