Walter Blume was born in Hirschberg, Silesia, and originally served in the 5th Silesian Jaeger Battalion in September 1914.

[2] He began his flying career in two-seater Aviatik aircraft with Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 65 from 18 June 1916 through 20 January 1917.

[2] After a spell with Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 3, on 5 March 1918, Blume returned to active duty, commanding Jagdstaffel 9.

This was followed by his receipt of the German Empire's most prestigious medal, the Pour le Merite on 2 October 1918, the same day as his 27th and penultimate victory.

[5] Towards the end of World War II he led the Arado design team in upgrading the Ar 234 to a Four-Jet Bomber variant, but one which only reached "Proof of Concept" form.

[6] He attempted to revive one of his designs, the Blume Bl.502, for Arado as a light civil aircraft, but met with no commercial success.