Friedrich Obleser

Friedrich-Erich Obleser (21 February 1923 – 5 June 2004) was a German general in the Bundeswehr. During World War II, he served as a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe. A fighter ace, Obleser was credited with 120 aerial victories and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. For his post-war service in the German Air Force, he received the Grand Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Early life and career Obleser was born on 21 February 1923 in Pottenstein in the district of Baden in Lower Austria in Austria. In 1940, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe. Following flight training, Obleser was assigned to 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing), a squadron of III. Gruppe of JG 52.

World War II World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In January 1943, Obleser arrived with 8. Staffel under command of Hauptmann Günther Rall at the Gigant airfield which was located in the vicinity of Salsk. At the time, the Red Army had launched Operation Koltso, the final phase of the Battle of Stalingrad. Rall made Obleser his wingman and also appointed him as technical officer of the Staffel, a position which was responsible for the overall readiness of the equipment and aircraft. Obleser flew his first combat mission on 12 January 1943 on the Eastern Front. There, he claimed his first aerial victory on 28 March over a Bell P-39 Airacobra.

The Gruppe was moved to the combat area of the Kuban bridgehead on 1 April 1943 where it was based at an airfield at Taman. Operating from Taman until 2 July, III. Gruppe also flew missions from Kerch on 12 May, from Sarabuz and Saky on 14 May, Zürichtal, present-day Solote Pole, a village near the urban settlement Kirovske on 23 May, and Yevpatoria on 25/26 June. While based at Taman, Obleser claimed ten further aerial victories by end of April, increasing his number of aerial victories to eleven in total. On 28 May 1943, Obleser was wounded when his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-4 (Werknummer 19284—factory number) was hit by anti-aircraft artillery resulting in a forced landing at Varenikovskaya.

Squadron leader Following his convalescence, Obleser was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel of JG 52 on 6 July 1943, succeeding Rall who took command of III. Gruppe. Prior to his appointment, the Staffel had briefly been led by Leutnant Berthold Korts until Obleser took command. In preparation for Operation Citadel, III. Gruppe had relocated to the central sector of the eastern Front. The Gruppe first moved to Zaporizhzhia and then to Ugrim on 3 July. There, under the command of Luftflotte 4, they supported Army Group South fighting on the southern flank of the salient.

On 9 September, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Dnipropetrovsk, present-day Dnipro, where they stayed until 24 September. Here on 18 September, Obleser claimed his 50th aerial victory and became an "ace-in-a-day" the following day. The Gruppe reached an airfield near Apostolovo on 1 November. With the exception of a brief period from 12 to 20 November when they also used an airfield at Kirovohrad, the Gruppe remained here until 7 January 1944. Here, Obleser claimed further aerial victories, increasing his total to 82 by end of 1943. For this, Obleser received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 November 1943 and the German Cross in Gold six days later.

Obleser was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 March 1944, nominated after his 80th aerial victory. At one point he questioned the aerial victory claims made by Erich Hartmann. Hartmann asked Rall to have Obleser transferred to be Hartmann's wingman for a while. Obleser became a witness on some of Hartmann's claims and no longer questioned Hartmann's claims. On 21 July 1944, Obleser was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 87th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

On 12 December, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Zagórze, located west of Kraków. The Gruppe flew relatively few missions at the time. Obleser toyed around with a Panzerfaust, a recoil-less anti-tank weapon, in an attempt to increase its firing range. On 30 December, Obleser was severely wounded when a Panzerfaust exploded in his hand. He did not see any further action before the end of the war in May 1945. He was temporarily replaced by Leutnant Karl Gratz until Leutnant Viktor Petermann officially succeeded Obleser on 7 January 1945 as commander of 10. Staffel.

Later life After Obleser was released from US captivity, he worked as a commissioner of a recycling company, which predominantly had to dismantle and dispose of bomber aircraft. He then became head of an industrial application department in the private industry. In 1956, Obleser continued his military career, joining the German Air Force of West Germany as a Hauptmann. Following multiple assignments to various fighter units, Obleser was appointed wing commander of Jagdgeschwader 72 in Leck, later known as Jagdbombergeschwader 43, and then commander of Jagdbombergeschwader 31 "Boelcke". Obleser then held the position of system officer for the multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) within the German Air Staff. He then was appointed general manager of the NATO MRCA Management Agency.

Obleser then served as chief of the Air Force Office and commanding general of the Air Force Support Command . From 1 October 1978 until his retirement on 31 March 1983, he held the position of Inspector of the Air Force in the Bundeswehr, achieving the rank of Generalleutnant.

In June 1981, the Federal Minister of Defence Hans Apel threatened Obleser with early retirement following Obleser's report to the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag . Obleser had stated that, due to the latest defense budget cut, the German Air Force could only partially fulfill its obligations. Apel had viewed Obleser's statement as lack of loyalty towards his superiors. Earlier in March 1981, although skeptical of the proposal, Obleser had approved two budget cuts suggested by Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Jürgen Brandt.

Obleser died of natural causes on 5 June 2004 in Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, at 81 years of age.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Obleser was credited with 120 aerial victories. Spick also lists Obleser with 120 aerial victories claimed in approximately 500 combat missions, all which on the Eastern Front. In addition to these claims, Weal states that Obleser claimed nine aerial victories over United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft, including two heavy bombers. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Obleser was credited with 112 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front. The authors also state that Obleser claimed nine undocumented aerial victories over USAAF aircraft, two heavy bombers and seven fighter aircraft.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 86724". 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 – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 1 28 March 1943 05:37 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86724vicinity of Tichonowskij 41 21 August 1943 13:20 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo south of Jalisawehino 2 11 April 1943 15:55 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85153PQ 86153vicinity of Nowo Nekrassowskij 42 22 August 1943 08:23 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuybyshev south of Jalisawehino 3 20 April 1943 07:04 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 85192vicinity of Erdol 43 22 August 1943 18:00 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 88284 southwest of Jalisawehino 4 21 April 1943 10:57 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 75452 south of Novorossiysk 44 24 August 1943 12:44 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 88282, west of Kuibyschewo southeast of Jalisawehino ? 21 April 1943 11:05 Il-2 PQ 75452 south of Novorossiysk 45 24 August 1943 15:13 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88252, Marinowka east-northeast of Kuteinykove 5 21 April 1943 11:06 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75PQ 75453Black Sea, south of Novorossiysk 46 26 August 1943 06:49 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88273 west-southwest of Jalisawehino 21 April 1943 11:38 Il-2 PQ 75452 47 29 August 1943 06:24 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88343 southwest of Kuteinykove 6 24 April 1943 16:48 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 75444Black Sea, southwest of Novorossiysk 48 5 September 1943 17:15 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 79484 north-northeast of Grischino 7 24 April 1943 16:53 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 75461Black Sea, west of Kabardinka 49 14 September 1943 09:25 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 69413PQ 68475 east of Polohy 8? 27 April 1943 14:18 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76713 50 18 September 1943 07:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 69711 north-northwest of Pokrowskoje 9 27 April 1943 16:03 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 75713PQ 85771over sea, south of Gelendzhik 51 18 September 1943 13:40 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 68373 west-northwest of Polohy 10 27 April 1943 16:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85112north of Mertschanskaja 52♠ 19 September 1943 05:25 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 59444 west-northwest of Pavlohrad 11 30 April 1943 14:50 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 85113, east of Krymskajaeast of Krymsk 53♠ 19 September 1943 08:07 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 59524 east of Dnepropetrovsk 12 3 May 1943 05:08 I-153* PQ 34 Ost 76854east of Varenikovskaya 54♠ 19 September 1943 08:10 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 59553 south-southeast of Dnepropetrovsk 13 3 May 1943 05:12 I-153 PQ 34 Ost 76862vicinity of Imeni Dimitrowo 55♠ 19 September 1943 15:07 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 59583PQ 59531 east of Dnepropetrovsk 14 4 May 1943 15:55 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 85313southeast of Schapssugskaja 56♠ 19 September 1943 15:26 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 59641 southwest of Pavlohrad 15 5 May 1943 07:22? LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 85174, southwest of Abinskajavicinity of Nowenjkij 57 21 September 1943 13:40 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 59383PQ 59381south-southeast of Dnepropetrovsk 16 5 May 1943 07:38? LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 85161west of Eriwanskaja 58 23 September 1943 14:07 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 58993PQ 58193 east-southeast of Zaporizhia 17 6 May 1943 05:15 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 75241PQ 75291vicinity of Neberdshajewskaja 59 25 September 1943 15:03 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 58672 northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak 18 8 May 1943 16:05 Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 85113, east of Krymskajaeast of Krymsk 60 25 September 1943 15:05 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 58673 northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak 19 9 May 1943 07:20 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 75262south of Krymsk 61 26 September 1943 06:51 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58673 northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak 20 11 May 1943 06:29 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 85152, north of Abinskajaeast of Sorin 62 26 September 1943 07:10 Il-2* PQ 34 Ost 58331PQ 58531 southwest of Zaporizhia 21 11 May 1943 06:40 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 86112north of Mertschanskaja 63 27 September 1943 14:15 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 58192 east-southeast of Zaporizhia 22 22 May 1943 09:25 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 85563over sea, south of Gelendzhik 64 29 September 1943 14:10 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 58672, Bolschoj Tokmak northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak 23 26 May 1943 13:19 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 76861north of Kessjetowa 65 30 September 1943 11:23 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58564, northeast of Michailowkavicinity of Kalinowka 24 26 May 1943 16:05 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 76894vicinity of Kijewakoje 66 1 October 1943 06:50 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58674 northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak 25 27 May 1943 06:35 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 85113, east of Krymskajaeast of Krymsk 67 1 October 1943 07:20 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 58133 northeast of Zaporizhia 26 28 May 1943 12:12 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 76894vicinity of Kijewakoje 68 1 October 1943 12:25 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58561vicinity of Kalinowka 27 3 August 1943 08:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 61293 southeast of Prochorowka 69 3 October 1943 08:23 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58153northeast of Zaporizhia 28 3 August 1943 18:39 LaGG-3* PQ 35 Ost 61194 east of Krasnyi Lyman 70 3 October 1943 16:12 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58583 northwest of Beloserka 29 4 August 1943 04:48 LaGG-3* PQ 35 Ost 61332, northwest of Belgorod north of Tomarovka 71 4 October 1943 11:45 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58672, Bolschoj Tokmak northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak 30 4 August 1943 10:55 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61154 north of Krasnyi Lyman 72 6 October 1943 07:10 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58674 northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak 31 4 August 1943 15:15 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 61624 southeast of Belgorod 73 7 October 1943 07:44 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49173 east-northeast of Myronivka 32 5 August 1943 09:43 LaGG-3* PQ 35 Ost 61412 north of Belgorod 74 7 October 1943 11:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49322, west of Schulgowka west-northwest of Dnepropetrovsk 33 7 August 1943 08:46 LaGG-3* PQ 35 Ost 51612 west of Grayvoron 75 7 October 1943 11:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49321 west-northwest of Dnepropetrovsk 34 8 August 1943 15:00 LaGG-3* PQ 35 Ost 61532 southwest of Belgorod 76 8 October 1943 06:40 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49321 west-northwest of Dnepropetrovsk 35 9 August 1943 05:35 LaGG-3* PQ 35 Ost 61652 northwest of Vovchansk 77 8 October 1943 13:06 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58683 north of Bolschoj-Tokmak 36 9 August 1943 05:39 LaGG-3* PQ 35 Ost 61633PQ 61639 north of Vovchansk 78 10 October 1943 06:00 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 58164, east of Zaporizhia east of Zaporizhia 37 14 August 1943 14:52 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 60163 east-southeast of Kharkiv 79 28 November 1943 14:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 48644 south-southeast of Nikopol 38 19 August 1943 09:32 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 88263 east of Marinowka 80 7 December 1943 13:53 Il-2 m.H. north of Nowa Prahanorth Nowaja Praga 39 19 August 1943 11:38 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 88254, Kalinowkavicinity of Dmitrijewka 81 17 December 1943 13:45 Boston northeast of Losowatkanortheast of Losowatka 40 19 August 1943 11:44 LaGG-3* PQ 34 Ost 88281 southwest of Jalisawehino 82 19 December 1943 12:10 Il-2 m.H. south of Nowo-Dnjeprowka – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944 83 7 January 1944 11:35 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 39763 west-southwest of Perekop 94 15 April 1944 16:15 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 35651Laspi BightBlack Sea, south of Laspi Bight 84 15 January 1944 10:30 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 19494 west of Kirovograd 95 15 April 1944 16:18 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 35311Black Sea, west-northwest of Sevastopol 85 23 January 1944 10:30 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 38824 south of Apostolove 96 17 April 1944 15:30 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 35451Dzhankoi 86 30 January 1944 12:02 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 19152 south-southwest of Signajewka 97 27 June 1944 19:40 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 95243 87 1 February 1944 07:28 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 19274 south-southeast of Signajewka 98 7 July 1944 10:30? LaGG PQ 25 Ost 55393 east of Otopeni 88 1 February 1944 10:06 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 19134 south-southwest of Signajewka 99 19 July 1944 14:45 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 42552 northwest of Liuboml 89 26 February 1944 12:02 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 19452 west-northwest of Kirovograd 100 21 July 1944 18:58 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 31876 south of Rawa Ruska 90 14 March 1944 15:34 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70543 southeast of Balakleya 101 24 July 1944 18:28 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 30694 northeast of Stryj 91 21 March 1944 16:21 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70551 north of Izium 102 12 August 1944 14:04 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 11383 north-northwest of Mielec 92 31 March 1944 15:53? LaGG PQ 25 51783 southeast of Brody 103 17 August 1944 12:44 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11474 southwest of Sandomierz 93? 3 April 1944 15:53 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 51783 104 22 August 1944 15:20 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11417 west of Sandomierz ? 4 April 1944 14:03 LaGG PQ 50674 south of Ternopol 105 22 August 1944 15:33 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 11287 north of Sandomierz – 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944 106 26 August 1944 10:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 11189 west of Opatów 110 2 September 1944 14:09 La-5* PQ 25 Ost 11197vicinity of Opatów 107 27 August 1944 15:24 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 11319 southwest of Opatów 111 15 October 1944 10:48 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 26759PQ 20759 south of Sanok 108 31 August 1944 18:33 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 11321 south-southwest of Opatów 112 25 October 1944 14:59 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 25599 west-northwest of Prahovo 109 1 September 1944 11:15 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 11389PQ 11385 south-southwest of Opatów According to Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock, Obleser claimed two undocumented aerial victories after 31 October 1944, his 113th and 114th aerial victories. These claims are not listed by Barbas, nor by Mathews and Foreman.

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 November 1943 as Leutnant in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52 German Cross in Gold on 14 November 1943 as Leutnant in the III./Jagdgeschwader 52 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 March 1944 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52 Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Officer's Cross (April 1973) Commanders Cross (26 September 1979) Grand Cross with Star (4 March 1983)