Ulrich Wernitz | |
---|---|
File:Ulrich Wernitz.jpg Ulrich Wernitz | |
Nickname | Pipifax |
Born | 21 January 1921 |
Died | 23 December 1980 | (aged 59)
Place of birth | Schweinitz/Herzberg |
Place of death | Fürstenfeldbruck |
Allegiance |
Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
Service/branch |
Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht) Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr) |
Rank |
Leutnant Oberstleutnant |
Unit | JG 54 |
Commands held | 3./JG 54 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Ulrich Wernitz (21 January 1921 – 23 December 1980) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] Wernitz was credited with 101 aerial victories—that is, 101 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in roughly 240 combat missions.[2] He served in the post World War II German Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel).
Career[]
Ulrich Wernitz was born in Schweinitz/Herzberg in the district of Wittenberg, a Province of Saxony, on 21 January 1921. Feldwebel Wernitz, who frequently flew as wingman to Otto Kittel, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for his 82nd aerial victory, a Petlyakov Pe-2 shot down on 28 August 1944.[3] The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was given command of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54 in Courland in February 1945.
Awards[]
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (17 April 1944)[4]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1944 as pilot and Feldwebel in the 4./JG 54[5][Notes 1]
- German Cross in Gold on 1 January 1945 as Feldwebel in the 3./JG 54[7]
Notes[]
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 0-8041-1696-2.
- Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-286-5.
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