Leutnant Josef Karl Ernst Raesch (4 June 1897 – ) was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.
[3] For his first aerial victory, Raesch shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a north of Hantay at 1100 hours on 27 June 1918.
[2] His diary contained a vivid description:[3] The Englishmen started to circle, and as soon as I had one in my sights I opened up with a volley from both guns, whereupon the SE 5 went into a vertical climb and then slipped off into a spin, with me closely on his tail.
[2] The Summer weather became so hot that the German phosphorus ammunition for machine guns would sometimes "cook off"; according to Raesch's diary, Jasta 43 lost a pilot to that catastrophe on 16 July.
He also noted such ersatz war materials as iron bullets for brass, and wooden landing gear wheels being supplied.
[3] On 25 July, he lost a combat at 1800 hours; Lieutenant Ivan Frank Hind flying SE.5a C5358 shot Raesch down in flames, using Buckingham incendiary ammunition.
Although having had a parachute for only the past fortnight, in one of the pioneering wartime jumps, Raesch baled out and reached ground alive but facially singed.
Flying ace Hoy survived the crash of his Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a east of Ypres, but was captured by German ground troops.