Military Service
Voss enlisted in 1914 at the age of 17 in the 2nd Westphalian Hussar Regiment Nr. 11, serving on the Eastern Front. When his regiment was disbanded he transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte (German Air Service) in August 1915, joining FEA7 in Cologne. In September, he was sent to Egelsberg to learn to fly. A gifted pilot, he was immediately enrolled as an instructor at FEA 7 upon graduating in February 1916, before finally departing to the front on 10 March.
Vizefeldwebel Voss was posted to Kampfstaffel 20 of Kampfgeschwader IV, and served as an observer before he was allowed to fly as a pilot, receiving his pilot's badge in May 1916. Commissioned in September, he then transferred to scout aircraft and was posted to Oswald Boelcke's Jasta (Jagdstaffel) 2 in November 1916.
Voss scored his first two victories at the age of 18 on 27 November 1916. Scoring rapidly during February - March 1917, he was awarded the Pour le Merite on 8 April 1917, with his score already 24.
After 28 claims, Voss was sent to command Jasta 5 on 20 May, then briefly posted to Jasta 29 as temporary commander, before a similar posting to Jasta 14 on 3 July. On 30 July, Voss moved to permanent command of Jasta 10 in Richthofen's Jagdgeschwader I (JG I) (or the "Flying Circus" as it became called by the Allies).
Voss had a gift for mechanical engineering, and was an avid rider of motorcycles. Voss also mechanically "tweaked" his aircraft, often being found in the hangar working on his motorcycle or his machine and its guns. Voss was known as a loner and an inspirational, rather than effective, unit leader. Modern writers often describe him as "mercurial". He was a casual dresser, but when flying would wear full uniform, in case of a forced landing.
Voss was wounded on 6 June 1917 during a dogfight with 6 Naval Squadron Royal Naval Air Service, (possibly by Flt Sub-Lt Christopher Draper) but soon returned to duty. He was by now credited with 38 confirmed victories in his Albatros D.III, at the time decorated with a swastika and heart motif (for good luck).
In August, having tested a F.I prototype (103/17, Wk. Nr.1730) of the Fokker Dr.I triplane Voss adopted the rotary engine triplane as his personal aircraft. Voss had flown kites with his cousins in Krefeld and the kites gave him the inspiration to paint the nose of his Fokker Dr.I with two eyes, eyebrows and a moustache.
Voss rapidly claimed 10 more victories between 3 and 23 September to raise his total to 48, second only to the Red Baron.
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