Max-Hellmuth Ostermann

Max-Hellmuth Ostermann

The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair is dark and short and combed to his right, his nose is long and straight, and his facial expression is emotionless; looking into the camera.

Max-Hellmuth Ostermann
Born (1917-12-11)11 December 1917
Hamburg
Died 9 August 1942(1942-08-09) (aged 24)
near Amossovo at Lake Ilmen
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1937–42
Rank Oberleutnant
Unit ZG 1, JG 21, JG 54
Commands held 7./JG 54
Battles/wars

World War II

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

Max-Hellmuth Ostermann (11 December 1917 – 9 August 1942) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] He is credited with 102 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 300 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front with eight claims over the Western Front and one over Belgrade.[2] Ostermann was of such short height that wooden blocks had to be attached to his rudder pedals for him to engage in tight turning aerial combat.[3]

Ostermann was born in Hamburg on 11 December 1917. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe in 1937 and was trained as a pilot. After a brief period with Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1), a heavy fighter unit, he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). He participated in the Battle of France and Britain before transferring east. He became the sixth fighter pilot in aviation history to achieve 100 aerial victories on the Eastern Front for which he was awarded Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). He was killed in aerial combat with Soviet fighters southeast of Lake Ilmen on 9 August 1942.

Early life and career

Max-Hellmuth Ostermann was born on 11 December 1917 in Hamburg. His father was a civil servant in the justice department. Ostermann joined the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker (Officer Cadet) in March 1937 after he had received his Abitur (diploma)—the final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education. His first assignment was with I. Gruppe (1st group) Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1) flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110 and participated in the Invasion of Poland in 1939.[4][Note 1] In January 1940 Hauptmann (Captain) Wolfgang Falck took command of I./ZG 1. Falck came to the opinion that the Bf 110 was just a little too big for Ostermann and had him transferred to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 equipped I./Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21) on 7 April 1940. JG 21 at the time was based at Mönchengladbach and was subordinated to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) Max Ibel, the Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) of Jagdgeschwader 27.[5]

He claimed his first of two aerial victories in the Battle of France on 20 May 1940.[3] Ostermann had been entrusted with leading a Rotte, an element of two aircraft, with Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer) Fritz Marcks as his wingman. The Schwarm (flight) led by Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant or First Lieutenant) Günther Scholz engaged eight French Morane-Saulnier M.S.406's fighters near Amiens with Ostermann, Marcks and Scholz claiming one each.[6] His second aerial victory was achieved over a Curtiss Hawk-75 on 26 May 1940. In a head on firing pass two 20mm shells tore off large parts of the aircraft's tail fin, which then collided with Osterrmann's starboard wing. The French pilot was observed to bail out with Ostermann managing to make a safe landing.[7]

By the time I./JG 21 was ordered to the coastal area of the English Channel the Gruppe was redesignated III./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). Ostermann's third aerial victory on 12 August 1940 may have been over Flight Lieutenant E.B.B. Smith of No. 610 Squadron RAF, who bailed out of his Supermarine Spitfire I K9818. Smith was rescued from the Channel and hospitalized.[8] On 8 October 1940 Ostermann claimed his 7th aerial victory of the war and 5th of the Battle of Britain. His opponent may have been the Czech Sergeant Josef František who was killed flying Hurricane Mk. I R4175 from No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron near Sutton, west of Croydon, in the southern outskirts of London that day. The reason for his fatal crash remains unclear. Apart from Ostermann's claim, Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) Max Clerico and Feldwebel (Sergeant or warrant officer) Fritz Oeltjens also claimed one aircraft each at the same time and in the same vicinity.[9] On 5 September 1940 III./JG 54's Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) failed to return from a mission and Geschwaderkommodore Hannes Trautloft temporarily appointed Oberleutnant Günther Scholz to lead the Gruppe. The leadership of 7. Staffel (7th squadron) was filled by Oberleutnant Hans-Ekkehard Bob, who became one of Ostermann's mentors. During an escort mission on 30 September 1940, Bob and Ostermann claimed one Spitfire shot down each. In return Ostermann's wingman was shot down and made a forced landing at Bexhill. He radioed his fellow pilots:[10]

Spinat vier meldet sich ab nach Kanada—Spinach 4 reports off for Canada[10]

His aerial victory on 20 October 1940 over a No. 74 Squadron RAF Spitfire was his sixth—his eight overall—victory over Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters and his last during the Battle of Britain.[11] The following day III./JG 54 was instructed to relocate. Five month later following a long combat pause, JG 54 was moved to the south-east to counter the pro-British coup d'état in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.[12] He claimed his ninth victory over a Yugoslav Royal Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3, piloted by Karlo Štrebenk who was killed, on 6 April 1941 over Belgrade during the Balkans Campaign.[13][14]

Eastern Front

A black and white photograph a propeller driven fighter aircraft viewed from the rear-left. The aircraft is on a grass field, engine appears to be running. It bears three black and white crosses, two on the upper wings and one on the left side of the fuselage besides a large number "2". The tail rudder shows a black swastika plus rudder bears approximately 33 small vertical black lines arranged in three groups of varying length.
Ostermann's Bf 109 F-2 "white 2" bearing 33 victory marks, September 1941[15]

On 23 June 1941, during the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Ostermann, in a free-hunting mission in the Lithuanian airspace north of Kaunas, intercepted a formation of nine Tupolev SB's and claimed two shot down in flames.[16] Leutnant Ostermann survived a belly landing following combat with more SBs in south-eastern Latvia on 26 June.[17] On 5 July he claimed three SB-3 Soviet bombers in combat over the Velikaya River at Ostrov.[18] He claimed his 19th and 20th aerial victory on 6 July in the same combat area.[19] On the Eastern Front he claimed JG 54's 1,000th victory of the war on 1 August 1941.[13][20][Note 2] He became the eighth member of JG 54 to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 4 September 1941 after 29 aerial victories.[21] The award was presented on 10 September 1941 in Dno by Generaloberst (Colonel General) Alfred Keller.[22] He claimed his 50th aerial victory on 9 January 1942, the 60th on 28 January 1942 and the 70th on 19 February 1942. After this series of aerial victories Ostermann was sent on home leave. The reason for his leave was that he wanted to get married. Back home, on his way to his wedding ceremony, Ostermann was arrested and put in jail. A German police officer had assumed that Ostermann, with his childlike features, was actually a schoolboy who was playing a prank and illegally wearing a Luftwaffe uniform and military decorations. The consequences endured by the police officer for his bad judgement remain unknown.[23]

Five men all wearing military uniforms and decorations standing in row. The man on the far left is shaking hands with another man whose back is facing the camera.
Gordon Gollob (hidden) and Max-Hellmuth Ostermann receive the Oak Leaves with Swords, Helmut Lent, Heinrich Setz and Friedrich Geißhardt receive the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross from Adolf Hitler on 28 or 29 June 1942

After he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) for 62 aerial victories on 12 March 1942 he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 8./JG 54 (8th squadron). His 80th and 81st aerial victory were claimed on 19 March 1942 followed by victories number 89 and 90 on 27 April 1942.[2][24] Ostermann claimed his 100th aerial victory on 12 May 1942, the second JG 54 pilot—Hans Philipp was the first—and sixth overall to achieve the century, though in the same engagement his Bf 109F-4 was hit and damaged. Ostermann himself was hit in the right arm and upper thigh. Although severely wounded, he managed to return to his home airfield.[Note 3] Five days later, while in the hospital, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves with Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The award was presented at the Führerhauptquartier "Wolf's Lair" (Wolfsschanze) at Rastenburg on 28 and 29 June 1942.[26]

Ostermann was killed in action on 9 August 1942 far behind Soviet lines east of Lake Ilmen. He and his wingman Unteroffizier Heinrich Bosnin were flying at an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) when they spotted a formation of nine Curtiss P-40's. Ostermann shot down the rear P-40. The two were reforming to make a second attack when they themselves were attacked from behind by a group of Soviet fighters emerging from the broken cloud cover. Ostermann's Bf 109G-2 (Werknummer 10438—factory number) was hit in the cockpit by 41 IAP's (41st Fighter Aviation Regiment) Starshiy Leytenant (First Lieutenant) Arkadiy Sukov flying a LaGG-3.[Note 4] The aircraft rolled over and crashed into the edge of a small wood.[27][28] After Werner Mölders and Leopold Steinbatz, Ostermann was the third of 45 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords to die in World War II. This made him the first living Swords recipient to be lost in actual air combat, as Mölders death was accidental and Steinbatz had only received the Oak Leaves before he died.[25]

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Friday, 24 April 1942 Oberleutnant Ostermann errang am gestrigen Tag seinen 83. bis 85. Luftsieg.[34] Oberleutnant Ostermann achieved his 83rd to 85th aerial victory yesterday.
Thursday, 7 May 1942 Oberleutnant Ostermann errang am gestrigen Tag seinen 95. und 96. Luftsieg.[35] Oberleutnant Ostermann achieved his 95th and 96th aerial victory yesterday.
Thursday, 14 May 1942 Oberleutnant Ostermann, Staffelkapitän in einem Jagdgeschwader, errang seinen 100. Luftsieg.[36] Oberleutnant Ostermann, squadron leader in a fighter wing, achieved his 100th aerial victory yesterday.
Friday, 14 August 1942 Der mit dem Eichenlaub mit Schwertern zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes ausgezeichnete Oberleutnant Ostermann, Staffelkapitän im Jagdgeschwader Trautloft, ist nach seinem 102. Luftsieg vom Flug gegen den Feind nicht zurückgekehrt. Mit diesem tapferen Offizier verliert die Luftwaffe einen ihrer kühnsten und erfolgreichsten Jagdflieger.[37] The recipient of the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Oberleutnant Ostermann, squadron leader in the fighter wing Trautloft, did not return from the flight against the enemy after his 102nd aerial victory. With this courageous officer the Luftwaffe loses one of their most daring and successful fighter pilots.

Notes

  1. ↑ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
  2. ↑ The credit may also have gone to Oberleutnant Günther Scholz[13]
  3. ↑ According to Berger he baled out and was rescued by the German infantry.[25]
  4. ↑ IAP—Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk (Fighter Aviation Regiment—Истребительный Авиационный Полк)

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 31.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Berger 1999, p. 260.
  4. ↑ Williamson & Bujeiro 2005, p. 10.
  5. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 7.
  6. ↑ Bergström 2008, pp. 8–9.
  7. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 9.
  8. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 11.
  9. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 15.
  10. 1 2 Bergström 2008, p. 13.
  11. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 17.
  12. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 19.
  13. 1 2 3 Weal 2001, p. 39.
  14. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 20.
  15. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 29.
  16. ↑ Bergström & Mikhailov 2000, p. 53.
  17. ↑ Bergström & Mikhailov 2000, p. 57.
  18. ↑ Bergström & Mikhailov 2000, p. 78.
  19. ↑ Bergström & Mikhailov 2000, p. 79.
  20. ↑ Bergström & Mikhailov 2000, p. 128.
  21. ↑ Weal 2001, p. 48.
  22. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 34.
  23. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 45.
  24. ↑ Weal 2001, p. 56.
  25. 1 2 Berger 1999, p. 261.
  26. ↑ Weal 2001, p. 57.
  27. ↑ Weal 2001, p. 59.
  28. ↑ Bergström 2008, p. 61.
  29. 1 2 Thomas 1998, p. 135.
  30. 1 2 3 Scherzer 2007, p. 579.
  31. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 331.
  32. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 59.
  33. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 39.
  34. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 95.
  35. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 106.
  36. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 128.
  37. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 247.

Bibliography

  • 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; Mikhailov, Andrey (2000). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume I, Operation Barbarossa 1941. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 978-0-935553-48-2. 
  • Bergström, Christer (2008). Max-Hellmuth Ostermann Ace Profiles Number 2 — The Men and Their Aircraft. Crowborough: Air Power Editions. ISBN 978-0-9555977-2-5. 
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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 (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9. 
  • Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2005). Knight's Cross, Oak-Leaves and Swords Recipients 1941–45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-643-0. 
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 
  • Frey, Gerhard; Herrmann, Hajo: Helden der Wehrmacht - Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten (in German). München, Germany: FZ-Verlag GmbH, 2004. ISBN 3-924309-53-1.

External links

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