Josef Kiss ...... 19 confirmed victories Josef Kiss’ story is a perfect example of the romance that grew around the “Knights of the Air”. Full of youthful patriotism, Kiss dropped out of school to join the armed services when war broke out. His incomplete education would prevent him from becoming an officer in the highly stratified Imperial Army. However, officer rank became Kiss’ greatest desire. He started his victories as a reconnaissance pilot His expertise was readily observed and he was transferred to a fighter unit. A excellent flyer, Kiss joined with fellow Hungarians Arigi and von Maier to make Flik 55j known as the Emperor’s Squadron. Kiss’ specialty seemed to be forcing bombers and reconnaissance craft to land behind enemy lines. At least 7 of his 19 victims were captured on the ground, including 4 large Capronis. Severely wounded in combat, Kiss, driven by the chance to achieve a field promotion to officer, was back in the air a mere two months after having part of his intestines removed due to a wound received in combat. He did not survive his next encounter. During the funeral a combined flight of British, French and Italian planes flew over the shocked Austrians and dropped an honor wreath. The Imperial government posthumously commissioned Kiss as Leutnant in der Reserve. He was the only NCO so honored in the Austrian service. Kiss’s girl friend never married and walked to Kiss’s grave every day for the next 52 years. http://www.swwisa.net/kuklft/aces.html
