Horst Ademeit

Horst Ademeit (8 February 1912 – 7 August 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. Ademeit fought in the Battle of Britain and the Eastern Front where he was officially credited with 166 aerial victories before his disappearance during a mission over Latvia on 7 August 1944.

Early life Horst Ademeit was born on 8 February 1912 in Breslau in the Kingdom of Prussia of the German Empire (present-day Wrocław, Poland) the son of Walter Ademeit, a Regierungsbaurat (government building officer). He studied chemistry at the Königsberg Albertina University and was a member of the Corps Masovia Königsberg. In 1933, he transferred to the Technische Hochschule in Charlottenburg, Berlin (now Technische Universität Berlin) while his family had moved to nearby Potsdam, where his father was leading the construction of the Niederfinow Boat Lift.

On 1 August 1936, Ademeit joined the Luftwaffe as a reservist. He graduated as Diplom Ingenieur from the Technische Hochschule in Braunschweig (now Technische Universität Braunschweig) in 1938. On 9 December 1938, Ademeit was made an officer cadet of the reserves and received flight training.

World War II In the spring of 1940, Unteroffizier Ademeit was transferred to 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) Grünherz and participated in the Battle of Britain. He claimed his first aerial victory during the Battle of Britain on 18 September 1940. However, shortly afterwards he was shot down over the English Channel, bailing out and rescued by the Seenotdienst unharmed.

In June 1941, after the German invasion of Soviet Union, Ademeit accompanied I./JG 54 to the Eastern Front. In quick succession he achieved aerial victories, promotions and awards. On 7 March 1943, Ademeit was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6. Staffel of JG 54, replacing Oberleutnant Hans Beißwenger who was killed in action the day before. In October 1943, Ademeit was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 61st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

On 4 February 1944, Ademeit succeeded Hauptmann Walter Nowotny as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander of I. Gruppe of JG 54. On 14 February, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield named Wesenberg near Rakvere, located approximately north of Lake Peipus and west of Narva. Here the Gruppe was subordinated to the 3. Flieger-Division (3rd Air Division) and fought in the Battle of Narva.

Disappearance On 7 August 1944, Ademeit, flying a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 (Werksnummer 5960 — factory number) led a flight of four Fw 190s to the combat area near Kreutzburg on the right bank of the Daugava, where they intecepted a flight of ten Ilyushin Il-2s and Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters at 15:17. His wingman, Gefreiter Biebrichter, later reported that Ademeit was last seen in pursuit of an Il-2 into a thick cloud of smoke. He pursued the Il-2 eastwards near Dünaburg across the front line, but failed to return from this mission and was considered missing in action.

Ademeit was succeeded by Hauptmann Franz Eisenach as commander of I. Gruppe. Berlin radio announced his loss on 29 September 1944. Ademeit was officially credited with 166 victories in over 600 missions over the Eastern Front. He was posthumously promoted to Major.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to American historian David T. Zabecki, Ademeit was credited with 166 aerial victories. Scutts also lists him with the same number of aerial victories. In addtion, Spick states that Ademeit flew approximately 600 combat missions and a mission-to-claim ratio of 3.61. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 160 aerial victory claims, all of which confirmed and claimed on the Eastern Front. The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock list six further victories, aerial victories numbered 99–104, which were not documented by Mathews and Foreman, in the timeframe 18 September to 3 October 1943.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 2525". 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 – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941 1 23 June 1941 10:13 SB-2 PQ 2525 8 24 September 1941 10:11 I-15? 2 6 July 1941 17:35 SB-3 9 7 October 1941 16:25 MBR-2 3 7 August 1941 18:13 I-16 10 9 October 1941 07:47 I-26 (Yak-1) 4 27 August 1941 19:00 I-16 11 12 October 1941 09:57 U-2 5 5 September 1941 17:35 I-26 (Yak-1) 12 25 October 1941 13:27 I-18 (MiG-1) 6 5 September 1941 18:04 R-5 13 6 November 1941 12:42 Pe-2 7 23 September 1941 13:17 I-153 14 3 December 1941 12:11 I-16 – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942 15 8 January 1942 09:55 I-26 (Yak-1) 18 7 February 1942 08:33 I-18 (MiG-1) 16 8 January 1942 13:14 SB-2 Guijka 19 16 February 1942 07:45 Il-2 17 20 January 1942 11:23 I-26 (Yak-1) 20 18 February 1942 13:15 I-16 – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 21 5 May 1942 18:42 Yak-1 Leningrad 29 9 September 1942 18:10? MiG-3 PQ 11802 northwest of Volkhov 22 10 May 1942 06:50 P-40 PQ 10621 30 22 October 1942 07:35 I-153 PQ 11762over Lake Ladoga 23 12 May 1942 11:10 Yak-1 east of Possademkowo 31 6 November 1942 08:22 P-40 northern Leningrad 24 12 May 1942 11:15 Yak-1 PQ 10463 32 16 December 1942 09:35 Pe-2 PQ 11852 northwest of Volkhov 25 29 May 1942 10:20 SB-3 33 12 January 1943 09:20 Il-2 PQ 10151southeast of Shlisselburg 26 30 May 1942 05:32 MiG-3 34 12 January 1943 14:08 Yak-1 PQ 10182vicinity of Shlisselburg 27 30 May 1942 18:34 P-40 35 27 January 1943 09:30 Il-2 PQ 00294 west of Mga 28 8 June 1942 15:25 P-40 36 27 January 1943 14:40 LaGG-3 PQ 10123east of Shlisselburg – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — February 1943 37 11 February 1943 09:58 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00454 east-southeast of Slutsk 42 22 February 1943 15:05 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10123east of Shlisselburg 38 11 February 1943 10:00 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00424Pushkin-Mga 43 23 February 1943 07:05 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10151southeast of Shlisselburg 39 15 February 1943 07:50 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10483 northeast of Lyuban 44 23 February 1943 11:15 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10172 northeast of Leningrad 40 18 February 1943 09:35 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10444 southeast of Mga 45 27 February 1943 08:35 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10254 west-southwest of Shlisselburg 41 21 February 1943 13:25 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10454 northeast of Lyuban – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — March – 31 December 1943 46 13 March 1943 15:16 R-5 PQ 36 Ost 20122, north of Wolchowstrojwest of Volkhov 73 2 August 1943 08:51 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10184east of Mga 47 15 March 1943 15:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18284 southeast of Staraya Russa 74 2 August 1943 13:19 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10161southeast of Shlisselburg 48 16 March 1943 15:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18342 southeast of Staraya Russa 75 2 August 1943 19:22 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10354 southeast of Mga 49 19 March 1943 10:00 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00411 east of Pushkin 76 7 August 1943 11:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54818 west-southwest of Bolkhov 50 21 March 1943 12:03 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00271 northeast of Pushkin 77 7 August 1943 14:02 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54684 southwest of Bolkhov 51 23 March 1943 17:10 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 00412 east of Pushkin 78 14 August 1943 05:00 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 45772 west-southwest of Kirov 52 25 March 1943 07:50 Yak-1 PQ 36 Ost 00283 west of Mga 79 16 August 1943 13:28 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 45752, northwest of Kirov northwest of Kirov 53 3 April 1943 18:15 Yak-1 PQ 36 Ost RD 57 80 17 August 1943 08:52 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 44583 west of Karachev 54 1 June 1943 16:17 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 21774 north of Volkhov 81 17 August 1943 09:27 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 43663 southwest of Dmitrowsk 55 5 June 1943 12:13 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 21752 north of Volkhov 82 20 August 1943 06:22 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 43824 east-northeast of Sevsk 56 12 June 1943 11:25 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 90131 west of Lomonossow 83 21 August 1943 16:42 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 43853 southeast of Sevsk 57 18 June 1943 17:15 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 20174south of Volchov 84 22 August 1943 06:22 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 4382 58 18 June 1943 17:17 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 20421 southeast of Volkhov 85 23 August 1943 10:00 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 43893 southeast of Sevsk 59 22 June 1943 19:22? LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 01751 north of Leningrad 86 23 August 1943 18:35 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 43851 southeast of Sevsk 60 12 July 1943 18:27? La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64863 southeast of Mtsensk 87 24 August 1943 14:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 44472 east-southeast of Dyatkovo 61 13 July 1943 06:53 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63293 southeast of Oryol 88 28 August 1943 11:47 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 43674 northeast of Sevsk 62 13 July 1943 06:54 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 63261 east-southeast of Oryol 89 30 August 1943 14:21 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35611 southeast of Yelnya 63 13 July 1943 06:56 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63234 southeast of Mtsensk 90 31 August 1943 06:47 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 35624 west-northwest of Spas-Demensk 64 13 July 1943 11:06 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63283 southeast of Mtsensk 91 31 August 1943 15:28 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35582 south of Yelnya 65 14 July 1943 14:10 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54353 southeast of Zhizdra 92 31 August 1943 15:38 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35384, southwest of Jelnja southeast of Yelnya 66 16 July 1943 18:45 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63524 west-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk 93 2 September 1943 12:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35381 southeast of Yelnya 67 17 July 1943 06:42 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54474 west-northwest of Bolkhov 94 4 September 1943 17:02 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 35374 southwest of Yelnya 68 21 July 1943 17:18 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 53462 south-southwest of Oryol 95 4 September 1943 17:06 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35371, west of Jelnja southwest of Yelnya 69 28 July 1943 09:14 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10154southeast of Shlisselburg 96 5 September 1943 11:13 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 25631 southwest of Yelnya 70 28 July 1943 09:17 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10331 east-southeast of Mga 97 5 September 1943 13:28 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26814 north-northwest of Yartsevo 71 28 July 1943 09:25 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10334 east-southeast of Mga 98 10 September 1943 10:50 Hurricane PQ 35 Ost 35372, northwest of Yelnya southwest of Yelnya 72 31 July 1943 18:15 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10243 east-southeast of Shlisselburg According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Ademeit claimed aerial victories 99–104, which were not documented, in the timeframe 18 September to 3 October 1943. These six claims are not listed by Mathews and Foreman. 105 7 October 1943 16:12 La-5 southeast of Kotitschisoutheast of Ashitka 118♠ 12 October 1943 16:08 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10131east of Shlisselburg 106 7 October 1943 16:14 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01214Lake Ladoga 119 13 October 1943 15:40 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01334 northeast of Zelenogorsk 107 7 October 1943 16:19 La-5 west of Tcherninwest of Tschermin 120 14 October 1943 07:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11512over Lake Ladoga 108 9 October 1943 11:32 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01334 northeast of Zelenogorsk 121 20 October 1943 14:11 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01191 109 10 October 1943 15:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11781over Lake Ladoga 122 20 October 1943 15:42 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01391 northeast of Zelenogorsk 110 10 October 1943 16:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10121east of Shlisselburg 123 21 October 1943 07:12 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11793 northeast of Shlisselburg 111 11 October 1943 10:12 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01122 124 21 October 1943 07:29 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 10111vicinity of Shlisselburg 112 11 October 1943 15:51 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10121east of Shlisselburg 125 21 October 1943 07:30 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 11773over Lake Ladoga 113♠ 12 October 1943 08:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10122east of Shlisselburg 126 21 October 1943 09:52 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10124east of Shlisselburg 114♠ 12 October 1943 08:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11784over Lake Ladoga 127 12 December 1943 07:28 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 00154 south of Leningrad 115♠ 12 October 1943 10:43 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 11791over Lake Ladoga 128 12 December 1943 07:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01783 north of Leningrad 116♠ 12 October 1943 10:43 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 11791over Lake Ladoga 129 15 December 1943 07:20 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 91393 southeast of Vyborg 117♠ 12 October 1943 11:22 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11763over Lake Ladoga 130 17 December 1943 08:08 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 00161 – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 1 January – 3 February 1944 131 11 January 1944 14:00 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 80874 south-southeast of Narva 135 15 January 1944 09:15 La-5? PQ 26 Ost 80821 southeast of Narva 132 14 January 1944 11:12? Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80691 east-southeast of Narva 136 15 January 1944 09:20 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80824 southeast of Narva 133 15 January 1944 09:10 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80831 southeast of Narva 137 24 January 1944 14:14 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80434Gulf of Finland, northeast of Hungerburg 134 15 January 1944 09:13 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80822 southeast of Narva – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 4 February – 7 August 1944 138 7 February 1944 10:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 05132 153 29 June 1944 19:47 P-39 PQ NS-8/1 139 5 March 1944 09:27? La-5 PQ 26 Ost 70821 southwest of Narva 154 2 July 1944 08:00 Pe-2 PQ OS-8/2 140 5 March 1944 12:20 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 70832 southwest of Narva 155 2 July 1944 10:48 P-39 PQ OS-6/4vicinity of Polotsk 141 5 March 1944 12:45 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80574southwest of Narva 156 2 July 1944 17:25 P-39 PQ OT-7/6northeast of Polotsk 142 9 March 1944 08:46 Il-2? PQ 26 Ost 70524 west of Hungerburg 157 3 July 1944 12:35 Yak-9 PQ OS-4/3vicinity of Polotsk 143 9 March 1944 11:40 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80682 southwest of Narva 158 3 July 1944 12:38 Yak-9 PQ OS-7/6vicinity of Polotsk 144 18 March 1944 15:43 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 70182 northeast of Kunda 159 21 July 1944 09:21? Il-2 PQ OL-2/3 145 19 March 1944 10:35 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 80573vicinity of Hungerburg 160 21 July 1944 09:26 P-39 PQ NM-8/6 146 23 March 1944 11:30? Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 70593 southeast of Kunda 161 21 July 1944 19:09? La-5 PQ NN-1/8 147 28 March 1944 16:18? LaGG-3? PQ 25 Ost 89231 northeast of Opotschka 162 22 July 1944 09:26 Yak-9 PQ NM-9/7 148 30 March 1944 08:30 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 6025 163 23 July 1944 14:17 Il-2 PQ NN-7/4vicinity of Daugavpils 149 21 April 1944 14:25 Yak-9 southwest of Narva 164 23 July 1944 14:20 Yak-9 PQ NN-7/5vicinity of Daugavpils 150 28 May 1944 08:32 LaGG-3 PQ 26 Ost 70691 southwest of Narva 165 25 July 1944 13:58 P-39 PQ ON-6/6 151 28 June 1944 08:12? P-39 166 27 July 1944 15:50 Pe-2 PQ NN-7/5vicinity of Mitau 152 29 June 1944 04:18 Yak-9 PQ NR-5/3

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (7 September 1940) 1st Class (5 September 1941) Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold and Penant Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 December 1941 as Leutnant and pilot German Cross in Gold on 25 February 1942 as Leutnant in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 16 April 1943 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 414th Oak Leaves on 2 March 1944 as Hauptmann (war officer) and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54