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Wolfgang Späte

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Wolfgang Späte
Wolfgang Späte
Born(1911-09-08)8 September 1911
Dresden, German Empire
Died30 April 1997(1997-04-30) (aged 85)
Edewecht, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
 West Germany
Service / branch German Army
 Luftwaffe
 German Air Force
Years of service1939–45
1956–67
RankMajor (Wehrmacht)
Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
UnitJG 54, JG 400, JG 7
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other workBundeswehr

Wolfgang Späte (8 September 1911 – 30 April 1997) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II, with 99 victories claimed. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. For fighter pilots it was a quantifiable measure of skill and combat success. He is attributed by some, for an early, 1938 version of the speed to fly theory,[1] usually attributed to Paul MacCready. Already a talented glider pilot before the war, he went on to become one of the Luftwaffe's foremost test pilots.

Early life and career

[edit]

Späte was born on 8 September 1911 in Dresden, at the time in the Kingdom of Saxony of the German Empire.[2]

World War II

[edit]

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. During this invasion, Späte served with 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Heeres-Ergänzungs-Aufklärungsgruppe 23 (23rd army reconnaissance group), flying aerial reconnaissance missions, and received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) on 8 November. Trained as a fighter pilot, he was posted to 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on 1 January 1941.[2] The Staffel was headed by Oberleutnant Hubert Mütherich and subordinated to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 54 commanded by Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak.[3] At the time, the Gruppe was based at Bonn-Hangelar Airfield at Sankt Augustin for a period of rest and replenishment following the losses sustained during the Battle of Britain.[4]

On 29 March 1941, II. Gruppe of JG 54 was withdrawn from the English Channel and was ordered to Graz-Thalerhof. There the various squadrons were split up with 4. Staffel being subordinated to III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) and ordered to Deta in Romania. On 6 April, 4. Staffel flew combat missions in the Invasion of Yugoslavia. The next day, the Staffel flew combat air patrols on the Hungarian-Yugoslavian border. On 9 April, II./JG 54 was united again at Kecskemét, Hungary and returned to Deta on 11 April. The Gruppe was withdrawn from this theater on 19 April and ordered to an airfield at Zemun near Belgrade.[5] In this theater of operations, Späte claimed his first aerial victory, a Yugoslav Bristol Blenheim bomber near Pécs in Hungary, on 7 April 1941.[6]

War against the Soviet Union

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Following the surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on 17 April 1941, JG 54 received orders on 3 May 1941 to turn over all Bf 109-Es so they could receive the new Bf 109-F variant. Transition training was completed at Airfield Stolp-Reitz in Pomerania. Following intensive training, the Geschwader was moved to airfields in Eastern Prussia. II. Gruppe under command of Hauptmann Hrabak was moved to Trakehnen on 20 June 1941.[7] The Wehrmacht launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June with II. Gruppe supporting Army Group North in its strategic goal towards Leningrad.[8]

Victories came regularly, and he was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 9 August.[9] On 10 September, Späte was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 54. He succeeded Mütherich who was killed in action the day before.[10] On 2 October, Späte claimed three aerial victories in combat near Lake Ilmen. His third claim of the day was JG 54s 1,000th aerial victory claimed since the launch of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June.[11] Then on 5 October, he became the 10th member of JG 54 to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), after reaching 45 victories.[9]

His unit withdrew to the Reich at the end of the year for rest and refit, and Späte was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 January 1942. Success continued upon returning to the north of the Eastern Front as the Soviets desperately tried to raise the siege of Leningrad. This culminated with the award of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 23 April 1942 when he had 72 victories.[12] The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in Rastenburg, present-day Kętrzyn in Poland. Also presented with awards that day by Hitler were Hauptmann Herbert Ihlefeld, who received the Swords to his Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, and Oberleutnant Wolf-Dietrich Huy who was also honored with the Oak Leaves.[13] However, with the award, he was ordered back to the Reich to set up a top-secret unit: Erprobungskommando 16, (EKdo 16) to test-fly the revolutionary new rocket-fighter, the Messerschmitt Me 163 "Komet". In consequence, command of 5. Staffel of JG 54 was passed on to Hauptmann Joachim Wandel on 21 April.[14]

Messerschmitt Me 163 at the Luftwaffenmuseum in Berlin-Gatow

Späte took his first flight in the Me 163 on 8 May 1942. Over the next year testing continued and slowly specially chosen pilots joined EKdo 16. Side by side with the rocket-fighter project, was the test program of the Me 262 jet-fighter (under EKdo 262). On 17 April 1943, Späte became the first Luftwaffe pilot to fly the Messerschmitt Me 262 (Werknummer 2620000002—factory number) jet fighter.[15] He was one of a select few pilots to have flown both ground-breaking aircraft.[16]

After another year, the Me 163 was deemed combat-ready, and the testing program was wound down. Before he left for his new posting though, on 14 May 1944 he flew the first combat sortie for the Me 163. According to some sources, his Me 163 PK+QL was painted red, either in the factory or by ground crew, resembling Manfred von Richthofen's Fokker Dr.I. Although he flew the mission (without success, twice unable to intercept the enemy when the rocket engine failed), Späte was not amused after seeing the plane and ordered it to be re-painted.[17]

Group commander

[edit]

In May 1944, Späte was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of IV. Gruppe of JG 54. He replaced Hauptmann Gerhard Koall who had temporarily been leading the Gruppe after its former commander Hauptmann Siegfried Schnell was killed in action on 25 February 1944.[18]

His new unit was quickly recalled to Germany in June to cover the transfer of all the squadrons sent west following the D-day landings. There it was converted onto the Fw 190A-8 and then sent to Poland against the great Russian summer offensive.[19] But against vastly greater numbers of enemy aircraft the unit was butchered, losing nearly half its pilots killed or wounded - Späte himself was injured and forced two times to bail out of his aircraft. The unit was pulled back again to the Reich for refit and rebuild. On 17 September, the Allied forces staged their airborne operation at Arnhem. Again, IV./JG 54 was thrown into the fray, but for the second time in less than 3 months, against vastly superior opposition, it was destroyed in less than a fortnight.[20]

Whether due to problems getting the Me 163 operational, or his unit's catastrophic losses, Späte gave up his command of IV./JG 54. In his 4-month absence from the Me 163 programme, the first combat unit (I./JG 400) had been set up and he joined that unit to come back up to speed on the interceptor's progress (some sources say as the unit's commander, although Hptm Robert Olejnik is also given as the unit commander at this time).[16]

Flying the Messerschmitt Me 262

[edit]

After JG 400 was disbanded, Späte joined the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) in April 1945. On 15 April, JG 7 was ordered to relocate to airfields at Saaz, present-day Žatec, Eger and the Prague–Ruzyně Airport where it continued to fly missions in defense of Berlin.[21] On 17 April, JG 7 was able to get 20 Me 262 airborne which intercepted Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers near Dresden. In this encounter, Späte claimed a B-17 bomber shot down.[22]

In 1956 he rejoined the military service in the Bundeswehr. Späte retired in 1967. He died in 1997 in Edewecht, at the age of 85.

Summary of career

[edit]

Aerial victory claims

[edit]

According to Spick, Späte was credited with 99 aerial victories, claimed in over 600 combat missions, 90 of which on the Eastern Front and nine on the Western Front, including five four-engine bombers while flying the Me 262.[23] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 99 aerial victory claims, plus four further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 91 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and eight on the Western Front, including five four-engine bombers with the Me 262 jet fighter.[24]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 25 Ost 84859". 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.[25]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Späte an "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 – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Späte did not receive credit.
  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
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[26]
Balkan Campaign — 29 March – 3 May 1941
1 7 April 1941 12:00 Blenheim Fünfkirchen[27]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[28]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
2 23 June 1941 10:07 SB-2 northeast of Insterburg[29] 26 26 August 1941 05:45 I-16 east of Poretschje[30]
3 23 June 1941 10:08 SB-2 northeast of Insterburg[29] 27 26 August 1941 05:48 I-16 east of Poretschje[30]
4 27 June 1941 13:35 SB-2 east of Dünaburg[29] 28 3 September 1941 18:30 I-18 (MiG-1) north of Michałówka[31]
5 27 June 1941 13:50 SB-2 east of Dünaburg[32] 29 9 September 1941 16:45 I-18 (MiG-1) Leningrad[31]
6 30 June 1941 06:47 DB-3 east of Kreuzburg[32] 30 10 September 1941 11:20 I-18 (MiG-1) south of Leningrad[31]
7 30 June 1941 12:30 DB-3 north of Dünaburg[32] 31 12 September 1941 13:00 I-18 (MiG-1) north of Krasnoye Selo[31]
8 30 June 1941 14:50 DB-3 west of Dünaburg[33] 32 19 September 1941 09:20 I-18 (MiG-1) northeast of Leningrad[31]
9 2 July 1941 18:30 DB-3 east of Tschalkino[33] 33 21 September 1941 11:50 I-18 (MiG-1) south of Putilowo[31]
10 6 July 1941 10:45 I-16 east-southeast of Pskov[34] 34 21 September 1941 17:30 I-18 (MiG-1) north of Wswelowshski[31]
11 7 July 1941 18:55 DB-3 northeast of Ostrov[34] 35 23 September 1941 08:40 I-16 northeast of Leningrad[31]
12 8 July 1941 11:15 I-18 (MiG-1) Porkhov[35] 36 26 September 1941 08:35 I-18 (MiG-1) Shicharjewo[36]
13 17 July 1941 06:30 I-153 northwest of Soltsy[35] 37 26 September 1941 11:20 I-18 (MiG-1) north of Parogi[36]
14 17 July 1941 20:30 DB-3 east of Lake Samra[35] 38 27 September 1941 11:00 I-18 (MiG-1) Ljubnitza[36]
15 19 July 1941 17:30 DB-3 southwest of Mshinskaya[37] 39 1 October 1941 17:00 I-18 (MiG-1) Polnowo[36]
16 19 July 1941 19:08 I-18 (MiG-1) northeast of Wloschowo[37] 40 1 October 1941 17:02 I-18 (MiG-1) Polnowo[36]
17 25 July 1941 07:58 DB-3 north of Werest[37] 41 2 October 1941 08:00 I-18 (MiG-1) Ljubnitza[36]
18 7 August 1941 19:48 I-18 (MiG-1) west of Korpowa[38] 42 2 October 1941 08:12 I-18 (MiG-1) east of Valday[36]
19 7 August 1941 19:51 I-18 (MiG-1) north of Korpowa[38] 43 2 October 1941 14:30 I-18 (MiG-1) east of Lake Seliger[36]
20 10 August 1941 10:11 I-18 (MiG-1) northeast of Poretschje[38] 44 2 October 1941 14:35 I-18 (MiG-1) east of Lake Seliger[36]
21 11 August 1941 06:07 I-16 northeast of Poretschje[38] 45 5 October 1941 08:10 I-16 southeast of Valday[36]
22 12 August 1941 17:50 I-18 (MiG-1) Kiepiek[30] 46 7 October 1941 07:22 I-26 (Yak-1) southeast of Borowitschi[39]
23 16 August 1941 19:00 I-18 (MiG-1) northeast of Krasnogvardeysky[30] 47 7 October 1941 17:10 I-18 (MiG-1) northeast of Kresttsy[39]
24 21 August 1941 12:57 I-18 (MiG-1) northeast of Pushkin[30] 48 10 October 1941 10:17 I-26 (Yak-1) Jam Chotilowo[39]
25 25 August 1941 13:40 I-153 Kuplja[30]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[40]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 21 April 1942
49 3 February 1942 15:02 Pe-2 Ulyanovka[41] 65 26 March 1942 13:25 P-40[42]
50 7 February 1942 08:50 Pe-2 Szenaja Kjerjest[41] 66 28 March 1942 15:30 I-301 (LaGG-3)[43]
51 10 February 1942 16:40 R-5 south-southeast of Chudovo[41] 67 1 April 1942 10:55 I-18 (MiG-1)[43]
52 15 February 1942 15:05 I-26 (Yak-1) north of Wolchowstroj[41] 68 1 April 1942 11:35 I-26 (Yak-1)[43]
53 22 February 1942 10:45 biplane with skids (Seversky) Dubrovka[41] 69 1 April 1942 15:15 Il-2[43]
54 28 February 1942 08:30 Pe-2 southwest of Tikhvin[41] 70♠ 5 April 1942 11:47 I-26 (Yak-1) 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Valday[44]
55 7 March 1942 15:40 R-5 east of Kholm[42] ♠[Note 1] 5 April 1942 11:47 I-26 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Valday[44]
56 13 March 1942 14:10 I-18 (MiG-1) west of Malaya Vishera[42] 71♠ 5 April 1942 13:10 I-18 (MiG-1)[44]
57♠ 16 March 1942 06:33 biplane (Seversky) Bolotowo[42] 72♠ 5 April 1942 13:41 I-18 (MiG-1)[44]
58♠ 16 March 1942 06:45 biplane (Seversky) Narostynia[42] 73♠ 5 April 1942 13:43 I-18 (MiG-1)[44]
59♠ 16 March 1942 06:45 biplane (Seversky) Narostynia[42] 74 15 April 1942 06:30 MiG-3[44]
60♠ 16 March 1942 14:38 I-18 (MiG-1) Myasnoy Bor[42]
southwest of Gladi 		75 16 April 1942 06:35 LaGG-3[44]
61♠ 16 March 1942 17:15 I-18 (MiG-1) Gremjatschewo[42]
forest, south of Lyubyan 		76 16 April 1942 08:10 Pe-2 north of Maljutischij[44]
62 17 March 1942 13:20 I-26 (Yak-1) Pogostje[42] 77 16 April 1942 08:15 Pe-2 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Dworjetz[44]
63 18 March 1942 12:55?[Note 2] I-61 (MiG-3) east of Spasskaja Polist[42] 78 17 April 1942 13:50 Yak-1[44]
64 26 March 1942 13:22 P-40[42]?[Note 3]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[46]
Eastern Front — July 1942
—
 7 July 1942
—
 U-2 vicinity of Demyansk[47]
—
 7 July 1942
—
 U-2 vicinity of Demyansk[47]
—
 7 July 1942
—
 U-2 vicinity of Demyansk[47] 79?[Note 4] 13 July 1942 15:20 R-5 east of Jam Simorgoje[47]
– Stab IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[46]
Eastern Front — June – August 1944
79 28 June 1944 19:15 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 84859[48] 86 22 July 1944 15:25 Boston PQ 25 Ost 3259[49]
80 8 July 1944 17:46 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 4275[48] 87 26 July 1944 16:45 Il-2 Kholm[49]
81 15 July 1944 13:40 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 5018[49] 88 4 August 1944 18:25 unknown PQ 25 Ost 1233[50]
82 15 July 1944 13:50 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 5014[49] 89 9 August 1944 16:40 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 12156[50]
20 km (12 mi) east of Grojec
83 15 July 1944 14:00 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 5012[49] 90 12 August 1944 11:00 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 12427[50]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Grojec
84 16 July 1944 09:30 P-40 PQ 26 Ost 40292[49]
Gulf of Finland, north-northeast of Reval 		91 26 August 1944 12:36 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13385[51]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Nasielsk
85 20 July 1944 15:30 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 32772[49]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Kholm 		92 26 August 1944 18:55 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 14848[51]
vicinity of Ostrołęka
– Stab IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[46]
Western Front — September 1944
93 25 September 1944 18:02 B-25 Arnhem[52] 94 26 September 1944 14:20 Spitfire east of Arnhem[52]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 7 –[46]
95 17 April 1945
—
 B-17[53] vicinity of Dresden 98 25 April 1945
—
 B-17[54] southwest of Prague
96 19 April 1945 12:15 B-17[53] vicinity of Aussig 99 25 April 1945
—
 B-17[54] southwest of Prague
97 25 April 1945
—
 B-17[54] southwest of Prague

Awards

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Citations

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  1. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[45]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:15.[45]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1.[45]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim was unconfirmed.[46]

References

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Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Pettersson 2006, p. 6.
  2. ^ a b Stockert 2012, p. 419.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 310.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2002, pp. 307, 309.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 313.
  6. ^ Weal 2001, p. 39.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, pp. 212, 222.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 212.
  9. ^ a b Stockert 2012, p. 420.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 222.
  11. ^ Bergström & Mikhailov 2000, p. 189.
  12. ^ Weal 2001, p. 57.
  13. ^ Page 2020, p. 98.
  14. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 216.
  15. ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 9.
  16. ^ a b Smith & Creek 2005, p. 301.
  17. ^ Sundin & Bergström 1997, p. 80.
  18. ^ Weal 2001, p. 118.
  19. ^ Weal 2001, p. 109.
  20. ^ Weal 2001, p. 94.
  21. ^ Boehme 1992, p. 164.
  22. ^ Boehme 1992, pp. 167–168.
  23. ^ Spick 1996, p. 233.
  24. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1232–1234.
  25. ^ Planquadrat.
  26. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1232.
  27. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 245.
  28. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1232–1233.
  29. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 228.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003b, p. 235.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2003b, p. 237.
  32. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 229.
  33. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 230.
  34. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 231.
  35. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 232.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2003b, p. 238.
  37. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 233.
  38. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003b, p. 234.
  39. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 239.
  40. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1233–1234.
  41. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2005, p. 220.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2005, p. 222.
  43. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2005, p. 223.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2005, p. 224.
  45. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1233.
  46. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1234.
  47. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 146.
  48. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 553.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2022, p. 554.
  50. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2022, p. 555.
  51. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 556.
  52. ^ a b Prien et al. 2019, p. 471.
  53. ^ a b Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 276.
  54. ^ a b c Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 277.
  55. ^ a b Thomas 1998, p. 332.
  56. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 50.
  57. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 450.
  58. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 711.
  59. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 403.
  60. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 59.

Bibliography

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  • 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 (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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Balke, Ulf; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2019). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/V—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/V—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-21-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/II—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/II—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-28-4.
  • 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.
  • Smith, John Richard; Creek, Eddie J. (2005). Jagdwaffe Vol 5, Sec4: Jet Fighters and Rocket Interceptors 1944 – 1945. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903223-52-9.
  • Späte, Wolfgang. Der streng geheime Vogel Me 163 (in German). DÖRFLER im NEBEL VERLAG GmbH. ISBN 978-3-89555-142-0.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Stockert, Peter (2012) [1996]. Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1] (in German) (4th ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-9802222-7-3.
  • Sundin, Claes; Bergström, Christer (1997). Luftwaffe Fighter Aircraft in Profile. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-0291-6.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
  • Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 "Grünherz". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 6. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9.
  • Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84603-177-X, incl colour picture of his aircraft, #29
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