Adolf Dickfeld

Adolf Dickfeld (20 February 1910 – 17 May 2009) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, an ace credited with 136 enemy aircraft shot down in about 1,072 combat missions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. He was "ace-in-a-day" four times, shooting down five or more aircraft on a single day.

Early life and career Dickfeld was born on 20 February 1910 in Jüterbog in the Province of Brandenburg, the son of an artillery officer. In his youth he learned to fly glider aircraft. He made his first flights at the glider school in Grunau in Silesia, present-day Jeżów Sudecki, Poland. Here, among others, he was taught to fly by Hanna Reitsch. He was also trained by Wolf Hirth on the Hornberg in the Black Forest, and by Heini Dittmar and Oskar Ursinus at the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön Mountains.

After attending school and passing his Abitur (School Leaving Certificate), Dickfeld attended the flight school at Frankfurt (Oder) from 3 September to 23 December 1934, receiving his A-license for motor powered aircraft. He then received the B-license at the flight school in Stolp, present-day Słupsk, after completing a course from 2 January to 28 February 1935. On 3 March, he continued his training at the flight school in Hagenow, a course with emphasis on aerobatics which he completed in June 1935.

From 2 July 1935 to 28 February 1937, Dickfeld was based at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule, a covert military-training organization, under the command of Alfred Keller in Braunschweig. There, he received further training and became an instrument flight instructor. In parallel, Dickfeld participated three times in the , a cross-country flight contest for pilots, and various other aviation contests. He also trained in the military reserve force of the newly emerging Luftwaffe. Dickfeld studied radio technology before officially joining the Luftwaffe on 1 January 1939, where he served in aerial reconnaissance.

World War II World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Dickfeld was transferred to II. Gruppe (2nd Group) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on 28 October 1939 and was promoted to Leutnant der Reserve (second lieutenant of the reserves) on 1 December 1939. He received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 13 December and the Iron Cross 1st Class on 12 January 1940, both during the Phoney War period in protection of Germany's western border.

In 1940, Dickfeld flew missions during the Battle of France and Britain. He was then posted to a Luftwaffe training battalion as a company commander and on 21 February 1941, he was made a war office candidate. He was the posted to the Stab (headquarters unit) of JG 52. On 15 May, III./JG 52 was moved to Athens and together with other Luftwaffe units, flews its first combat missions in support of the Battle of Crete. During this campaign, Dickfeld flew multiple missions against Greek forces and other Allied forces.

Eastern Front Following its brief deployment in the Balkan Campaign, III. Gruppe was ordered to Bucharest by mid-June. There, the unit was subordinated to the Luftwaffenmission Rumänien (Luftwaffe Mission Romania) and reequipped with the new, more powerful Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 model. On 21 June 1941, the Gruppe was ordered to Mizil in preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Its primary objective was to provide fighter protection for the oil fields and refineries at Ploiești. The invasion of the Soviet Union began on 22 June. The next day, the Gruppe moved to Mamaia, the northern district of Constanța on the Black Sea coast. There, Dickfeld claimed his first two aerial victories on 26 June. He was credited with shooting down a Soviet Ilyushin DB-3 bomber and a Tupolev SB bomber in the morning.

The Gruppe moved to Belaya Tserkov on 1 August during the Battle of Kiev and also used an airfield at Yampil from 6 to 8 August. In August. Dickfeld increased his number of aerial victories to ten, claiming three Soviet fighters on 4 August, one on 11 August, another on 14 August, and two Polikarpov I-16 fighters on 16 August.

On 23 October, III. Gruppe moved from Poltava to Chaplynka. The following day, Dickfeld became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time when shot down five Soviet Polikarpov I-15 fighter aircraft near Ishun.

On 19 March 1942, Dickefeld together with fellow JG 52 pilot Feldwebel Edmund Roßmann were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . On 29 April, III. Gruppe had relocated to Zürichtal, a small village at the Inhul in the former German settlement west of Feodosia in the Crimea during the Crimean campaign. On 1 May, the Gruppe was subordinated to VIII. Fliegerkorps and was supporting the 11th Army in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula and the Siege of Sevastopol. There, Dickfeld claimed eleven aerial victories on 8 May making him a "double-ace-in-a-day", taking his total to 73 aerial victories.

According to Obermaier, Dickfeld was credited with his 100th aerial victory on 18 May 1942. He was the 8th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. That day, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . He was the 94th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in Rastenburg on 25 May.

North Africa

In early November 1942, the Western Allies launched Operation Torch, the Anglo–American invasion of French North Africa. On 17 November, II. Gruppe of JG 2 was withdrawn from the English Channel Front and ordered to San Pietro Clarenza, Sicily. At the time, the Gruppe was equipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-3, some Fw 190 A-2s, and received the A-4 variant in early December. This made II. Gruppe of JG 2 the only Fw 190 equipped fighter unit in the Mediterranean Theater. The Gruppe flew its first missions on 19 November, securing German air and sea transportation to Tunis. That day, elements of II. Gruppe began relocating to Bizerte Airfield. On 8 January 1943 during an emergency takeoff, Dickfeld crashed his Fw 190 A-4 (Werknummer 0750—factory number) by running into a bomb crater. The aircraft summersaulted and Dickfeld was injured. Command of II. Gruppe of JG 2 was briefly passed to Oberleutnant Erich Rudorffer.

On 15 April, Dickfeld was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11h Fighter Wing), an office he held until May when he transferred command to Hauptmann Günther Specht. He was transferred to the Reich Air Ministry in December 1943. There, he was appointed Reichs-Inspekteur der Flieger Hitlerjugend (Reich inspector of the Aviation Hitler Youth). He was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) on 1 June 1944 and appointed General für Nachwuchs Luftwaffe (general of procreation/recruitment), a position he held until the end of World War II.

Dickfeld was officially credited with 136 victories claimed in 1072 combat missions. He also claimed a further 15 enemy aircraft unconfirmed. He claimed about 128 victories over the Eastern Front. He claimed one victory flying the Heinkel He 162 Salamander ("Volksjäger") jet fighter, a P-47 Thunderbolt on 11 April 1945.

Later life After the war in 1952, Dickfeld initiated the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients. He then lived in East Africa for many years and founded the safari-airline "Alf Air Safaris" in Dar es Salaam, flying tourists to the various African landmarks and points of interest. Dickfeld, who also published a number of books, died on 17 May 2009 in Dreieich, Germany.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Dickfeld was credited with 136 aerial victories. Spick also lists him with 136 aerial victories, 115 on the Eastern Front and 18 in North Africa and the Western Front, including 11 four engine bombers. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 132 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 128 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and four Western Front, including two four-engine bombers.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 0512". The Luftwaffe grid map 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 . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941 1 26 June 1941 04:30 DB-3 vicinity of Constanța 17♠ 24 October 1941 12:42 I-15 vicinity of Ishun 2 26 June 1941 05:25 SB-2 vicinity of Constanța 18♠ 24 October 1941 12:43 I-15 south of Ishun 3 21 July 1941 15:15 SB-2 Danube estuary near Sulina 19♠ 24 October 1941 12:44 I-15 vicinity of Ishun 4 4 August 1941 14:28 I-153 Sulina 20♠ 24 October 1941 12:46 I-15 vicinity of Ishun 5 4 August 1941 14:37 I-18 (MiG-1) 21 25 October 1941 15:20 Pe-2 south of Cape Takyl 6 4 August 1941 19:03 I-16 22 25 October 1941 15:24 I-61 (MiG-3) south of Cape Takylvicinity of Ishun 7 11 August 1941 12:23 I-16 23 25 October 1941 15:26 I-61 (MiG-3) south of Cape Takyl 8 14 August 1941 10:42 I-16 30 October 1941 Yak-1 9 16 August 1941 08:58? I-16 southeast of Kiev 24 31 October 1941 15:20 I-61 (MiG-3) northeast of Sevastopol 10 16 August 1941 08:59? I-16 southeast of Kiev 25 22 November 1941 14:27 I-26 (Yak-1) 11 5 October 1941 15:03 I-153 26 23 November 1941 10:17 I-26 (Yak-1) 12 5 October 1941 15:09 I-153 27 28 November 1941 10:29 I-26 (Yak-1) 13 17 October 1941 07:18 I-26? 28 28 November 1941 10:35 I-26 (Yak-1) 14 17 October 1941 07:23 I-26 (Yak-1) 29 28 November 1941 12:50 I-26 (Yak-1) 15 17 October 1941 07:31 R-10 (Seversky) 30 3 December 1941 08:01 I-16 16♠ 24 October 1941 12:40 I-15 vicinity of Ishun 31 3 December 1941 08:01 I-16 – 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 28 April 1942 32 6 December 1941 08:18 I-16 41 17 February 1942 08:01 I-61 (MiG-3) 33 6 December 1941 08:20 I-16 42 17 February 1942 08:03 I-61 (MiG-3) 34 6 December 1941 13:50 I-16 43 17 February 1942 08:04 I-61 (MiG-3) 35 6 December 1941 13:52 I-16 44 17 February 1942 10:31 I-61 (MiG-3) 36 7 December 1941 08:20 I-26 (Yak-1) 45 17 February 1942 10:34 I-16 37 9 December 1941 08:55 I-16 46 19 February 1942 08:24 I-61 (MiG-3) 38 9 December 1941 08:59 I-16 47 19 February 1942 08:29 I-61 (MiG-3) 39 11 December 1941 10:45 I-26 (Yak-1) 48 23 February 1942 11:40 I-61 (MiG-3) 40 16 February 1942 15:01 I-61 (MiG-3) 49 23 February 1942 11:53 I-61 (MiG-3) – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 28 April 1942 50 17 March 1942 I-16 53 22 March 1942 I-16 51 17 March 1942 I-16 54 27 March 1942 10:31 R-5 Werchow-Roganskij 17 March 1942 I-16 55 27 March 1942 I-61 (MiG-3) 52 18 March 1942 I-61 (MiG-3) – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 29 April 1942 – 3 February 1943 56 29 April 1942 Yak-1 66♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 57 30 April 1942 I-153 67♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 58 30 April 1942 I-16 68♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 59 1 May 1942 I-16 69♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 60 2 May 1942 unknown 70♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 61 5 May 1942 I-61 (MiG-3) 71♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 62 5 May 1942 I-16 72♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 63♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 73♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 64♠ 8 May 1942 unknown 74 9 May 1942 unknown 65♠ 8 May 1942 unknown – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 29 April 1942 – 3 February 1943 75 12 May 1942 14:45 I-153 86♠ 14 May 1942 12:11 MiG-1 76♠ 13 May 1942 10:15 I-16 87♠ 14 May 1942 12:12 MiG-1 77♠ 13 May 1942 10:31 MiG-1 east of Werch. Storganskij 88♠ 14 May 1942 16:10 Yak-1 78♠ 13 May 1942 10:32 MiG-1 89♠ 14 May 1942 16:44 Yak-1 79♠ 13 May 1942 10:33 MiG-1 14 May 1942 MiG-1 80♠ 13 May 1942 13:15 MiG-1 90 21 May 1942 18:35 MiG-1 81♠ 13 May 1942 13:18 MiG-1 91 23 May 1942 10:20 MiG-1 82♠ 14 May 1942 09:36 MiG-1 east of Stary Saltov 92 26 May 1942 17:25 LaGG-3 83♠ 14 May 1942 09:41 MiG-1 93 26 May 1942 17:27 LaGG-3 84♠ 14 May 1942 09:45 MiG-1 94 27 May 1942 19:15 Su-2 (Seversky) 85♠ 14 May 1942 12:09 MiG-1 – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 29 April 1942 – 3 February 1943 95 5 August 1942 16:30? MiG-1 PQ 0512 112 23 August 1942 07:42 LaGG-3 PQ 44411 96 6 August 1942 15:22 LaGG-3 PQ 0516 113 23 August 1942 07:44 Boston PQ 44411 97 6 August 1942 15:40 I-153 PQ 0527 114 28 August 1942 08:45 LaGG-3 PQ 44464south of Modok 98 13 August 1942 18:23 Boston PQ 44351 115 28 August 1942 10:35 Boston PQ 54322 99 14 August 1942 09:50 Boston PQ 3425 116 30 August 1942 08:15 LaGG-3 PQ 54532vicinity of Jelenskiy 100 14 August 1942 10:22 Boston PQ 3441 117 30 August 1942 08:31 LaGG-3 PQ 54882Maken Jurt 101 16 August 1942 15:40 LaGG-3 PQ 34492 118 30 August 1942 11:26 LaGG-3 PQ 54544, Arlenbokoskijvicinity of Jelenskiy 102 16 August 1942 15:46 Il-2 PQ 34494 119 30 August 1942 11:27 LaGG-3 PQ 54544, Arlenbokoskijvicinity of Jelenskiy 103 17 August 1942 07:48 LaGG-3 PQ 44381 120 2 September 1942 12:58 Su-2 (Seversky) PQ 44442, south of Mozdok 104 17 August 1942 07:49 LaGG-3 PQ 44383 121 2 September 1942 13:03 Su-2 (Seversky) PQ 44472south of Mozdok 105 18 August 1942 13:18 LaGG-3 PQ 34644southeast of Naltschik 122 4 September 1942 15:25 Boston PQ 44372south of Mozdok 106 18 August 1942 13:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34662southeast of Naltschik 123 4 September 1942 16:43 LaGG-3 PQ 44452south of Mozdok 107 18 August 1942 13:25 I-153 PQ 34484 124 5 September 1942 11:10 Boston northeast of Mozdok 108 19 August 1942 08:18 LaGG-3 PQ 44541southwest of Daiskoje 125 5 September 1942 11:12 LaGG-3 northeast of Mozdokvicinity of Wosnessnokaja 109 19 August 1942 14:18 I-153 PQ 34433, west of Altud 126 10 September 1942 16:05 Il-2 PQ 44423Mozdok region 110 19 August 1942 14:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34452 127 10 September 1942 16:06 LaGG-3 south of Malgobek 111 19 August 1942 14:40 LaGG-3? PQ 34621 128 17 September 1942 06:26 LaGG-3 PQ 54392Maken Jurt – Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 –Mediterranean Theater — 17 November – 31 December 1942 30 November 1942 09:30~ Bisley vicinity of Bizerte 130 3 December 1942 11:47 P-38 west Bizerte 129 1 December 1942 15:35 Spitfire north of Tebourba – Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 11 –On the Western Front — 17 April – May 1943 131 17 April 1943 13:08 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/84/6/1, near Stotel 132 15 May 1943 10:50 B-17 PQ 05 Ost 75/7/3 – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader "Hitler Jugend" – 21 April 1945 P-47 vicinity of Goslar

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (13 December 1939) 1st Class (12 January 1940) Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 15 December 1941 as Leutnant and pilot German Cross in Gold on 22 January 1942 as Leutnant of the Reserves in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 19 March 1942 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52 94th Oak Leaves on 19 May 1942 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52 Royal Bulgarian Merit medal in Gold

Publications