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Herbert Ihlefeld (1 June 1914 – 8 August 1995) was a German ''Luftwaffe'' military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace credited with 132 enemy aircraft shot down in over 1,000 combat missions. He claimed nine victories in the Spanish Civil War, and during World War II, 67 on the Eastern Front and 56 on the Western Front, including 15 four-engined bombers and 26 Supermarine Spitfires. He survived being shot down eight times during his 1,000 combat missions. Born in Pinnow, Ihlefeld volunteered for military service in the ''Reichswehr'' of the Third Reich in 1933. Initially serving in the ''Heer'' (Army), he transferred to the ''Luftwaffe'' (Air Force) in 1935. Following flight training, he was posted to ''Jagdgeschwader'' 132 "Richthofen" (JG 32—132nd Fighter Wing) in 1937. He volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War where he was assigned to 2. ''Staffel'' (2nd squadron) of ''Jagdgruppe'' 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group). From February–July 1938, he claimed nine aerial victories, two remained unconfirmed. For his service in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. Following service in Spain, Ihlefeld was posted to I. (''Jäger'') ''Gruppe'' (1st fighter group) of ''Lehrgeschwader'' 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing), the unit was later redesignated to I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). With this unit he participated in the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France. During the height of the Battle of Britain on 13 September 1940, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after 21 aerial victories in World War II. Ihlefeld, who had been appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' (group commander) of I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77 in September 1940, fought in the aerial battles of the Balkan Campaign. He was shot down by anti-aircraft artillery and spent eight days in Yugoslav captivity before he was rescued by German ground forces. During Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. There, after 40 aerial victories of World War II, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 27 June 1941. Ten months later, following his 101st aerial victory of the war, Ihlefeld was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on 24 April 1942. On 22 June 1942, promoted to ''Major'' (major), Ihlefeld was appointed ''Geschwaderkommodore'' (wing commander) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). He was injured in combat on 22 July 1942 and after convalescence, he was given command of ''Jagdfliegerschule'' 3 (3rd Fighter Pilot School), which was later redesignated to ''Jagdgeschwader'' 103 (JG 103—103rd Fighter Wing). On 21 July 1943, he was tasked with leadership of a high flying de Havilland Mosquito intercept unit called ''Jagdgeschwader'' 25 (JG 25—25th Fighter Wing) in Defense of the Reich. This unit failed to achieve its objective and was disbanded in late 1943. Ihlefeld was then assigned to the ''Stab'' (headquarters unit) of the 30th Fighter Division before he briefly commanded ''Jagdgeschwader'' 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) in May 1944. On 20 May 1944, he took command of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 1 Oesau (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) and participated in Operation Bodenplatte. In the final weeks of the war, the Geschwader was equipped with the Heinkel He 162, a single-engine, jet-powered fighter aircraft. Ihlefeld died on 8 August 1995 in Wennigsen, Lower Saxony. ==Early life and career== Ihlefeld was born on 1 June 1914 in Pinnow, at the time in the Province of Pomerania, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia, the son of a farm laborer. Following a machinist vocational education, he volunteered for military service in the ''Reichsheer'' on 1 April 1933. As a ''Grenadier'', he was first posted to ''Infanterie-Regiment'' 5 (5th Infantry Regiment) based in Stettin and in 1934 was posted to the aviation technical school at Jüterbog.〔Stockert 1996, p. 122.〕 In March 1937, he was assigned to the I. ''Gruppe'' (1st group) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 132 "Richthofen" (JG 32—132nd Fighter Wing).〔Obermaier 1989, p. 31.〕〔For an explanation of ''Luftwaffe'' unit designations see Organization of the ''Luftwaffe'' during World War II.〕 With outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936, Germany supported the Nationalists and asked for volunteers which organized in the Condor Legion (ドイツ語:''Legion Condor''). ''Unteroffizier'' (Staff Sergeant) Ihlefeld joined 2. ''Staffel'' (2nd squadron) of ''Jagdgruppe'' 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) in late 1937. Flying with this unit until July 1938, he claimed nine and was credited with seven aerial victories over Spain and was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (''Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern''). There, he was issued one of the first Messerschmitt Bf 109 B-1's sent to the Condor Legion.〔Jackson 2015, p. 48.〕 A Polikarpov I-16 fighter aircraft shot down on 21 February 1938 was his first aerial victory of the war.〔Forsyth 2011, p. 90.〕 On 13 March 1938, Ihlefeld was credited with his second victory, a Polikarpov I-15 biplane fighter aircraft followed by his third, a I-16, on 11 May 1938. A week later, on 18 May, he claimed another I-16, the victory was unconfirmed. A Tupolev SB-2 bomber from a force attacking La Sénia, shot down on 2 June 1938, became his fifth victim.〔Forsyth 2011, p. 94.〕 He claimed another unconfirmed victory on 25 June 1938 over a 1-16. On 12 July 1938, he was credited with a victory over a I-15. Two I-15s shot down on 15 July 1938 were his last victories in Spain.〔Forsyth 2011, p. 103.〕 On 1 August 1938, he was assigned to I. (''Jäger'') ''Gruppe'' (1st fighter group) of ''Lehrgeschwader'' 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing), an operational training unit tasked with the evaluation of new types of aircraft and tactics. The unit was later redesignated to I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). On 20 August 1938, he was promoted to ''Leutnant'' (second lieutenant).〔 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「Herbert Ihlefeld」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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