Wilhelm Johnen
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Johnen was a highly decorated German night fighter pilot in World War II
. Johnen is credited with 34 aerial victories claimed in 160 nocturnal and 22 day time combat missions.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
. In June 1941 Leutnant Johnen was posted to 3./NJG 1. He gained his first victory on 26/27 March 1942, when he claimed a Wellington bomber. He then attacked a Short Stirling
but his Bf 110 D-3 was hit by return fire, killing his crewman and wounding Johnen in the left leg. Johnen baled out and spent a sometime in hospital for burns and his wounded leg. By October, 3./NJG 1 was redesignated 1./NJG 5 and then in December again redesignated, this time to 5./NJG 5. Lt. Johnen claimed seven victories during 1943.
In January 1944 he added seven victories, including three Lancaster bombers on 27/28 January. He downed a further three Lancasters on 15/16 February. In March 1944 Johnen was made Staffelkapitän of 6./NJG 5.
On the night of 27/28 April, Johnen shot down a Lancaster four-engine bomber near Strasbourg in eastern France. He and his crew then made contact with another Lancaster over Lake Constance
. Johnen attacked the Lancaster but his Bf 110 G-4 rwas badly hit and damaged, setting the port engine alight. Johnen was obliged to land the crippled Bf 110 at the Swiss airfield at Zürich-Dubendorf. Johnen and his crew were interned and repatriated some days later, parallel to much political manoeuvering, as Johnen's almost new Bf 110 G-4 was equipped with the latest SN-2b airborne intercept radar, 'Lichtenstein' C-1 and oblique 20 mm cannon armament. Its landing intact in neutral territory was of major concern to the Germans, who wished details of its equipment to remain secret. In a deal between the German and Swiss authorities it was arranged that the Bf 110 would be destroyed, and in return the Swiss would be sold a number of Bf 109-Gs. The Bf 110 was duly destroyed on the night of 19 May 1944 and its crew repatriated.
Johnen was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./NJG 6 in May 1944 and based in Hungary. In two months, Johnen added 11 victories, including four Soviet-flown Mitchell B-25 bombers. Oberleutnant Johnen was awarded the Ritterkreuz in July for 33 victories.
In autumn 1944, Johnen was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./NJG 6, seving until the end of the war. Johnen was credited with 34 victories in over 200 missions. All his victories were recorded at night. Included in his victory total are 24 four-engine bombers.
Post-war, Johnen attended university and gained an Engineering degree. In 1952 he worked with Professor Willi Messerschmitt before taking up construction engineering, successfully running his own business. Johnen died on 7 February 2002.
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...
. Johnen is credited with 34 aerial victories claimed in 160 nocturnal and 22 day time combat missions.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
Career
Johnen was born on 9 October 1921 in HombergHomberg
-In Germany:*Homberg , administrative seat of Schwalm-Eder-Kreis, Hesse*Homberg , in the district of Vogelsbergkreis, Hesse*Homberg, Westerwaldkreis, in the district of Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate...
. In June 1941 Leutnant Johnen was posted to 3./NJG 1. He gained his first victory on 26/27 March 1942, when he claimed a Wellington bomber. He then attacked a Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
but his Bf 110 D-3 was hit by return fire, killing his crewman and wounding Johnen in the left leg. Johnen baled out and spent a sometime in hospital for burns and his wounded leg. By October, 3./NJG 1 was redesignated 1./NJG 5 and then in December again redesignated, this time to 5./NJG 5. Lt. Johnen claimed seven victories during 1943.
In January 1944 he added seven victories, including three Lancaster bombers on 27/28 January. He downed a further three Lancasters on 15/16 February. In March 1944 Johnen was made Staffelkapitän of 6./NJG 5.
On the night of 27/28 April, Johnen shot down a Lancaster four-engine bomber near Strasbourg in eastern France. He and his crew then made contact with another Lancaster over Lake Constance
Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
. Johnen attacked the Lancaster but his Bf 110 G-4 rwas badly hit and damaged, setting the port engine alight. Johnen was obliged to land the crippled Bf 110 at the Swiss airfield at Zürich-Dubendorf. Johnen and his crew were interned and repatriated some days later, parallel to much political manoeuvering, as Johnen's almost new Bf 110 G-4 was equipped with the latest SN-2b airborne intercept radar, 'Lichtenstein' C-1 and oblique 20 mm cannon armament. Its landing intact in neutral territory was of major concern to the Germans, who wished details of its equipment to remain secret. In a deal between the German and Swiss authorities it was arranged that the Bf 110 would be destroyed, and in return the Swiss would be sold a number of Bf 109-Gs. The Bf 110 was duly destroyed on the night of 19 May 1944 and its crew repatriated.
Johnen was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./NJG 6 in May 1944 and based in Hungary. In two months, Johnen added 11 victories, including four Soviet-flown Mitchell B-25 bombers. Oberleutnant Johnen was awarded the Ritterkreuz in July for 33 victories.
In autumn 1944, Johnen was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./NJG 6, seving until the end of the war. Johnen was credited with 34 victories in over 200 missions. All his victories were recorded at night. Included in his victory total are 24 four-engine bombers.
Post-war, Johnen attended university and gained an Engineering degree. In 1952 he worked with Professor Willi Messerschmitt before taking up construction engineering, successfully running his own business. Johnen died on 7 February 2002.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 March 1944)
- Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Black (26 March 1942) - 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- in Bronze (1 October 1941)
- in Silver (8 July 1943)
- in Gold (26 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 (23 July 1943) - 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 (26 July 1942)
- 1st Class (29 August 1943)
- 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 29 October 1944 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 8./NJG 6 - Hungarian Pilots Badge (18 October 1944)