Werner Husemann (10 November 1919 – 2 February 2014) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and 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. Husemann claimed to have shot down 34 enemy aircraft, and was credited with 30 aerial victories.[Note 1]
Werner Husemann | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 November 1919 Schötmar/Lippe |
| Died | 2 February 2014 (aged 94) Bad Salzuflen |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Major (Major) |
| Unit | NJG 1, NJG 3 |
| Commands | 7./NJG 1 I./NJG 3 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Career
editHusemann was born on 10 November 1919 in Schötmar/Lippe. He enlisted in the Luftwaffe in 1941 and served with a weather reconnaissance squadron.
Night fighter career
edit
Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight, RAF attacks shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign.[1] By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector named a Himmelbett (canopy bed) would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers. In 1941, the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar. This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942.[2]
In late 1942, Husemann transferred to the Stab (staff) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (the 1st Night Fighter Wing).[3] He claimed his first aerial victorie on the night of 17/18 August 1942. His victories increased to 17 by the end of 1943, including three British Avro Lancaster bombers shot down on the night of 25/26 June 1943. He was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron commander) of the 7th squadron of NJG 1 on 1 October 1943. Husemann was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 24 October 1943, and the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 1 November 1943.
Group commander
editOn 4 January 1944, Husemann became commander of the I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 3—3rd Night Fighter Wing), succeeding Hauptmann Paul Szameitat who had been killed.[4] Husemann was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 30 September 1944 after being credited with 30 aerial victories. By the war's end he had 34 aerial victories in over 250 night combat missions. His last 13 victories were claimed with Oberfeldwebel Hans-Georg Schierholz as his wireless/radio operator.[5]
On 14 November 1944, Husemann, flying a Junkers Ju 88 G6 attacked a Short Stirling bomber near Ringkøbing. During the attack, the Ju 88 was hit by the defensive fire of the Stirling's tail gunner. Too low to bail out, Husemann made a forced landing in the fields of Tværmosegaard, a farm 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) northeast of Herning.
Summary of career
editAerial victory claims
editAccording to Spick, Husemann was credited with 32 aerial victories claimed in over 250 combat missions.[6] The authors Heaton and Lewis state that he was credited with 34 aerial victories.[7] Obermaier lists him with 30 nocturnal aerial victories claimed in over 250 combat missions.[5] Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 32 nocturnal victory claims[8] Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Husemann with 31 claims.[9]
In some instances, aerial victories were claimed and logged in a Planquadrat (PQ—grid reference). The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) map was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2).[10][11]
| Chronicle of aerial victories | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed in Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945 but not in Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims. | ||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Serial No./Squadron No. | |
| – Stab of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –[3] | ||||||
| 1 | 17 December 1942 | 20:53 | Stirling | 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Zwolle[12] PQ 4341 |
Stirling BF396/No. 75 Squadron RAF[13] | |
| 2 | 27 April 1943 | 03:37 | Stirling | 17 km (11 mi) west of Hilversum[14] | Stirling BF383/No. 90 Squadron RAF[15] | |
| 3 | 12 June 1943 | 02:55 | Wellington[16] | |||
| 4 | 13 June 1943 | 02:20 | Lancaster | Tubbergen[17] | Lancaster ED816/No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron RAF[18] | |
| 5 | 24 June 1943 | 03:17 | Halifax | 6 km (3.7 mi) north-northwest of Amsterdam[19] | Halifax BB379/No. 138 Squadron RAF[20] | |
| 6 | 26 June 1943 | 01:13 | Halifax | east of Zevenaar[21] | Stirling BK768/No. 75 Squadron RAF[22] | |
| 7?[Note 2] | 26 June 1943 | 01:17 | Stirling | 13 km (8.1 mi) west-northwest of Waterwijk[21] | Stirling EH898/No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF[23] | |
| 8 | 26 June 1943 | 02:19 | Lancaster | 13 km (8.1 mi) south of Haarlem[21] | Lancaster R5572/No. 106 Squadron RAF[24] | |
| 9 | 29 June 1943 | 03:07 | Lancaster[25] | 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Hoorn | Lancaster ED569/No. 207 Squadron RAF[26] | |
| 10 | 24 August 1943 | 00:50 | Halifax | Biesenthal[27] | Lancaster ED328/No. 101 Squadron RAF[28] | |
| 11 | 28 August 1943 | 03:15 | Wellington | northwest of Nuremberg[29] | Stirling EF448/No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF[30] | |
| 12 | 4 September 1943 | 00:50 | Wellington | vicinity of Strasbourg[31] | ||
| 13 | 7 September 1943 | 00:45 | Halifax | 30 km (19 mi) south of Munich[32] | Halifax JD166/No. 10 Squadron RAF[33] | |
| – 7. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –[3] | ||||||
| 14 | 22 October 1943 | 21:30 | Lancaster | 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Minden[34] | Lancaster DS778/408 (Goose) Squadron[35] | |
| – Stab I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –[9] | ||||||
| 15 | 25 March 1944 | 00:39 | four-engined bomber | west of Münster[36] | ||
| 16 | 10 April 1944 | 03:40?[Note 3] | four-engined bomber | Hersfeld[37] | ||
| 17 | 10 April 1944 | 03:45?[Note 4] | four-engined bomber | vicinity of Hersfeld[37] | ||
| 18 | 23 April 1944 | 23:56 | four-engined bomber | Lolland Island[38] | ||
| 19 | 23 May 1944 | 00:25 | four-engined bomber | Assen/Emmen[39] | Lancaster ND963/No. 83 Squadron RAF[40] | |
| 20 | 16 June 1944 | 00:59 | four-engined bomber | south of Thérouanne[41] | ||
| 21 | 24 June 1944 | 01:15 | four-engined bomber | Saint-Omer/Ypres[42] | ||
| 22 | 6 July 1944 | 00:35 | four-engined bomber | Strait of Dover[43] | ||
| 23 | 21 July 1944 | 01:34 | four-engined bomber | northwest of Venlo[44] | Lancaster ND915/No. 75 Squadron RAF[45] | |
| 24 | 29 July 1944 | 01:47 | four-engined bomber | Bitsche/Pirmasens[44] | Lancaster KB759/No. 428 Squadron RCAF[46] | |
| 25 | 13 August 1944 | 00:47 | four-engined bomber | Sulingen/Wagenfeld[47] | Lancaster LM598/No. 101 Squadron RAF | |
| 26 | 17 August 1944 | 00:40 | four-engined bomber[48] | 330° – 350° from beacon "Q" | Lancaster PB239/No. 405 Squadron RCAF[49] | |
| 27 | 30 August 1944 | 00:48 | Lancaster | PQ LH[50] | Lancaster ED588/No. 50 Squadron RAF[51] | |
| 28 | 30 August 1944 | 01:19 | Lancaster | PQ OK-PK[50] | Lancaster HK594/No. 75 Squadron RAF[52] | |
| 29 | 14 February 1945 | 20:41 | Halifax | Zealand Island[53] | Halifax MY793/No. 10 Squadron[54] | |
| 30 | 14 February 1945 | 21:17 | Halifax | Møn Island[55] | ||
| 31 | 4 March 1945 | 20:29 | Lancaster | east of Aahus[56] | ||
| 32 | 4 March 1945 | 23:32 | Lancaster | Bourtange moor[56] | ||
Awards
edit- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 1 November 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot[57]
- German Cross in Gold on 24 October 1943 as Oberleutnant in the 7./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[58]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3[59][60]
Notes
edit- ^ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
- ^ This claim is listed in Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945 but not in Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims.[3]
- ^ According to Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims at 03:45.[3]
- ^ According to Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims at 03:50.[3]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 9.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 27.
- ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 567.
- ^ Aders 1978, p. 228.
- ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 138.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 245.
- ^ Heaton & Lewis 2008, p. 149.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 62–240.
- ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 567–568.
- ^ Hinchliffe 1999, p. 208.
- ^ Planquadrat.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 62.
- ^ Stirling BF396.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 77.
- ^ Stirling BF383.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 84.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 85.
- ^ Lancaster ED816.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 89.
- ^ Halifax BB379.
- ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 90.
- ^ Stirling BK768.
- ^ Stirling EH898.
- ^ Lancaster R5572.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 91.
- ^ Lancaster ED569.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 105.
- ^ Lancaster ED328.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 108.
- ^ Stirling EF448.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 110.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 112.
- ^ Halifax JD166.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 125.
- ^ Lancaster DS778.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 159.
- ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 165.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 169.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 178.
- ^ Lancaster ND963.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 188.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 192.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 197.
- ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 202.
- ^ Lancaster ND915.
- ^ Lancaster KB759.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 208.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 210.
- ^ Lancaster PB239.
- ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 213.
- ^ Lancaster ED588.
- ^ Lancaster HK594.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 234.
- ^ Bowman 2016, p. 195.
- ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 235.
- ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 240.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 107.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 203.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 238.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 412.
Bibliography
edit- Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. London: Janes. ISBN 978-0-354-01247-8.
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- Bowman, Martin (2016). German Night Fighters Versus Bomber Command 1943–1945. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-4979-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Foreman, John; Parry, Simon; Mathews, Johannes (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.
- Heaton, Colin; Lewis, Anne-Marie (2008). Night Fighters: Luftwaffe and RAF Air Combat over Europe, 1939–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-360-4.
- Hinchliffe, Peter (1999). Schnaufer: Ace of Diamonds. Brimscombe Port, UK: Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-1690-8.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Accident description for Halifax BB379 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster JD166 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster ED328 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster ED569 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster ED588 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster ED816 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster DS778 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster HK594 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster KB759 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster ND915 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster ND963 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster PB239 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Lancaster R5572 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Stirling BF383 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Stirling BF396 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Stirling BK768 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Stirling EF448 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
- Accident description for Stirling EH898 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 29 September 2022.
