Lt. Otto Würfel (3 December 1920 – 22 December 1944) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Otto Würfel was credited with 79 arial victories all over the Eastern Front (World War II). In 1944 his aircraft had a mid air collision with another Luftwaffe aircraft over the Rogachev–Zhlobin offensive and he was captured by the Russians and died in a POW camp.
Leutnant Otto Würfel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 3 December 1920 |
| Died | 22 December 1944 (aged 24) POW camp |
| Buried | German War Cemetery Donetsk |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1939–1944 |
| Rank | Leutnant posthumous |
| Unit | JG 51 |
| Commands held | 9./JG 51 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
|
Career edit
Würfel began his career on 10 March 1939. In 1942 he was assigned to 9./JG 51. For a brief time he worked as a flight instructor.[1] He accumulated 79 kills while fighting over the Eastern front.[2] On 23 February 1944[2] Würfel was piloting his FW 190 over Rogachev when he collided with another Luftwaffe pilot: Heinrich Dittlmann. Würfel survived and was captured by the Russians.[3] One parachute was seen after the crash.[4] He was a prisoner of war and he contracted Typhus and died at Camp 280/5 near Stalino.[3][1]
Awards edit
- Air Force Pilot Badge
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
- Frontflugspange für Jäger in Bronze
- Frontflugspange für Jäger in Silber
- Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold
- German Cross
- Iron Cross
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross May 1944[2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b deZeng IV, Henry L.; Stankey, Douglas G. "Career Summaries - Luftwaffe Officers 1935 - 1945" (PDF). ww2.dk. Michael Holm. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Page, Neil. Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943-1945. United Kingdom: Casemate Publishers. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-61200-879-0. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Würfel, Otto". Traces of War. Traces of War. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Weal, John (2012). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing. p. 66. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
Notes edit
- ^ It is not known how many different aircraft Würfel flew while accumulating his 79 kills, his unit was known for flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in 1943.
Bibliography edit
- 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.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
