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Heinz Kemethmüller (26 June 1914 – 20 February 1984) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Heinz Kemethmüller | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 June 1914 Nuremberg |
| Died | 20 February 1984 (aged 69) Bonn |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | ?–1945 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit | JG 3 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Career edit
Kemethmüller was born on 26 June 1914 in Nurnberg.
He initially served as a Feldwebel on the Eastern Front with 8./Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). Both Kemethmüller and Feldwebel Siegfried Engfer from 9. Staffel of JG 3 claimed their 50th aerial victories on 18 September 1942.[1] Consequently both pilots were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 2 October 1942.[2]
Kemethmüller then transferred to Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing), serving with and 7., 9. & 4./JG 26. On 4 February 1943 Kemethmüller was wounded in combat with Spitfires IXs of No. 331 Squadron RAF, his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 being badly damaged.
He was shot down and badly wounded on 4 November 1944.
During his career Heinz Kemethmüller flew 463 missions, and was credited with 89 aerial victories, 71 on the Eastern Front (including 20 2-engined bombers and 26 Ilyushin Il-2 Stormovik Soviet ground attack aircraft) He also claimed 18 over the Western Front, including three USAAF heavy bombers and 7 P-47 fighters shot down.
He died 20 February 1984 in Bonn.
Summary of career edit
Aerial victory claims edit
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Kemethmüller was credited with 89 aerial victories.[3] Spick also lists Kemethmüller with 89 aerial victories claimed in 463 combat missions. This figure includes 70 claims on the Eastern Front and 19 over the Western Allies, including three four-engined bombers.[4]
Awards edit
- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (31 August 1942)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 3 October 1942 as Feldwebel in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3[5]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 2 October 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[6][Note 1]
Notes edit
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 491–492.
- ^ Weal 2013.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 235.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 224.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. =253.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 436.
Bibliography edit
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- 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.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard (1996). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III./Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-33-5.
- 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.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Weal, John (2013). Aces of Jagdgeschwader 3 'Udet'. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 116. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-300-6.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
