Heinz Wernicke

Heinz Wernicke (17 October 1920 – 27 December 1944) was a Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace and was credited with 117 aerial victories—that is, 117 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. He was also 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. Wernicke was killed in a mid-air collision with his wingman on 27 December 1944.

Career Wernicke was born on 17 October 1920 in Berlin of the Weimar Republic. He joined the 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in early 1942 as an Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer). JG 54 at the time was stationed at the Eastern Front. In the fall of 1942, he was transferred to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group East) and then to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 54 in early 1943. There, he claimed his first aerial victory on 7 March 1943 over an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft in aerial combat south of Lake Ilmen. At the time, II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 54 was based at Rjelbitzi, an airfield south of Leningrad. On 11 March, II. Gruppe under the command of Hauptmann (Captain) Heinrich Jung, relocated to Gatchina for combat in the Siege of Leningrad and east in the vicinity of the Volkhov River. In this combat area, Wernicke claimed a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter on 19 March, a Yakovlev Yak-4 light bomber one day later, and another LaGG-3 plus a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter on 27 March, taking his total to five aerial victories.

Following five further victories in June 1943, Wernicke became a fighter pilot instructor and underwent officer training courses. On 4 July 1943, Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) Horst Ademeit, his Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 6. Staffel, assessed Wernicke concluding that at the time Wernicke required further training to become an officer.

In October 1943, he was back to front line service and claimed his 88th aerial victory on 3 August 1944, and surpassed the century mark—100 aerial victories—in mid-September 1944. He was the 91st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century-mark. On 22 February 1944, Wernicke and Oberfeldwebel Fritz Harder suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in their accommodations at the Uman airfield. Wernicke was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 after 112 victories. The presentation was made by General Kurt Pflugbeil.

Squadron leader and death On 1 October 1944, Wernicke was appointed Staffelkapitän of the 1. Staffel of JG 54, succeeding Oberleutnant Helmut Wettstein in this capacity. On 27 December, he and his wingman Unteroffizier Gerhard Wollien were killed in a mid-air collision during aerial combat with Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters north of Doblen, present-day Dobele. Command of 1. Staffel then went to Oberleutnant Josef Heinzeller.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wernicke was credited with 117 aerial victories. Obermaier and Spick also list him with 117 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 118 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 18382". 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 – 1 7 March 1943 11:47 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18382 north of Chełm 27 15 December 1943 12:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01794 north of Leningrad 2 19 March 1943 13:30 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00421Pushkin-Mga 28 15 December 1943 12:45 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01761 north-northeast of Leningrad 3 20 March 1943 07:30 Yak-4 PQ 36 Ost 20363 southeast of Mga 29 9 January 1944 10:15 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80161over the Gulf of Finland, northeast of Hungerburg 4 27 May 1943 16:43 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00274 northeast of Pushkin 30 13 January 1944 15:28 Yak-7 PQ 26 Ost 80682 east-southeast of Narva 5 27 May 1943 19:53 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 20211west of Volkhov 31 14 January 1944 09:30 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80682 east-southeast of Narva 6 1 June 1943 04:57 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 20163south of Volkhov 32 14 January 1944 09:32 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80654 east of Narva 7 8 June 1943 15:59 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 20152southwest of Volkhov 33 15 January 1944 12:15 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90711 southwest of Lissino 8 17 June 1943 09:23 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10252 west-southwest of Schlüsselburg 34 15 January 1944 12:20 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90583 southwest of Lissino 9 18 June 1943 05:59 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 20213vicinity of Volkhov 35 15 January 1944 12:24 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90572 southwest of Lissino 10 24 June 1943 07:07 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 21793 north of Volkhov 36 22 January 1944 11:56 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80694 southwest of Lissino 11 20 October 1943 14:10 Yak-9 southeast of Glebowka 37 24 January 1944 13:56 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80664 east of Narva 12 21 October 1943 09:43 Pe-2 east of Gussenojesoutheast of Schlüsselburg 38 24 January 1944 14:02 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 90523 west-northwest of Lissino 13♠ 5 November 1943 11:53 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 01682 north-northwest of Schlüsselburg 39 4 February 1944 07:17 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 09112 14♠ 5 November 1943 11:59 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 01684 north-northwest of Schlüsselburg 40 4 February 1944 07:20 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00771 south of Siverskij 15♠ 5 November 1943 14:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 01564 northeast of Zelenogorsk 41 9 February 1944 06:32 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 09211 16♠ 5 November 1943 14:28 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 01674 north-northeast of Leningrad 42 9 February 1944 12:25 R-5 PQ 36 Ost 00762 southeast of Siverskij 17♠ 5 November 1943 14:34 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 01642 north-northeast of Leningrad 43 12 February 1944 15:25 Yak-9 PQ 36 Ost 10552vicinity of Lyuban 18 22 November 1943 09:00 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 91591 northwest of Zelenogorsk 44♠ 16 February 1944 07:11 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 00693 south of Tosno 19 28 November 1943 10:45 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91534 north of Zelenogorsk 45♠ 16 February 1944 07:12 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 00693 south of Tosno 20 28 November 1943 10:48 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91614 north of Zelenogorsk 46♠ 16 February 1944 07:13 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 00694 south of Tosno 21 28 November 1943 14:53 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91591 northwest of Zelenogorsk 47♠ 16 February 1944 07:15 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 10573 southwest of Lyuban 22 29 November 1943 14:30 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91534 north of Zelenogorsk 48♠ 16 February 1944 07:18 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 10573 southwest of Lyuban 23 29 November 1943 14:32 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91614 north of Zelenogorsk 49♠? 16 February 1944 11:20 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00562 24 29 November 1943 14:33 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91621 north-northeast of Zelenogorsk 50♠ 16 February 1944 14:56 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00691 south of Tosno 25 12 December 1943 13:34 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 00171 north of Selo 51 21 February 1944 11:10? La-5 PQ 26 Ost 90562 east of Siverskij 26 14 December 1943 17:05 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 00154 south of Leningrad 52? 20 April 1944 18:20 unknown – 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – 53 17 June 1944 17:55 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 01384 northeast of Zelenogorsk ? 21 July 1944 20:52 Yak-9 over the Baltic Sea, near Kunda 54 18 June 1944 08:28 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 91369 southeast of Vyborg 73 22 July 1944 17:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88597 south of Ostrov 55 19 June 1944 18:45 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91533 north of Zelenogorsk 74 23 July 1944 08:28 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 88157vicinity of Pskov ? 20 June 1944 15:40 P-39 northwest of Zelenogorsk 75 23 July 1944 15:19 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 78265 56 21 June 1944 09:20 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 81575over the Baltic Sea, northeast of Hungerburg 76 23 July 1944 15:21 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 88323 south of Pskov 57 23 June 1944 12:28 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 81426 east of Vyborg 77 24 July 1944 16:03 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70693 southwest of Narva 58 26 June 1944 13:42 La-5 south of Vyborg 78 26 July 1944 16:36 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70695 southwest of Narva 59 26 June 1944 13:47 La-5 south of Häämeda 79 26 July 1944 17:02 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 70695over the Gulf of Finland 60 26 June 1944 18:45 Yak-9 east of Vyborg 80 26 July 1944 17:03 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 70695over the Gulf of Finland 61 28 June 1944 09:25 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91315 east of Vyborg 81 26 July 1944 17:05 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 70695 southwest of Narva 62 28 June 1944 20:45 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 81347 east of Vyborg 82 27 July 1944 11:23 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 78648 west of Ostrov 63 29 June 1944 08:05 DB-3 PQ 26 Ost 91265 east-northeast of Vyborg 83 27 July 1944 14:30 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78562, northwest of Liepna northeast of Schwanenburg 64 30 June 1944 09:43 Boston PQ 26 Ost 81413 southeast of Vyborg 84 27 July 1944 18:45 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78523 northeast of Schwanenburg 65 30 June 1944 20:44 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 81297, north-northwest of Talias northwest of Vyborg 85 27 July 1944 19:02 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 78481 southwest of Selo 66 2 July 1944 06:51 P-39 PQ 26 Ost 91175 northeast of Vyborg 86 2 August 1944 13:05 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 70462over the Baltic Sea, north-northwest of Hungerburg 67 4 July 1944 08:25 P-39 PQ 26 Ost 81467 87 2 August 1944 13:09 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 70481over the Baltic Sea, northwest of Hungerburg 68 6 July 1944 15:40 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 81422vicinity of Vyborg 88 3 August 1944 15:24 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80572southwest of Narva 69 8 July 1944 06:30 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 81431 east of Vyborg 89 3 August 1944 15:31 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80582southeast of Narva 70 9 July 1944 12:12 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91418 east of Vyborg 90 20 August 1944 13:59 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57252 north-northwest of Kreuzburg 71 9 July 1944 21:03 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91199 northeast of Vyborg 91 20 August 1944 16:09 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57429 northwest of Kreuzburg 72 14 July 1944 10:32 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 91415 east of Vyborg – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – 92 26 August 1944 15:21 P-39 PQ KF-5/6 106 17 September 1944 16:26 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37382 southwest of Mitau 93 26 August 1944 15:23? Pe-2 PQ KG-7/5 107 19 September 1944 15:57 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 37353 west-southwest of Mitau 94 26 August 1944 15:24 Pe-2 PQ KG-8/3 108 19 September 1944 15:59 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 37381 southwest of Mitau 95 3 September 1944 10:18 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 58893 southeast of Wenden 109 20 September 1944 14:09 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47382 south-southwest of Riga 96 6 September 1944 07:35 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37366 west-southwest of Mitau 110 20 September 1944 14:10 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47386 south-southwest of Riga 97 6 September 1944 07:45 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37626 south of Mitau 111 27 September 1944 15:30 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57146 south-southeast of Mālpils 98 14 September 1944 14:52 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57215 east-southeast of Mālpils 112 28 September 1944 13:57? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 48823 north-northwest of Mālpils 99 14 September 1944 14:53 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57219 east-southeast of Mālpils 113 1 October 1944 16:09 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 48725over the Baltic Sea, north-northeast of Riga 100 14 September 1944 16:50 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 47139 east of Riga 114 7 October 1944 15:56 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 48882west of Mālpils 101 15 September 1944 13:35 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 47343 northeast of Mitau 115 7 October 1944 15:57 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 58757 northeast of Valmiera 102 15 September 1944 18:20 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 47378 south of Riga 116 9 October 1944 08:56? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47191 southeast of Riga 103 16 September 1944 09:18 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 37496 southeast of Mitau 117 12 October 1944 10:55? Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 48782 northeast of Riga 104 16 September 1944 12:44 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 47517 northeast of Pasewalk ? 27 December 1944 Yak-9 Dobele 105 26 June 1944 16:24 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 37354 west-southwest of Mitau

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class German Cross in Gold on 20 March 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel in the II./Jagdgeschwader 54 Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 24 April 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel and pilot Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54