Walter Adolph

Walter Adolph (11 June 1913 – 18 September 1941) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator in the Spanish Civil War and a fighter ace during World War II.

He is credited with 25 aerial victories, including one in Spain, achieved in 79 combat missions.

All his World War II victories were claimed over the Western Front.

Adolph was born on 11 June 1913 at Fântânele, Bacău County, Romania.

After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, he moved with his family to Germany.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27–27th Fighter Wing).

During this campaign, I. Gruppe of JG 1 was subordinated to the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27–27th Fighter Wing) which was under the control of VIII. Fliegerkorps (8th Air Corps) under the command of Generaloberst Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen.

That day, I. Gruppe flew combat air patrols in the area of Venlo–Tirlemont–Liège and later that day to Maastricht.

On 12 May, German forces began crossing the bridges over Meuse and Albert Canal.

At first light, nine Bristol Blenheims belonging to No. 139 Squadron RAF took off from Plivot to bomb the bridgeheads.

They ran into Bf 109s from Stab./JG 51, and 2.

and 3./JG 27.

In defense of these bridges, I. Gruppe claimed ten bombers shot down, including three Blenheim bombers from No. 139 Squadron by Adolph.

No. 139 Squadron lost seven of the unescorted bombers.

Born in Fântânele, Romania, Adolph served in the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, where he claimed his first aerial victory on 30 December 1937.

He was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2.

Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1–1st Fighter Wing), a squadron which was later redesignated 8.

From late 1937 until spring 1938, he served with 1.

He claimed one victory, a Republican Polikarpov I-15 fighter, on 30 December 1937.

He was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern), for his service in the Spanish Civil War.

On 1 January 1939, Adolph was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2.

This unit was renamed on 1 May 1939 and was then referred to 2.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1–1st Fighter Wing) from then on.

In mid-August 1939, 2.

Staffel was ordered to move from Jesau, near present-day Bagrationovsk, to Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo, in preparation for the German Invasion of Poland.

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

Adolph claimed his first aerial victory in World War II on 1 October 1939 over Osnabrück.

His opponent was a Royal Air Force (RAF) Bristol Blenheim N6281 of No. 139 Squadron flown by F/O AC MacLachlan.

In October 1940, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II.

Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26–26th Fighter Wing) and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 November 1940.

On 6 September, I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 1 was withdrawn and ordered to Lübeck-Blankensee and then on 15 September to Vörden where the unit stayed until January 1940.

There, the Gruppe flew fighter protection during the "Phoney War" on the German border to the Netherlands.

In mid-January 1940, I. Gruppe was ordered to an airfield at Gymnich, today part of Erftstadt, where the unit was tasked with patrolling Germany's western border.

There, the Gruppe continuously conducted various flight exercises.

In late April, the unit received the first Bf 109 E-4 variant, replacing the Bf 109 E-3s.

The Wehrmacht launched the invasion of France and the Low Countries on 10 May 1940.

On 16 September 1941, he was killed in action with Supermarine Spitfire fighters from No. 41 Squadron.

Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88–88th Fighter Group) of the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.

Adolph arrived in Spain at the time J/88 received a complement of 14 new Messerschmitt Bf 109 B-2 fighters.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 130 (JG 130–130th Fighter Wing), a squadron of I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 130 under the command of Hauptmann Bernhard Woldenga.