Carl - August von Schoenebeck Major General Karl - August von Schoenebeck began his career in the " Baden Leib - Grenadier Regiment " in 1915 . He transferred to the " Luftstreitkräfte " in 1916 . After training , he served with the artillery cooperation unit FA ( A ) 203 . His subsequent service in fighters ( e . g . Jasta 11 earned him credit for eight confirmed aerial victories and a number of decorations , as well as the command of Jasta 33 while still a leutnant . Postwar , he tried a trans - Atlantic flight to Chile in 1924 . From 1930 to 1935 , he was a test pilot . He joined the Luftwaffe in 1934 . In 1938 , he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and posted as air attaché to Yugoslavia . He became air attaché to Bulgaria in 1939 , and held this position until after his promotion to Major General in 1943 . He was held as a prisoner of war from 1945 to 1948 . He earned a multi - engine license to enter competition in 1954 . He learned hang gliding at the age of 77 , in 1975 . He died on 4 September 1989 in Munich . Biography . Through World War I . Karl - August von Schoenebeck was born in Bernstadt , Silesia , German Empire on 19 January 1898 . He enlisted in the " Baden Lieb Grenadier Regiment " in 1915 . He transferred to the " Luftstreitkräfte " in 1916 and underwent pilot ' s training with " Fliegerersatz - Abteilung " ( Replacement Detachment ) 3 in Gotha . After training , he was assigned to fly a two - seater on artillery dirction missions with " Flieger - Abteilung ( Artillerie ) " ( Flier Detachment ( Artillery ) ) 203 . Although there is no mention of fighter conversion training , Schoenebeck joined a fighter squadron , " Jagdstaffel 11 " , on 7 July 1917 . His first victory was a notable one . On 27 July 1917 , he shot down Sopwith Triplane number N5492 , which had been used to score 23 victories ( most by Raymond Collishaw ) , and killing Flight Sub - Lieutenant G . Roach of No . 10 Squadron RNAS . Four days later , he shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory RE . 8 from No . 4 Squadron RFC over Frezenberg . It would not be until 3 September that he tallied another victory , when he shot down another Triplane at Hollebeke , Belgium . Schoenebeck transferred to " Jagdstaffel 59 " on 26 January 1918 . He scored one victory while with them , downing a Sopwith Camel on 9 May 1918 . On 11 August 1918 , he was promoted to command of " Jagdstaffel 33 " . Between 23 August and war ' s end , he totalled four more confirmed victories , as well as four unconfirmed . Schoenebeck won several awards for his exploits , including both classes of the Iron Cross , the Knight ' s Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern , and the Order of the Zahringer Lion . Post World War I . Schoenebeck flew with Fighter Unit No . 424 of the " Freikorps " , fighting the Russians in the Baltic area ; he was wounded in action at Mitau during 1919 . By 1924 , he was working for Dornier ; he flew a trans - Atlantic flight to Chile for them in the Dornier Do J seaplane . From 1930 to 1935 , he worked as a test pilot for both Heinkel and Arado . He also was an instructor during the covert founding of the Luftwaffe in Lipetsk , Russia . He joined the nascent Luftwaffe , becoming a Group Commander of the new " Richthofen Geschwader " in 1938 . He later served in Bulgaria as the Air Attache . World War II and beyond . Schoenebeck rose to the rank of Major General during 1943 . He was captured in 1945 , and spent until 1948 in captivity . He later founded the " Luftfahrt - Technik Company " , and represented such aircraft companies as Hiller Helicopters , Piper Aircraft , Bristol Aeroplane Company , and Beech Aircraft Corporation . In 1954 , he earned a multi - engine pilot ' s license and entered international competitions . In 1975 , when 77 years old , he took up hang gliding . He died on 4 September 1989 , in Munich .