Juri Vladimirovich Gilsher
Before
the war, Gilsher studied to become a civil engineer. On December 13,
1914.he joined the Nikoliavsky Cavalry school. He later
transferred to the air service on August 29, 1915. He attended
flight school at Gatchina before going to the front with the newly formed 4th
Army Air Detachment on November 19, 1915. A few weeks later, an accident with
a propeller blade injured his left hand. When he recovered, Gilsher completed
advanced flight training at Odessa, then returned to the front on April 5,
1916.
Promoted to Cornet (Cavalry Second Lieutenant), he was attached to the
7th Fighter Detachment. Crashing a badly damaged Sikorsky S-16 on May 9, 1916,
Gilsher's left leg had to be amputated. Gilsher learned to use a false
leg and had one of the first combat simulators constructed. He returned
to his squadron as temporary commander and continued flying combat missions.
His first two successes were scored in a single day, 13 April 1917, with
subsequent victories following on 15 May, 17 and 20 July. Gilsher flew several
combat types, including the Sikorsky S16, Nieuport 17 and Nieuport 21.
Having achieved his fifth and final final success on 20 July in the skies
above Tarnopol, Gilsher came under enemy fire, in the course of which he was
killed. He was buried in Bugach in Galicia.
