Heinz-Gerhard Vogt
Encyclopedia
Gerhard Vogt was a former German
Luftwaffe
fighter ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gerhard Vogt scored 48 victories in 174 missions. All of his victories were recorded over the Western front, and included eight four-engined bombers.
fighter over Calais on 6 November 1941.
On 15 June 1944, Leutnant Vogt took command of 7./JG 26 when Oberleutnant
Waldemar Radener
was seriously wounded in aerial combat. Vogt was appointed Staffelkapitän
of 5./JG 26 on 14 August 1944, replacing Hauptmann
Walter Matoni
. Vogt led 5./JG 26 during Operation Bodenplatte
, the attack on the Allied airfields in the Netherlands
and Belgium
on 1 January 1945 by United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF) fighters. Vogt was shot down and killed by USAAF P-51 Mustang
s of the 78th Fighter Group in his FW 190 D-9 near Cologne
.
In his combat career Vogt shot down two prominent Allied fighter aces, Australian Tony Gaze
(12.5 confirmed, 4 probable and 5 damaged victories) and Claude Weaver (12.5 confirmed and 3 probable victories). Vogt himself was shot down by enemy pilots six times.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
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...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gerhard Vogt scored 48 victories in 174 missions. All of his victories were recorded over the Western front, and included eight four-engined bombers.
Military career
He claimed his first victory when he shot down a RAF Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
fighter over Calais on 6 November 1941.
On 15 June 1944, Leutnant Vogt took command of 7./JG 26 when 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...
Waldemar Radener
Waldemar Radener
Waldemar Radener was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Waldemar Radener was killed on 8 January 1957 in a...
was seriously wounded in aerial combat. Vogt was appointed Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
of 5./JG 26 on 14 August 1944, replacing Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
Walter Matoni
Walter Matoni
Walter Matoni was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II....
. Vogt led 5./JG 26 during Operation Bodenplatte
Operation Bodenplatte
Operation Bodenplatte launched on 1 January 1945, was an attempt by the Luftwaffe to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries during the Second World War. The goal of Bodenplatte was to gain air superiority during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge, to allow the German Army and...
, the attack on the Allied airfields in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
on 1 January 1945 by United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) fighters. Vogt was shot down and killed by USAAF P-51 Mustang
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...
s of the 78th Fighter Group in his FW 190 D-9 near Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
In his combat career Vogt shot down two prominent Allied fighter aces, Australian Tony Gaze
Tony Gaze
Frederick Anthony Owen Gaze DFC & Two Bars, OAM is a decorated World War II flying ace credited with 12.5 aerial victories and a former racing driver from Australia. He was born in Melbourne. He participated in four World Championship Grands Prix driving his HWM, debuting on 22 June 1952...
(12.5 confirmed, 4 probable and 5 damaged victories) and Claude Weaver (12.5 confirmed and 3 probable victories). Vogt himself was shot down by enemy pilots six times.
Awards
- 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 (20 March 1944) - 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 25 November 1944 as Leutnant and StaffelführerStaffelkapitänStaffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
of the 5./JG 26 "Schlageter"