Heinz Lange

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Heinz Lange
JG 51
Commands held1./JG 54, 3./JG 51, IV./JG 51, JG 51
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Heinz Lange (2 October 1917 – 26 February 2006) was an officer and pilot in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II who briefly commanded fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.[1]

Career

Lange was born on 2 October 1917 in Cologne, at the time in the Rhine Province, the westernmost province of the Kingdom of Prussia within the German Empire.[2] On 15 July 1939, Lange was posted to the newly created I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21—21st Fighter Wing).[3] The Gruppe was formed at Jesau near Königsberg, present-day Kaliningrad in Russia, and placed under the command of Hauptmann Martin Mettig. Equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1, the Gruppe was ordered to Gutenfeld, present-day Lugovoye, in July 1939.[4]

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. That day, I. Gruppe of JG 21 moved to Arys-Rostken, present-day Orzysz-Rostki.[5] On 16 September, Lange crashed his Bf 109 D-1 at Klein Zechen, present-day Szczechy Małe, due to setting darkness.[6]

On 18 October 1939, Lange had a takeoff accident in his Bf 109 D-1 at Celle Airfield.[7] On 30 October, Lange claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Royal Air Force Bristol Blenheim bomber of No. 18 Squadron 25 miles (40 kilometers) north-west of Hopsten. The Blenheim was on a reconnaissance mission to the area of Osnabrück.[8]

On 4 May 1941, III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) began relocating from Belgrad-Semlin by train to Germany, arriving at Airfield Stolp-Reitz in Pomerania, present-day Słupsk, on 10 May.[9]

Operation Barbarossa

At Stolp-Reitz, JG 54 upgraded their aircraft to the Bf 109 F-2. For the next four weeks, the pilots familiarized themselves with the new aircraft before on 15 June, III. Gruppe was ordered to Blumenfeld in East Prussia, present-day Karczarningken in the

Leningrad.[9] On 30 June, Lange claimed his first aerial victories on the Eastern Front when he show down two Ilyushin DB-3 bombers shout down over southern Latvia.[10]

On 1 October, Lange was transferred and appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of JG 54. He succeeded Hauptmann Reinhard Seiler was given command of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 54.[11]

On 15 October 1942, Lange left 1. Staffel of JG 54 and transferred command to Leutnant Walter Nowotny.[12] On 6 November, Lange was then given command of 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). He took over command from Oberleutnant Michael Sonner who had been transferred a week earlier.[13] From 15 to 30 August 1943, Lange was temporarily placed in command of I. Gruppe of JG 51, stepping in for Major Erich Leie. During this assignment, command of 3. Staffel briefly passed on to Leutnant Walther Wever.[14]

Group commander

On 7 January 1944, Lange was transferred and briefly commanded I. Gruppe of JG 54, stepping in for Hauptmann Walter Nowotny who was on home leave and then transferred. Command of the Gruppe was officially handed to Hauptmann Horst Ademeit on 4 February.[15]

On 9 May, Lange succeeded Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of IV. Gruppe of JG 51.[16] Command of his former 3. Staffel was then officially passed on to Wever.[17] At the time, IV. Gruppe of JG 51 was based at Lysiatychi.[18] On 22 June, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, the strategic offensive operation against Army Group Centre. In consequence, IV. Gruppe was moved to Mogilev that day and to an airfield named Bayary located 92 kilometers (57 miles) northeast of Minsk and 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) east of Barysaw.[19] On 28 August, IV. Gruppe moved to Modlin Airfield located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) northwest of Warsaw. Here, the Gruppe predominately flew combat missions to the area north and northeast of Warsaw.[20] Lange was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 18 November for 70 aerial victories.[21] He received the award together with fellow IV. Gruppepilot Oberfeldwebel Heinz Marquardt who had been credited with 89 aerial victories at the time.[22]

Wing commander and end of war

On 2 April 1945, he was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of fighter wing JG 51. He succeeded Major Fritz Losigkeit who took command of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing).[23] Command of IV. Gruppe of JG 51 was then passed to Oberleutnant Günther Josten.[16]

Fw 190 D-13/R11, "Yellow 10" from the Champlin Fighter Museum, Phoenix, Arizona, c. 1995.

Shortly after the end of the war the British wanted to evaluate the performance of the German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-13/R11 "Yellow 10" (Werknummer 836017—factory number) which had been assigned to the Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26, Major Franz Götz. At Flensburg, the British Disarmament Wing wanted to compare the fighter's performance against a Hawker Tempest. Squadron Leader Evans approached Lange and asked him to fly a mock combat against one of their pilots. Lange accepted, even though he had only ten flights in a D-9.[24] The mock dogfight was conducted at an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), with only enough fuel for the flight and no ammunition. The machines proved evenly matched. Lange assessed that the outcome of such a contest greatly depended on the skills of the individual pilot. At the time Lange was not aware that he was not flying a D-13, but rather a D-9.[24] "Yellow 10" was further subjected to mock combat when on 25 June 1945 Josten was asked to fly a comparison flight against another Tempest.[24] This very rare Fw 190 D-13/R11 is now on display at the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum in Everett, Washington, which recently had its Junkers Jumo 213 engine made operable once more. However, it will not be flown again.[25]

Later life

After the war Lange attended the

University of Kiel and studied law receiving a doctorate in jurisprudence (Dr. jur.) degree.[26] In August 1950 he started his career working for the Gerling Insurance Group and retired in 1982. Lange died on 26 February 2006 in Bergisch Gladbach.[27]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Lange was credited with 70 aerial victories.[28] Obermaier aloso lists him with 70 aerial victories, claimed in 628 combat missions, all but one on the Eastern Front.[2] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 73 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes 72 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and one over the Western Allies.[29]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 1928". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15

minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[30]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unwitnessed aerial victory claims for which Lange did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 21 –[3]
"Phoney War" — 6 October 1939 – 9 May 1940
1 30 September 1939 12:50 Blenheim Groß Berßen, south of Sögel[7]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[3]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 1 October 1941
2 30 June 1941 14:48 DB-3 Dünaburg[31] 6 29 July 1941 15:45?[Note 1] SB-3 south-southwest of Staraya Russa[32]
3 30 June 1941 14:53 DB-3 Dünaburg[31] 7 2 August 1941 18:40 I-18 (MiG-1) Lake Ilmen[32]
4 5 July 1941 12:30 DB-3 Ostrov[31] 8 23 September 1941 11:00 I-18 (MiG-1)
Leningrad[33]
5 5 July 1941 12:32 DB-3 Ostrov[31]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[3]
Operation Barbarossa — 1 October – 5 December 1941
9 7 October 1941 16:40 MBR-2 Oranienbaum[34]
—
 6 November 1941
—
 I-26 (Yak-1) Tikhvin[35]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[3]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
10 3 February 1942 14:27 I-18 (MiG-1) Sokoly-Moor[36] 12 14 March 1942 16:17 Il-2 Lyuban[37]
11 6 February 1942 14:10 R-5 Bolshaya Vishera[36]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[3]
Eastern Front — 1 May – 15 October 1942
13 1 May 1942 16:27 MiG-3 PQ 1928, Volkhov[38] 17 23 August 1942 09:27 Il-2 PQ 47592, Rzhev[39]
north of Rzhev
14 15 May 1942 10:51 Yak-1 Leningrad[40] 18 29 August 1942 07:02 I-16 PQ 10142, Schlüsselburg[41]
south of Schlüsselburg
15 7 August 1942 12:22 Yak-1 PQ 20522, Kirishi[42]
55 km (34 mi) east-northeast of Lyuban 		19 30 September 1942 10:27 I-16 PQ 00264, Dubrowka[43]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Schlüsselburg
16 7 August 1942 12:22 Yak-1 PQ 20523, Kirishi[42]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Tikhvin
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[3]
Eastern Front — 6 November 1942 – 3 February 1943
20 4 December 1942 13:31 Il-2 near Ssemitschastry[44] 23 17 December 1942 13:46 Il-2 northeast of Sychyovka[45]
21 4 December 1942 13:35 Il-2 near Morosowa[44] 24 7 January 1943 08:01 Il-2 PQ 07683, Velikiye Luki[45]
22 17 December 1942 13:44 Il-2 northeast of Sychyovka[45] 25 17 January 1943 11:15 MiG-3 PQ 07754, Velikiye Luki[45]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[3]
Eastern Front — 6 November 1942 – 3 February 1943
20 4 December 1942 13:31 Il-2 near Ssemitschastry[44] 23 17 December 1942 13:46 Il-2 northeast of Sychyovka[45]
21 4 December 1942 13:35 Il-2 near Morosowa[44] 24 7 January 1943 08:01 Il-2 PQ 07683, Velikiye Luki[45]
22 17 December 1942 13:44 Il-2 northeast of Sychyovka[45] 25 17 January 1943 11:15 MiG-3 PQ 07754, Velikiye Luki[45]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[29]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 14 August 1943
26 24 February 1943 07:35 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54283, Uljanowo[46]
25 km (16 mi) south of Kozelsk 		30 5 July 1943 15:55 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 63613, Maloarkhangelsk[47]
5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Maloarkhangelsk
27 11 May 1943 13:34 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63521, Orel[48]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk 		31 11 July 1943 17:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63611, Maloarkhangelsk[49]
5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Maloarkhangelsk
28 28 May 1943 08:10?[Note 2] I-153 PQ 35 Ost 64353, Bolkhov[50]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Belyov 		32 12 July 1943 05:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63239, west of Novosil[49]
20 km (12 mi) east of Zalegoshch
29 10 June 1943 19:28 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 44383, Bryansk[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Dyatkovo 		33 12 July 1943 06:02 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 64896, west of Novosil[49]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Zalegoshch
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[3]
Eastern Front — 15–30 August 1943
34 15 August 1943 13:29 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 51846, southeast of Bohodukhiv[51] 37 18 August 1943 10:05 Pe-2 south-southeast of
Kharkov[51]
35 17 August 1943 09:45 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 41631, north of Achtyrka[51] 38 22 August 1943 09:50 La-5 west of Kharkov[52]
36 18 August 1943 07:41 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60187, Kharkov[51] 39 26 August 1943 15:10 Il-2 west of Kharkov[52]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[53]
Eastern Front — 31 August – 31 December 1943
40 31 August 1943 17:44 La-5 southeast of Yelnya[52] 46 20 September 1943 15:30 Yak-9 southeast of Smolensk[54]
41 31 August 1943 17:58 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35388[52]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Yelnya 		47 26 September 1943 12:31 Yak-9 Smolensk[54]
42 5 September 1943 06:25 LaGG-3 west of Smolensk[55] 48 21 October 1943 13:44 Yak-9 Loyew[56]
43 6 September 1943 15:37 Boston west of Novgorod[55] 49 22 October 1943 12:01 Pe-2 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Loyew[56]
44 6 September 1943 17:56 LaGG-3 south of Yelnya[55] 50 29 October 1943 14:07 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] east of Dubrowna[56]
45 14 September 1943 07:17 Pe-2?[Note 4] northwest of Yelnya[55] ?[Note 5] 4 November 1943 11:45 unknown
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[53]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 7 May 1944
51 1 January 1944 13:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] south of Vitebsk[57] 55 4 January 1944 11:57 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] north of Vitebsk[57]
52 1 January 1944 13:57 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] south of Vitebsk[57] 56 4 January 1944 12:00?[Note 6] Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] north of Vitebsk[57]
53 1 January 1944 13:57 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] south of Vitebsk[57] 57 6 January 1944 09:59 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost N/05193,
Liozna
54 4 January 1944 11:48 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] north of Vitebsk[57] ?[Note 7] 10 April 1944 16:45 Il-2 40 km (25 mi) south of Ternopil
– Stab IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[53]
Eastern Front — 7 May 1944 – 2 April 1945
58 29 June 1944 10:12 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 95748, Barysaw[59]
30 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Beresino 		65 7 October 1944 15:56 Boston PQ 25 Ost 03468, Nasielsk[60]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin
59 24 July 1944 13:37?[Note 8] P-39 PQ 25 Ost 21845[61]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Jarosław 		66 7 October 1944 15:58 Boston PQ 25 Ost 03468, Nasielsk[60]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin
60 31 July 1944 11:48 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 25 Ost 45141, Kaunas[61]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kowna 		?[Note 9] 9 October 1944 15:43 Yak-9 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Warsaw
61 17 August 1944 11:02 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36346, Kelmė[62]
30 km (19 mi) south of Schaulen 		67 10 October 1944 15:25?[Note 10] Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 25 Ost 13545, Jablonna[60]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Warsaw
62 29 August 1944 09:53 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13518, Radzymin[62]
20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw 		68 15 October 1944 11:11 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 13573, Jabłonna[60]
vicinity of Warsaw
63 5 September 1944 09:50 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 13368, Wyszków[60]
40 km (25 mi) east of Nasielsk 		69 15 October 1944 11:44 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 25 Ost 13544, Jabłonna[60]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Warsaw
64 7 October 1944 13:24 Boston PQ 25 Ost 13318, Ostenburg[60]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Nasielsk 		70 16 October 1944 14:50 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13379, Ostenburg[60]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Nasielsk

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:45.[3]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:11.[3]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin Il-2.[53]
  5. ^ This claim over an unknown aircraft type is listed by Mathews and Foreman as his 51st aerial victory.[53] However, this claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[56]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:48.[53]
  7. ^ This claim over an unknown aircraft type is listed by Mathews and Foreman as his 59th aerial victory.[53] However, this claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock.[58]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:00.[53]
  9. ^ This claim is listed by Mathews and Foreman as his 69th aerial victory.[53] However, this claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock.[60]
  10. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:20.[53]
  11. ^ According to Obermaier on 27 October 1942.[2]
  12. ^ According to Scherzer as leader of the IV./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders".[66]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Forsyth 2022, p. 69.
  2. ^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 153.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 718.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 172.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 408.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 413.
  7. ^ a b Prien et al. 2001, p. 158.
  8. ^ Weal 2001, p. 16.
  9. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 246.
  10. ^ Weal 2007, p. 15.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 197.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2006b, p. 81.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2006a, p. 265.
  14. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.
  15. ^ Prien et al. 2022b, p. 375.
  16. ^ a b Aders & Held 1993, p. 251.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2022a, p. 319.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2022a, p. 478.
  19. ^ Prien et al. 2022a, p. 457.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2022a, pp. 466–467.
  21. ^ Weal 2007, p. 77.
  22. ^ Weal 2006, p. 115.
  23. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 247.
  24. ^ a b c Crandall 2000, p. 17.
  25. ^ Fw 190 D-13/R11.
  26. ^ David 2000, p. 191.
  27. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 179.
  28. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
  29. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 718–719.
  30. ^ Planquadrat.
  31. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 263.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 264.
  33. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 266.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 203.
  35. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 204.
  36. ^ a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 200.
  37. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 201.
  38. ^ Prien et al. 2006b, p. 85.
  39. ^ Prien et al. 2006b, p. 91.
  40. ^ Prien et al. 2006b, p. 86.
  41. ^ Prien et al. 2006b, p. 93.
  42. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006b, p. 90.
  43. ^ Prien et al. 2006b, p. 94.
  44. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006a, p. 272.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006a, p. 273.
  46. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.
  47. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 493.
  48. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 491.
  49. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 494.
  50. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 492.
  51. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 497.
  52. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 498.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 719.
  54. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 500.
  55. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 499.
  56. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 501.
  57. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2022a, p. 322.
  58. ^ Prien et al. 2022a, pp. 323, 482.
  59. ^ Prien et al. 2022a, p. 483.
  60. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2022a, p. 486.
  61. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022a, p. 484.
  62. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022a, p. 485.
  63. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 131.
  64. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 268.
  65. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 284.
  66. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 492.

Bibliography

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders
2 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 		Succeeded by
none
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