BUILT

253.24, Hauptmann Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg, CO of Flik 51J, Ghirano, Italy, September 1918

Born in Vienna on June 16th, 1890 in old military family, he joined Austro-Hungarian armed forces in 1910 as a one-year volunteer. He very soon became

a military aviator, being transferred to Flik 1 just one day before Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia. He served as an observation officer, to be wounded

during a bombing mission in the Summer of 1916. During recuperation, he decided acquire the rank of pilot, starting his pilot training in October 1916, in Wiener

Neustadt. In June 23rd, 1917, he became a member of Flik 41J, and after service with several units, he was named Commander of Flik 51J. As Squadron Commander, he achieved 18 confirmed aerial victories between January and late September. On May 1st, Fiala reached four victories within one day, on June 20th,

and three other victories during a single day. He ended the war as a Staff Officer in the High Command of the Aviation Corps, with 28 confirmed aerial victories,

claimed during World War I. After the war, he first finished his technical studies, and then he worked for the Junkers company in Fürth. In 1927 he was an airline

director in Poland. In the years 1928 – 29, Fiala spent two years in Japan, where he, as a Junkers representative, assisted in arranging full metal aircraft assembly with the Mitsubishi company. He returned to Austria in 1933, establishing the Wiener Neustadt Airport Management Company with Julius Arigi. During World

War II, he served as Commander of the Hörsching air base near Linz, in rank of Hauptmann. He died on October 29th, 1964. In 1967, the Aigen im Ennstal air

base of the Austrian Air Force, was named in his honour.

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