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Max-Hellmuth Ostermann (11 December 1917 – 9 August 1942) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.〔Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.〕 He is credited with 102 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 300 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front with eight claims over the Western Front and one over Belgrade.〔Obermaier 1989, p. 31.〕 Ostermann was of such short height that wooden blocks had to be attached to his rudder pedals for him to engage in tight turning aerial combat.〔Berger 1999, p. 260.〕 Ostermann was born in Hamburg on 11 December 1917. He joined the military service of the ''Luftwaffe'' in 1937 and was trained as a pilot. After a brief period with Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1), a heavy fighter unit, he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). He participated in the Battle of France and Britain before transferring east. He became the sixth fighter pilot in aviation history to achieve 100 aerial victories on the Eastern Front for which he was awarded Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern''). He was killed in aerial combat with Soviet fighters southeast of Lake Ilmen on 9 August 1942. ==Early life and career== Max-Hellmuth Ostermann was born on 11 December 1917 in Hamburg. His father was a civil servant in the justice department. Ostermann joined the ''Luftwaffe'' as a ''Fahnenjunker'' (Officer Cadet) in March 1937 after he had received his ''Abitur'' (diploma)—the final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education. His first assignment was with I. ''Gruppe'' (1st group) Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1) flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110 and participated in the Invasion of Poland in 1939.〔Williamson & Bujeiro 2005, p. 10.〕〔For an explanation of the meaning of ''Luftwaffe'' unit designation see ''Luftwaffe'' Organization〕 In January 1940 ''Hauptmann'' (Captain) Wolfgang Falck took command of I./ZG 1. Falck came to the opinion that the Bf 110 was just a little too big for Ostermann and had him transferred to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 equipped I./Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21) on 7 April 1940. JG 21 at the time was based at Mönchengladbach and was subordinated to ''Oberstleutnant'' (Lieutenant Colonel) Max Ibel, the ''Geschwaderkommodore'' (Wing Commander) of Jagdgeschwader 27.〔Bergström 2008, p. 7.〕 He claimed his first of two aerial victories in the Battle of France on 20 May 1940.〔 Ostermann had been entrusted with leading a ''Rotte'', an element of two aircraft, with ''Unteroffizier'' (non-commissioned officer) Fritz Marcks as his wingman. The ''Schwarm'' (flight) led by ''Oberleutnant'' (Senior Lieutenant or First Lieutenant) Günther Scholz engaged eight French Morane-Saulnier M.S.406's fighters near Amiens with Ostermann, Marcks and Scholz claiming one each.〔Bergström 2008, pp. 8–9.〕 His second aerial victory was achieved over a Curtiss Hawk-75 on 26 May 1940. In a head on firing pass two 20mm shells tore off large parts of the aircraft's tail fin, which then collided with Osterrmann's starboard wing. The French pilot was observed to bail out with Ostermann managing to make a safe landing.〔Bergström 2008, p. 9.〕 By the time I./JG 21 was ordered to the coastal area of the English Channel the ''Gruppe'' was redesignated III./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). Ostermann's third aerial victory on 12 August 1940 may have been over Flight Lieutenant E.B.B. Smith of No. 610 Squadron RAF, who bailed out of his Supermarine Spitfire I K9818. Smith was rescued from the Channel and hospitalized.〔Bergström 2008, p. 11.〕 On 8 October 1940 Ostermann claimed his 7th aerial victory of the war and 5th of the Battle of Britain. His opponent may have been the Czech Sergeant Josef František who was killed flying Hurricane Mk. I R4175 from No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron near Sutton, west of Croydon, in the southern outskirts of London that day. The reason for his fatal crash remains unclear. Apart from Ostermann's claim, ''Leutnant'' (Second Lieutenant) Max Clerico and ''Feldwebel'' (Sergeant or warrant officer) Fritz Oeltjens also claimed one aircraft each at the same time and in the same vicinity.〔Bergström 2008, p. 15.〕 On 5 September 1940 III./JG 54's ''Gruppenkommandeur'' (group commander) failed to return from a mission and ''Geschwaderkommodore'' Hannes Trautloft temporarily appointed ''Oberleutnant'' Günther Scholz to lead the ''Gruppe''. The leadership of 7. ''Staffel'' (7th squadron) was filled by ''Oberleutnant'' Hans-Ekkehard Bob, who became one of Ostermann's mentors. During an escort mission on 30 September 1940, Bob and Ostermann claimed one Spitfire shot down each. In return Ostermann's wingman was shot down and made a forced landing at Bexhill. He radioed his fellow pilots:〔Bergström 2008, p. 13.〕 ''Spinat vier meldet sich ab nach Kanada''—Spinach 4 reports off for Canada〔 His aerial victory on 20 October 1940 over a No. 74 Squadron RAF Spitfire was his sixth—his eight overall—victory over Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters and his last during the Battle of Britain.〔Bergström 2008, p. 17.〕 The following day III./JG 54 was instructed to relocate. Five month later following a long combat pause, JG 54 was moved to the south-east to counter the pro-British ''coup d'état'' in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.〔Bergström 2008, p. 19.〕 He claimed his ninth victory over a Yugoslav Royal Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3, piloted by Karlo Štrebenk who was killed, on 6 April 1941 over Belgrade during the Balkans Campaign.〔〔Bergström 2008, p. 20.〕 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「Max-Hellmuth Ostermann」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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