Franz Wognar Offizierstellvertreter Franz Wognar was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories . Biography . Franz Wognar was born in Nagyszombat , Hungary , in the Austro - Hungarian Empire ; due to subsequent changes in national boundaries , his birthplace is now in present day Slovakia . His birthdate was 6 January 1890 . He was of Slovakian heritage . Wognar trained as a mechanic before enlisting in the Austro - Hungarian Army in 1913 . He later transferred to aviation service during the first year of World War I . He was then trained as a pilot and sent into action when Italy entered the war in May 1915 . Wognar was posted for duty with " Fliegerkompanie 2 " as a pilot of two - seater reconnaissance aircraft in July 1915 . He flew with " Flik 2 " over the Battles of the Isonzo , the main battle front in northwestern Italy . In addition to reconnaissance missions , Wognar flew aerial photography missions and bombing sorties , directed artillery fire , supported ground troops with tactical attacks , escorted friendly bombers to their targets , and flew interceptions of enemy two - seaters . He was especially skilled in directing artillery fire . Although eventually a few single - seat fighters were assigned to " Flik 2 " , Wognar usually still flew two - seaters . Knoller - Albatros B . Is were his usual mounts during 1915 . On 3 October 1915 , Wognar was promoted to " Zugführer " . On 9 October , he was awarded the highly prized Field Pilot ' s Badge . In February 1916 , he received the Silver Bravery Medal Second Class . In June 1916 , he received the First Class award of the same medal . By this time , " Flik 2 " s inventory had grown to include Hansa - Brandenburg C . I s and Lloyd C . III s for Wognar to fly . On the morning of 26 January 1917 , he and his observer came under attack from an Italian Nieuport fighter ; the Austro - Hungarians turned into the attack and drove it down with machine gun fire , for Wognar ' s first aerial victory . In March 1917 , he received another First Class Silver Medal . He scored another victory on 1 May 1917 when he shot down another Nieuport . On 20 May , he was teamed with future ace Franz Graser for a morning patrol . They encountered an Italian SPAD fighter , which they shot down . Wognar was wounded while scoring his third aerial victory , but his back wound did not keep him long from action . He signed himself out of hospital against medical advice after only ten days and returned to duty . He also received Austria - Hungary ' s supreme award , a Gold Bravery Medal , during May 1917 . On 4 September 1917 , Wognar scored his fourth victory . On the 16th , he teamed with a wingman and pulled off a rare feat for two - seater pilots by igniting and destroying an Italian observation balloon . After this fifth aerial victory in a two - seater Hansa - Brandenburg C . I , Wognar was reassigned as a test pilot . He also received a third award of the First Class Silver Bravery Medal . Wognar began his testing career in the last days of 1917 , wringing out Gotha G . IV bombers for " Fliegerkompanie 101 G " and " Fliegerkompanie 102 G " . During 1918 , he would once again be awarded the First Class Silver Medal for Bravery . He would also be appointed an " Offizierstellvertreter " ( Deputy Officer ) . Additionally , he acquired a Slovenian bride that year . Nothing more is known of Franz Wognar . See also . Aerial victory standards of World War I