| Theo Osterkamp | |
|---|---|
Theo Osterkamp |
|
| Nickname | Onkel (Uncle) |
| Born | 15 April 1892 Düren, Rhine Province |
| Died | 2 February 1975 (aged 82) Baden-Baden |
| Allegiance | German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1914–1944 |
| Rank | Generalmajor |
| Unit | JG 51 |
| Commands held | JG 51 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | House Order of Hohenzollern Pour le Mérite Ritterkreuz |
Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp (15 April 1892 – 2 January 1975) was a World War I and World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He flew in the first World War, scoring 32 victories. In World War II he led Jagdgeschwader 51 through the Battle of Britain and claimed a further 6 victories, in the process becoming one of only a few men to score victories in both World Wars.
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Osterkamp flew as a naval pilot operating over the Western Front. On 14 August 1914 he joined the Marinefliegerkorps. He then flew with the 2. Marine-Fliegerabteilung in Flanders. During 1915–1916 he served as an air observer, and became the first German pilot to fly a land-based aircraft to England on a reconnaissance-mission. In March 1917 he joined the Kampffliegerschule (Combat pilot school) in Putzig and then joined the Marine-Jagdstaffel 1. On 15 October 1917 Leutnant Osterkamp took command over Marine-Jagdstaffel 2. He scored a total of 32 victories during the war, and was awarded the Prussian military order Pour le Mérite on 2 September 1918, and was the last individual to receive it.
Between the two World Wars Osterkamp was involved in the formation of the new Luftwaffe, amongst other things by setting up Jagdfliegerschule 1. He also participated in the second, third and fourth FAI International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930 (11th place), Challenge 1932 (12th place) and Challenge 1934 (5th place).
On 19 September 1939 Oberst Osterkamp was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51). During the Battle of France he claimed four victories, the first on 12 May 1940. During the Kanalkampf period of the Battle of Britain he claimed a further two victories, bringing his total to six. He was replaced as commander of JG 51 by Werner Mölders on 23 July. Promoted to Generalmajor, Osterkamp was awarded his Ritterkreuz on 22 August 1940. Following his replacement from JG 51, Osterkamp was appointed Jagdfliegerführer 2, the commander of fighter aircraft in Luftflotte 2.[1]
On 1 August 1942 he was transferred to Luftgaustab z.b.V. Afrika. On 5 April 1943 he was appointed Jagdfliegerführer Sizilien and served until replaced on 15 July by Adolf Galland. He then served in a number of Staff positions until being appointed Inspekteur der Luftwaffen-Bodenorganisation (Inspector of Luftwaffe ground organisation) in 1944. After criticism from High Command he was dismissed from the service on 21 December 1944.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none |
Commander of Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders November 25, 1939 – July 23, 1940 |
Succeeded by Major Werner Mölders |
| Preceded by unknown |
Commander of Jagdfliegerführer 1 July 22, 1940 – January 1, 1941 |
Succeeded by unknown |
| Preceded by Generalmajor Kurt-Bertram von Döring |
Commander of Jagdfliegerführer 2 December 1, 1940 – August 1, 1941 |
Succeeded by Oberst Joachim-Friedrich Huth |
| Preceded by General Stefan Fröhlich |
Acting Commander of Fliegerführer Afrika April, 1942 – April 12, 1942 |
Succeeded by General Otto Hoffmann von Waldau |
| Preceded by none |
Commander of Jagdfliegerführer Sizilien April 5, 1943 – June 15, 1943 |
Succeeded by Generalleutnant Adolf Galland |
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