Ulrich Wernitz (21 January 1921 – 23 December 1980) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He 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.[1] 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).
Ulrich Wernitz | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Pipifax |
Born | Schweinitz/Herzberg | 21 January 1921
Died | 23 December 1980 Fürstenfeldbruck | (aged 59)
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() |
Service/ | ‹See Tfd›![]() German Air Force |
Rank | Leutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr) |
Unit | JG 54 |
Commands | 3./JG 54 |
Battles/wars | See battles |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Career
editWernitz was born in Schweinitz/Herzberg in the district of Wittenberg, a Province of Saxony, on 21 January 1921. Following flight training, he was posted to 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in April 1943.[2][Note 1] At the time, JG 54 was based on the northern sector of the Eastern Front.
Nicknamed Pipifax by his comrades, he claimed his first aerial victory on 2 May 1943 over a Lavochkin La-5 fighter aircraft near Pushkin during the Siege of Leningrad. On combat missions, he frequently flew as wingman to Otto Kittel, Hermann Schleinhege and Günther Scheel.[3] Wernitz claimed his 82nd aerial victory, a Petlyakov Pe-2 shot down on 28 August 1944. He then fell ill in September.[4] During his convalescence, Feldwebel (Sergeant) Wernitz, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 29 October 1944, and the German Cross in Gold (German: Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 1 January 1945. He returned to his unit in early February 1945, which at the time was fighting in the Courland Pocket.[3] He was then appointed Staffelführer (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 54 and claimed 19 further aerial victories, including eight on 8 March 1945.[2] On 26 March 1945, Wernitz was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 100th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[5]
Following World War II, Wernitz served in the German Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). He died on 23 December 1980.[3]
Summary of career
editAerial victory claims
editAccording to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wernitz was credited with 101 aerial victories.[6] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Wernitz was credited with 101 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[7]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 00333". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[8]
Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Wernitz an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Wernitz did not receive credit.
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
| |||||||||
Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[3] | |||||||||
1 | 2 May 1943 | 16:56 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 00333[9] vicinity of Pushkin |
3 | 24 May 1943 | 18:53 | P-40 | PQ 36 Ost 10184[10] east of Mga |
2 | 21 May 1943 | 19:07 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10464[10] 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Luban |
|||||
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[3] | |||||||||
4 | 1 June 1943 | 04:58 | Yak-1 | PQ 36 Ost 10293[11] 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Volkhov |
8 | 17 July 1943 | 03:55 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 54121[11] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Sukhinichi |
5 | 18 June 1943 | 06:28 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 21753[11] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Volkhov |
9 | 23 July 1943 | 08:55 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 54333[11] 45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Zhizdra |
6 | 16 July 1943 | 07:54 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 54487[11] 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Bolkhov |
10 | 1 August 1943 | 11:22 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10183[11] east of Mga |
7 | 16 July 1943 | 08:03 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 54498[11] 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Bolkhov |
|||||
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[7] | |||||||||
11?[Note 2] | 15 September 1943 | 16:15 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 35341, Satki[12] | 52 | 17 July 1944 | 17:11 | Pe-2 | PQ OP-7/4[13] |
12 | 9 October 1943 | 06:55 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 07743[14] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Nevel |
53 | 17 July 1944 | 17:14 | Pe-2 | PQ OP-5/7[13] |
13 | 9 October 1943 | 06:59 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 07751[14] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Nevel |
54 | 21 July 1944 | 14:40 | Yak-9 | PQ ON-5/5[13] |
14 | 9 October 1943 | 07:00 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 07753[14] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Nevel |
55 | 21 July 1944 | 19:15 | Yak-9 | PQ NM-4/6[13] |
15 | 12 October 1943 | 10:55 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 15943[15] | 56 | 21 July 1944 | 19:17 | Yak-9 | PQ OM-2/4[13] |
16 | 13 October 1943 | 08:43 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 15561[15] 20 km (12 mi) south of Krassnji |
57 | 21 July 1944 | 19:21 | Yak-9 | PQ OM-5/2[13] |
17 | 20 October 1943 | 09:14 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 06163, Lake Ssennitza[15] | 58 | 27 July 1944 | 14:50 | La-5 | PQ NL-8/2[16] |
18 | 22 October 1943 | 08:15 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 15342, north of Gorki[15] | 59 | 27 July 1944 | 14:52 | La-5 | PQ NL-8/3[16] |
19 | 15 December 1943 | 09:08 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 06167[17] | 60 | 27 July 1944 | 14:53 | La-5 | PQ NL-8/9[16] |
20 | 1 January 1944 | 12:55 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 06794[18] | 61 | 1 August 1944 | 11:01 | La-5 | PQ KH-2/8[16] |
21 | 6 January 1944 | 10:43 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 05151[18] | 62 | 1 August 1944 | 11:06 | La-5 | PQ KH-7/9[16] |
22 | 8 January 1944 | 09:30 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 96684[18] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Gorodok |
63 | 1 August 1944 | 11:10 | La-5 | PQ LH-4/5[16] |
23 | 15 January 1944 | 12:26 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 05161[19] | 64 | 1 August 1944 | 19:45 | La-5 | PQ KG-9/5[16] |
24 | 7 February 1944 | 07:50 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 06784[19] | 65 | 5 August 1944 | 14:42 | Il-2 | PQ LN-2/3[16] |
25 | 30 March 1944 | 12:32 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 70694[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Narva |
66 | 5 August 1944 | 14:47 | Il-2 | PQ LN-3/7[16] |
26 | 30 March 1944 | 15:26?[Note 3] | La-5 | PQ 26 Ost 70352[20] Baltic Sea, 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Kunda |
67 | 7 August 1944 | 16:11 | P-39 | PQ KN-4/1[21] |
27 | 2 April 1944 | 11:45 | Il-2 | PQ 26 Ost 60462[22] northeast of Kunda |
68 | 15 August 1944 | 09:11 | Yak-9 | PQ LJ-9/3[21] |
28 | 4 April 1944 | 09:52 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 6044[22] northeast of Kunda |
69 | 15 August 1944 | 09:13 | Yak-9 | PQ LJ-7/4[21] |
29 | 19 April 1944 | 09:25 | Il-2 | PQ 26 Ost 70693[22] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Narva |
70 | 15 August 1944 | 09:22 | Yak-9 | PQ LJ-3/4[21] |
30 | 8 May 1944 | 14:01 | P-40 | PQ 26 Ost 70313[22] Baltic Sea, 35 km (22 mi) east-northeast of Kunda |
71 | 15 August 1944 | 13:32 | P-39 | PQ LK-4/5[21] |
31 | 8 May 1944 | 14:03 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 70331[22] Gulf of Finland, north of Hungerburg |
72 | 16 August 1944 | 10:11 | Il-2 | PQ LK-5/8[21] |
32 | 16 May 1944 | 10:20 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 70523[23] Baltic Sea, 45 km (28 mi) west of Hungerburg |
73 | 16 August 1944 | 10:13 | Il-2 | PQ LK-8/2[21] |
33 | 28 May 1944 | 08:42 | LaGG-3 | PQ 26 Ost 70693[23] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Narva |
74 | 23 August 1944 | 11:09 | Il-2 | PQ JN-5/3[21] |
34 | 29 May 1944 | 10:06 | La-5 | PQ 26 Ost 60412[23] In Gulf of Finland |
75 | 24 August 1944 | 17:41 | La-5 | PQ JG-6/5[21] |
35 | 29 May 1944 | 10:11 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 60432[23] northeast of Kunda |
76 | 25 August 1944 | 12:46 | Yak-9 | PQ LG-7/1[21] |
36 | 29 May 1944 | 10:18 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 70452[23] Baltic Sea, 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Hungerburg |
77 | 25 August 1944 | 12:47 | La-5 | PQ LG-4/9[21] |
37 | 30 May 1944 | 21:11 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 70433[23] Baltic Sea, 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Hungerburg |
78 | 25 August 1944 | 12:49 | Yak-9 | PQ KG-4/5[21] |
38 | 15 June 1944 | 07:10 | Yak-9 | PQ SP-3/3[23] | 79 | 28 August 1944 | 11:26?[Note 4] | Yak-9 | PQ JM-5/4[25] 40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Kreuzburg |
39 | 15 June 1944 | 07:15 | Yak-9 | PQ RP-9/4[23] | 80 | 28 August 1944 | 11:28?[Note 5] | Pe-2 | PQ JM-9/1[25] 30 km (19 mi) north of Kreuzburg |
40 | 15 June 1944 | 07:18 | La-5 | PQ RP-7/2[23] | 81 | 28 August 1944 | 15:50?[Note 6] | P-39[Note 6] | PQ LG-6/1[25] |
41 | 15 June 1944 | 07:25 | Il-2 | PQ SP-6/2[23] | 82 | 28 August 1944 | 16:12?[Note 7] | P-39 | PQ LG-2/2[25] |
42 | 28 June 1944 | 12:10 | LaGG-3 | PQ QT-8/4[23] | — [Note 8]
|
28 August 1944 | —
|
Yak-9[25] | |
43 | 28 June 1944 | 19:22 | P-39 | PQ QT-3/2[23] | ♠ | 5 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
44♠ | 30 June 1944 | 15:02 | Yak-9 | PQ PS-7/3[13] | ♠ | 5 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
45♠ | 30 June 1944 | 16:01?[Note 9] | Yak-9 | PQ OS-5/3[13] | ♠ | 5 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
46♠ | 30 June 1944 | 16:10 | Il-2 | PQ OT-1/4[13] | ♠ | 5 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
47♠ | 30 June 1944 | 16:14 | P-39 | PQ OT-2/1[13] | ♠ | 5 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
48♠ | 30 June 1944 | 19:48 | Il-2 | PQ PS-5/8[13] | ♠ | 5 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
49 | 3 July 1944 | 11:38 | P-39 | PQ OS-7/7[13] | ♠ | 5 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
50 | 3 July 1944 | 11:46 | P-39 | PQ OS-5/7[13] | ♠ | 5 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
51 | 16 July 1944 | 05:13 | P-39 | PQ OO-3/4[13] | 100 | 26 March 1945 | —
|
unknown |
Awards
edit- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[26]
- Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 17 April 1944 as Feldwebel and pilot[27]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1944 as Feldwebel in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 54[28][Note 10]
- German Cross in Gold on 1 January 1945 as Feldwebel in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54[30]
Notes
edit- ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations, see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
- ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[3]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:22.[3]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:26.[24] The authors Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that files held by the German Federal Archives contain a documentation error as the report filed by Wernitz states 11:26.[25]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:28.[24]
- ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:28 over a Petlyakov Pe-2.[24]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:11.[24]
- ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[24]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:01.[24]
- ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54.[29]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Spick 1996, p. 233.
- ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 223.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1404.
- ^ Weal 2001, p. 114.
- ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 244.
- ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 331.
- ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1404–1405.
- ^ Planquadrat.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 173.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 174.
- ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 78.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 184.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2022, p. 384.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 185.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 186.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2022, p. 385.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 188.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2022, p. 379.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 380.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 381.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2022, p. 386.
- ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 382.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2022, p. 383.
- ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1405.
- ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2022, p. 387.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 173.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 216.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 443.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 780.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 508.
Bibliography
edit- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/II—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/II—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-28-4.
- 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 "Grünherz". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 6. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.