Josef Wurmheller

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Josef Wurmheller
A young man with slightly curly hair wearing a military uniform and an Iron Cross shaped military decoration at his neck.
Josef Wurmheller
Nickname(s)"Sepp"
Born(1917-05-04)4 May 1917
Hausham, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Died22 June 1944(1944-06-22) (aged 27)
near Alençon, Normandy, German-occupied France
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Champigny-Saint-André German war cemetery
plot 9—grave 1704
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1937–44
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 53, JG 2
Commands held9./JG 2, III./JG 2
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (posthumous)

Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller (4 May 1917 – 22 June 1944) was a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 102 enemy aircraft shot down in over 300 combat missions. He claimed the majority of his aerial victories over the Western Front, and nine over the Eastern Front. Of his 93 victories over the Western Allies, at least 18–20 were four-engined bombers and 56 were against Supermarine Spitfire fighters.

Born in Hausham, Wurmheller was a glider pilot in his youth, and volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1937. Following flight training he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) in 1939. He claimed his first aerial victory on the Western Front on 30 September 1939, a phase of World War II dubbed the Phoney War. He then served as a flight instructor before returning to JG 53 for the Battle of Britain. In June 1941 he participated in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 September 1941 after 32 victories. Following another tour as fighter pilot instructor, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) operating on the Channel Front. Wurmheller claimed seven aerial victories during the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942 and after his 67th victory was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 1 October 1942.

In April 1943, Wurmheller was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of JG 2 "Richthofen". On 8 June 1944, two days after the Allied Invasion of Normandy, he was given command of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 2 "Richthofen". He and his wingman were killed in a mid-air collision during combat near Alençon, France, on 22 June 1944. Wurmheller was posthumously promoted to Major (major) and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on 24 October 1944.

Early life and career[edit]

Wurmheller was born on 4 May 1917 in Hausham in the Kingdom of Bavaria, a federated state of the German Empire. After growing up on his uncle's farm at Schliersee, he spent four years working as a miner like his father. He was also an enthusiastic glider pilot and in 1937 he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe. Following training as a fighter pilot, Wurmheller, holding the rank of Unteroffizier (sergeant), was posted to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) in 1939.[1][Note 1]

World War II[edit]

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. On 30 September, elements of I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 53 encountered a formation of five Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairey Battle single-engined bombers in the vicinity of Saarbrücken during the early Phoney War period. Wurmheller claimed his first victory during this encounter.[1] The Fairey Battle K9283, of No. 150 Squadron flown by Squadron Leader William MacDonald, was on an aerial reconnaissance mission in the area from Metzing to Saarbrücken and crash-landed at Écury-sur-Coole.[2][3][4] For this victory, Wurmheller received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) on 19 October 1939. He was posted to the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school) at Werneuchen as an instructor in November 1939.[1]

Battle of Britain and Eastern Front[edit]

Following a tour as an instructor at the Luftwaffe fighter pilot school, Wurmheller returned to 5. Staffel of JG 53 in June 1940. During the Battle of Britain, he flew combat missions as a fighter pilot and as a fighter-bomber pilot. He claimed four further victories in this campaign and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) on 16 October 1940. He was shot down three times himself by RAF fighters and each time had to bail out. On the third occasion, he was shot down in Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 (Werknummer 5242—factory number) at approximately 5:10 pm on 23 November over the English Channel and had to swim for four-and-a-half hours before he was rescued by a Schnellboot (E-boat) of the Kriegsmarine (Navy).[5] Hospitalized until March 1941, he returned to combat duty and claimed two Supermarine Spitfires shot down on 7 May 1941, his 9th and 10th victories.[1]

Wurmheller's unit was subsequently transferred to the Eastern Front in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which began on 22 June 1941. During Barbarossa he was deployed in the southern sector of the German advance. He added nine victories—eight bombers and one Polikarpov I-16 "Rata" fighter—in this theater of operations. His last victory on the Eastern Front, his 19th overall, was claimed on 15 July 1941.[1]

Channel Front[edit]

Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" Emblem

Wurmheller was transferred back to the Channel Front on 20 July 1941. He was assigned to the Stab (headquarters unit) of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing), named after the World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen. He claimed his 20th aerial victory on 24 July 1941 and over a period of four weeks claimed a further 12 victories, all over Spitfires, including five in one day, making him an "ace-in-a-day".[1]

On 30 August 1941, Wurmheller was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe), and on 4 September he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 32 aerial victories. His former unit, 5. Staffel of JG 53, had nominated him for the Knight's Cross, but the nomination was not approved until he was assigned to JG 2 "Richthofen".[1] On the same day, his fellow II. Gruppe pilot Oberfeldwebel Kurt Bühligen also received the Knight's Cross.[6] At the time, Wurmheller flew a Bf 109 F-2 from the airbase at St Pol-Bryas.[7]

Following a minor injury, Wurmheller was again posted to the fighter pilot school in Werneuchen as an instructor. Upon his return to front line duty in May 1942, he was posted to 1. Staffel and claimed 10 victories during May 1942 and a further 12 victories the following month. Among these claims were four Spitfires shot down on 31 May and five on 5 June 1942.[8] Most of these missions were flown with Rudolf Pflanz as his wingman.[9]

Wurmheller's most successful day as a fighter pilot was during the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942. On that day, the Allies unsuccessfully attacked the German-occupied port of Dieppe. Over 6,000 infantrymen, predominantly Canadian, were supported by a Canadian armored regiment and a strong force of Royal Marines and smaller RAF landing contingents. Wurmheller, whose right foot was plastered in an orthopedic cast, claimed seven victories during the course of four combat missions that day, six Spitfires and a Bristol Blenheim bomber.[8] The Blenheim most likely was a misidentified Martin Baltimore.[10] He had to abort his first mission due to engine trouble, suffering a minor concussion in the forced landing. He returned from his second mission claiming two Spitfires and a Blenheim shot down. His third mission resulted in the destruction of three more Spitfires, his 56th to 58th victories. Wurmheller claimed another Spitfire shot down on his fourth combat mission. The next day, 20 August, he claimed his 60th aerial victory, which earned him the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold); it was awarded on 21 August.[8]

Wurmheller was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) for bravery in the face of the enemy on 1 October 1942. Following his 67th aerial victory, achieved in about 150 combat missions, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 14 November 1942. He was the 146th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored.[8]

The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), in particular the Eighth Air Force, began regular combat when the VIII Bomber Command attacked the Rouen–Sotteville marshalling yards in France on 17 August 1942. Wurmheller claimed four Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers shot down on 3 January 1943. On 1 April 1943 he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 2 "Richthofen",[11] succeeding Hauptmann (Captain) Siegfried Schnell, who was transferred to III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing).[12] Wurmheller claimed his 70th victory on 17 May, when he shot down a B-17.[11]

On 23 September, Wurmheller was wounded by bomb splinters while making an emergency landing in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 during a bombing raid at Vannes–Meucon.[13] "Sepp", as he was named by his comrades, was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 August 1943 and to Hauptmann on 1 November 1943.[11] He claimed his first heavy bomber in the Defense of the Reich campaign on 8 February 1944 in the vicinity of Le Tréport.[14] By March 1944, his total number of aerial victories had reached 92 claims.[15]

Group commander and death[edit]

His grave at Champigny-Saint-André

Wurmheller claimed further aerial victories following the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. He was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 2 "Richthofen" on 8 June, succeeding Hauptmann Herbert Huppertz who was killed in action near Caen earlier that day. Wurmheller claimed the last three victories of his total of 102 on 16 June 1944.[11] He was the 80th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[16]

Wurmheller was killed in his Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 171 053) on 22 June 1944, when he collided with his wingman, Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant) Kurt Franzke, during aerial combat with USAAF Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Spitfire fighters near Alençon.[17] He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) and promoted to the rank of Major (major) on 24 October 1944, which was back-dated to 1 June 1944.[9] According to Goss, his victor may have been Pilot Officer J.W. Flemming from No. 441 Fighter Squadron.[18] Wurmheller and Franzke were buried beside each other at the Champigny-Saint-André German war cemetery, near Saint-André-de-l'Eure, in plot 9, graves 1704 and 1705 respectively.[19] Command of III. Gruppe of JG 2 was then given to Hauptmann Siegfried Lemke.[20]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wurmheller was credited with 102 aerial victories.[21] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 103 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes nine Soviet Air Forces piloted aircraft on the Eastern Front and 94 on the Western Front, including 21 four-engined bomber.[22]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 3841". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[23]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Wurmheller 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 along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unwitnessed aerial victory claims for which Wurmheller did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
  This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.
  This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.
Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[24]
"Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940
1
—
 30 September 1939 12:10 Battle west of Saarbrücken[25]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[24]
Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 8 June 1941
2 1 28 September 1940 13:45 Spitfire[26] vicinity of Portland 7 6 9 April 1941 17:21 Spitfire south of Dover[27]
3 2 30 September 1940 17:43 Hurricane 20 km (12 mi) north of Portland[26] 8 7 10 April 1941 18:43 Blenheim[27]
4 3 12 October 1940 12:15 Spitfire 60 km (37 mi) northwest of Brest[26] 9 8 7 May 1941 07:47 Spitfire Deal[28]
5 4 16 October 1940 15:20 Blenheim north-northeast of Ile d'Ouessant[26] 10 9 7 May 1941 07:47 Spitfire Deal[28]
6 5 4 April 1941 11:18 Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) north of Wissant[27]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[24]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 8 October 1941
11 10 22 June 1941 18:01 SB-2 vicinity of Tauroggen[29] 16 15 6 July 1941 19:45?[Note 2] SB-3[30]
12 11 23 June 1941 09:00 SB-3[29] 17 16 11 July 1941 03:25 I-16[30]?[Note 3]
13 12 1 July 1941 19:50 SB-3[29] 18 17 12 July 1941 19:46 SB-3[30]
14 13 4 July 1941 14:52 SB-3[29] 19 18 15 July 1941 18:35 SB-3[30]?[Note 4]
15 14 6 July 1941 19:45 SB-3[30]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[24]
On the Western Front — 22 June – 31 December 1941
—
 24 July 1941 12:25 Spitfire Hazebrouck 26 25 18 August 1941 16:16 Spitfire[31] Lille/Calais
20 19 24 July 1941 12:26 Spitfire[32] 27 26 21 August 1941 15:08 Spitfire[31]
21 20 7 August 1941 07:52 Spitfire[32] 28 27 26 August 1941 19:23 Spitfire[31]
22 21 7 August 1941 17:47 Spitfire[32] 29 28 26 August 1941 19:24 Spitfire[31]
23 7 August 1941
—
 P-40[32] 30 29 27 August 1941 09:30 Spitfire Thérouanne[31]
22 16 August 1941 16:05 Spitfire 31 30 29 August 1941 08:30 Spitfire[31]
24 23 16 August 1941 19:40 Spitfire[32] 32 31 4 September 1941 17:38 Spitfire[31] Saint-Omer/Béthune
25 24 18 August 1941 16:05 Spitfire[31] Lille/Calais
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[33]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1942
33 32 17 May 1942 14:02 Spitfire[34]
—
—
 5 June 1942
—
 Spitfire[34]
34 33 19 May 1942 20:45 Spitfire[34] 52 51 20 June 1942 15:51 Spitfire northwest of Fécamp[34]
35 34 19 May 1942 20:47 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) north-northwest of Calais[34] 53 52 20 June 1942 15:52 Spitfire northwest of Fécamp[34]
36 35 19 May 1942 20:49 Spitfire[34] 54♠ 53 19 August 1942 09:08 Spitfire 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Dieppe[35]
37 36 30 May 1942 21:30 Spitfire[34] 55♠ 54 19 August 1942 09:12 Spitfire 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Dieppe[35]
38 37 30 May 1942 21:30 Spitfire[34] 56♠ 55 19 August 1942 09:16 Blenheim 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of Dieppe[35]
39 38 31 May 1942 19:32 P-40[34] 56 19 August 1942 15:16 Spitfire 10–15 km (6.2–9.3 mi) north of Dieppe
40 39 31 May 1942 19:33 P-40[34] 57 19 August 1942 15:17 Spitfire 10–15 km (6.2–9.3 mi) north of Dieppe
41 40 31 May 1942 19:35 Spitfire[34] 57♠ 58 19 August 1942 15:22 Spitfire 1 km (0.62 mi) north-northwest of Dieppe[35]
42 41 31 May 1942 19:37 Spitfire[34] 58♠ 59 19 August 1942 17:32 Spitfire 15–20 km (9.3–12.4 mi) northwest of Dieppe[35]
43 42 2 June 1942 10:58 Spitfire[34] over sea at Dieppe, vicinity of Le Tréport 60 19 August 1942 18:45 Spitfire vicinity of Dieppe
44 43 2 June 1942 11:00 Spitfire[34] over sea at Dieppe, vicinity of Le Tréport 59 61 20 August 1942 19:02 Spitfire 70 km (43 mi) north of Le Havre[35]
100 km (62 mi) north of Caen
45 44 2 June 1942 11:04 Spitfire[34] over sea at Dieppe, vicinity of Le Tréport
—
 62 20 August 1942 19:04 Spitfire 85 km (53 mi) northwest of Le Havre[35]
100–105 km (62–65 mi) north of Caen
46 45 3 June 1942 16:47 Spitfire[34] over sea in the vicinity of Le Havre 60 63 8 September 1942 14:39 Spitfire[35] over sea, northwest of Le Havre
47 46 3 June 1942 16:50 Spitfire[34] over sea in the vicinity of Le Havre 61 64 8 September 1942 14:40 Spitfire[35] over sea, northwest of Le Havre
48 47 5 June 1942 15:45 Spitfire[34] Somme Estuary, vicinity of Abbeville 62 65 2 October 1942 15:43 Spitfire north of Fécamp[35]
49 48 5 June 1942 15:45 Spitfire[34] Somme Estuary, vicinity of Abbeville 63 66 31 October 1942 18:08 Spitfire 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Canterbury[35]
50 49 5 June 1942 15:46 Spitfire[34] Somme Estuary, vicinity of Abbeville 64 67 31 October 1942 18:12 Spitfire southeast of Walmer[35]
51 50 5 June 1942 15:46 Spitfire[34]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[36]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1943
65 68 16 February 1943 11:15 B-17 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Vannes[37]
PQ 3841 		67 70 12 March 1943 13:11 Typhoon 50 km (31 mi) north of Fécamp[37]
66 69 16 February 1943 11:18 B-17 Landévant[37]
PQ 4829
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[38]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1943
68 71 16 April 1943 14:25 B-17 PQ 14 West 4838[39] 77
—
 14 August 1943 13:55 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Fruer[40]
69 72 1 May 1943 11:30 B-17 PQ 14 West 3876[39] 78 80 16 August 1943 12:28 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Bernay[40]
70 73 17 May 1943 12:17 B-17 PQ 14 West 4845[39]
Lorient/Saint-Brieuc 		79 81 22 August 1943 19:50 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 0067[40]
vicinity of Bernay
71 74 29 May 1943 16:25 B-17 PQ 14 West 2939[39]
PQ 14 West 29359 		80 82 27 August 1943 09:45?[Note 5] Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 0037[40]
PQ 05 Ost 0047
72 75 29 May 1943 16:27 B-17 PQ 14 West 2939[39]
PQ 14 West 2919 		81 83 2 September 1943 19:05 P-47 PQ 05 Ost 1034[41]
73 76 28 June 1943 17:10 B-17 PQ 14 West 3875[40]
vicinity of Saint-Nazaire 		82 84 3 September 1943 09:47 B-17 PQ 04 Ost 29317[41]
74 77 4 July 1943 13:09 B-17 PQ 14 West 4725[40] 83 85 3 September 1943 10:48 B-17 PQ 15 West 1015[41]
75 78 4 July 1943 13:11 B-17 PQ 14 West 4713[40]
PQ 14 West 72131 		84 86 11 September 1943 18:13 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 0049[41]
76 79 3 August 1943 20:26 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) north-northeast of Brest[40] 85 87 15 September 1943 19:41 B-17 Saint-Germain-en-Laye[41]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[42]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 8 June 1944
86 88 29 January 1944 11:04 B-24 PQ 05 Ost 4021[15] 93 94 2 March 1944 11:35 B-17 Charleville[15]
87 29 January 1944 11:04 P-47[15] 94 95 16 March 1944 10:40 B-24* PQ 04 Ost 4912[15]
west of Saint-Dizier
88 89 8 February 1944 10:26 B-17 PQ 05 Ost 2049[15]
Crèvecœur/Le Tréport 		95 96 10 April 1944 09:26 B-17 PQ 04 Ost N/292[15]
Dormans
—
 20 February 1944 14:20 B-24 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Étretat 96 97 10 April 1944 09:28 P-38 PQ 04 Ost N/292[15]
Dormans
89 90 24 February 1944 12:40 B-17* PQ 05 Ost 73489[15] 97 98 12 April 1944 13:10 B-24* PQ 05 Ost 418[15]
90 91 25 February 1944 11:26 B-26 PQ 05 Ost 224[15]
20 km (12 mi) north of Knokke 		98 99 7 June 1944 06:03 Typhoon PQ 15 West TT/TU, over sea[43]
91 92 25 February 1944 11:28 B-26 PQ 05 Ost 224[15]
20 km (12 mi) north of Knokke 		99 100 8 June 1944 09:25 P-51 PQ 15 West TU-7[43]
north of Caen
92 93 25 February 1944 15:28 B-17 Bad Mondorf[15]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[42]
100 101 12 June 1944 10:44 P-47 PQ 05 Ost UA-1/2[43]
Lisieux 		102 103 16 June 1944 19:52 P-51 PQ 05 Ost 1083[43]
101 102 12 June 1944 10:48 P-47 PQ 15 West UU-6[43]
Caen

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations, see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 19:47.[24]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.[24]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin DB-3.[24]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:46.[36]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen",[48] and according to Von Seemen as pilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[49]
  7. ^ According to Scherzer on 14 November 1942.[48]
  8. ^ According to Von Seemen as tasked with the leadership of the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[53]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Stockert 2012, p. 184.
  2. ^ Air Pictorial 1989, p. 352.
  3. ^ Shores, Foreman & Ehrengardt 1992, p. 73.
  4. ^ Goodrum 2013, chpt. 5 "Blitzed, Burned But Unbroken".
  5. ^ Prien 1997, p. 201.
  6. ^ Weal 2000, p. 80.
  7. ^ Weal 1999, p. 10.
  8. ^ a b c d Stockert 2012, p. 185.
  9. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 38.
  10. ^ Weal 2000, p. 90.
  11. ^ a b c d Stockert 2012, p. 186.
  12. ^ Weal 1996, p. 47.
  13. ^ Weal 2000, p. 102.
  14. ^ Weal 2011, p. 58.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 231.
  16. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 244.
  17. ^ Berger 1999, pp. 386–387.
  18. ^ Goss 2020, p. 216.
  19. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 187.
  20. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 226.
  21. ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 331.
  22. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1454–1456.
  23. ^ Planquadrat.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1454.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 368.
  26. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2002, p. 228.
  27. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002, p. 230.
  28. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 231.
  29. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003b, p. 131.
  30. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003b, p. 133.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2003a, p. 441.
  32. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003a, p. 439.
  33. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1454–1455.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Prien et al. 2004, p. 235.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2004, p. 236.
  36. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1455.
  37. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2010, p. 443.
  38. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1455–1456.
  39. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2010, p. 501.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2010, p. 502.
  41. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2010, p. 503.
  42. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1456.
  43. ^ a b c d e Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 232.
  44. ^ a b c Berger 1999, p. 386.
  45. ^ a b Thomas 1998, p. 465.
  46. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 526.
  47. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 454.
  48. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 800.
  49. ^ Von Seemen 1976, p. 367.
  50. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 63.
  51. ^ Von Seemen 1976, p. 31.
  52. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 46.
  53. ^ Von Seemen 1976, p. 18.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Air Pictorial. Vol. 51. Air League of the British Empire. 1989. OCLC 5459255.
  • Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  • 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.
  • Goodrum, Alastair (2013). They Spread Their Wings: Six Courageous Airmen in Combat in the Second World War. Stroud, Gloucestershire: History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-9217-9.
  • Goss, Chris (2020). Luftwaffe Aces in the Battle of Britain. Air World. ISBN 978-1-5267-5424-0.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Prien, Jochen (1997). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader March 1937 – May 1942. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-0175-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
  • 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 (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 7—Heimatverteidigung—1. January bis 31 Dezember 1942—Einsatz im Westen—1. Januar bis 31. Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 7—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1942—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-73-1.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/IV—Einsatz im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/IV—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-92-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2018). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/IV—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/IV—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-19-2.
  • 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.
  • Shores, Christopher; Foreman, John; Ehrengardt, Chris (1992). Fledgling Eagles. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-42-7.
  • Stockert, Peter (2012) [1997]. Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2] (in German) (4th ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-9802222-9-7.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
  • Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
  • Weal, John (1996). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 9. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-595-1.
  • Weal, John (1999). Bf 109 F/G/K Aces of the Western Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 29. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-905-8.
  • Weal, John (2000). Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 1. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-046-9.
  • Weal, John (2011). Fw 190 Defence of the Reich Aces. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 92. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-482-4.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.
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