Horst Ademeit (original) (raw)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
German World War II flying ace
| Horst Ademeit | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | (1912-02-08)8 February 1912Breslau, German Empire |
| Died | 7 August 1944(1944-08-07) (aged 32) (MIA)disappeared near Dünaburg |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service / branch |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1936–1944 |
| Rank | Major (majr) |
| Unit | JG 54 |
| Commands | I./JG 54 |
| Battles / wars | See battles World War II Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front (MIA) |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Horst Ademeit (8 February 1912 – 7 August 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II.[1] Ademeit fought in the Battle of Britain and the Eastern Front where he was officially credited with 166 aerial victories before his disappearance during a mission over Latvia on 7 August 1944.
Horst Ademeit was born on 8 February 1912 in Breslau in the Kingdom of Prussia of the German Empire (present-day Wrocław, Poland) the son of Walter Ademeit, a Regierungsbaurat (government building officer). He studied chemistry at the Königsberg Albertina University and was a member of the Corps Masovia Königsberg. In 1933, he transferred to the Technische Hochschulen in Charlottenburg, Berlin (now Technische Universität Berlin) while his family had moved to nearby Potsdam, where his father was leading the construction of the Niederfinow Boat Lift.
On 1 August 1936, Ademeit joined the Luftwaffe as a reservist.[2] He graduated as Diplom Ingenieur from the Technische Hochschulen in Braunschweig (now Technische Universität Braunschweig) in 1938. On 9 December 1938, Ademeit was made an officer cadet of the reserves and received flight training.[2]
In the spring of 1940, Unteroffizier Ademeit was transferred to 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) Grünherz and participated in the Battle of Britain.[Note 1] He claimed his first aerial victory during the Battle of Britain on 18 September 1940. However, shortly afterwards he was shot down over the English Channel, bailing out and rescued by the Seenotdienst unharmed.
In June 1941, after the German invasion of Soviet Union, Ademeit accompanied I./JG 54 to the Eastern Front. In quick succession he achieved aerial victories, promotions and awards. On 7 March 1943, Ademeit was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6. Staffel of JG 54, replacing Oberleutnant Hans Beißwenger who was killed in action the day before.[3] In October 1943, Ademeit was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 61st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[4]
On 4 February 1944, Ademeit succeeded Hauptmann Walter Nowotny as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander of I. Gruppe of JG 54.[5] On 14 February, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield named Wesenberg near Rakvere, located approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Lake Peipus and 105 kilometers (65 miles) west of Narva. Here the Gruppe was subordinated to the 3. Flieger-Division (3rd Air Division) and fought in the Battle of Narva.[6]
On 7 August 1944, Ademeit, flying a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 (Werksnummer 5960 — factory number) led a flight of four Fw 190s to the combat area near Kreutzburg on the right bank of the Daugava, where they intecepted a flight of ten Ilyushin Il-2s and Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters at 15:17. His wingman, Gefreiter Biebrichter, later reported that Ademeit was last seen in pursuit of an Il-2 into a thick cloud of smoke.[7] He pursued the Il-2 eastwards near Dünaburg across the front line, but failed to return from this mission and was considered missing in action.[8]
Ademeit was succeeded by Hauptmann Franz Eisenach as commander of I. Gruppe.[9] Berlin radio announced his loss on 29 September 1944.[10] Ademeit was officially credited with 166 victories in over 600 missions over the Eastern Front. He was posthumously promoted to Major.[8]
Aerial victory claims
[edit]
According to American historian David T. Zabecki, Ademeit was credited with 166 aerial victories.[11] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 160 aerial victory claims, all of which confirmed and claimed on the Eastern Front.[12] The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock list six further victories, aerial victories numbered 99–104, which were not documented by Mathews and Foreman, in the timeframe 18 September to 3 October 1943.[13]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 2525". 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.[14]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold and Penant
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 December 1941 as Leutnant and pilot[8][53]
- German Cross in Gold on 25 February 1942 as Leutnant in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54[54]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- List of people who disappeared
^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov I-153.[15]
^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Petlyakov Pe-2.[44]
^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[44]
^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed over a Lavochkin La-5 at 16:19.[44]
^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
^ a b Stockert 2007, p. 29.
^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 264.
^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 315.
^ Bergström 2008, p. 81.
^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 60.
^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 375.
^ Associated Press, "Nazi Air Ace Lost", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 30 September 1944, Volume 51, page 1.
^ Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 5–7.
^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 199.
^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 203.
^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 201.
^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 204.
^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 199.
^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 200.
^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 85.
^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 93.
^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 94.
^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 95.
^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 86.
^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 96.
^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 100.
^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 169.
^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 5–6.
^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 271.
^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 6.
^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 273.
^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 476.
^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 380.
^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 383.
^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 2.
^ Patzwall 2008, p. 40.
^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 11.
^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 188.
^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 113.
^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 79.
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish] (2008). Bagration to Berlin – The Final Air Battles in the East: 1944–1945. Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-903223-91-8.
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- 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 (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
- 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 (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [_The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941_] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [_The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942_] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [_The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943_] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
- 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.
- Stockert, Peter (2007). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 5 [_The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 5_] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [_The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K_] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
- 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.