Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke

Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (11 March 1913 – 23 March 1944) was a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 162 enemy aircraft shot down in 732 combat missions.

He claimed the majority of his victories over the Eastern Front, and 25 over the Western Front, including four four-engined bombers.

Wilcke was born on 11 March 1913 at Schrimm in the Province of Posen, part of the Kingdom of Prussia at the time, now Śrem in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland.

His mother, Hertha von Schuckmann, married again on 14 June 1919.

In 1931, Wilcke was arrested for attending a then-illegal demonstration of the Nazi Party.

Although his loyalty to the Nazi cause is emphasized multiple times in his personal military files, according to biographers Prien and Stemmer, he was a firm opponent of the National Socialist regime; later in his career, for a time after taking command of III.

Born in Schrimm in the Province of Posen, Wilcke volunteered for military service in the Reichswehr of Nazi Germany in 1934.

He joined Artillerie-Regiment 6 (6th Artillery Regiment) in Minden as a Fahnenjunker (officer cadet) on 1 April 1934.

His legal guardian and stepfather, Friedrich von Scotti, also served in this regiment.

As a Fähnrich (officer candidate), Wilcke was posted to the Kriegsschule (war school) in Dresden on 1 October 1934.

Initially serving in the Heer (Army), he transferred to the Luftwaffe (Air Force) in 1935.

On 1 November 1935, he was transferred to the newly emerging Luftwaffe holding the rank of Oberfähnrich (senior officer candidate).

Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader "Richthofen" (Fighter Wing "Richthofen") in April 1936.

On 20 April 1936, while serving at the flight school in Perleberg, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant).

There he excelled as a pilot and showed exceptional leadership ability and was sent as fighter pilot instructor to the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school) in Werneuchen in the second half of 1937.

After an assignment as fighter pilot instructor he volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War in early 1939.

After his return from Spain, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 7.

Following the outbreak of World War II, he claimed his first aerial victory on 7 November 1939.

In March 1939, Wilcke volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.

For a few weeks, he flew with 1.

On 18 May 1940, during the Battle of France, he was shot down and taken prisoner of war.

After the armistice with France, he returned from captivity and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the III.

There, after 25 aerial victories, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 August 1941.

In September 1941, he relocated with his group to the Mediterranean Theater, where he was able to claim further victories.

At the end of May 1942, he was transferred to the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) "Udet", and that August he was appointed as its Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander).

On 23 December 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, his total now 155 aerial victories.

Subsequent to the presentation of the Swords to his Knight's Cross, he was officially banned from operational flying.

Occasionally he still flew combat missions and on 23 March 1944, flying in defense of the Reich, he claimed his 162nd and last aerial victory and was killed in action by United States Army Air Forces long-range P-51 Mustang fighters near Schöppenstedt, in Lower Saxony.

He was the son of a Hauptmann (captain) of Infanterie-Regiment 47 (47th Infantry Regiment), Hans Wilcke, who died of pneumonia when Wilcke was just four weeks of age.

Staffel (7th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing).

Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 53 during the Battle of Britain, claiming 10 victories over England.

Wilcke then fought in the aerial battles of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

Gruppe (3rd group) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing), he had the Swastikas on his unit's aircraft painted over.

He volunteered for military service in the Reichswehr after receiving his Abitur (diploma).

Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) without claiming any aerial victories.

He was awarded the Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Bronze mit Schwertern) for his service in Spain.

In Spain he became friends with Werner Mölders and when Mölders was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the newly created III.

Following his 100th aerial victory on 6 September, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

On 15 October he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader "Richthofen" (Fighter Wing "Richthofen"), also known as Jagdgeschwader 132 (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing), named after the World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen and forerunner of Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) "Richthofen".

During the Battle of Stalingrad, on 17 December, he claimed his 150th aerial victory.