Helmut Wick
Encyclopedia
Major
Helmut Paul Emil Wick (5 August 1915 – 28 November 1940) was a German
Luftwaffe
ace
and fourth recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. It was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Helmut Wick.
Wick was born in Mannheim
on 5 August 1915. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe in 1936 and was trained as a fighter pilot
. Assigned to Jagdgeschwader 2
"Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd fighter wing), Wick participated in the Battle of France
and Britain
.See Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II for an explanation of the Luftwaffe structure. He was promoted to Major
(major) in October 1940 and was given the position of Geschwaderkommodore
(wing commander) of JG 2—the youngest in the Luftwaffe to hold this rank and position. He was shot down in combat in the vicinity of the Isle of Wight
on 28 November 1940 and is missing in action
(MIA) since, presumed dead. At this time he had been credited with 56 aerial victories—that is, 56 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, which made him the leading German fighter pilot at the time. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
, he claimed all of his aerial victories against the Western Allies
.
, Germany, youngest of three children of a civil engineer Karl Wick. His oldest brother Walter was born in Swakopmund
, at the time in the German protectorate in South-West Africa
. The outbreak of World War I
forced the family to return to Germany and Helmut's sister, Doris, was born in Rohrbach, near Heidelberg
. Due to the demand for his father's skills and expertise building roads and bridges, Helmut Wick spent most of his childhood traveling throughout the German Reich. The Wick family moved to Hanover
in 1919. Here his mother died in February 1922. His father then took his family to Oliva near Danzig
and Königsberg
in East Prussia, finally settling in Berlin
in 1935.
The same year, upon graduating from Gymnasium
(high school), Wick, who initially considered a career as a forester, applied to the officer candidate course of the new German Air Force. Scoring well on the suitability tests he was accepted and joined the German military on 6 April 1936 at the Luftwaffe
officer candidate school in Dresden
after completing the compulsory Reichsarbeitsdienst
(Reich Labour Service). He swore the oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler
on 16 April. After successfully passing officer training courses, Wick was assessed as "well suited to become an officer" on 13 July. Wick then started flight training and shortly later soloed in a Focke-Wulf Fw 44
"Stieglitz". Wick was considered an average pilot and had difficulties with his theoretical training, especially those topics that were of little to no interest to him. In early May 1937, Wick was briefly transferred to the 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Kampfgeschwader 254 (254th bomber wing). A month later he returned to Dresden to complete his officers training.
Wick had failed to pass the third course on the first attempt but was given a second chance and on 1 April 1938 reported to the officer candidate school at the Luftkriegsschule III (3rd air war school), Wildpark-West near Werder
. He successfully completed the course and in the summer of 1938 started special pilot training at the Fighter Training facility at Werneuchen
. On completion of his training, Wick was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 333 (333rd fighter wing) under Oberstleutnant
(Lieutenant Colonel) Max Ibel
at Herzogenaurach
, flying obsolete Arado Ar 68 biplane fighters. On 8 November 1938 Oberfähnrich (senior ensign) Wick was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and on 1 January 1939 was transferred to 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 133 (133rd fighter wing) which was later renamed Jagdgeschwader 53
(JG 53—53rd fighter wing). It was there Wick began flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
fighter planes under the tutelage of Werner Mölders
, already a fighter ace of the Spanish Civil War
and credited with 14 aerial victories. Under Mölders' guidance Wick became a Schwarmführer (flight leader).
(JG 2) "Richthofen", based in Döberitz near Berlin
under the command of Oberst
(Colonel) Gerd von Massow and was assigned Bf 109 E-3 with the tactical code Yellow 3. On 1 September 1939 he joined its 3. Staffel and served with the unit in the air defense of Berlin
during the Polish Campaign. Following the German victory in Poland JG 2 was transferred to Frankfurt
-Rebstock and tasked with protection of Germany's Western border during the Phoney War—the phase in the months following Britain and France's declaration of war on Germany in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France
in May 1940. Flying his sixth combat mission, Leutnant Wick claimed his first, and the Geschwader's second, victory on 22 November 1939, when he shot down a French Curtiss Hawk 75
fighter near Nancy, piloted by Sergent Saillard of the Groupe de Chasse II/4 Armée de l’Air
who was killed in action. For this feat, Wick received the Iron Cross
2nd Class .
, but Wick remained on the ground while his aircraft, Bf 109
Yellow 2, underwent an engine change. Finally, seven days later, he was back in the air recording three victories over French LeO 45 bombers in one mission. By 6 June, Wick had 10 confirmed and two unconfirmed victories, including four French Bloch 151/152
fighters shot down on 5 June to record his fifth through eighth victories. The two unconfirmed victories were the Royal Navy’s
Fairey Swordfish
biplane torpedo bombers claimed on 19 May and for which he had no witnesses. He was also awarded the Iron Cross
1st Class by Oberstleutnant Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp
. By the end of the French Campaign
, Wick's total stood at 14 confirmed victories, trailing only Hauptmann
(Captain) Werner Mölders
of JG 53
with 25 victories and Hauptmann Wilhelm Balthasar
of JG 27
with 23 victories as top scorer of the Luftwaffe
. At the end of the French campaign 3. Staffel was moved into the house of Louis Aston Knight
, an artist who had fled a few days before the Germans arrived.
against the Royal Air Force
(RAF) in the summer of 1940 Wick rose quickly in rank and in profile both on the battlefield and as a public figure back home in Germany
. On 21 July 1940 the just promoted Oberleutnant
(first lieutenant) also became leader of the 3. Staffel succeeding Major
Henning Stümpell. Although the fighting in the air grew increasingly difficult, Wick kept adding victories to his tally. He recorded his 20th victory on 24 August and added two more fighters a day later. This achievement earned Wick a reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
(his first of five in total), an information bulletin issued by the headquarters of the Wehrmacht. To be singled out individually in the Wehrmachtbericht was an honour and was entered in the Orders and Decorations' section of a soldier's Service Record Book. Twenty aerial victories also made Wick eligible for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, a higher grade of the Iron Cross. Wick was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 August 1940 at Karinhall by Reichsmarschall
(Empire's Marshal) Hermann Göring
. He was also interviewed by an Adler (Eagle—the Luftwaffe weekly magazine) journalist prior to the presentation. Several articles appeared at the time. Wick was granted four days of leave which he spent with his family in Berlin.
Upon his return to France
, Wick was promoted to Hauptmann
(captain) and on 9 September was officially named Gruppenkommandeur
(group commander) of I. Gruppe JG 2
. During September Wick continued accumulating victories over the RAF and on 5 October gained his 41st combat victory on his way to overtake his two closest rivals Major
Adolf Galland
and Oberstleutnant
Werner Mölders
. The 41st aerial victory also earned him his second reference in the Wehrmachtbericht on 6 October 1940. He also became the fourth member of the armed forces to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves directly from Adolf Hitler
at Berghof
in Bavaria
on 8 September 1940.
On 19 October 1940 Helmut Wick was officially promoted to Major
and appointed Geschwaderkommodore
(wing commander) of Jagdgeschwader 27
(JG 27—27th fighter wing). Wick had no personal ambition to leave his Gruppe in Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". After giving this topic some thought he asked Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring not to transfer him to JG 27. He asked to remain with his Gruppe instead. The next day Göring revoked his decision and gave him the command of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". Wick, 25 years of age, thus became the youngest Major and Geschwaderkommodore in the Luftwaffe. Major Wolfgang Schellmann
, who had commanded JG 2 since the beginning of September 1940 was placed in command of JG 27 on Wick's behalf.
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" claimed its 500th aerial victory on 16 November, earning Wick another reference in the Wehrmachtbericht. To celebrate the 500th victory, Wick, the Gruppenkommandeure, all of the headquarters personnel, and the Staffelkapitäne went to Paris on 22 November—exactly one year after JG 2's first aerial victory. They visited the show at "Casino de Paris
" and dined at the "Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild
".
Helmut Wick, accompanied by his Stabsschwarm—including Oberleutnant Rudolf Pflanz
, Leutnant Franz Fiby and Oberleutnant Erich Leie—claimed his 55th aerial victory over a Spitfire on the afternoon of 28 November 1940. His opponent could have been No. 602 Squadron
's Pilot Officer
Archibald Lyall, who was killed in the engagement. This made Wick the highest-scoring fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe, surpassing Werner Mölders
of Jagdgeschwader 51
whose score stood at 54 aerial victories at the time. Returning from this mission to Cherbourg- Querqueville
, Wick ordered the aircraft refueled and re-armed. Together with Erich Leie
as his wingman
, Wick took off at 4:10 p.m. and returned to the vicinity of the Isle of Wight
. Spotting a flight of Spitfires he climbed to intercept from a more favorable attack position. In a diving to attack Wick shot down and killed Pilot Officer Paul A. Baillon from No. 609 Squadron
flying Spitfire R6631.
Shortly later, around 5 p.m., Wick's Bf 109 E-4
(Werknummer 5344 — factory number) was shot down, probably by Flight Lieutenant
John Dundas of No. 609 Squadron in the vicinity of Isle of Wight but it is also possible that Wick was shot down by Pilot Officer Eric Marrs. Oberleutnant
Rudolf Pflanz observed a Spitfire shooting down a Bf 109. The pilot of the 109 bailed out. Pflanz then shot down the Spitfire, which he observed to crash in the sea with its pilot. Only later did he find out that it was Wick who he saw bailing out. Wick was never found and is missing to the present day. The Luftwaffe
declared Wick missing in action
, presumed dead on 4 December 1940, earning him his last reference in the daily Wehrmachtbericht.
Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring had ordered Kriegsmarine
torpedo boat
s on a search and rescue mission. Throughout the night the naval vessels searched for Wick. The next day further naval vessels and the Seenotdienst
(air-sea rescue
) service, escorted by fighters of JG 2, continued searching for Helmut Wick in vain. Helmut Wick, on his 168th combat mission, was the first Oak Leaves recipient to lose his life in combat.
out of the the Führer Headquarters
that Helmut Wick had been rescued and taken prisoner of war
. Apparently an official Reuters
report had indicated that a 25-year-old Luftwaffe Major, credited with 56 aerial victories, had been interred in a prisoner of war camp in Canada. Both Hitler and Göring initiated steps to receive confirmation of the report. On 5 February 1941 a telegram from Ottawa
informed Ursel that Helmut Wick was not interred in Canada. Ursel remarried a military doctor during the war.
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Helmut Paul Emil Wick (5 August 1915 – 28 November 1940) was a German
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....
ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
and fourth recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. It was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Helmut Wick.
Wick was born in Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
on 5 August 1915. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe in 1936 and was trained as a fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
. Assigned to Jagdgeschwader 2
Jagdgeschwader 2
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" was a World War II Luftwaffe wing. It was named after World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen.-History:...
"Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd fighter wing), Wick participated in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
and Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.See Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II for an explanation of the Luftwaffe structure. He was promoted to Major
Major (Germany)
Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
(major) in October 1940 and was given the position of Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
(wing commander) of JG 2—the youngest in the Luftwaffe to hold this rank and position. He was shot down in combat in the vicinity of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
on 28 November 1940 and is missing in action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
(MIA) since, presumed dead. At this time he had been credited with 56 aerial victories—that is, 56 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, which made him the leading German fighter pilot at the time. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
, he claimed all of his aerial victories against the Western Allies
Western Allies
The Western Allies were a political and geographic grouping among the Allied Powers of the Second World War. It generally includes the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth, the United States, France and various other European and Latin American countries, but excludes China, the Soviet Union,...
.
Early life and pre-war service
Helmut Paul Emil Wick was born on 5 August 1914 in MannheimMannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
, Germany, youngest of three children of a civil engineer Karl Wick. His oldest brother Walter was born in Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
, at the time in the German protectorate in South-West Africa
German South-West Africa
German South West Africa was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990...
. The outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
forced the family to return to Germany and Helmut's sister, Doris, was born in Rohrbach, near Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. Due to the demand for his father's skills and expertise building roads and bridges, Helmut Wick spent most of his childhood traveling throughout the German Reich. The Wick family moved to Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
in 1919. Here his mother died in February 1922. His father then took his family to Oliva near Danzig
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
and Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
in East Prussia, finally settling in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1935.
The same year, upon graduating from Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
(high school), Wick, who initially considered a career as a forester, applied to the officer candidate course of the new German Air Force. Scoring well on the suitability tests he was accepted and joined the German military on 6 April 1936 at the 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....
officer candidate school in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
after completing the compulsory Reichsarbeitsdienst
Reichsarbeitsdienst
The Reichsarbeitsdienst was an institution established by Nazi Germany as an agency to reduce unemployment, similar to the relief programs in other countries. During the Second World War it was an auxiliary formation which provided support for the Wehrmacht.The RAD was formed during July 1934 as...
(Reich Labour Service). He swore the oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler
Hitler oath
The term Hitler oath refers to the oaths of allegiance sworn by German Wehrmacht officers and soldiers as well as civil servants during the Third Reich between the years 1934 and 1945...
on 16 April. After successfully passing officer training courses, Wick was assessed as "well suited to become an officer" on 13 July. Wick then started flight training and shortly later soloed in a Focke-Wulf Fw 44
Focke-Wulf Fw 44
-External links:* * * * * * *...
"Stieglitz". Wick was considered an average pilot and had difficulties with his theoretical training, especially those topics that were of little to no interest to him. In early May 1937, Wick was briefly transferred to the 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Kampfgeschwader 254 (254th bomber wing). A month later he returned to Dresden to complete his officers training.
Wick had failed to pass the third course on the first attempt but was given a second chance and on 1 April 1938 reported to the officer candidate school at the Luftkriegsschule III (3rd air war school), Wildpark-West near Werder
Werder (Havel)
Werder , is a town in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, located on the Havel river in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, west of the state's capital Potsdam.Werder has a long and rich history and is a nationally recognized Erholungsort – a government designation given to...
. He successfully completed the course and in the summer of 1938 started special pilot training at the Fighter Training facility at Werneuchen
Werneuchen
Werneuchen is a town in Brandenburg, Germany, in the district of Barnim northeast of Berlin within the metropolitan area. Most of the population of Werneuchen commutes to Berlin.-International relations:Werneuchen is twinned with: Dziwnów, Poland...
. On completion of his training, Wick was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 333 (333rd fighter wing) under Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
(Lieutenant Colonel) Max Ibel
Max Ibel
Max Ibel is credited among others as one of the creators of the Luftwaffe. Ibel organized JG 27 and led it successfully during the Battle of France. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross August 22, 1940, three months later he was given a staff position...
at Herzogenaurach
Herzogenaurach
Herzogenaurach is a town in the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt, in Bavaria, Germany. It is probably best known for being the home of the sporting goods companies Adidas and Puma.-Geography:...
, flying obsolete Arado Ar 68 biplane fighters. On 8 November 1938 Oberfähnrich (senior ensign) Wick was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and on 1 January 1939 was transferred to 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 133 (133rd fighter wing) which was later renamed Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik-As was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean.Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937...
(JG 53—53rd fighter wing). It was there Wick began flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
fighter planes under the tutelage of Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. Mölders became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial victories—that is, 100 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, and was...
, already a fighter ace of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and credited with 14 aerial victories. Under Mölders' guidance Wick became a Schwarmführer (flight leader).
World War II
On 31 August 1939 Wick was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 2Jagdgeschwader 2
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" was a World War II Luftwaffe wing. It was named after World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen.-History:...
(JG 2) "Richthofen", based in Döberitz near Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
under the command of Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
(Colonel) Gerd von Massow and was assigned Bf 109 E-3 with the tactical code Yellow 3. On 1 September 1939 he joined its 3. Staffel and served with the unit in the air defense of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
during the Polish Campaign. Following the German victory in Poland JG 2 was transferred to Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
-Rebstock and tasked with protection of Germany's Western border during the Phoney War—the phase in the months following Britain and France's declaration of war on Germany in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
in May 1940. Flying his sixth combat mission, Leutnant Wick claimed his first, and the Geschwader's second, victory on 22 November 1939, when he shot down a French Curtiss Hawk 75
P-36 Hawk
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
fighter near Nancy, piloted by Sergent Saillard of the Groupe de Chasse II/4 Armée de l’Air
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
who was killed in action. For this feat, Wick received the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The 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....
2nd Class .
Battle of France
On 10 May 1940 German forces launched an offensive in Western EuropeBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, but Wick remained on the ground while his aircraft, Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
Yellow 2, underwent an engine change. Finally, seven days later, he was back in the air recording three victories over French LeO 45 bombers in one mission. By 6 June, Wick had 10 confirmed and two unconfirmed victories, including four French Bloch 151/152
Bloch MB.150
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Belcarz, Bartłomiej. Morane MS 406C1, Caudron Cyclone CR 714C1, Bloch MB 151/152 , Sandomierz, Poland: Stratus, 2004. ISBN 83-89450-21-6. About the use of the MB.151/152 by Polish Pilots of the Armée de l'Air.* Breffort, Dominique and André Jouineau...
fighters shot down on 5 June to record his fifth through eighth victories. The two unconfirmed victories were the Royal Navy’s
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Fairey Swordfish
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
biplane torpedo bombers claimed on 19 May and for which he had no witnesses. He was also awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The 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....
1st Class by Oberstleutnant Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp
Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp
Oberst Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross was a German fighter ace notable for being one of the few two-war aces in history...
. By the end of the French Campaign
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, Wick's total stood at 14 confirmed victories, trailing only 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...
(Captain) Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. Mölders became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial victories—that is, 100 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, and was...
of JG 53
Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik-As was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean.Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937...
with 25 victories and Hauptmann Wilhelm Balthasar
Wilhelm Balthasar
Major Wilhelm Balthasar was a German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace, commander of Jagdgeschwader 2 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery...
of JG 27
Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika was a World War II Luftwaffe Geschwader. It was most famous for service in the North African Campaign, supporting the Deutsches Afrikakorps.- Formation:...
with 23 victories as top scorer of the 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....
. At the end of the French campaign 3. Staffel was moved into the house of Louis Aston Knight
Louis Aston Knight
Louis Aston Knight was a French-born American artist noted for his paintings of landscapes. One of his paintings, The Afterglow was purchased by U.S. President Warren G. Harding in 1922 to hang in the White House....
, an artist who had fled a few days before the Germans arrived.
Battle of Britain
Throughout the Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
against the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) in the summer of 1940 Wick rose quickly in rank and in profile both on the battlefield and as a public figure back home in Germany
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...
. On 21 July 1940 the just promoted 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...
(first lieutenant) also became leader of the 3. Staffel succeeding Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Henning Stümpell. Although the fighting in the air grew increasingly difficult, Wick kept adding victories to his tally. He recorded his 20th victory on 24 August and added two more fighters a day later. This achievement earned Wick a reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
Wehrmachtbericht
The Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
(his first of five in total), an information bulletin issued by the headquarters of the Wehrmacht. To be singled out individually in the Wehrmachtbericht was an honour and was entered in the Orders and Decorations' section of a soldier's Service Record Book. Twenty aerial victories also made Wick eligible for 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...
, a higher grade of the Iron Cross. Wick was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 August 1940 at Karinhall by Reichsmarschall
Reichsmarschall
Reichsmarschall literally in ; was the highest rank in the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II after the position of Supreme Commander held by Adolf Hitler....
(Empire's Marshal) Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
. He was also interviewed by an Adler (Eagle—the Luftwaffe weekly magazine) journalist prior to the presentation. Several articles appeared at the time. Wick was granted four days of leave which he spent with his family in Berlin.
Upon his return to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Wick was promoted to 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...
(captain) and on 9 September was officially named Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
(group commander) of I. Gruppe JG 2
Jagdgeschwader 2
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" was a World War II Luftwaffe wing. It was named after World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen.-History:...
. During September Wick continued accumulating victories over the RAF and on 5 October gained his 41st combat victory on his way to overtake his two closest rivals Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
and Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. Mölders became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial victories—that is, 100 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, and was...
. The 41st aerial victory also earned him his second reference in the Wehrmachtbericht on 6 October 1940. He also became the fourth member of the armed forces to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves directly from Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
at Berghof
Berghof (Hitler)
The Berghof was Adolf Hitler's home in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany. Other than the Wolfsschanze in East Prussia, Hitler spent more time at the Berghof than anywhere else during World War II. It was also one of the most widely known of Hitler's...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
on 8 September 1940.
On 19 October 1940 Helmut Wick was officially promoted to Major
Major (Germany)
Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
and appointed Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
(wing commander) of Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika was a World War II Luftwaffe Geschwader. It was most famous for service in the North African Campaign, supporting the Deutsches Afrikakorps.- Formation:...
(JG 27—27th fighter wing). Wick had no personal ambition to leave his Gruppe in Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". After giving this topic some thought he asked Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring not to transfer him to JG 27. He asked to remain with his Gruppe instead. The next day Göring revoked his decision and gave him the command of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". Wick, 25 years of age, thus became the youngest Major and Geschwaderkommodore in the Luftwaffe. Major Wolfgang Schellmann
Wolfgang Schellmann
Oberstleutnant Wolfgang Schellmann was German World War II Luftwaffe Ace, commander of JG 2 and JG 27 and a winner 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...
, who had commanded JG 2 since the beginning of September 1940 was placed in command of JG 27 on Wick's behalf.
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" claimed its 500th aerial victory on 16 November, earning Wick another reference in the Wehrmachtbericht. To celebrate the 500th victory, Wick, the Gruppenkommandeure, all of the headquarters personnel, and the Staffelkapitäne went to Paris on 22 November—exactly one year after JG 2's first aerial victory. They visited the show at "Casino de Paris
Casino de Paris
The Casino de Paris, located at 16, rue de Clichy, in the 9th arrondissement is one of the well known music halls of Paris, with a history dating back to the 18th century. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is a performance venue, not a gambling house...
" and dined at the "Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild
Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild
Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild at 11. rue Berryer in the 8th arrondissement in Paris, France, is a former residence of Adèle Hannah Charlotte Rothschild , the widow of Salomon James de Rothschild of the Rothschild banking family of France...
".
Death
Rudolf Pflanz
Rudolf "Rudi" Pflanz was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Pflanz claimed 52 aerial victories, all of them over the Western Front...
, Leutnant Franz Fiby and Oberleutnant Erich Leie—claimed his 55th aerial victory over a Spitfire on the afternoon of 28 November 1940. His opponent could have been No. 602 Squadron
No. 602 Squadron RAF
No 602 Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Originally formed in 1925 as a light bomber squadron, its role changed in 1938 to army co-operation and in 1939 to that of a fighter squadron....
's Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
Archibald Lyall, who was killed in the engagement. This made Wick the highest-scoring fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe, surpassing Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. Mölders became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial victories—that is, 100 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, and was...
of Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II, named after the fighter ace Werner Mölders in 1942. JG 51's pilots won more Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war. Flying Bf 109s and then...
whose score stood at 54 aerial victories at the time. Returning from this mission to Cherbourg- Querqueville
Querqueville
Querqueville is a commune in the Manche department in north-western France.The Chapel of Saint Germanus with its trefoil floorplan incorporates elements of one of the earliest surviving places of Christian worship in the Cotentin Peninsula - perhaps second only to the Gallo-Roman baptistry at...
, Wick ordered the aircraft refueled and re-armed. Together with Erich Leie
Erich Leie
Erich Leie was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe until his death on 7 March 1945...
as his wingman
Wingman
A wingman is a pilot who supports another in a potentially dangerous flying environment. Wingman was originally a term referring to the plane flying beside and slightly behind the lead plane in an aircraft formation....
, Wick took off at 4:10 p.m. and returned to the vicinity of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. Spotting a flight of Spitfires he climbed to intercept from a more favorable attack position. In a diving to attack Wick shot down and killed Pilot Officer Paul A. Baillon from No. 609 Squadron
No. 609 Squadron RAF
No. 609 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed as a bomber squadron and in World War II active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role...
flying Spitfire R6631.
Shortly later, around 5 p.m., Wick's Bf 109 E-4
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
(Werknummer 5344 — factory number) was shot down, probably by Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
John Dundas of No. 609 Squadron in the vicinity of Isle of Wight but it is also possible that Wick was shot down by Pilot Officer Eric Marrs. 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...
Rudolf Pflanz observed a Spitfire shooting down a Bf 109. The pilot of the 109 bailed out. Pflanz then shot down the Spitfire, which he observed to crash in the sea with its pilot. Only later did he find out that it was Wick who he saw bailing out. Wick was never found and is missing to the present day. The 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....
declared Wick missing in action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
, presumed dead on 4 December 1940, earning him his last reference in the daily Wehrmachtbericht.
Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring had ordered Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s on a search and rescue mission. Throughout the night the naval vessels searched for Wick. The next day further naval vessels and the Seenotdienst
Seenotdienst
The Seenotdienst was a German military organization formed within the Luftwaffe to save downed airmen from emergency water landings...
(air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
) service, escorted by fighters of JG 2, continued searching for Helmut Wick in vain. Helmut Wick, on his 168th combat mission, was the first Oak Leaves recipient to lose his life in combat.
Family
On 5 August 1939 Wick married Ursel Rolfs (1916–1968) in Berlin. The marriage produced two children Walter (born in October 1939) and a girl born after his death, in 1941. On 23 January 1941 Helmut Wick's father received a telephone call from Karl BodenschatzKarl Bodenschatz
General Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz was a German military officer who was the adjutant to Manfred von Richthofen in World War I and the liaison officer between Hermann Göring and Adolf Hitler in World War II....
out of the the Führer Headquarters
Führer Headquarters
The Führer Headquarters , abbreviated FHQ, is a common name for a number of official headquarters used by the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and various German commanders and officials throughout Europe during World War II...
that Helmut Wick had been rescued and taken prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. Apparently an official Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
report had indicated that a 25-year-old Luftwaffe Major, credited with 56 aerial victories, had been interred in a prisoner of war camp in Canada. Both Hitler and Göring initiated steps to receive confirmation of the report. On 5 February 1941 a telegram from Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
informed Ursel that Helmut Wick was not interred in Canada. Ursel remarried a military doctor during the war.
Awards
- 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 Class (21 December 1939)
- 1st Class (6 June 1940)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak LeavesKnight'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...
- Knight's Cross on 27 August 1940 as OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant 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...
and StaffelkapitänStaffelkapitänStaffelkapitän 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 3./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" - 4th Oak Leaves on 25 October 1940 as MajorMajor (Germany)Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
and GruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of the I./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"
- Knight's Cross on 27 August 1940 as Oberleutnant
- Mentioned five times in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
(26 August 1940, 6 October 1940, 8 November 1940, 16 November 1940 and 4 December 1940)