Wolfgang Falck

Wolfgang Falck (19 August 1910 – 13 March 2007) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander and one of the key organisers of the German night fighter defences.

As a fighter ace, he claimed eight enemy aircraft shot down in 90 combat missions.

Born in Berlin, Falck volunteered for military service in the Reichsheer of the Weimar Republic in 1931.

In parallel, he was accepted for flight training with the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule, a covert military-training organization, and at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school.

On 7 April 1931, he began his pilot training at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (DVS—German Air Transport School) at Schleißheim.

He and 29 other trainees were part of Kameradschaft 31 (camaraderie of 1931), abbreviated "K 31".

Among the members of "K 31" were future Luftwaffe staff officers Bernd von Brauchitsch, Günther Radusch, Günther Lützow, Ralph von Rettberg and Hannes Trautloft.

Falck graduated from the DVS on 19 February 1932.

In February 1933 he attended the Infantry School at Dresden for officer training and made Leutnant (second lieutenant) in October 1934.

In March 1935, Leutnant Falck became an instructor at the DVS at Schleissheim and in April 1936 promoted to Oberleutnant.

In September 1936, Falck married Marilies von Berchem.

Marilies was the daughter of Otto Freiherr von Berchem and his wife Hedwig von Berchem, née Freiin von Stauffenberg.

The two were married at the Trinity Church in Munich.

Falck's best man was Lützow, his friend from "K 31".

Their son Klaus was born on 21 June 1937.

In March 1937, Falck was appointed adjutant to Oberstleutnant Gerd von Massow, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of Jagdgeschwader 132 "Richthofen" (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing).

On 1 August 1938, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8.

Staffel (8th squadron), a squadron of the newly created III.

Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 141 (ZG 141—141st Destroyer Wing), a unit which became the I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76—76th Destroyer Wing) on 1 May 1939.

In consequence, Falck commanded the 5.

Staffel of ZG 141, and later the 2.

Staffel of ZG 76.

Initially based at Pardubitz, present-day Pardubice in the Czech Republic, the Gruppe was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-1 heavy fighter.

During the prelude of World War II on 25 August 1939 I. Gruppe of ZG 76 deployed to an airfield at Ohlau to the southeast of Breslau.

On Friday 1 September 1939, German forces invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe.

I. Gruppe of ZG 76 participated in this campaign and was based at Märzdorf, present-day Bohdíkov in the Czech Republic, under the command of 6.

Fliegerdivision (6th Air Division).

On 5 September, Falck claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a PZL.23 Karaś in combat near Dalików.

He claimed two further aerial victories over Polish Air Force aircraft on 11 September.

He was credited with the destruction of a Fokker F.IX 8 km southeast of Biała Podlaska and a PWS-26 12 km southwest of Biała Podlaska.

In October, the unit was then relocated, at first to Bönninghardt and on 16 December to Jever, to protect the northern seaboard and the Kriegsmarine naval bases.

During the Battle of the Heligoland Bight on 18 December 1939, he was credited with the destruction of a Royal Air Force (RAF) Vickers Wellington twin-engine bomber on a mission to Wilhelmshaven.

A Freya radar on Wangerooge, under the command of Leutnant Hermann Diehl, had detected the approaching bombers.

Falck had claimed two Wellington bombers shot down southwest of Heligoland, but only one was confirmed.

Falck's aircraft was severely damaged, resulting in a forced landing.

On 10 January 1940, Falck claimed a Bristol Blenheim bomber from No. 110 Squadron shot down, followed by another No. 110 Squadron Blenheim bomber on 17 February.

Blenheim P4859 shot down on 10 January, was on a mission searching for shipping over the North Sea.

Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 132, which was based at Jüterbog-Damm.

On 1 November, III.

Gruppe was renamed to II.