Walter Oesau

Walter "Gulle" Oesau (28 June 1913 – 11 May 1944) was a German fighter pilot during World War II.

Walter "Gulle" Oesau was born to a bank director in Farnewinkel near Meldorf, Germany on 28 June 1913.

He joined the German Army (Heer) in October 1933 and served in the Second Artillery Regiment as an enlisted soldier.

A fighter ace, he served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944.

He rose to command Jagdgeschwader 1, which was named in his honor after his death.

He served with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War with the Jagdgruppe 88.

He claimed nine aircraft during the campaign, becoming one of only 28 people to earn the award of the Spanish Cross in Gold and Diamonds.

At the start of World War II, Oesau was given command of a fighter group within Jagdgeschwader 20.

The group took part in the Invasion of Poland, later moving to the Western Front as the redesignated III Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51.

Oesau operated on both the Western and Eastern Fronts.

He returned to operations as commander of Jagdgeschwader 1.

After being transferred to a Luftwaffe transport unit, he undertook flying training in 1934 as a cadet (Fahnenjunker) at the Luftwaffe Academy (Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule) in Hanover.

Upon completion of his training he was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 132, as a Leutnant.

Jagdgruppe 88 in Spain in April 1938.

The Staffel, commanded by Werner Mölders, took part in the Spanish Civil War where Oesau claimed nine victories, flying 130 combat missions.

For this he received the Spanish Cross (Spanienkreuz) in Gold with Diamonds.

He was also wounded in this conflict which earned him the Spanish Wound Badge.

He also received the Medalla de la Campaña and the Medalla Militar.

The unit was re–designated as Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" in May 1939.

Oesau started his operational career with the Condor Legion, along with future contemporary aces such as Werner Mölders and Adolf Galland.

He was one of the first to join 3.

On 1 March 1939 Oesau joined the Headquarters Flight (Stabsschwarm) of I./JG 2.

By 15 July 1939 Oesau was promoted to Oberleutnant and given command of 2./JG 20.

On 15 July 1939, I./JG 20 was activated in Döberitz initially consisting of two Staffeln drawn from JG 2.

Prior to the invasion of Poland I./JG 20 was transferred to Strausberg on 26 August 1939.

From there, the group was transferred to Sprottau (modern Szprotawa) anticipating an attack from the Polish Air Force.

A week later the group moved to Brandenburg.

On 21 February 1940, the unit was relocated to Bönninghardt under the control of JG 51.

It continued to operate in this fashion until the end of the Battle of France.

On 4 July it was re–designated III./JG 51.

Oesau served as Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 51.

Oesau got his first World War II victory during the Battle of France on 13 May 1940, when he claimed a French Curtiss P-36 Hawk over Halsteren in the Netherlands, earning him the Iron Cross 1st class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse).

On 31 May, he claimed three Spitfires during a patrol North West of Dunkirk and next day he claimed a Bristol Blenheim.

On 13 June 1940, he shot down the last French aircraft kill claimed by JG 51, a French Amiot bomber.

By the end of hostilities in France on 25 June, his World War II tally stood at 5 (13 including Spanish kills).

Following the Battle of France, the Luftwaffe started its attacks on Channel convoys as a prelude to the Battle of Britain.

The primary task of JG 51 during this time was to provide fighter escort to these bomber missions.

The commander of JG 51, Oberst Theo Osterkamp established a policy of unrestricted combat air patrol (freie Jagd) of fighter Staffeln providing loose protection rather than close escort to the bombers, actively seeking out Royal Air Force fighters.

He was killed in action on 11 May 1944 aged 30.

JG 1 was given the name "Oesau" in his honor.