He was subsequently commissioned in 1916 shortly after his 18th birthday He was wounded in combat in France on 3 April 1916 After his recovery, he transferred to the German Army Air Service, or Luftstreitkräfte, and was assigned as an observation pilot with Fliegerabteilung 270.
He was commissioned into service at age 18 in 1916, he was wounded during combat in France on April 3rd, 1916, and subsequently transferred to the German Air Service as an observation pilot with Fliegerabteilung 270.