Heinz Lange

Heinz Lange (2 October 1917 – 26 February 2006) was an officer and pilot in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II who briefly commanded fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51.

He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Lange was born on 2 October 1917 in Cologne, at the time in the Rhine Province, the westernmost province of the Kingdom of Prussia within the German Empire.

On 15 July 1939, Lange was posted to the newly created I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21—21st Fighter Wing).

The Gruppe was formed at Jesau near Königsberg, present-day Kaliningrad in Russia, and placed under the command of Hauptmann Martin Mettig.

Equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1, the Gruppe was ordered to Gutenfeld, present-day Lugovoye, in July 1939.

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

That day, I. Gruppe of JG 21 moved to Arys-Rostken, present-day Orzysz-Rostki.

On 16 September, Lange crashed his Bf 109 D-1 at Klein Zechen, present-day Szczechy Małe, due to setting darkness.

On 18 October 1939, Lange had a takeoff accident in his Bf 109 D-1 at Celle Airfield.

On 30 October, Lange claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Royal Air Force Bristol Blenheim bomber of No. 18 Squadron 25 mi north-west of Hopsten.

The Blenheim was on a reconnaissance mission to the area of Osnabrück.

On 4 May 1941, III.

On 15 October 1942, Lange left 1.

Staffel of JG 54 and transferred command to Leutnant Walter Nowotny.

On 6 November, Lange was then given command of 3.

From 15 to 30 August 1943, Lange was temporarily placed in command of I. Gruppe of JG 51, stepping in for Major Erich Leie.

During this assignment, command of 3.

Staffel briefly passed on to Leutnant Walther Wever.

On 7 January 1944, Lange was transferred and briefly commanded I. Gruppe of JG 54, stepping in for Hauptmann Walter Nowotny who was on home leave and then transferred.

Command of the Gruppe was officially handed to Hauptmann Horst Ademeit on 4 February.

On 9 May, Lange succeeded Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of IV.

Gruppe of JG 51.

Command of his former 3.

Staffel was then officially passed on to Wever.

At the time, IV.

Gruppe of JG 51 was based at Lysiatychi.

On 22 June, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, the strategic offensive operation against Army Group Centre.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).

He took over command from Oberleutnant Michael Sonner who had been transferred a week earlier.

Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) began relocating from Belgrad-Semlin by train to Germany, arriving at Airfield Stolp-Reitz in Pomerania, present-day Słupsk, on 10 May.

At Stolp-Reitz, JG 54 upgraded their aircraft to the Bf 109 F-2.

For the next four weeks, the pilots familiarized themselves with the new aircraft before on 15 June, III.

Gruppe was ordered to Blumenfeld in East Prussia, present-day Karczarningken in the Kaliningrad Oblast, in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.

During the upcoming invasion, JG 54 would be deployed in the area of Army Group North, was subordinated to I. Fliegerkorps (1st Air Corps) and supported the 16th and 18th Army as well as the Panzer Group 4 in their strategic objective to reach Leningrad.

On 30 June, Lange claimed his first aerial victories on the Eastern Front when he show down two Ilyushin DB-3 bombers shout down over southern Latvia.

On 1 October, Lange was transferred and appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1.

Staffel (1st squadron) of JG 54.

He succeeded Hauptmann Reinhard Seiler was given command of III.

Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 54.