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Edmund Wagner

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Edmund Wagner
Born5 December 1914
Neuhäusel
Died13 November 1941(1941-11-13) (aged 26)
Pawmutowka, Russia
Cause of deathKilled in action
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
RankOberfeldwebel (staff sergeant)
UnitJG 51
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Edmund Wagner (5 December 1914 – 13 November 1941) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Wagner was killed in action on 13 November 1941 near Pawmutowka, Russia. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 17 November 1941. During his career he was credited with 56 Aerial victories, 55 on the Eastern Front and 1 on the Western Front.

Early life and career

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Wagner was born on 5 December 1914 in Neuhäusel, present-day part of Kirkel, at the time in the Rhine Province within the German Empire.[1] He joined the military of service of the Luftwaffe and following flight and fighter pilot training in the summer of 1940,[Note 1] Wagner was posted to 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing), a squadron of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 51.[3] In July 1940, 9. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Arnold Lignitz while III. Gruppe was headed by Hauptmann Hannes Trautloft.[4] The Gruppe had just been formed on 4 July by renaming I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 20 (JG 20—20th Fighter Wing) and integrating it into JG 51 and was based at Saint-Omer, France.[5]

World War II

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World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. The Gruppe received new aircraft during the second half of July, bringing its strength nearly to its allotment and flew missions during the Kanalkampf (Channel Battle) during the early phase of the Battle of Britain.[5] On 24 August, Trautloft was transferred and replaced by Hauptmann Walter Oesau as commander of III. Gruppe.[4] On 14 September, Wagner claimed his first aerial victory, a Supermarine Spitfire fighter, during a fighter escort mission to London.[6] On 30 September, Wagner's Staffel was placed under command of Oberleutnant Karl-Heinz Schnell. Command of III. Gruppe changed again on 10 November when Oesau was transferred and command of the Gruppe went to Hauptmann Richard Leppla.[4]

On 26 May 1941, III. Gruppe was withdrawn from the English Channel and relocated to Düsseldorf Airfield for a brief period of rest and replenishment. On 15 June, the Gruppe was ordered to Halászi, at the time in the General Government.[7]

Operation Barbarossa

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On 22 June, German forces launched Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. JG 51 was subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps), which as part of Luftflotte 2 (Air Fleet 2). JG 51 area of operation during Operation Barbarossa was over the right flank of Army Group Center in the combat area of the 2nd Panzer Group as well as the 4th Army.[8] Two days later, III. Gruppe intercepted a large formation of Soviet bombers, claiming 36 of the two-engine bombers shot down. That day Wagner became an "ace-in-a-day", claiming a single Ilyushin DB-3 and four Tupolev SB bombers shot down.[9] For this he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse).[3] On 25 June, Wagner claimed three further Soviet bombers shot down.[9] Two days later, following the German advance into the Soviet Union, III. Gruppe moved to Kobryn where they stayed one day before moving to an airfield at Nowo-Hutkowo near Slutsk.[10]

The Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Schatalowka, present-day Shatalovo air base, 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Smolensk, on 28 July.[11]

Battle of Moscow and death

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In early October, German forces launched Operation Typhoon, also known as the Battle of Moscow. On 8 October, III. Gruppe relocated to Yukhnov.[12] During this operation in October and November, Wagner claimed 26 aerial victories, including three on 10 October, two on 17 October, two on 23 October, three on 25 October and two on 6 November.[13]

On 22 October 1941, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Maloyaroslavets, located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Kaluga and 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Moscow.[12] Here on 13 November, Wagner was killed in action during aerial combat with Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers. His Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 9693—factory number) crashed near Pawmutowka.[14][15] Posthumously, Wagner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 17 November 1941 for 57 aerial victories claimed.[16]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to Aders and Held, Wagner was credited with 58 aerial victories claimed.[17] Weal however lists him with 55 aerial victories claimed.[18] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 57 aerial victory claims on the Eastern Front, plus one further unconfirmed claim on the Western Front.[19]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Wagner an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[20]
Over England and on the English Channel — 26 June 1940 – 26 May 1941
1?[Note 2] 14 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[21]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[19]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 13 November 1941
2♠ 24 June 1941 10:58 DB-3[22] 29 22 September 1941 12:25 I-61 (MiG-3)[23]
3♠ 24 June 1941 14:00 SB-2[22] 30 22 September 1941 12:25 I-61 (MiG-3)[23]
4♠ 24 June 1941 17:50 SB-2[22] 31 1 October 1941 06:00 I-61 (MiG-3)[23]
5♠ 24 June 1941 17:51 SB-2[22] 32 2 October 1941 13:05 I-61 (MiG-3)[23]
6♠ 24 June 1941 17:54 SB-2[22] 33 4 October 1941 15:15 I-16[23]
7 25 June 1941 11:25 SB-2?[22][Note 3] 34 5 October 1941 10:17 DB-3[23]
8 25 June 1941 11:26 SB-2?[22][Note 3] 35 5 October 1941 14:25 DB-3[23]
9 25 June 1941 11:27 SB-2?[22][Note 3] 36 10 October 1941 08:00 Pe-2[23]
?[Note 4] 26 June 1941 15:50 DB-3[20] 37 10 October 1941 08:00 Pe-2[23]
?[Note 4] 26 June 1941 15:50 DB-3[20] 38 10 October 1941 08:15 I-61 (MiG-3)[23]
10 26 June 1941 15:50 SB-2?[Note 3] southeast of Vyhanaščanskaje Lake[24] 39 13 October 1941 13:07 DB-3[23]
11 26 June 1941 15:50 SB-2?[Note 3] southeast of Vyhanaščanskaje Lake[24] 40 14 October 1941 15:35 DB-3[23]
12 11 July 1941 15:15 DB-3[25] 41 17 October 1941 14:03 DB-3[26]
13 14 July 1941 19:05 V-11 (Il-2) 20 km (12 mi) east of Stara Bychow[25] 42 17 October 1941 14:03 DB-3[26]
14 15 July 1941 10:41 I-18 (MiG-1)[25] 43 22 October 1941 12:20 DB-3[26]
15 28 July 1941 17:25 DB-3 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Yelnya[27] 44 23 October 1941 13:40 DB-3[26]
16 28 July 1941 17:30 DB-3 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Yelnya[27] 45 23 October 1941 15:40 Pe-2[26]
17 4 August 1941 11:50 I-153[28] 46 24 October 1941 13:05 I-61 (MiG-3)[26]
18 10 August 1941 19:15 DB-3[28] 47 25 October 1941 11:41 I-61 (MiG-3)[26]
19 11 August 1941 11:00 I-16[28] 48 25 October 1941 11:43 I-61 (MiG-3)[29]
20 11 August 1941 11:20 I-15[28] 49 25 October 1941 11:45 DB-3[29]
21 17 August 1941 09:20 R-3[28] 50 27 October 1941 08:55 I-61 (MiG-3)[29]
22 27 August 1941 06:00 Pe-2 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Dukhovshchina[28] 51 28 October 1941 15:30 I-61 (MiG-3)[29]
23 27 August 1941 17:57 I-61 (MiG-3)[28] 52 29 October 1941 12:24 I-61 (MiG-3)[29]
24 10 September 1941 11:40 I-61 (MiG-3)[28] 53 5 November 1941 15:15 Pe-2[29]
25 10 September 1941 11:41 I-61 (MiG-3)[28] 54 6 November 1941 07:25 DB-3[29]
26 10 September 1941 11:42 I-61 (MiG-3)[28] 55 6 November 1941 13:30 Pe-2[29]
27 10 September 1941 11:43 I-61 (MiG-3)[28] 56 12 November 1941 09:08 I-61 (MiG-3)[30]
28 15 September 1941 15:50 DB-3[23]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[20]
  3. ^ a b c d e According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Ilyushin DB-3.[20]
  4. ^ a b This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[24]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 219.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b c Dixon 2023, p. 150.
  4. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002, p. 80.
  5. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 73.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2002, pp. 76, 86.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 294.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 206.
  9. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, pp. 294, 302.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2003, pp. 294–295.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 295.
  12. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 298.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2003, pp. 308–311.
  14. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 314.
  15. ^ Weal 2001, p. 7.
  16. ^ Page 2020, p. 71.
  17. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 267.
  18. ^ Weal 2006, p. 122.
  19. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1364–1365.
  20. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1364.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 86.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2003, p. 302.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prien et al. 2003, p. 308.
  24. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 303.
  25. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 304.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2003, p. 309.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 305.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2003, p. 307.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2003, p. 310.
  30. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 311.
  31. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 434.
  32. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 764.

Bibliography

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  • Aders, Gebhard; Held, Werner (1993). Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente [Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle – Reports – Experiences – Documents] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-01045-1.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Page, Neil (2020). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1939–42. Philadelphia, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61200-849-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Weal, John (2001). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 37. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-084-1.
  • Weal, John (2006). Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 22. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-045-1.
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