Oswald Boelcke was born on May 18, 1891 in Giebichenstein, Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. He died on October 28, 1916 in Bapaume, Pas-de-Calais, France.
German World War I flying ace, and mentor of Manfred von Richthofen. He was killed when his plane collided with a fellow pilot during an infantry support mission. His record 40 kills was broken by Richthofen 6 months later.