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Walther Wever (pilot)

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This article is about the World War II Luftwaffe flying ace. For his father, the Luftwaffe general, see Walther Wever (general).
Walther Wever
Walther Wever attending his father's funeral in Berlin
Born(1923-01-16)16 January 1923
München, Germany
Died10 April 1945(1945-04-10) (aged 22)
Near Neuruppin, Germany
Cause of deathKilled in action
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1943–1945
RankOberleutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 51, JG 7
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
RelationsWalther Wever (father)

Walther Wever (16 January 1923 – 10 April 1945) was a Luftwaffe flying ace during the Second World War. The son of former Chief of the Luftwaffe General Walther Wever, Wever served during 1943 on the Eastern Front and from 19 June 1943 until 10 April 1945 he claimed 44 aerial victories in 250 combat missions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Career

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Wever was born on 16 January 1923 in Munich in the Weimar Republic, the son of General der Flieger Walther Wever.[1] Following flight training in mid-1943 he was posted to 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).[Note 1] At the time, 3. Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Heinz Lange and was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 51 headed by Major Erich Leie and stationed at an airfield named Orel-Slobodka located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) west-southwest of Oryol on the Eastern Front.[2] Wever claimed his first aerial victory on 19 June south of Karachev, approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) west of Oryol. Depending on source, the aircraft shot down was either a Yakovlev Yak-4 light bomber, an Yakovlev Yak-4 fighter, or a Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber.[3][4]

Notable landmarks during his career included his 10th kill on 1 September 1943 followed four days later by shooting down three Il-2 Sturmoviks in five minutes. On 29 March 1944 he claimed a further five aerial victories, making him an "ace-in-a-day". Then on 24 June, he claimed his 40th aerial victory.

Squadron leader

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On 7 May 1944, Weaver was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 51, succeeding Lange who was transferred.[5] Wever had already briefly led the Staffel from 15 to 30 August 1943 when Lange had been temporarily tasked with the leadership of I. Gruppe of JG 51.[2] On 21 June, bombers of the Eighth Air Force on a shuttle bombing mission of Operation Frantic, attacked oil refineries south of Berlin before heading for the Poltava Air Base. The bombers were intercepted by elements of JG 51 led by Major Fritz Losigkeit. In this encounter, two of the escorting North American P-51 Mustang fighters were shot down, including one by Wever.[6][Note 2] One of the P-51 fighters crashed near the Luftwaffe airfield at Babruysk where III. Gruppe of JG 51 was based. In its cockpit, a map of the Poltava Air Base was found. The Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe, Hauptmann Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber, sent the map to the headquarters of Luftflotte 6 (6th Air Fleet). This intelligence led to an attack by Luftwaffe bombers which destroyed 44 parked Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and damaged further 26.[8] On 10 July, Wever was shot down and wounded in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 410413—factory number) by Soviet Anti-aircraft artillery.[9] Command of 3. Staffel was then passed to Oberleutnant Günther Josten.[5]

Although he lost a foot, Wever continued to fly and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 28 January 1945 for reaching the final total of 44 victories. He was then transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing), the first jet fighter wing, where he received further training on the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. On 10 April 1945, having not scored another kill, Wever was shot down and killed in action by Allied fighters near Neuruppin. That day, the Luftwaffe lost a number of Me 262 pilots, including Hauptmann Franz Schall. The Americans dubbed this day the "great jet massacre".[10]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to Obermaier, Wever was credited with 44 aerial victories all but one claimed on the Eastern Front in 250 combat missions.[1] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 44 aerial victory claims with 43 claimed on the Eastern Front and one on the Western Front.[11]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 43231". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) 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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[12]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Wever an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[4]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
1 19 June 1943 07:30 Yak-1?[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 43231[13]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Tschaikowka 		13 5 September 1943 17:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 25462[14]
25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Mariampol
2 1 August 1943 17:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 54732[15]
vicinity of Znamenskoje 		14 5 September 1943 17:59 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 25466[14]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Yelnya
3 2 August 1943 08:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 53472[15]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Orsha 		15 14 September 1943 12:20 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] northeast of Dukhovshchina[14]
4 2 August 1943 18:32 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 54751[15]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tschaikowka 		16 14 September 1943 15:09 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 26393[14]
vicinity of Beloi
5 3 August 1943 11:46 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 54554[15]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Dudorovskiy 		17 30 September 1943 09:56 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] east of Tuberizur[16]
6 3 August 1943 12:32 Boston PQ 35 Ost 53292[15]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Kromy 		18 30 September 1943 09:57 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] east of Tuberizur[16]
7 14 August 1943 17:57 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 51852[17]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Bohodukhiv 		19 30 October 1943 07:15 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] southwest of Krijewka[18]
8 20 August 1943 14:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51524[17]
vicinity of Kirkowka 		20 30 November 1943 12:40 Yak-9 northeast of Zhlobin[18]
9 30 August 1943 17:43 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] west of Yelnya[19] 21 15 December 1943 12:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 93438[18]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Zhlobin
10 30 August 1943 18:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] north of Yelnya[19] 22 15 December 1943 13:05 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 03311[18]
20 km (12 mi) south of Zhlobin
11 1 September 1943 18:08 Il-2 west of Yelnya[19] 23 23 December 1943 13:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 03127[18]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Gorodets
12 5 September 1943 17:54 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 25465[14]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Yelnya
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[11]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 10 July 1944
24 4 January 1944 12:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/96693[20]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Vitebsk 		35♠ 29 March 1944 16:39 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost N/04462[21]
20 km (12 mi) south of Chavusy
25 6 January 1944 10:39 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost N/06783[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Kamary 		36 28 May 1944 07:08 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost N/96366[6]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Dretun
26 6 January 1944 10:40 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost N/06786[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Kamary 		37 21 June 1944 12:53 P-51 PQ 25 Ost N/23881[6]
vicinity of Halászi
27 12 January 1944 11:54 La-5 PQ 25 Ost N/96962[21]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Vitebsk 		38 22 June 1944 07:35 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/96599[6]
30 km (19 mi) west of Kėdainiai
28 14 January 1944 09:11 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost N/05132[21]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Kamary 		39 23 June 1944 14:00 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost N/05896[6]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Ulla
29 14 January 1944 09:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost N/05121[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Liozna 		40 24 June 1944 18:00 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost N/96585[6]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Ulla
30 14 January 1944 13:57 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost N/05133[21]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Kamary 		41 25 June 1944 11:55 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost N/05375[6]
31♠ 29 March 1944 12:10 La-5 PQ 35 Ost N/04481[21]
30 km (19 mi) east of Stara Bychow 		42 25 June 1944 12:04 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost N/05382[6]
32♠ 29 March 1944 12:24 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost N/04451[21]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Chavusy 		43 29 June 1944 16:25 La-5 PQ 25 Ost N/94134[6]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Byerazino
33♠ 29 March 1944 16:22 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost N/04289[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Chavusy 		44 30 June 1944 13:24 La-5 PQ 25 Ost N/94317[6]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southeast of Byerazino
34♠ 29 March 1944 16:30 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost N/04442[21]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Stara Bychow

Awards and decorations

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Notes

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  1. ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. ^ According to Weal, Wever shot down a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.[7]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Douglas A-20 Havoc.[4]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  5. ^ According to Obermaier on 20 March 1944.[1]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 223.
  2. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 453, 492.
  4. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1410.
  5. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 319.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2022, p. 324.
  7. ^ Weal 2006, p. 110.
  8. ^ Weal 2006, pp. 110–111.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2022, pp. 298, 328.
  10. ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 100–101.
  11. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1410–1411.
  12. ^ Planquadrat.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 492.
  14. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 499.
  15. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 496.
  16. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 500.
  17. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 497.
  18. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 501.
  19. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 498.
  20. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2022, p. 322.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2022, p. 323.
  22. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 200.
  23. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 216.
  24. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 510.
  25. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 444.
  26. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 782.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • 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.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2008). Jagdgeschwader 7 'Nowotny. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-320-9.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/I—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/I—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-26-0.
  • 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.
  • Weal, John (2006). Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 22. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-045-1.
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