| 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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