Helmut Neumann

Helmut Neumann (21 November 1921 – 21 April 1992) was a Luftwaffe (German air force) fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 62 aerial victories achieved in 162 combat missions, becoming an "ace-in-a-day" on two separate occasions. All but two of his aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.

Career Neumann was born on 21 November 1921 in Frankfurt am Main, at the time in the Province of Hesse-Nassau within the Weimar Republic. Following completion of flight, Neumann completed his fighter pilot training with the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe West, a supplementary training unit for fighter pilots, based in Cazaux, France. He was then posted to 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing) on 11 August 1942 based in Kirkenes. At the time, 7. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Hans-Curt Graf von Sponeck, son of Hans Graf von Sponeck, and subordinated to III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 5 headed by Hauptmann Günther Scholz. Two days later, he crash landed his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 (Werknummer 6033—factory number) at Kirkenes, nearly destroying the aircraft.

On 4 April 1943 at 13:10, 7. and 9. Staffel were scrambled to intercept an inbound Soviet formation of Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, escorted by Bell P-39 Airacobra and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters. In this encounter, Neumann claimed one of the P-39 fighters shot down which was not confirmed. During this aerial engagement, his Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 8562) suffered engine failure, resulting in a forced landing at Petsamo. On 26 September, Neumann was wounded in combat when his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15791) was hit by anti-aircraft artillery during a search and rescue mission southeast of the Liza Bight. Nevertheless, he managed to fly back to Petsamo. Searching for Leutnant Friedrich Schumann, who remained missing in action, shrapnel from the anti-aircraft artillery shell had hit him in the throat. Heavily bleeding, he had to be pulled out if his aircraft. Nearly dying from the loss of blood, his speech remained impaired for the rest of his life and Neumann was hospitalized for six months.

Squadron leader and end of war On 4 September 1944, Finland implemented a ceasefire followed by the Soviet Union a day later, effectively ending the Continuation War. Consequently, IV. Gruppe of JG 5 was ordered to move to northern Norway. That day, 14. Staffel relocated to Trondheim-Værnes Airfield and placed under the command of Neumann, replacing Oberleutnant Horst Keim. On 26 September, Neumann claimed his 50th aerial victory when he shot down a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter.

On 13 January 1945, Neumann flew his last combat mission with JG 5. He was then transferred to Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2 for conversion training to the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. With this unit, he flew the Me 262 for the first time at Lechfeld Airfield on 28 January. Command of his former 14. Staffel of JG 5 was transferred to Leutnant Hans Richter. Neumann was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1945 for 62 aerial victories claimed.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Neumann was credited with 62 aerial victories. Spick also lists him with 62 aerial victories claimed in 162 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 62 aerial victories, claimed in 162 combat missions. All but two of his aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 37 Ost RC-3". 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 5 –Eastern Front, eastern and northern Norway, and Finland — 1 January – 31 December 1943 1 22 July 1943 23:02 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost RC-3, west of Pummanki 6 23 August 1943 04:53 P-39 PQ 37 Ost SE 3, north of Eyna Guba north of Eyna Guba 2 25 July 1943 02:55 P-39 PQ 37 Ost QC-4 south of Kiberg 7 2 September 1943 17:50 P-40 northwest of Pummanki northwest of Pummanki 3 25 July 1943 02:58 P-39 PQ 37 Ost QC-6 southeast of Kiberg 8 14 September 1943 18:39 P-39 PQ 37 Ost RC 46, northwest of Petsamo northwest of Petsamo Bight 4 18 August 1943 12:43 P-39 southeast of Eyna Guba southeast of Eyna Guba 9 14 September 1943 18:53 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RC 93, south of Heinäsaari southwest of Heinäsaari 5 18 August 1943 14:45 P-39 southeast of Eyna Guba southeast of Eyna Guba – 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — May – July 1944 10 11 May 1944 07:35 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost QC-5/6 northwest of Vayda-Guba 29♠ 17 June 1944 21:35 Boston PQ 37 Ost RC-4/1 northeast of Jaarnet 11 16 May 1944 19:15 P-39 PQ 37 Ost QC-3/8 east of Kiberg 30 27 June 1944 16:41 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost SD-6/6 southeast of Kirkenes 12 16 May 1944 19:40 P-39 PQ 37 Ost QF-9/5 north-northeast of Cape Lazar 31 27 June 1944 16:42 P-40 PQ 37 Ost SD-8/4 south-southwest of Kirkenes 13 25 May 1944 21:47 P-40 north-northeast of Berlevåg north-northeast of Berlevåg 32 27 June 1944 16:46 Boston PQ 37 Ost RB-4/5 northeast of Kirkenes 14 25 May 1944 21:49 Boston north-northeast of Berlevåg north-northeast of Berlevåg 33♠ 28 June 1944 00:01 Boston PQ 37 Ost SU-3/3 northwest of Kirkenes 15 25 May 1944 21:51 P-39 north of Berlevåg north of Berlevåg 34♠ 28 June 1944 00:03 Boston PQ 37 Ost SU-8/1 southwest of Kirkenes 16 26 May 1944 05:01 P-40 north-northeast of Hamningberg north-northeast of Hamningberg 35♠ 28 June 1944 00:11 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RD-9/6 northeast of Ivarnet 17 26 May 1944 05:02 P-39 north of Hamningberg north-northeast of Hamningberg 36♠ 28 June 1944 03:47 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RD-7/4 north-northeast of Petsamo Fjord 18 26 May 1944 05:03 Il-2 northeast of Hamningberg north-northeast of Hamningberg 37♠ 28 June 1944 03:48 P-40 PQ 37 Ost SD-2/3 northeast of Petsamo Fjord 19 26 May 1944 05:07 P-39 northeast of Hamningberg north-northeast of Hamningberg 38♠ 28 June 1944 03:59 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RC-8/9 northwest of Petsamo Fjord 20 15 June 1944 02:42 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RD-6/8 north of Pumanki 39 4 July 1944 03:47 P-40 PQ 37 Ost NB-7/5 northeast of Makur 21 15 June 1944 19:28 P-40 PQ 37 Ost SD-2/3, northeast of Kirkenes southwest of Pumanki 40 4 July 1944 19:15 Boston PQ 37 Ost RA-2/5 northwest of Jaarnet 22♠ 17 June 1944 07:48 P-40 PQ 37 Ost PC-6/2 west of Kiberg 41 4 July 1944 19:19 P-40 PQ 37 Ost SA-3/4 east of Kirkenes 23♠ 17 June 1944 07:49 P-40 PQ 37 Ost PC-9/3 east-northeast of Kiberg 42 17 July 1944 18:54 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RA-4/1 north of Kirkenes 24♠ 17 June 1944 08:06 Boston PQ 37 Ost QC-2/7 south of Kiberg 43 17 July 1944 18:56 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RA-5/4 west of Kirkenes 25♠ 17 June 1944 08:10 Il-2 PQ 37 Ost/QC-9/1 southwest of Kiberg 44 17 July 1944 18:59 Boston PQ 37 Ost SB-4/9 southeast of Kirkenes 26♠ 17 June 1944 21:28 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RB-6/5 northeast of Kirkenes 45 28 July 1944 13:15 P-39 PQ 37 Ost RU-3/7 southeast of Vadsø 27♠ 17 June 1944 21:29 P-39 PQ 37 Ost RB-5/3 northeast of Kirkenes 46 28 July 1944 13:22 Il-2 PQ 37 Ost RA-3/6 southeast of Ekkerøya 28♠ 17 June 1944 21:30 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RB-7/8 northeast of Jaarnet 47 28 July 1944 13:26 P-39 PQ 37 Ost RC-5/4 northwest of Heinäxaret island – Stab of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 5 –Eastern Front — August 1944 48 17 August 1944 10:18 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost RB south of Ekkerøya 49 23 August 1944 12:17? Il-2 PQ 37 Ost RQ southeast of Ekkerøya – 14. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –Eastern Front — 6 September – 6 November 1944 50? 26 September 1944 16:48 Yak-9 east of Ekkerøya 56 8 October 1944 09:03 P-39 southeast of Petsamo 51? 27 September 1944 Pe-2 Ekkerøya east-southeast of Ekkerøya 57 9 October 1944 08:31 P-39 southeast of Petsamo 52? 27 September 1944 11:41? P-39 south of Kiberg 58 9 October 1944 08:34 P-39 southeast of Petsamo 53 27 September 1944 11:43 P-39 south of Kiberg 59 9 October 1944 08:37 Boston southeast of Petsamo 54 27 September 1944 11:44 Boston east of Ekkerøya 60 9 October 1944 14:47 Boston southeast of Petsamo 55 29 September 1944 15:27 P-39 east-southeast of Ekkerøya east-southeast of Ekkerøya

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class German Cross in Gold on 1 January 1945 as Leutnant in the 14./Jagdgeschwader 5 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1945 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 14./Jagdgeschwader 5