Leutnant Kurt Wüsthoff (27 January 1897 – 23 July 1926) was a German fighter ace credited with 27 listed confirmed victories during World War I. Enlisting prewar at age 16 1/2, after learning to fly during the events leading to the war's start, he was posted as a flight instructor until adjudged old enough for combat.

He then flew two-seater reconnaissance craft for a year and a half during 1916 and 1917 before training as a fighter pilot in June 1917.

Relieved of his post on 16 March 1918 by Manfred von Richthofen, he returned to combat duty with Jagdstaffel 15 in June, only to be shot down and captured on the 17th.

By the time young Wüsthoff qualified to fly two-seater reconnaissance aircraft, hostilities had broken out.

When KG I moved east, Wüsthoff got his chance to fly observation and bombing missions in Bulgaria, Rumania, Macedonia, and Greece.

He transferred to fighter service with a Prussian squadron, Jagdstaffel 4 (Jasta 4), under the command of Oberleutnant Kurt-Bertram von Döring.

[5] He wrote to his mother: "Life is just brilliant here--more dangerous, mind you, as all hell has broken loose in the air and on the ground....I hope to shoot down some alone soon because it is boring flying with others.

"[6] He then shot down three observation balloons on three different days, and followed them up with a Sopwith Camel on 20 July, making him an ace in just over a month.

[2] While his first tenure as acting commander was fleeting, from 12 through 20 December 1917, he was appointed Staffelführer (squadron leader) permanently on 19 January 1918.

Granting Wüsthoff command of the squadron inflamed many of his fellow fliers; they felt their youngest member was pushy, over-ambitious, a glory-hunter prone to lone expeditions.

He left the wing altogether on 4 May and was sent from the front back to Doctor Lahmann's care for his combat fatigue.