August Lambert
Encyclopedia
August Lambert was a former dive-bomber and ground attack pilot who became a Luftwaffe
fighter ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II
.
On the morning of April 17, 1945 Leutnant Gerhard Bauer
, Oberleutnant
August Lambert, and another pilot were taking off from Kamenz for a mission to the front when American P-51Ds
of the 55th Fighter Group appeared. Bauer's FW 190 F-9 "Black 1 +" was quickly shot down north of Kuckau
, about eight kilometres east-south-east of Kamenz
. August Lambert and another 8./SG 77 pilot tried desperately to get away, but could not lose their pursuers. Lambert was shot down in FW 190 F-8 "Black 9 +" just north of Hoyerswerda
, a town some 20 km north-north-east of Kamenz.
Lambert was officially credited with shooting down 116 enemy aircraft, all claimed on the Eastern front
.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Career
An experienced pilot with II./SG 2, the unit was heavily involved in Crimean campaign during early-mid 1944, and in addition to its usual ground-attack work flew interception sorties, claiming some 247 Soviet aircraft shot down. Leutnant Lambert claimed some 70 kills during one three week period.On the morning of April 17, 1945 Leutnant Gerhard Bauer
Gerhard Bauer
Gerhard Bauer was a highly decorated Leutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
August Lambert, and another pilot were taking off from Kamenz for a mission to the front when American P-51Ds
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
of the 55th Fighter Group appeared. Bauer's FW 190 F-9 "Black 1 +" was quickly shot down north of Kuckau
Panschwitz-Kuckau
Panschwitz-Kuckau, in Sorbian Pančicy-Kukow, is a municipality in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany. It is the site of the well-known monastery Sankt Marienstern.The place is located at both sides of the Klosterwasser stream....
, about eight kilometres east-south-east of Kamenz
Kamenz
Kamenz is a Lusatian town in eastern Saxony, Germany, with a population of 18,243, and is part of the Bautzen district. The town is located about northeast of Dresden and about northwest of Bautzen....
. August Lambert and another 8./SG 77 pilot tried desperately to get away, but could not lose their pursuers. Lambert was shot down in FW 190 F-8 "Black 9 +" just north of Hoyerswerda
Hoyerswerda
Hoyerswerda is the largest city in the district of Bautzen in the German state of Saxony. It is located in Lusatia, a region where many people speak the Sorbian languages in addition to German.-Geography:...
, a town some 20 km north-north-east of Kamenz.
Lambert was officially credited with shooting down 116 enemy aircraft, all claimed on the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(17 January 1944) - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (1 October 1944) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939) 2nd and 1st class - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 14 May 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 5./SG 2 "Immelmann"