BUECHNER, Franz. (1898-1920). Leutnant. Victories = 40. Highest award = Pour le Merité/Blue Max (1898-1920).
Enlisted under-age (16) in the 106th Saxon Infantry Regiment in August 1914.
Commissioned to Leutnant in August 1915.
Served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts and was wounded on the latter in April 1916.
Transferred to the GAAS in late 1916.
Trained as a pilot in FA 270 and posted to Jastas 9 in July 1916 and 13 in October 1916
Buechner
achieved the majority of his victories in the mid- and late-1918; the
first was a Nieuport (model unknown) which he shot down on 17th August
1917.
On 10th October 1918, he narrowly escaped death whilst
parachuting from his aircraft after it spun out of control after an
aerial collision with a fellow Jasta 13 pilot.
His final victory was on the 22nd October 1918 when he shot down an enemy two seater of unknown marque.
Buechner
survived the Great War but was killed by anti-aircraft fire whilst
flying during the internecine warfare in the Germany of 1920.
Confirmed victories
| Aircraft Manufacturing Co | Airco DH 4 | 2 |
| British & Colonial Aeroplane Co. Ltd | Bristol F 2B | 1 |
| Royal Airforce Factory | RAF SE5A | 1 |
| Société Anonyme des Ateliers Des Aviation Louis Bréguet | Bréguet ? | 1 |
| Société Anonyme des Ateliers Des Aviation Louis Bréguet | Bréguet 14 | 5 |
| Sociètè Anonyme des Etablissements, Nieuport | Nieuport ? | 1 |
| Société des Moteurs Salmson | Salmson 2A | 3 |
| Société S.P.A.D. | Spad ? | 11 |
| Société S.P.A.D. | Spad A2 | 1 |
| Société S.P.A.D. | Spad S XIII | 6 |
| Sopwith Aviation Co | Sopwith ? | 2 |
| Sopwith Aviation Co | Sopwith Camel | 3 |
| Sopwith Aviation Co | Sopwith Dolphin | 1 |
| Unidentified enemy two-seater aircraft | 2 | |
| Total | 40 |
