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Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn

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Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn
Born7 September 1914
Lübeck
Died6 July 1944(1944-07-06) (aged 29)
Daugavpils
Cause of deathKilled in action
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1935–1944
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitLG 2, JG 77, JG 5, SG 4
Commands heldII./SG 4
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn (7 September 1914 – 6 July 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace listed with at least nine enemy aircraft shot down in over 300 combat missions. As a commander of fighter bombers, his unit was credited with the destruction of 39,000 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied shipping. On 6 July 1944, Strakeljahn was killed in action, shot down by Soviet anti-aircraft artillery near Daugavpils.

Career[edit]

Strakeljahn was born on 7 September 1914 at Lübeck, an independent free city with the German Empire. He became a police officer and in 1935 joined the Luftwaffe. Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to I. (Jäger) Gruppe (I.(J)—1st fighter group) of Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing), an operational training unit tasked with the evaluation of new types of aircraft and tactics.[2] Strakeljahn had graduated from the Luftkriegsschule 1 (1st Air War School) in Dresden in the summer of 1938 and was initially assigned to 1. Staffel of LG 2 commanded by Hauptmann Harro Harder, a veteran of the Spanish Civil War.[3]

World War II[edit]

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. In preparation for the invasion, I.(J)/LG 2 had deployed to an airfield at Malzkow, present-day Malczkowo. At the time, Strakeljahn served as Gruppenadjutant, the assisting officer, helping the commanding officer of I.(J)/LG 2, Hauptmann Hanns Trübenbach, with unit administration.[4] The Gruppe supported the 4th Army as part of Army Group North.[5]

On 19 May 1940 during the Battle of France, Strakeljahn claimed his first two aerial victories. He claimed a Royal Air Force (RAF) Westland Lysander shot down near Lille and a Hawker Hurricane fighter near Le Cateau before he was shot down in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 by Armée de l'air (French Air Force) Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter aircraft near Compiègne. Initially posted as missing in action, Strakeljahn was wounded in the encounter and returned to his unit on 22 May.[6]

Strakeljahn was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2.(J)/LG 2 on 30 August 1940, replacing Oberleutnant Herbert Ihlefeld who was transferred to take command of I.(J)/LG 2.[7] On 6 January 1942, I.(J)/LG 2 was redesignated and became the I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). Consequently, 2.(J)/LG 2 became the 2. Staffel of JG 77.[8]

War on the Arctic Front[edit]

On 17 May 1942, Strakeljahn was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing). Command of 2. Staffel of JG 77 was given to Oberleutnant Herbert Thurz.[9] Prior to his departure from JG 77, Strakeljahn briefly led 7. Staffel on behalf of Oberleutnant Wolf-Dietrich Huy who had been wounded in combat.[10] With JG 5, he was appointed the first Staffelkapitän of 12. Staffel on 1 July 1942.[11] The Staffel was initially based at Trondheim-Ørland Airfield and was subordinated to the newly formed IV. Gruppe of JG 5.[12] In early September, Strakeljahn relocated 12. Staffel to Bodø where they relieved 11. Staffel.[13] On 21 September, Strakeljahn was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).[14]

Area of operations.

On 4 March 1943, Strakeljahn succeeded Hauptmann Erich Schreiber as Staffelkapitän of 14.(Jabo)/JG 5, a fighter bomber squadron.[15][16] The Staffel was based at Petsamo, present-day Pechenga in Murmansk Oblast, Russia on the Eismeerfront (Ice Sea Front)—the area of operations nearest the Arctic Ocean. Equipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-2 and A-3 armed with SC 250 and SC 500 bombs, the unit primarily intercepted Soviet coastal shipping.[17] On 4 April, 14.(Jabo)/JG 5 attacked Allied shipping from convoy JW 53 off Rosta in the Kola Bay, claiming a near miss on the British cargo steamship SS Dover Hill.[18][19] On 8 May, Strakeljahn led seven Fw 190s in an attack on Soviet shipping in the Kola Bay. Five Fw 190s attacked the Soviet destroyer Grozny, scoring near misses and inflicting some damage. The other two Fw 190s spotted a Soviet submarine near the exit of the Kola Bay. The pilots later filed an unconfirmed claim for its sinking.[20][19] On 14 May, Strakeljahn led 14.(Jabo)/JG 5 in the attack on the Soviet submarine M-122 off the northern coast of the Rybachy Peninsula.[21] A direct hit on the conning tower by Feldwebel Stefan Türk sank M-122.[22]

On 7 July, Strakeljahn led a flight of three Fw 190 fighter bombers on a mission over the Motka Bay. Near the southern exit of the bay they spotted and attacked a vessel of approximately 100 gross register tons (GRT) with SC 500 bombs which they Luftwaffe pilots claimed sunk. Strakeljahn had released his bomb too close to the vessel, in consequence, the explosion of the bomb damaged his Fw 190 A-3 (Werknummer—135508 factory number). Nevertheless, Strakeljahn managed to fly back to Petsamo. Following the landing, Strakeljahn sustained severe injuries when an explosion set his aircraft on fire. His injuries were so severe that he temporarily had to be replaced by Oberleutnant Karl-Friedrich Koch as commander of 14.(Jabo)/JG 5.[23][24] Following his convalescence and return to his unit, Strakeljahn received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 19 August 1943 for his leadership, at the time he was credited with nine aerial victories and personally sank 15,000 GRT of shipping.[25][26] The presentation was made by Generalmajor Ernst-August Roth, at the time Fliegerführer Lofoten and Fliegerführer Nord (Ost).[27]

Group commander and death[edit]

On 15 April 1944, 14.(Jabo)/JG 5 relocated from the Eastern Front to the Mediterranean theater where it was redesignated and became the 4. Staffel of Schlachtgeschwader 4 (SG 4—4th Combat Wing) and based at Viterbo Airfield.[28] Strakeljahn then became Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of SG 4 on 20 May, succeeding Hauptmann Gerhard Walther who was killed in action two days earlier.[29] On 6 July 1944, Strakeljahn was killed in action when his Fw 190 F-8 (Werknummer—931018) was hit by anti-aircraft fire west of Macuty, near Dünaburg, present-day Daugavpils.[2]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that he was credited with ten aerial victory claims. This number includes five claims on the Western Front with others claimed on the Eastern Front.[30]

Chronicle of aerial victories
! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
# (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien in his 1995 book.
? Information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location
– Stab I.(Jagd) Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 –[31]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 19 May 1940 14:20 Lysander Lille[32] 1 29 May 1940
—
 Hurricane[33]
2 19 May 1940 14:23 Hurricane Le Cateau[32]
– Stab I.(Jagd) Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 –[31]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June – 30 August 1940
2 22 August 1940
—
 Spitfire[34] 4 3 30 August 1940 19:02 Spitfire[34][35]
3 24 August 1940 16:30 Spitfire[35] 4 7 September 1940
—
 Hurricane[34]
– 2.(Jagd) Staffel of Lehrgeschwader 2 –[31]
At the Channel and over England — 31 August 1940 – 30 March 1941
5 20 October 1940 10:30 Spitfire[36] 5 14 February 1941
—
 Spitfire[37]
– 2.(Jagd) Staffel of Lehrgeschwader 2 –[31]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
6 10 July 1941 13:08?[Note 2] I-15[38] 7 6 17 July 1941 06:07 I-16[38]?[Note 3]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[31]
Eastern Front — 6 January – 30 April 1942
7 21 January 1942
—
 I-16[39] 9 21 March 1942
—
 DB-3[40]
8 18 February 1942
—
 DB-3[41] 8 15 April 1942?[Note 4] 16:36 Pe-2[42]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[31]
Eastern Front — 16 May – 1 July 1942
9 1 July 1942 17:17 Yak-1[43]

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[1]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:08.[31]
  3. ^ According to the 1995 book by Prien listed as a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1.[37]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 15 March 1942.[31]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  2. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 211.
  3. ^ Prien 1992, p. 52.
  4. ^ Prien 1992, p. 67.
  5. ^ Prien 1992, p. 71.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2000, pp. 398, 406, 410.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 389.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2005, pp. 271, 378.
  9. ^ Prien 1993, p. 1012.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 346.
  11. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 296.
  12. ^ Mombeek 2003, pp. 107, 109.
  13. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 217.
  14. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 29.
  15. ^ Mombeek 2001, p. 235.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 390.
  17. ^ Weal 1998, pp. 30–31.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 361, 393.
  19. ^ a b Mombeek 2001, p. 240.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 364, 393.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 366, 393.
  22. ^ Mombeek 2001, p. 246.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 373, 390, 395.
  24. ^ Mombeek 2001, pp. 260–261, 296.
  25. ^ Weal 2016, pp. 76–77.
  26. ^ Obermaier 1976, p. 200.
  27. ^ Mombeek 2001, p. 266.
  28. ^ Shores et al. 2018, p. 586.
  29. ^ Brütting 1992, p. 274.
  30. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1280, 1524.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1280.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2000, p. 406.
  33. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2381.
  34. ^ a b c Prien 1995, p. 2382.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 394.
  36. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 397.
  37. ^ a b Prien 1995, p. 2384.
  38. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 406.
  39. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2399.
  40. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2402.
  41. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2400.
  42. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 285.
  43. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 352.
  44. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 463.
  45. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 414.
  46. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 728.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Brütting, Georg (1992) [1976]. Das waren die deutschen Stuka-Asse 1939 – 1945 [These were the German Stuka Aces 1939 – 1945] (in German) (7th ed.). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch. ISBN 978-3-87943-433-6.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Mombeek, Eric (2001). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 1—Zerstörrerstaffel und Jabostaffel [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 1—Destroyer Squadron and Fighter Bomber Squadron]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-9600236-3-3.
  • Mombeek, Eric (2003). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 2 [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 2]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-9600236-4-0.
  • Mombeek, Eric (2011). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 4 [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 4]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-930546-05-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe 1939–1945 Band II Stuka- und Schlachtflieger [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe 1939–1945 Volume II Dive Bomber and Attack Aircraft] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-021-3.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen (1992). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 1—1934–1941 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 1—1934–1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-19-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1993). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 2—1941–1942 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 2—1941–1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-22-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1995). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 4—1944–1945 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 4—1944–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-29-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried; Thomas, Andy (2018). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome: 14 May, 1943 – 5 June 1944. Vol. 4. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-911621-10-2.
  • Weal, John (1998). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 6. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-518-0.
  • Weal, John (2016). Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 124. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-798-2.
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