Wilhelm Herget
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Herget was a night fighter
flying ace
in the German Luftwaffe
during World War II
.
Born in Stuttgart
, Herget trained as a pilot prior to the outbreak of war, and was serving with II./ZG 76 flying the twin-engine Messerschmitt Bf-110. In intensive operations during the 1940 Western campaign he scored his first air victories and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class. During the Battle of Britain he claimed 7 victories. By the end of 1940, he had amassed 14 air victories.
In 1941, Herget converted to the night fighter role with NJG 3 and in September 1942 became Commander of I gruppe, NJG 4 until December 1944. On 20 June 1943 Herget had claimed some 30 victories and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). He was awarded the Oak Leaves in June 1944, after 63 victories.
In January 1945 he underwent training to fly the new Me 262 jet fighter. After service with Sonderkommision Kleinrath, an experimental operations unit, he joined Adolf Galland
's Jagdverband 44 in April 1945. His last missions of World War II were flown with JV 44, claiming one victory flying before the war's end.
Herget is credited with 72 aerial victories (57 at night and 16 during daylight missions) in 700 combat sorties. This included 8 RAF bombers claimed in just 50 minutes during a raid against Frankfurt
on the night of 20 December 1943.
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
flying 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...
in the German 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....
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...
.
Born in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Herget trained as a pilot prior to the outbreak of war, and was serving with II./ZG 76 flying the twin-engine Messerschmitt Bf-110. In intensive operations during the 1940 Western campaign he scored his first air victories and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class. During the Battle of Britain he claimed 7 victories. By the end of 1940, he had amassed 14 air victories.
In 1941, Herget converted to the night fighter role with NJG 3 and in September 1942 became Commander of I gruppe, NJG 4 until December 1944. On 20 June 1943 Herget had claimed some 30 victories and was awarded 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...
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). He was awarded the Oak Leaves in June 1944, after 63 victories.
In January 1945 he underwent training to fly the new Me 262 jet fighter. After service with Sonderkommision Kleinrath, an experimental operations unit, he joined 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...
's Jagdverband 44 in April 1945. His last missions of World War II were flown with JV 44, claiming one victory flying before the war's end.
Herget is credited with 72 aerial victories (57 at night and 16 during daylight missions) in 700 combat sorties. This included 8 RAF bombers claimed in just 50 minutes during a raid against 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...
on the night of 20 December 1943.
Awards
- Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
for night fighter pilots in Gold with pennant - 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 on 7 February 1942 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...
in the III./NJG 3 - 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 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 20 June 1943 as HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann 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...
of the ReservesMilitary reserve forceA military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
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 I./NJG 4 - 451st Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944 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....
of the Reserves and Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG 4
- Knight's Cross on 20 June 1943 as Hauptmann