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Heinz Wernicke

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Heinz Wernicke
Heinz Wernicke
Born(1920-10-17)17 October 1920
Berlin
Died27 December 1944(1944-12-27) (aged 24)
near Dobele, Latvia
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitEJGr Ost, JG 54
Commands1./JG 54
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Heinz Wernicke (17 October 1920 – 27 December 1944) was a Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace and was credited with 117 aerial victories—that is, 117 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Wernicke was killed in a mid-air collision with his wingman on 27 December 1944.

Career

[edit]

Wernicke was born on 17 October 1920 in Berlin of the Weimar Republic. He joined the 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in early 1942 as an Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer).[Note 1] JG 54 at the time was stationed at the Eastern Front. In the fall of 1942, he was transferred to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group East) and then to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 54 in early 1943.[1] There, he claimed his first aerial victory on 7 March 1943 over an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft in aerial combat south of Lake Ilmen.[2] At the time, II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 54 was based at Rjelbitzi, an airfield south of Leningrad.[3] On 11 March, II. Gruppe under the command of Hauptmann (Captain) Heinrich Jung, relocated to Gatchina for combat in the Siege of Leningrad and east in the vicinity of the Volkhov River.[4] In this combat area, Wernicke claimed a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter on 19 March, a Yakovlev Yak-4 light bomber one day later, and another LaGG-3 plus a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter on 27 March, taking his total to five aerial victories.[5]

Following five further victories in June 1943, Wernicke became a fighter pilot instructor and underwent officer training courses. On 4 July 1943, Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) Horst Ademeit, his Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 6. Staffel, assessed Wernicke concluding that at the time Wernicke required further training to become an officer.[6]

In October 1943, he was back to front line service and claimed his 88th aerial victory on 3 August 1944, and surpassed the century mark—100 aerial victories—in mid-September 1944.[1] He was the 91st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century-mark.[7] On 22 February 1944, Wernicke and Oberfeldwebel Fritz Harder suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in their accommodations at the Uman airfield.[8] Wernicke was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 30 September 1944 after 112 victories.[9] The presentation was made by General Kurt Pflugbeil.[10]

Squadron leader and death

[edit]

On 1 October 1944, Wernicke was appointed Staffelkapitän of the 1. Staffel of JG 54, succeeding Oberleutnant Helmut Wettstein in this capacity.[11] On 27 December, he and his wingman Unteroffizier Gerhard Wollien were killed in a mid-air collision during aerial combat with Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters north of Doblen, present-day Dobele.[12][13] Command of 1. Staffel then went to Oberleutnant Josef Heinzeller.[11]

Summary of career

[edit]

Aerial victory claims

[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wernicke was credited with 117 aerial victories.[14] Obermaier and Spick also list him with 117 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[1][15] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 118 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[16]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 18382". 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.[17]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Wernicke 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 ? (exclamation mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[18]
1 7 March 1943 11:47 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18382[19]
45 km (28 mi) north of Chełm
27 15 December 1943 12:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01794[20]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Leningrad
2 19 March 1943 13:30 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00421[19]
Pushkin-Mga
28 15 December 1943 12:45 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01761[20]
20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Leningrad
3 20 March 1943 07:30 Yak-4 PQ 36 Ost 20363[19]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Mga
29 9 January 1944 10:15 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80161[21]
over the Gulf of Finland, northeast of Hungerburg
4 27 May 1943 16:43 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00274[5]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Pushkin
30 13 January 1944 15:28 Yak-7 PQ 26 Ost 80682[21]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Narva
5 27 May 1943 19:53 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 20211[5]
west of Volkhov
31 14 January 1944 09:30 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80682[21]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Narva
6 1 June 1943 04:57 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 20163[5]
south of Volkhov
32 14 January 1944 09:32 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80654[21]
30 km (19 mi) east of Narva
7 8 June 1943 15:59 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 20152[5]
southwest of Volkhov
33 15 January 1944 12:15 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90711[22]
40 km (25 mi) southwest of Lissino
8 17 June 1943 09:23 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10252[5]
30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Schlüsselburg
34 15 January 1944 12:20 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90583[22]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Lissino
9 18 June 1943 05:59 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 20213[5]
vicinity of Volkhov
35 15 January 1944 12:24 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90572[22]
35 km (22 mi) southwest of Lissino
10 24 June 1943 07:07 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 21793[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Volkhov
36 22 January 1944 11:56 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80694[22]
35 km (22 mi) southwest of Lissino
11 20 October 1943 14:10 Yak-9 southeast of Glebowka[24] 37 24 January 1944 13:56 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80664[22]
40 km (25 mi) east of Narva
12 21 October 1943 09:43 Pe-2 east of Gussenoje[24]
southeast of Schlüsselburg
38 24 January 1944 14:02 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 90523[22]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Lissino
13♠ 5 November 1943 11:53 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 01682[25]
40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Schlüsselburg
39 4 February 1944 07:17 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 09112[22]
14♠ 5 November 1943 11:59 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 01684[25]
40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Schlüsselburg
40 4 February 1944 07:20 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00771[22]
30 km (19 mi) south of Siverskij
15♠ 5 November 1943 14:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 01564[25]
45 km (28 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk
41 9 February 1944 06:32 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 09211[22]
16♠ 5 November 1943 14:28 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 01674[25]
40 km (25 mi) north-northeast of Leningrad
42 9 February 1944 12:25 R-5 PQ 36 Ost 00762[22]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Siverskij
17♠ 5 November 1943 14:34 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 01642[25]
55 km (34 mi) north-northeast of Leningrad
43 12 February 1944 15:25 Yak-9 PQ 36 Ost 10552[22]
vicinity of Lyuban
18 22 November 1943 09:00 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 91591[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Zelenogorsk
44♠ 16 February 1944 07:11 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 00693[22]
25 km (16 mi) south of Tosno
19 28 November 1943 10:45 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91534[20]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zelenogorsk
45♠ 16 February 1944 07:12 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 00693[22]
25 km (16 mi) south of Tosno
20 28 November 1943 10:48 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91614[20]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zelenogorsk
46♠ 16 February 1944 07:13 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 00694[22]
25 km (16 mi) south of Tosno
21 28 November 1943 14:53 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91591[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Zelenogorsk
47♠ 16 February 1944 07:15 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 10573[22]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Lyuban
22 29 November 1943 14:30 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91534[20]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zelenogorsk
48♠ 16 February 1944 07:18 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 10573[22]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Lyuban
23 29 November 1943 14:32 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91614[20]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zelenogorsk
49♠?[Note 2] 16 February 1944 11:20 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00562[22]
24 29 November 1943 14:33 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91621[20]
30 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Zelenogorsk
50♠ 16 February 1944 14:56 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00691[22]
25 km (16 mi) south of Tosno
25 12 December 1943 13:34 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 00171[20]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Selo
51 21 February 1944 11:10?[Note 3] La-5 PQ 26 Ost 90562[22]
20 km (12 mi) east of Siverskij
26 14 December 1943 17:05 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 00154[20]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Leningrad
52?[Note 2] 20 April 1944 18:20 unknown[26]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[27]
53 17 June 1944 17:55 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 01384[28]
55 km (34 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk
?[Note 4] 21 July 1944 20:52 Yak-9 over the Baltic Sea, near Kunda
54 18 June 1944 08:28 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 91369[28]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Vyborg
73 22 July 1944 17:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88597[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Ostrov
55 19 June 1944 18:45 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91533[28]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zelenogorsk
74 23 July 1944 08:28 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 88157[30]
vicinity of Pskov
?[Note 4] 20 June 1944 15:40 P-39 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Zelenogorsk 75 23 July 1944 15:19 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 78265[30]
56 21 June 1944 09:20 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 81575[28]
over the Baltic Sea, northeast of Hungerburg
76 23 July 1944 15:21 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 88323[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Pskov
57 23 June 1944 12:28 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 81426[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Vyborg
77 24 July 1944 16:03 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70693[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Narva
58 26 June 1944 13:42 La-5 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Vyborg[29] 78 26 July 1944 16:36 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70695[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Narva
59 26 June 1944 13:47 La-5 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Häämeda[29] 79 26 July 1944 17:02 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 70695[30]
over the Gulf of Finland
60 26 June 1944 18:45 Yak-9 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Vyborg[29] 80 26 July 1944 17:03 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 70695[30]
over the Gulf of Finland
61 28 June 1944 09:25 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91315[29]
20 km (12 mi) east of Vyborg
81 26 July 1944 17:05 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 70695[30]
40 km (25 mi) southwest of Narva
62 28 June 1944 20:45 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 81347[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Vyborg
82 27 July 1944 11:23 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 78648[30]
45 km (28 mi) west of Ostrov
63 29 June 1944 08:05 DB-3 PQ 26 Ost 91265[29]
65 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Vyborg
83 27 July 1944 14:30 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78562, northwest of Liepna[30]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Schwanenburg
64 30 June 1944 09:43 Boston PQ 26 Ost 81413[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Vyborg
84 27 July 1944 18:45 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78523[30]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Schwanenburg
65 30 June 1944 20:44 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 81297, north-northwest of Talias[29]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Vyborg
85 27 July 1944 19:02 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 78481[30]
40 km (25 mi) southwest of Selo
66 2 July 1944 06:51 P-39 PQ 26 Ost 91175[29]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Vyborg
86 2 August 1944 13:05 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 70462[30]
over the Baltic Sea, north-northwest of Hungerburg
67 4 July 1944 08:25 P-39 PQ 26 Ost 81467[29] 87 2 August 1944 13:09 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 70481[30]
over the Baltic Sea, northwest of Hungerburg
68 6 July 1944 15:40 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 81422[29]
vicinity of Vyborg
88 3 August 1944 15:24 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80572[30]
southwest of Narva
69 8 July 1944 06:30 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 81431[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Vyborg
89 3 August 1944 15:31 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80582[30]
southeast of Narva
70 9 July 1944 12:12 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91418[29]
45 km (28 mi) east of Vyborg
90 20 August 1944 13:59 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57252[32]
50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Kreuzburg
71 9 July 1944 21:03 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91199[29]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Vyborg
91 20 August 1944 16:09 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57429[32]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Kreuzburg
72 14 July 1944 10:32 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91415[29]
45 km (28 mi) east of Vyborg
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[33]
92 26 August 1944 15:21 P-39 PQ KF-5/6[34] 106 17 September 1944 16:26 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37382[35]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Mitau
93 26 August 1944 15:23?[Note 5] Pe-2 PQ KG-7/5[34] 107 19 September 1944 15:57 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 37353[35]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Mitau
94 26 August 1944 15:24 Pe-2 PQ KG-8/3[34] 108 19 September 1944 15:59 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 37381[35]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Mitau
95 3 September 1944 10:18 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 58893[34]
45 km (28 mi) southeast of Wenden
109 20 September 1944 14:09 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47382[35]
45 km (28 mi) south-southwest of Riga
96 6 September 1944 07:35 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37366[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Mitau
110 20 September 1944 14:10 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47386[35]
45 km (28 mi) south-southwest of Riga
97 6 September 1944 07:45 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37626[34]
20 km (12 mi) south of Mitau
111 27 September 1944 15:30 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57146[35]
25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Mālpils
98 14 September 1944 14:52 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57215[37]
45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Mālpils
112 28 September 1944 13:57?[Note 6] Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 48823[35]
20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Mālpils
99 14 September 1944 14:53 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57219[37]
45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Mālpils
113 1 October 1944 16:09 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 48725[35]
over the Baltic Sea, north-northeast of Riga
100 14 September 1944 16:50 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 47139[37]
20 km (12 mi) east of Riga
114 7 October 1944 15:56 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 48882[35]
west of Mālpils
101 15 September 1944 13:35 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 47343[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Mitau
115 7 October 1944 15:57 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 58757[35]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Valmiera
102 15 September 1944 18:20 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 47378[37]
45 km (28 mi) south of Riga
116 9 October 1944 08:56?[Note 7] Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47191[39]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Riga
103 16 September 1944 09:18 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 37496[37]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Mitau
117 12 October 1944 10:55?[Note 8] Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 48782[39]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Riga
104 16 September 1944 12:44 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 47517[37]
45 km (28 mi) northeast of Pasewalk
?[Note 4] 27 December 1944
Yak-9 Dobele
105 26 June 1944 16:24 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 37354[35]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Mitau

Awards

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. ^ a b This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[18]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:20.[18]
  4. ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock.[31]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:22.[36]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:54.[38]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:56.[38]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:45.[38]
  9. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the II./Jagdgeschwader 54.[44]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 222.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 208, 270.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 265.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 209, 264.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 271.
  6. ^ MacLean 2007, p. 476.
  7. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 244.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 489.
  9. ^ Weal 2001, p. 112.
  10. ^ Bob 2011, p. 297.
  11. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 375.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 398.
  13. ^ Weal 2001, p. 114.
  14. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1613.
  15. ^ Spick 1996, p. 229.
  16. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1402–1404.
  17. ^ Planquadrat.
  18. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1402.
  19. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 270.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  21. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 475.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Prien et al. 2022, p. 476.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 272.
  24. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 279.
  25. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 281.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 478.
  27. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1402–1403.
  28. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 479.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Prien et al. 2022, p. 480.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Prien et al. 2022, p. 481.
  31. ^ Prien et al. 2022, pp. 392, 479.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 482.
  33. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1403–1404.
  34. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2022, p. 387.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2022, p. 389.
  36. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1403.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2022, p. 388.
  38. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1404.
  39. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 390.
  40. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 151.
  41. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 508.
  42. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 217.
  43. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 443.
  44. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 780.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  • Bob, Hans-Ekkehard (2011). Jagdgeschwader 54 — Die Piloten mit den grünen Herzen [Jagdgeschwader 54 — The Pilots with the Green Heart] (in German). Aachen, Germany: Helios Verlags- und Buchvertriebsgesellschaft. ISBN 978-3-86933-041-9.
  • 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.
  • MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Vol. Two. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2658-5.
  • 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.
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  • Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 "Grünherz". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 6. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9.
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