Albin Wolf

Albin Wolf (28 October 1920 – 2 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 144 enemy aircraft shot down. All of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.

Born in Neuhaus, Wolf grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Following graduation from school, he joined the Luftwaffe in 1940. In May 1942, Wolf was posted to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) and claimed his first aerial victory on 6 August 1942. Following his 117th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943. Promoted to an officer's rank, he was appointed squadron leader of 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 54 and claimed his 144th and last aerial victory on 2 April 1944. That day, he was shot down. He was posthumously bestowed with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Early life and career Wolf was born on 28 October 1920 in Neuhaus, present-day part of Selbitz in the district Hof, at the time in the district of Naila, Bavaria. He was the son of a wage labourer. After graduation from school, Wolf joined the Luftwaffe in 1940. Following flight training, he was posted to the 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) based in Jever in the fall of 1941. Holding the rank of Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer), he flew with this unit in Defense of the Reich until May 1942.

World War II World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 22 June 1941, Germany had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, which initiated the Eastern Front. In May 1942, Wolf was transferred to the 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), operating on the northern sector of the Eastern Front. At the time, he was made a wingman of Hans Beißwenger. II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 54, to which 6. Staffel was subordinated, was one of the Luftwaffe units fighting in support of Army Group Centre, engaging in the Kholm Pocket and Demyansk Pocket.

Wolf claimed his first aerial victory over an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, shot down on 6 August 1942 in the vicinity of Zubtsov during the Battles of Rzhev. Following his fourth claim, filed on 30 September, he was awarded Iron Cross 2nd Class the next day. On 23 March 1943, his number of aerial victories had increased to 18 following combat in the vicinity of Leningrad. This resulted in the presentation of the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 30 April 1943. On 12 July, during the Battle of Kursk, Soviet forces launched its counteroffensive named Operation Kutuzov. The next day, General Paul Deichmann dispatched the equivalent of eight Jagdgruppen to defend against the Soviet 15th Air Army. That morning, Wolf claimed a Soviet fighter aircraft shot down. He achieved his aerial victories 37–40 on 2 August 1943. By 4 September 1943, he had accumulated 78 victories. In November 1943, Wolf was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 59th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. Wolf received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 117 victories on 22 November 1943. He received the award together with fellow JG 51 pilot Leutnant Emil Lang.

On 24 December 1943, following the German retreat during the Battle of the Dnieper (26 August – 23 December 1943), Soviet forces initiated the Zhitomir–Berdichev Offensive as part of the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive. The Soviet advance threatened the German airfield at Bila Tserkva and II. Gruppe of JG 54 was ordered to relocate to Tarnopol on 27 December. The transfer was attempted under adverse weather conditions. On 29 December, 24 aircraft took off but only one made it directly to Tarnopol. Many aircraft were lost that day, among them Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 531087—factory number) flown by Wolf who crash landed the aircraft and was severely wounded. On 18 January 1944, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6. Staffel, succeeding Oberleutnant Horst Ademeit who was transferred.

Wolf's 135th aerial victory claimed on 23 March 1944 was also JG 54's 7000th of the war. Wolf was killed in action south-east of Pskov on 2 April 1944 at 09:30. During aerial combat at low altitude with a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter, his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 551142—factory number) took a direct hit from an anti-aircraft shell. He was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 27 April 1944. He was the 464th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. Stockert indicated that the Oak Leaves presentation date 27 April 1944 may be incorrect. Based on a list published by the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (High Command of the Air Force), the Oak Leaves were awarded on 25 April 1944. Wolf was succeeded by Leutnant Heinrich Sterr as commander of 6. Staffel.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wolf was credited with 144 aerial victories. Scutts and Spick also list him with the same number of aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 142 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 18234". 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 – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 1 6 August 1942 15:50 Il-2 northwest of Kamischtchewo 6 29 December 1942 12:55 P-39 PQ 18234 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 2 23 August 1942 12:07 Yak-1 PQ 54244 south-southeast of Sukhinichi 7 30 December 1942 11:54 LaGG-3 PQ 28144 northwest of Demyansk 3 5 September 1942 11:10 Pe-2 PQ 28464 east of Demyansk 8 30 December 1942 13:44 Il-2 PQ 28145 northwest of Demyansk 4 30 September 1942 08:46 Il-2 PQ 29751 north-northwest of Demyansk 9 14 January 1943 12:35 Il-2 PQ 10162southeast of Shlisselburg 5 4 December 1942 10:15 Il-2 PQ 09854 10 26 January 1943 11:25 Il-2 PQ 10113vicinity of Shlisselburg – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 11 11 February 1943 10:30 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 20514 east-northeast of Lyuban 67 28 August 1943 06:14 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 43873 south-southeast of Sevsk 12 23 February 1943 15:53 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 19761 north-northeast of Staraya Russa 68 28 August 1943 11:52 Yak-4? PQ 35 Ost 43822 east-northeast of Sevsk 13 27 February 1943 15:40 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18453 west of Demyansk 69 30 August 1943 14:23 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35641 west of Spas-Demensk 14 5 March 1943 07:30 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18423 southeast of Staraya Russa 70 30 August 1943 17:53 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 45523 northeast of Spas-Demensk 15 5 March 1943 13:55 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18212 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 71 30 August 1943 18:01 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35491 north-northwest of Spas-Demensk 16 5 March 1943 16:18 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18391 northeast of Kholm 72 31 August 1943 06:48 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35632 northwest of Spas-Demensk 17 7 March 1943 09:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18391 northeast of Kholm 73 31 August 1943 15:31 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 35554 south of Yelnya 18 23 March 1943 17:20 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 00243 southeast of Leningrad 74 31 August 1943 15:34 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 35643 west of Spas-Demensk 19 18 June 1943 12:20 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 20113west of Volkhov 75 1 September 1943 18:08 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25453 west-northwest of Yelnya 20 24 June 1943 07:10 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 21871 northeast of Volkhov 76 1 September 1943 18:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25433 northwest of Yelnya 21 13 July 1943 06:57 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 63894 southeast of Mtsensk 77 4 September 1943 16:36 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26632 south of Bogolyubovo 22 13 July 1943 11:54 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 63222 east of Oryol 78 4 September 1943 17:04 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 25484 west of Yelnya 23 13 July 1943 14:15 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63412 north of Maloarkhangelsk 79 5 September 1943 11:24 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 25493 west of Yelnya 24 14 July 1943 14:21 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54333 east-southeast of Zhizdra 80 5 September 1943 17:50? La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35374 southwest of Yelnya 25 15 July 1943 17:02 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64883 southeast of Mtsensk 81♠ 7 September 1943 08:06 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26824 north of Yartsevo 26 16 July 1943 18:57 La-5 82♠ 7 September 1943 08:23 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26823 north of Yartsevo 27 17 July 1943 06:43 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54614 west of Bolkhov 83♠ 7 September 1943 11:09 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26673 northeast of Moschna 28 17 July 1943 06:58? La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54183 east of Belyov 84♠ 7 September 1943 11:17 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26861 east-northeast of Yartsevo 29 19 July 1943 11:47 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 54442 northwest of Bolkhov 85♠ 7 September 1943 16:45 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26491 southwest of Bogolyubovo 30 20 July 1943 08:29 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64871 south of Mtsensk 86 9 September 1943 17:04 Yak-9? PQ 35 Ost 26242 northwest of Yartsevo 31 22 July 1943 15:18 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 64799 east-northeast of Oryol 87 10 September 1943 09:57 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26841 northwest of Yartsevo 32 23 July 1943 18:27 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63161 south-eastsouth of Oryol 88 11 September 1943 16:01? Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35852 33 25 July 1943 12:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 53291 south-southwest of Oryol 89 15 September 1943 08:51 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26812, northeast of Dukhovshchina north-northwest of Yartsevo 34 30 July 1943 05:24 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00224 west of Shlisselburg 90? 15 September 1943 10:29 Il-2 northwest of Yelnya 35 30 July 1943 16:54 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10153southeast of Shlisselburg 91 15 September 1943 11:01 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35341 south of Smolensk 36 1 August 1943 06:13? La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00263 southwest of Shlisselburg 92 15 September 1943 13:14 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35541 south-southwest of Yelnya 37 2 August 1943 08:52 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10191east of Mga 93 15 September 1943 17:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35374 southwest of Yelnya 38 2 August 1943 08:57 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10411 east-southeast of Mga 94 17 September 1943 11:23 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35383 south of Yelnya 39 2 August 1943 09:10 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10414 east-southeast of Mga 95 23 October 1943 13:19 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10112vicinity of Shlisselburg 40 2 August 1943 12:54 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10352 southeast of Mga 96 23 October 1943 15:17 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 10161southeast of Shlisselburg 41 7 August 1943 13:55 Yak-9? PQ 35 Ost 54631 west of Bolkhov 97 23 October 1943 15:23 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10114vicinity of Shlisselburg 42 8 August 1943 19:00 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54672 southwest of Bolkhov 98 24 October 1943 10:00 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01454Lake Ladoga 43 9 August 1943 18:31 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54843 east of Karachev 99 25 October 1943 12:14 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11371Lake Ladoga 44 13 August 1943 16:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54743 east of Karachev 100 25 October 1943 15:35 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 11794Lake Ladoga 45 13 August 1943 16:30 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 53213 west of Oryol 101 26 October 1943 10:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10131east of Shlisselburg 46 14 August 1943 05:01 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 45721 north-northwest of Kirov 102 26 October 1943 10:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11733Lake Ladoga 47 14 August 1943 05:08 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 45734 north-northeast of Kirov 103 28 October 1943 12:06 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01394 northeast of Zelenogorsk 48 14 August 1943 05:14 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 45744, northwest of Kirov west of Kirov 104 28 October 1943 12:09 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 01391 northeast of Zelenogorsk 49 14 August 1943 08:46 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 45763 northeast of Kirov 105 1 November 1943 09:27 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 10121east of Shlisselburg 50 16 August 1943 13:26 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 45733vicinity of Spas-Demensk 106 2 November 1943 13:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10122east of Shlisselburg 51 16 August 1943 13:35 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35861 west of Kirov 107 2 November 1943 15:06 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01361 northeast of Zelenogorsk 52 17 August 1943 08:53 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 44842 southeast of Bryansk 108 3 November 1943 13:55 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01394 northeast of Zelenogorsk 53 19 August 1943 05:47? Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 43864 east-southeast of Sevsk 109 3 November 1943 14:29 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01333 northeast of Zelenogorsk 54 19 August 1943 16:23 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 45751 northwest of Kirov 110♠ 6 November 1943 07:17 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01592 east-northeast of Zelenogorsk 55 20 August 1943 06:29 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 43851 southeast of Sevsk 111♠ 6 November 1943 07:21 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01594 east-northeast of Zelenogorsk 56 21 August 1943 13:20? Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35624 west-northwest of Spas-Demensk 112♠ 6 November 1943 07:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01672 north-northeast of Leningrad 57 21 August 1943 16:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 43861 east-southeast of Sevsk 113♠ 6 November 1943 15:19 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01564 northeast of Zelenogorsk 58 22 August 1943 06:23 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 43832 east-southeast of Sevsk 114♠ 6 November 1943 15:24 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01643 north-northeast of Leningrad 59 22 August 1943 06:26 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 43863 east-southeast of Sevsk 115 22 November 1943 14:16 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91564 north-northwest of Zelenogorsk 60 22 August 1943 13:07 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 43454 west-northwest of Dmitrowsk 116 29 November 1943 10:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 91651 north-northeast of Zelenogorsk 61 22 August 1943 16:22 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 43852 southeast of Sevsk 117 29 November 1943 10:43 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 91642 north of Zelenogorsk 62 23 August 1943 10:07 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 42224 118 10 December 1943 08:47 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 00133 east of Leningrad 63 24 August 1943 06:58 DB-3 PQ 35 Ost 44553 north-northwest of Bryansk 119 11 December 1943 08:11 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 00121vicinity of Leningrad 64 24 August 1943 07:00 DB-3 PQ 35 Ost 44374 west-southwest of Dyatkovo 120 12 December 1943 13:35 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 00112 west of Leningrad 65 24 August 1943 07:03 DB-3 PQ 35 Ost 44383 southwest of Dyatkovo 121 14 December 1943 09:37 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01772 northwest of Leningrad 66 24 August 1943 15:09 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 44483 south of Zhizdra 122 17 December 1943 08:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01722 northwest of Leningrad – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 1 January 1944 – 2 April 1944 123 15 January 1944 12:17 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80862 southeast of Narva 133 19 March 1944 11:19 Yak-9? PQ 25 Ost 99711 northwest of Porchov 124 15 January 1944 12:19 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90713 southwest of Lissino 134 22 March 1944 11:34 La-5? PQ 25 Ost 97564 east-northeast of Idriza 125 15 January 1944 12:31 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 90574 southwest of Lissino 135 23 March 1944 16:47? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 97641 east-northeast of Idriza 126 22 January 1944 14:46 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80663 east of Narva 136 26 March 1944 09:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88862 southeast of Ostrov 127 24 January 1944 10:34 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 80683 northeast of Narva 137 26 March 1944 12:57 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78284 west of Pskov 128 28 January 1944 14:43 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 90572 southwest of Lissino 138 27 March 1944 06:20 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78254, east-northeast of Petseri 129 28 January 1944 15:09 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80632 northeast of Narva 139 27 March 1944 06:25 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 78261 130 11 February 1944 13:24 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00683 south-southwest of Tosno 140 27 March 1944 06:37 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 89772 northwest of Pskov 131 19 March 1944 10:32 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 89451 northeast of Pskov 141 31 March 1944 14:47 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 89341 southeast of Gdov 132 19 March 1944 11:04 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88112Lake Peipus, northwest of Pskov 142 2 April 1944 09:27 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88442 southeast of Pskov

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (1 October 1942) 1st Class (22 January 1943) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 30 April 1943 as Unteroffizier and pilot German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 22 November 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54 464th Oak Leaves on 27 April 1944 (posthumously) as Leutnant and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54