|
Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (11 March 1913 – 23 March 1944) was a German ''Luftwaffe'' pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 162 enemy aircraft shot down in 732 combat missions. He claimed the majority of his victories over the Eastern Front, and 25 over the Western Front, including four four-engined bombers. Born in Schrimm in the Province of Posen, Wilcke volunteered for military service in the ''Reichswehr'' of the Third Reich in 1934. Initially serving in the ''Heer'' (Army), he transferred to the ''Luftwaffe'' (Air Force) in 1935. Following flight training, he was posted to ''Jagdgeschwader'' "Richthofen" (Fighter Wing "Richthofen") in April 1936. After an assignment as fighter pilot instructor he volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War in early 1939. After his return from Spain, he was appointed ''Staffelkapitän'' (squadron leader) of the 7. ''Staffel'' (7th squadron) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing). Following the outbreak of World War II, he claimed his first aerial victory on 7 November 1939. On 18 May 1940, during the Battle of France, he was shot down and taken prisoner of war. After the armistice with France, he returned from captivity and was appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' (group commander) of the III. ''Gruppe'' (3rd group) of JG 53 during the Battle of Britain, claiming 10 victories over England. Wilcke then fought in the aerial battles of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. There, after 25 aerial victories, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 August 1941. In September 1941, he relocated with his group to the Mediterranean Theater, where he was able to claim further victories. At the end of May 1942, he was transferred to the ''Stab'' (headquarters unit) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) "Udet", and that August he was appointed as its ''Geschwaderkommodore'' (wing commander). Following his 100th aerial victory on 6 September, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. During the Battle of Stalingrad, on 17 December, he claimed his 150th aerial victory. On 23 December 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, his total now 155 aerial victories. Subsequent to the presentation of the Swords to his Knight's Cross, he was officially banned from operational flying. Occasionally he still flew combat missions and on 23 March 1944, flying in defense of the Reich, he claimed his 162nd and last aerial victory and was killed in action by United States Army Air Forces long-range P-51 Mustang fighters near Schöppenstedt, in Lower Saxony. == Early life and career == Wilcke was born on 11 March 1913 at Schrimm in the Province of Posen, part of the Kingdom of Prussia at the time, now Śrem in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland. He was the son of a ''Hauptmann'' (captain) of ''Infanterie-Regiment'' 47 (47th Infantry Regiment), Hans Wilcke, who died of pneumonia when Wilcke was just four weeks of age. His mother, Hertha von Schuckmann, married again on 14 June 1919.〔Stockert 1997, p. 70.〕 In 1931, Wilcke was arrested for attending a then-illegal demonstration of the Nazi Party. Although his loyalty to the Nazi cause is emphasized multiple times in his personal military files,〔Berger 1999, p. 407.〕 according to biographers Prien and Stemmer, he was a firm opponent of the National Socialist regime; later in his career, for a time after taking command of III. ''Gruppe'' (3rd group) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing),〔For an explanation of ''Luftwaffe'' unit designations see Organization of the ''Luftwaffe'' during World War II.〕 he had the Swastikas on his unit's aircraft painted over.〔Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 27.〕 He volunteered for military service in the ''Reichswehr'' after receiving his ''Abitur'' (diploma). He joined ''Artillerie-Regiment'' 6 (6th Artillery Regiment) in Minden as a ''Fahnenjunker'' (officer cadet) on 1 April 1934. His legal guardian and stepfather, Friedrich von Scotti, also served in this regiment.〔 As a ''Fähnrich'' (officer candidate), Wilcke was posted to the ''Kriegsschule'' (war school) in Dresden on 1 October 1934. On 1 November 1935, he was transferred to the newly emerging ''Luftwaffe'' holding the rank of ''Oberfähnrich'' (senior officer candidate). On 20 April 1936, while serving at the flight school in Perleberg, he was promoted to ''Leutnant'' (second lieutenant). On 15 October he was transferred to ''Jagdgeschwader'' "Richthofen" (Fighter Wing "Richthofen"), also known as ''Jagdgeschwader'' 132 (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing), named after the World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen and forerunner of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 2 (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) "Richthofen".〔Williamson & Bujeiro 2005, p. 2005.〕 There he excelled as a pilot and showed exceptional leadership ability and was sent as fighter pilot instructor to the ''Jagdfliegerschule'' (fighter pilot school) in Werneuchen in the second half of 1937.〔Stockert 1997, p. 71.〕 In March 1939, Wilcke volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. For a few weeks, he flew with 1. ''Staffel'' (1st squadron) of ''Jagdgruppe'' 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) without claiming any aerial victories.〔Forsyth 2011, p. 101.〕 He was awarded the Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (ドイツ語:''Spanienkreuz in Bronze mit Schwertern'') for his service in Spain.〔Obermaier 1989, p. 33.〕 In Spain he became friends with Werner Mölders and when Mölders was appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' (group commander) of the newly created III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 53, he selected Wilcke as ''Staffelkapitän'' (squadron leader) of the 7. ''Staffel'' (7th squadron) of JG 53.〔 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「Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|