Swiss musicians died at 27
Here are 1 famous musicians from Switzerland died at 27:
Franz von Werra
Franz von Werra (July 13, 1914 Leuk-October 25, 1941 Flushing) was a Swiss personality.
Franz von Werra gained international recognition as a German fighter pilot during World War II. He served in the Luftwaffe and was the only Axis prisoner of war to successfully escape from imprisonment in Britain and make it back to Nazi Germany. His extraordinary escape earned him the nickname "The One That Got Away" and was later portrayed in a 1957 film of the same name. Prior to his war efforts, von Werra established himself as a skilled pilot, setting a speed record as a civilian in 1938. He went on to score several aerial victories as a fighter pilot, earning the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1940. Von Werra's life was cut short in a plane crash during a mission over the North Sea in 1941.
Von Werra was born in the Swiss town of Leuk on July 13, 1914. He grew up in an affluent family and received a private education. After completing his education, von Werra pursued his passion for aviation and received his pilot's certificate at the age of 19. He then went on to work for various airlines before enlisting in the Swiss Air Force in 1936.
In 1938, von Werra set a world speed record for a civilian aircraft, flying a single-engine Arado AR-96 at an average speed of 469.22 km/h. The feat earned him international recognition and cemented his reputation as a skilled pilot.
After the outbreak of World War II, von Werra joined the Luftwaffe and was posted to a fighter squadron. He quickly distinguished himself as a skilled pilot and scored his first aerial victory in August 1940. Over the next few months, von Werra went on to shoot down several Allied planes and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his efforts.
In September 1940, von Werra's luck ran out when he was shot down over Kent, England, and taken as a prisoner of war. Despite being held in a high-security camp, von Werra managed to escape just a few months later, making his way back to Germany via the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
Von Werra's escape made headlines around the world and earned him the moniker "The One That Got Away." He was hailed as a hero in Nazi Germany and was even awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords) by Adolf Hitler himself.
Von Werra continued to serve in the Luftwaffe and was posted to a reconnaissance squadron in 1941. However, on October 25, 1941, his plane crashed into the North Sea during a mission, and he was declared missing in action. His body was never recovered.
Despite his short life, Franz von Werra left a lasting mark on aviation and war history. His impressive feats as a fighter pilot and his daring escape from imprisonment continue to inspire and capture the imagination of many to this day. In addition to the 1957 film "The One That Got Away," there have been several books and documentaries about his life and wartime experiences. Von Werra's legacy also lives on through the numerous aviation speed and altitude records he set, both as a civilian and a military pilot. He remains a celebrated figure in Swiss and German aviation history, and his name is often mentioned alongside other pioneering pilots of his era.
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