Wilhelm Freuwörth
Wilhelm Freuwörth | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Willi" |
| Born | 4 November 1917 Börßum |
| Died | 5 December 1970 (aged 53) Wetzlar |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) |
| Unit | JG 52 JG 26 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Wilhelm "Willi" Freuwörth (4 November 1917 – 5 December 1970) was a
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. During his career Wilhelm Freuwörth was credited with 58 aerial victories.
War against the Soviet Union
On 22 June, German forces had launched
Operation Typhoon, the code name of the German offensive on Moscow.[1][2] On 20 October, the Gruppe moved to an airfield named Kalinin-Southwest, present-day Tver, and located on the Volga, and to Staritsa on 31 October and then to Ruza located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Moscow on 3 November.[3] While transferring to Ruza, Freuwörth belly landed his Bf 109 F-2 at Smolensk on 4 October.[4]
On 29 May 1942, Freuwörth was shot down in his Bf 109 F-4 during aerial combat with I-61 fighters, an early German designation of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter.[5] Freuwörth was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 5 January 1943.[6]
On 24 March 1943, Freuwörth and his wingman Unteroffizier Peter Crump intercepted two Supermarine Spitfire from No. 91 Squadron. Both Spitfires were claimed shot down. Freuwörth hit the Spitfire piloted by Flying Officer Jim Anstie, resulting in a forced landing near RAF Lympne.[7] The following day, Freuwörth claimed another Spitfire fighter shot down 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) southeast of Dover.[8] According to Mathews and Foreman, the aircraft he shot down was a misidentified Hawker Typhoon fighter from the No. 609 Squadron piloted by John Robert Baldwin who was shot down over the English Channel that day.[9] On 1 January 1945, Freuwörth was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).[10]
Later life
Freuwörth died on 5 December 1970 at the age of 53 in Wetzlar, West Germany.[11]
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Freuwörth was credited with 58 aerial victories.[12] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 48 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 45 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and three over the Western Allies.[13]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 40412". 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.[14]
| Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
This and the ♠ (
ace-in-a-day ", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day. This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
| |||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[9] On the Western Front — April – 23 September 1941 | |||||||||
| 1 | 26 August 1941 | 14:20?[Note 1] | Blenheim | north of Juist[15] | |||||
| – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[9] Operation Barbarossa — 2 October – 5 December 1941 | |||||||||
| 2 | 26 November 1941 | 14:06 | Il-2[16] | 3 | 28 November 1941 | 14:45 | I-61 (MiG-3) | west of Mytishchi[16] | |
| – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[13] 19 May 1942 – 1 February 1943 | |||||||||
| 4 | 24 May 1942 | 18:22 | Il-2[17] | 31 | 25 September 1942 | 10:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 40412[18] | |
| 5 | 26 May 1942 | 15:43 | Pe-2[19] | 32?[Note 2] | 25 September 1942 | —
|
LaGG-3[18] | ||
| 6 | 28 May 1942 | 09:53 | I-26 (Yak-1)[19] | 33 | 4 October 1942 | 14:58 | Il-2 | PQ 59321[18] | |
| 7 | 11 June 1942 | 05:24 | I-16[20] | 34 | 11 October 1942 | 12:03 | LaGG-3 | PQ 49432[18] Srednyaya Akhtuba | |
| 8 | 13 June 1942 | 06:36 | LaGG-3 | PQ 70213[20] | 35 | 14 October 1942 | 08:05 | U-2 | PQ 40563[21] 55 km (34 mi) north of Hrebinka |
| 9 | 2 July 1942 | 09:32 | LaGG-3[22] | 36 | 25 October 1942 | 14:40 | Yak-1 | PQ 49214[21] northeast of Hrebinka | |
| 10 | 31 July 1942 | 04:52 | LaGG-3 | PQ 97471[23] | 37 | 27 October 1942 | 09:08 | R-5 | PQ 59534[21] vicinity of Jarsew |
| 11 | 2 August 1942 | 18:30 | I-153 | PQ 66664[23] east of Zaporizhzhia |
38 | 28 October 1942 | 11:52 | Yak-1 | PQ 49431[21] Srednyaya Akhtuba |
| 12 | 6 August 1942 | 09:15 | R-5 | PQ 75161[23] east of Anapa |
39 | 29 October 1942 | 08:23 | Yak-1 | PQ 59321[21] |
| 13 | 6 August 1942 | 17:20 | Pe-2 | PQ 75161[23] east of Anapa |
40 | 29 October 1942 | 14:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 50593[21] |
| 14 | 10 August 1942 | 11:30 | I-16 | PQ 75413[23] vicinity of Vasilyevka |
41 | 31 October 1942 | 12:52 | LaGG-3 | PQ 59333[21] |
| 15 | 22 August 1942 | 08:05 | R-5 | PQ 55764[24] Black Sea |
42 | 1 November 1942 | 12:56 | LaGG-3 | PQ 49431[21] vicinity of Srednyaya Akhtuba |
| 16 | 22 August 1942 | 08:08 | LaGG-3 | PQ 55884[24] Black Sea |
43 | 1 November 1942 | 12:59?[Note 3] | LaGG-3 | PQ 49431[21] vicinity of Srednyaya Akhtuba |
| 17 | 26 August 1942 | 06:22 | I-180 (Yak-7) | PQ 47852[24] east-southeast of Zubtsov |
44 | 1 November 1942 | 13:03 | LaGG-3 | PQ 59143[21] |
| 18 | 31 August 1942 | 11:08 | Yak-1 | PQ 47881[24] | 45 | 1 November 1942 | 13:06 | LaGG-3 | PQ 59123[21] |
| 19 | 31 August 1942 | 11:10 | Yak-1 | PQ 47841[24] | 46 | 2 November 1942 | 10:35 | R-5 | PQ 59193[26] |
| 20 | 2 September 1942 | 13:20 | R-5 | PQ 56452[24] Black Sea |
47 | 3 November 1942 | 14:03?[Note 4] | Il-2 | PQ 50751[26] |
| 21 | 2 September 1942 | 16:39 | LaGG-3 | PQ 56414, Garetewo[24] | 48?[Note 2] | 29 November 1942 | —
|
R-5[26] | |
| 22 | 3 September 1942 | 14:35 | Il-2 | PQ 46253[24] | 49♠[Note 2] | 16 December 1942 | —
|
Il-2[26] | |
| 23 | 3 September 1942 | 14:36 | Il-2 | PQ 46262[24] | 50♠[Note 2] | 16 December 1942 | —
|
Il-2[26] | |
| 24 | 4 September 1942 | 17:30 | Pe-2 | PQ 46293[24] | 51♠[Note 2] | 16 December 1942 | —
|
Il-2[26] | |
| 25 | 5 September 1942 | 12:05 | LaGG-3 | PQ 57894[24] | 52♠[Note 2] | 16 December 1942 | —
|
Il-2[26] | |
| 26 | 5 September 1942 | 12:07 | LaGG-3 | PQ 57893[24] Sea of Azov |
53♠[Note 2] | 16 December 1942 | —
|
Il-2[26] | |
| 27 | 6 September 1942 | 10:01 | R-5 | PQ 49814[27] | 54♠[Note 2] | 16 December 1942 | —
|
Il-2[26] | |
| 28 | 11 September 1942 | 16:17 | P-39 | PQ 47852[27] | 55?[Note 2] | 17 December 1942 | —
|
Il-2[26] | |
| 29 | 14 September 1942 | 07:50 | U-2 (Seversky) | PQ 49824[27] | 56?[Note 2] | 17 December 1942 | —
|
Il-2[26] | |
| 30 | 16 September 1942 | 09:53 | R-5 | PQ 47361[27] | |||||
| – 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[25] On the Western Front — 1 February – 21 December 1943 | |||||||||
| 57 | 24 March 1943 | 10:17 | Spitfire | 8 km (5.0 mi) east of Dungeness[8] | 58 | 25 March 1943 | 18:14 | Spitfire | 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Dover[8] |
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[28]
- German Cross in Gold on 17 November 1942 as Unteroffizier in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52[30]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 January 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 52[31][32]
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 12.
- ^ Schreier 1990, p. 59.
- ^ Schreier 1990, p. 63.
- ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 23.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 439.
- ^ Schreier 1990, p. 174.
- ^ Goss, Cornwell & Rauchbach 2010, p. 216.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2010, p. 554.
- ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 338.
- ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 113.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 2.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1618.
- ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 338–339.
- ^ Planquadrat.
- ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 69.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 21.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 427.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 436.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 428.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 429.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2006, p. 437.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 430.
- ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 433.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2006, p. 434.
- ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 339.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2006, p. 438.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 435.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 1.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 79.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 122.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 186.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 318.
Bibliography
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
- ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Goss, Chris; Cornwell, Peter; Rauchbach, Bernd (2010). Luftwaffe Fighter-Bombers Over Britain: The Tip and Run Campaign, 1942–43. Mechanicsburg, PA: ISBN 978-0-8117-0691-9.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
- 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.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/IV—Einsatz im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/IV—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-92-2.
- 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.
- Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
- ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
