Grave III.A.8 2nd Frank Michael Myers. 11th Battalion Suffolk Regiment attached 20 Squadron RFC. Observer. Age 21. KIA 14.2.17. Awarded the Military Cross. On patrol flying in an FE2b with 2nd Lt FJ Taylor, pilot, who was injured. They were forced to land when enemy fire hit the wires. Myers was killed in action. They were to be the first victory claimed by Leutnant Paul Strahle Jasta 18
Leutnant Paul Strahle - He originally served in the infantry after joining the German army on 1 October 1913. He transferred to aviation and was appointed to pilot training in 1915. He first flew in an artillery cooperation unit, being posted to Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 213 on 15 July 1916. Beginning 5 September, he trained on fighters.
He was then assigned to Jagdstaffel 18 on 27 October 1916. He scored his first aerial victory on 14 February 1917. He received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 17 March 1917. He continued his victory streak, flying an Albatros D.V in the squadron colours of blue and scarlet with his personal album of a white battle axe painted on its side. He flew with Jagdstaffel 18 until 26 May 1917, when he won his seventh victory. He was awarded the Knights Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern on 9 August 1917.
Strahle was then appointed to command a new squadron just forming; Jagdstaffel 57 was founded at Koenigsberg on 6 January 1918, and moved to the Sixth Army front on the 24th. He took his Albatros fighter with him from Jasta 18. After a lapse of almost a year, he had a victory on 17 April 1918. Eight more victories ended with a double victory on 29 August 1918. He was wounded in action on 27 September 1918, and did not score after that. He was credited with 15 victories.
After the war Strahle stayed in aviation. He acquired at least one Halberstadt CL.IV rigged for aerial photography and ran an aerial photography business venture from 1919. By 14 July 1921, he was reported to be running a pioneering air mail service between Stuttgart and Constance, using three of the Halberstadts, one of which could also carry passengers, under the name Luftverkehr Strahle. He died in 1985.
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