Wilhelm Lemke

Wilhelm Lemke

Wilhelm Lemke
Born 27 September 1920
Arnswalde
(today Poland)
Died 4 December 1943 (aged 23)
near Dodewaard, Netherlands
Buried at Ysselsteyn, Netherlands
(Block CW—Row 1—Grave 24)
Allegiance Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939–43
Rank Hauptmann
Unit JG 3
Commands held 9./JG 3, II./JG 3
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Wilhelm Lemke (27 September 1920 – 4 December 1943) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Lemke was credited with 131 aerial victories—that is, 131 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. All but six of his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in over 700 combat missions.[1] (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Lemke was killed in action with United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters on 4 December 1943.

Ealy life and career

Lemke, the son of a civil servant, was born on 27 September 1920 in Gundelsdorf near Arnswalde, today Choszczno in Poland, then in the Free State of Prussia of the Weimar Republic. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 15 November 1939.[2] He recevied fighter pilot training and was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 1 April 1941.[3]

World War II

Lemke was posted to a front-line unit in 1941, almost two years after the start of World War II. His unit was 9. Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing).[Note 1] In preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, JG 3 under the command of Major (major) Günther Lützow was relocated east. Lemke claimed two Soviet bombers shot down on 26 June 1941, his first aerial victories. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) on 4 July 1941 and Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 20 July 1941.[3]

By 26 August 1941, Lemke had accumulated 15 aerial victories. On this day, he was hit and wounded in the abdomen but managed to make an emergency landing following combat with Soviet bombers. During his convalescence he was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 3 November 1941. He returned to active service on 17 February 1942 and was posted to 8. Staffel of JG 3 "Udet".[Note 2] On 31 March 1942, he claimed his 20th aerial victory, his 30th on 24 June 1942, and aerial victories 39 to 42 on 29 July 1942. Subsequently, he was nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) by his 8. Staffel. He was given command as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of his former 9. Staffel on 11 August 1942, leading this unit unitl 5 November 1943.[4]

On 7 September 1942, Lemke claimed his 57th victory and his 59th victory on 11 September 1942. The next day, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On 27 December, he rammed a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter aircraft in combat. His score had increased to 90 aerial victories until 31 December 1942. In addition to his aerial victories, he was credited with the destruction of aircraft on the ground, three tanks, three fuel trucks, 11 other trucks, three Katyusha rocket launchers, one anti tank gun and two mortars.[4]

Lemke was killed in action on 4 December 1943 at Dodewaard, 18 kilometers (11 mi) west Nijmegen. He was shot down by P-47 Thunderbolts of the 352nd Fighter Group, United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. ↑ JG 3 was given the honorary name "Udet" following the suicide of World War I fighter pilot and Luftwaffe Generalleutnant Ernst Udet.
  3. ↑ According to Scherzer on 19 September 1942 as pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[8]
  4. ↑ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän in the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[8]

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Spick 1996, p. 230.
  2. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 59.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stockert 1998, p. 174.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Stockert 1998, p. 175.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thomas 1998, p. 21.
  6. ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 134.
  7. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 288.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 501.
  9. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 75.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). 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.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1941 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • 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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Stockert, Peter (1996). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 4 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 4] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-932915-03-1.
  • 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.
  • Weal, John (1999). Bf 109F/G/K Aces of the Western Front. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-905-0.
  • Weal, John (2011). Fw 190 Defence of the Reich Aces. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-84603-482-4.

External links