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Heinz Vinke (22 May 1920 – 26 February 1944) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ((ドイツ語:Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub)) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He and his crew were shot down and killed in action on 26 February 1944, while on a search and rescue mission over the English Channel. ==Career== Heinz Vinke was born on 22 May 1920 in Barby, in the Province of Saxony, a Free State of Prussia. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1938, where he was trained as a ''Zerstörer'' (destroyer) pilot. Serving with Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2—2nd Night Fighter Wing) over Northern Europe, his first air victory was on 27 February 1942, a Armstrong Whitworth Whitley north-east of Leeuwarden.〔Foreman, Matthews and Parry 2004, p. 35.〕 His next claim was filed on the night of 3/4 June 1942 when he shot down a Short Stirling at 02:16 over the Zuiderzee.〔Foreman, Matthews and Parry 2004, p. 43.〕 His fourth victory was over a Vickers Wellington shot down on 28 June 1942 at 00:54 east of Enkhuizen.〔Foreman, Matthews and Parry 2004, p. 48.〕 Vinke became an ace when he shot down his fifth opponent, Wellington bomber, on the night of 27/28 August 1942 at 02:32.〔Foreman, Matthews and Parry 2004, p. 56.〕 He transferred to Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing) in early 1943.〔For an explanation of the meaning of ''Luftwaffe'' unit designation see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.〕 On 17/18 August 1943, Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command targeted Peenemünde and the V-weapons test centre. Five Bristol Beaufighter night fighters of No. 141 Squadron, under the command of Wing Commander Bob Braham, intercepted five Messerschmitt Bf 110s from IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (IV./NJG 1—4th group of the 1st Night Fighter Wing), and ''Feldwebel'' (Sergeant) Georg Kraft (14 victories) and ''Feldwebel'' Vinke (at the time with 20 claims) were both shot down by Braham near Schiermonnikoog. ''Feldwebel'' Vinke was the only one of his crew to survive.〔Thomas 2013〕 Vinke claimed eight confirmed night kills during 1942, twenty-nine in 1943 and seventeen during early 1944 before he was killed in action. He was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes'') on 19 September 1943 for twenty-seven claims, and was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves. Vinke claimed 54 aerial victories in 153 operations, all of them at night.〔For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see ''List of German World War II night fighter aces''.〕 ''Oberfeldwebel'' (Master Sergeant) Vinke was shot down and killed while flying Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (''Werknummer'' 740136—factory number) of 11./NJG 1 on 26 February 1944, while on a search and rescue mission over the English Channel. The victors were two Hawker Typhoons of No. 198 Squadron RAF, flown by F/L. Cheval L'Allemand and F/O. George Hardy. His crew of ''Unteroffizier'' Rudolf Dunger and ''Unteroffizier'' Rudolf Walter were also killed. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Heinz Vinke」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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