Karl Urban (aviator)

Karl Urban (29 December 1894 – 12 July 1918) was an Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

Urban joined the Austro-Hungarian military as war broke out in 1914, volunteering for pilot's school as soon as he finished recruit training. In mid-July 1915, he was posted to the Russian Front as an aerial reconnaissance and bombing pilot. Between 15 May and 2 August 1916, Urban and his various observers—including Otto Jäger—were credited with four victories. On 28 August 1916, Urban was severely wounded in action but, after recovering, progressed to flying a Phönix D.I, gaining his fifth and final victory on 19 May 1918.

Transferred to test pilot duty, Urban was looping a new model Phönix D.I on 12 July 1918, when it shed its wings at 1,500 meters altitude. The subsequent crash killed him.