Gunermann, Heinrich, 1899-1939
Biographical Sketch
Heinrich “Heinz” Gunermann was born January 23, 1899, in Munich, Germany. He was the son of Josef Gunermann, a police officer, and Crescentea (Prepstel) Gunermann, a homemaker.
In January 1915, at just 16 years old, Gunermann joined the Bavarian infantry (Ersatztruppenteile der Infanterie Regimenter). He was later part of Infantry Regiment 18 and was with this unit when he was wounded shortly before November 30, 1916. Following his recovery, Gunermann served briefly with a Bavarian railroad reserve battalion (Eisenbahn-Ersatz-Bataillon).
Gunermann took pilot training towards the end of World War I, in August of 1918. He trained at Flugwerft Schleißheim and Flugwerft Milbertshofen, not far from Munich. Gunermann served with Aviator Replacement Division (Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung) 1 at Schleißheim.
After the war, Gunermann was employed as a parachute demonstrator (Fallschrimunternehmer), and he owned a parachute company with his partner Peter Bäumler. Gunermann and his associates performed at numerous air shows across Germany, Switzerland, and Holland throughout the 1920s and into the 1930s.
Gunermann was married (wife Crescentea) and had one child, Evelyn Isabelle Gunermann, born 1935 in Munich, Germany. Evelyn eventually moved to Boston, Massachusetts, sometime after her marriage.
Gunermann died in Czechoslovakia in early 1939 from a heart attack.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Heinrich Gunermann Album
The collection consists of one photographic album that depicts Gunermann's early flying career, parachuting, flight school and barnstorming. It provides valuable insight on the aviation community in pre-Nazi and early Nazi Germany. Most of the photographs in the collection are identified and dated (1918-1936).
