Horst Ademeit

Horst Ademeit (Adomaitis)[1] (8 February 1912 – 7 August 1944) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[2]

Horst Ademeit
Born(1912-02-08)8 February 1912
Breslau
Died7 August 1944(1944-08-07) (aged 32)
near Dünaburg
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1936–44
RankMajor (majr)
UnitJG 54
Commands heldI./JG 54
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Early life

Ademeit, the son of a Regierungsbaurat (government building officer), was born on 8 February 1912 in Breslau in the Kingdom of Prussia of the German Empire, present-day Wrocław in western Poland. He studied at the Königsberg Albertina University, a member of the Corps Masovia Königsberg. He then studied chemistry at the Technical University of Berlin and the Technical University of Braunschweig graduating as Diplom Ingenieur. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 August 1936.[3]

On 9 December 1938, Ademeit was made an officer cadet of the reserves and received flight training.[3]

World War II

In the spring of 1940, Unteroffizier Ademeit was transferred to 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) and participated in the Battle of Britain.[Note 1] He claimed his first victory on 18 September 1940. Shortly afterwards he was shot down over the Channel. He bailed out and was rescued by the Seenotdienst unharmed.

In June 1941, after the attack on the Soviet Union, he accompanied I./JG 54 to the Eastern Front. In quick succession he achieved aerial victories, promotions and awards. On 7 March 1943, Ademeit was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6. Staffel of JG 54, replacing Oberleutnant Hans Beißwenger who was killed in action the day before.[4]

In October 1943, Ademeit was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 61st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[5] In the beginning of August 1944, Ademeit was appointed acting Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 54.

On 7 August 1944, Ademeit, flying a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 (Werksnummer 5960 — factory number) pursued a Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft eastwards over Russian lines near Dünaburg, however he failed to return from this mission and is considered Missing in action since.[6] Berlin radio announced his loss on 29 September 1944.[7]

Horst Ademeit was credited with 166 victories in over 600 missions over the Eastern Front. He was posthumously promoted to Major.[6]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 160 aerial victory claims, all of which confirmed and claimed on the Eastern Front.[8] The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock list six further victories, aerial victories numbered 99–104, which were not documented by Matthews and Foreman, in the timeframe 18 September to 3 October 1943.[9]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 2525". 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 × 4 km in size.[10]

Awards

Notes
  1. For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
  2. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov I-153.[11]
  3. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 18:30.[11]
  4. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 19:20.[35]
  5. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 18:20.[35]

References

Citations
  1. "Turinys / Ginkluotosios pajėgos / Lietuviai Vermachte - Antrasis pasaulinis karas". Archived from the original on 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  2. Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  3. Stockert 2007, p. 29.
  4. Prien et al. 2012, p. 264.
  5. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  6. Obermaier 1989, p. 60.
  7. Associated Press, "Nazi Air Ace Lost", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 30 September 1944, Volume 51, page 1.
  8. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 5–7.
  9. Prien et al. 2012, p. 278.
  10. Planquadrat.
  11. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 5.
  12. Prien et al. 2003, p. 199.
  13. Prien et al. 2003, p. 202.
  14. Prien et al. 2003, p. 203.
  15. Prien et al. 2003, p. 201.
  16. Prien et al. 2003, p. 204.
  17. Prien et al. 2005, p. 199.
  18. Prien et al. 2005, p. 200.
  19. Prien et al. 2006, p. 85.
  20. Prien et al. 2006, p. 93.
  21. Prien et al. 2006, p. 94.
  22. Prien et al. 2006, p. 95.
  23. Prien et al. 2006, p. 86.
  24. Prien et al. 2006, p. 96.
  25. Prien et al. 2006, p. 100.
  26. Prien et al. 2012, p. 169.
  27. Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
  28. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 5–6.
  29. Prien et al. 2012, p. 270.
  30. Prien et al. 2012, p. 274.
  31. Prien et al. 2012, p. 275.
  32. Prien et al. 2012, p. 271.
  33. Prien et al. 2012, p. 272.
  34. Prien et al. 2012, p. 276.
  35. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 6.
  36. Prien et al. 2012, p. 273.
  37. Prien et al. 2012, p. 277.
  38. Prien et al. 2012, p. 279.
  39. Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  40. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 7.
  41. Thomas 1997, p. 2.
  42. Patzwall 2008, p. 40.
  43. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 11.
  44. Scherzer 2007, p. 188.
  45. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 113.
  46. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 79.

Bibliography
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
  • Matthews, 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 (2003). 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 (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—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/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
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