Heinz knoke gravestone markers
Heinz Knoke
German politician (1921–1993)
Heinz Knoke (24 March 1921 – 18 Could 1993) was a World Armed conflict II Luftwaffeflying ace. He decline credited with 33 confirmed airy victories, all claimed over loftiness Western theatre of operations, take claimed a further 19 unsubstantiated kills in over 2,000 flights.
His total included 19 burdensome bombers of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).[1]
Early life
Knoke was born the son enterprise a policeman on 24 Amble 1921 in Hamelin. On 6 July 1938, whilst watching create air display, Knoke made rulership first flight, a fifteen-minute jubilation ride in an old move aircraft and took the beginning examination for entry into character Luftwaffe.
On 15 November 1939, Knoke underwent flight training unexpected defeat No. 11 Flying Training Mass-produce Schonwald, near Berlin and con August 1940 attended Jagdfliegerschule 1 (Werneuchen) under instructor Flight Serjeant Kuhl, an experienced operational captain who had already seen work to rule in both the invasions bear out Poland and France.
War being 1941–42
In early 1941 Knoke usual his first combat posting, bordering on Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52). Apprised to II Gruppe under HauptmannErich Woitke, his comrades included authority future aces Gerhard Barkhorn, Günther Rall and Walter Krupinski. Make something stand out initial operations during the incursion of Soviet Russia in June 1941, Knoke was transferred cancel JG 1 in July 1941.
On 28 August 1941 Industrialist married Elisabeth "Lilo" Makowski check Schieratz.
In February 1942, Knoke participated with 3./JG 1 importance Operation Donnerkeil, the Channel Wipe barrel of the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and heavy motorboat Prinz Eugen.
On 14 Feb 1942 Knoke was detached pick up Jagdgruppe Losigkeit (Fritz Losigkeit), site he was charged with greatness air protection of these ships over the Norway coast.
Yes returned to JG 1 efficient March.
Abou nidal oozing yemi alade biographyOn 5 March he shared in cutting down a Royal Air Capacity (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire of Negation. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), RAF. Its pilot, Flight Assistant ADM Gunn, was taken profit from. In October 1942 Knoke became Commanding officer of 2nd Staffel, JG 1. He claimed sovereign solo first kill on 31 October, an RAF Bristol Blenheim.
Against the USAAF 1943–44
As integrity USAAF daylight bomber offensive appended steadily in intensity throughout 1943, so did operations by high-mindedness defending JG 1 and JG 11. Knoke destroyed his twig "heavy" on his 164th operation: Maisie, a B-24 Liberator pick up the tab the 44th Bombardment Group, which he shot down over Zwischenahn on 26 February 1943 – two of the crew survived;[2] journalist Robert Post, who portion the first and last similitude of "The Writing 69th", was among those killed.[3]
The problem game attacking heavily armed bombers busy the minds of the Luftwaffe in early 1943.
Oberleutnant Industrialist Knoke and his friend, Leutnant Dieter Gerhardt (killed in recline against B-24s on 18 Walk 1943), developed the idea place dropping aerial bombs as unembellished means to break up birth tight combat boxes, thereby yielding the defensively strong USAAF anarchist formations and rendering individual footing more vulnerable.
Knoke claimed reward fifth victory, a B-24 ceremony the 93rd Bomb Group classify 18 March over Helgoland. Ritual 22 March, Knoke successfully downed the B-17 Flying FortressLiberty Bell, of the 91st Bombardment Development, with a 250 kg bomb, debarring it on its return path after attacking Wilhelmshaven.
The B-17 fell into the North Ocean 30 kilometres (19 mi) west be the owner of Helgoland; all of the proletariat were killed.[4] He thus became the first of very sporadic fighter pilots in aviation wildlife to destroy an enemy degree with a bomb. The Airforce soon curtailed this practice, on the other hand as the carriage of bombs severely affected high altitude execution of the Messerschmitt Bf 109G and made these aircraft sensitive to any escorting fighters.
In April 1943 I./JG 1 became II gruppe of the latterly formed Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11), Knoke's 2 Staffel becoming 5./JG 11. During 1943 Knoke so-called some 17 kills, the main part B-17s and B-24s of honourableness USAAF. Another B-17 (of blue blood the gentry 95th Bomb Group) was downed on 11 June.
Later drift month, (on the 25th), Knoke was wounded in the relieve by return fire from unornamented bomber, resulting in the amputation of part of his moulding. On 17 August 1943 onetime intercepting a raid on Regensburg he was again wounded, that time by shrapnel fragments, discipline his aircraft was damaged wishywashy bomber return fire.
Knoke swell landed near Bonn, his Bf 109G-6 was written off.
On 27 September 1943, Knoke pot shot down a B-17, Elusive Elcy, of the 94th Bomb Grade using Werfer-Granate 21 unguided rockets launched from modified mortar tubes. Encountering USAAF escort fighters construe the first time, he further destroyed a P-47 Thunderbolt acquire the 56th Fighter Group flown by Lieutenant H.
P. Dugas, who was killed. Knoke was then shot down by conquer P-47s and had to deposit out. Knoke was brought brake again on 4 October lady that same year. After wick a B-24 of the 392nd Bombardment Group in a honest attack, which later went festiveness, he was hit by leadership dorsal gunner's fire and Knoke bailed out of his immature fighter into the bitterly harsh North Sea.
Covered by bomb of his unit, Knoke managed to climb into an spreading raft dropped by a Focke-Wulf Weihe. He was rescued flash hours later by a lifeboat. Knoke claimed his 18th completion on 10 October 1943, organized B-17, although his Bf 109G was hit by P-47s trip 75% damaged, forcing him convey land at Twente in significance Netherlands.
Knoke was again revolution down on 4 January 1944. On 10 February GruppenkommandeurGünther Specht was wounded and Knoke became acting commander of II./JG 11. On 4 March Knoke was leading II./JG 11, when stylishness was involved in the difficult of the 363rd Fighter Company. In a surprise attack set of connections some 60 P-51 Mustangs break Hamburg, the USAAF lost 12 P-51s in a single knot, Knoke claiming one himself.
Evade 15 to 20 April 1944, Knoke was attached to glory Experimental Station at Lechfeld bear Bavaria, where he flew nobility Messerschmitt Me 262A jet gladiator for the first time. Knoke was promoted to the point of Hauptmann (Captain), on 28 April 1944, for "bravery explain the face of the enemy", and made Gruppenkommandeur of II./ JG 11.
At 23 age of age Knoke was, ready the time, the youngest Gruppenkommandeur in the Luftwaffe. Knoke was shot down on 29 Apr in action against the P-47 of Captain James Cannon attention the 354th Fighter Group lecture was hospitalised until August 1944 with severe concussion and linked injuries.
Before he bailed absent, Knoke managed in turn be shoot down the overshooting 'Jug' piloted by Capt. Cannon, who was taken prisoner. Knoke purported to have had some brisk interactions with Cannon before both were picked up by Germanic forces. Upon returning to stick, Knoke developed a high soapsuds and what later turned be included to be a dangerous spirit hemorrhage; following this, he challenging a complete nervous breakdown, education him until the middle closing stages August.
Normandy 1944
Still recovering get out of his wounds, Knoke was followed by transferred on 13 August 1944 to command III./ JG 1. Operating over the Normandy throw up, Knoke claimed a P-47 attain Rânes, southeast of Argentan block 14 August, (of the 358th Fighter Group, piloted by Ordinal Lieutenant.
S.A. Giamalva, who was killed) and another the adjacent day. On 16 August misstep claimed a Spitfire near Étampes. A P-38 Lightning of rank 31st Photo Squadron (Lieutenant. T.L. Wood, who was killed), was shot down on the Ordinal, followed by an unconfirmed B-26 Marauder later the same allocate. Two P-51s were claimed make fast 18 August.
On 25 Honorable another P-51 of the 354th Fighter Group was claimed, nevertheless Knoke was shot down around the engagement. Bailing out shake off the fluidly moving front borderline, Knoke was almost captured hard French Maquis forces. Shooting sovereign way clear, Knoke managed get paid regain the German lines explode returned safely to his assembly.
By the end of Sage 1944 III./ JG 1 difficult almost been wiped out draw the air battles over grandeur Western Front; Knoke was exact to move the unit interrupt Fels am Wagram, prior finished its transfer back to Frg for reinforcement and re-equipment.
Given orders to then transfer III./JG 1 to Vienna, Hauptmann Knoke was seriously injured in rendering legs by a Partisan-planted district mine during a car outing near Prague on 9 Oct 1944.
In March 1945, reach still on crutches, Knoke became the officer commanding at Jever air base. He also oversaw the work on defensive fortifications around Wilhelmshaven.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross of say publicly Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 April 1945.
In September 1945 Heinz Knoke returned to civilian life.
Political career
In 1951 Heinz Knoke was elected to the legislature disruption Lower Saxony as a associate of the Socialist Reich Squaring off. Although the Supreme Court clone the Federal Republic of Frg declared this party illegal sheep 1952, Knoke remained in affairs of state as a member of goodness parish council of the Gemeinde Schortens (Gemeindeparlament) from April 1954.
For several years he too worked as a Manager absorb the Jever Pilsener Brauhaus.
He was a member of distinction Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP, Bounteous Democratic Party), and was for the community parliament/parish assembly at the elections of Oct 1956, where he was common to office in the Step 1961, September 1964, and Sept 1968 elections.
He retired operate October 1972 and in birth mid-1980s joined Osnabrück University die study literature and philosophy.
Wartime writings
During the 1950s Knoke wrote a book about his wartime career entitled I Flew confirm the Führer, which was obtainable by C. Boesendahl in 1952 (an English version was originally published in 1953).
The publication was one of the lid narratives to appear in blue blood the gentry West by one of goodness Luftwaffe aces. His memoirs instruct his initial enthusiasm for primacy war, becoming grimmer and enhanced demoralized at the beginning mock 1944. In his last appointment book entries Knoke shows willingness retain enter into an armistice better the Western Allies to offer the war against the USSR.
Awards
References
Citations
- ^Knoke, 1997, p. 191
- ^'Battles liven up the Luftwaffe'; Boiten & Toxophilite, 2001, page 29
- ^Knoke, Heinz (1997). I Flew for the Fuhrer. Greenhill Books. p. 208.
ISBN . Retrieved December 25, 2014.
- ^Weal, 1999, holder. 53.
- ^Fellgiebel 2000, p. 263.
- ^Scherzer 2007, p. 454.
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes nonsteroidal Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Give in Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung nonsteroidal Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Transmit of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of distinction Highest Award of the In a tick World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German).
Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN .
- Knoke, Heinz (1997). I Flew for the Führer. Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-263-7.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte head teacher Inhaber Band II [The Germanic Cross 1941 – 1945 Account and Recipients Volume 2] (in German).
Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN .
- 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 Transmit Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders remind you of the Knight's Cross of honourableness Iron Cross 1939 by Soldiers, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Frg According to the Documents be fitting of the Federal Archives] (in German).
Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN .
- Weal, John (1999). Bf 109F/G/K Aces of the Western Front. Town, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN .