Josef Zwernemann

Josef Zwernemann (26 March 1916 – 8 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a fighter ace credited with 126 enemy aircraft shot down in over 600 combat missions.

The majority of his victories were claimed on the Eastern Front, with ten aerial victories claimed over the Western Front during the Battle of Britain and in Defense of the Reich.

Zwernemann was born on 26 March 1916 in Kirchworbis in the province of Thuringia.

He was the son of a cordwainer who later worked as a miner.

Following graduation from school, Zwernemann worked as a clerk (Handlungsgehilfe) in the metal industry.

Born in Kirchworbis, Zwernemann volunteered for military service in the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany in 1935 and transferred to the Luftwaffe a year later.

Zwernemann joined the military service of the Kriegsmarine on 1 October 1935 with the 2nd department of the standing ship division of the Baltic Sea in Stralsund.

On 2 January 1936, he transferred to the Luftwaffe where he was assigned to the Fliegerhorstkompanie (Airfield Company) in Holtenau.

On 1 April 1938, Zwernemann was promoted to Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer) and was trained as a pilot.

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.

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

Following flight training, Zwernemann was posted to the newly created 7.

Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in 1940.

Zwernemann participated in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain where he claimed his first three aerial victory on 24 July 1940.

Staffel (7th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing) began on 1 March 1940.

At the time, 7.

Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Herbert Ferner.

The Staffel was subordinated to III.

The Gruppe had been formed on 1 March 1940 at Strausberg and was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 and E-3.

Zwernemann participated in the Battle of France on 10 May 1940.

III.

Gruppe supported the German attack of Army Group A in northern France, Luxembourg and the area of the Ardennes in southern Belgium.

On 18 June, III.

Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations in France and relocated back to Germany.

In preparation for the Battle of Britain, the Gruppe began moving to the English Channel on 20 July, arriving at an airfield near Coquelles located southwest of Calais two days later.

On 24 July, III.

Gruppe flew its first combat air patrols where they encountered Royal Air Force fighters off of Margate during a Kanalkampf mission.

In this encounter, Zwernemann claimed his first aerial victory over a Supermarine Spitfire fighter.

His Rottenflieger (wing man) on this mission was Edmund Roßmann.

That day, 7.

Staffel lost its Staffelkapitän Fermer who was killed in action.

In July 1941, he fought in the Battle of Crete and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

Following his 57th aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 June 1942 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 31 October 1942 after 102 aerial victories.

In December 1943, Zwernemann was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 1.

Zwernemann claimed nine more victories before he was killed in action in combat with a North American P-51 Mustangs on 8 April 1944.

Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 52 headed by Major Wolf-Heinrich von Houwald.

On 6 April, the Gruppe was moved to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield where it was placed under the control of the Stab (headquarter unit) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53–53rd Fighter Wing).

Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) which was based in Germany and fighting in Defense of the Reich.