[1] Franz Walz was born in Speyer, Kingdom of Bavaria, the German Empire on 4 December 1885.

[1] When the war began, Walz was the commander of Feldflieger Abteilung 3 (Field Flier Detachment 3).

He became one of the few German two-seater aces, scoring his first aerial victory on 9 April 1916, and his sixth on 29 July 1916.

However, Walz was found lacking as a leader of fighter pilots, and on 25 August 1917 was transferred from France on the Western Front to the Middle East to command Flieger-Abteilung 304 (Flier Detachment 304).

[1] On 22 July 1918, the Ottoman Empire awarded Franz Walz its Silver Liakat Medal.

On 9 August 1918, despite his low aerial victory score, he was awarded the Pour le Merite for prolonged service in command.

By this time, Walz had also been granted three decorations by his native Kingdom of Bavaria, as well as another from their Austro-Hungarian allies.