looking for info from Oberleutnant Wolfgang Kretschmer

[Javi E]

I´m looking for info of this pilot, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Kretschmer, he was on Jagdgeschwader 54 but no more info,any pics or info would be helpfull.

thank you in advance!!!!

Javi

[Johannes]

Hi Javi

He was born on 15th April 1922. On 5th December 1941 he crash-landed his Bf109 near Siverskij,Russia after engine-damage, but was unhurt. On 8th December 1942 he belly-landed his Bf109 in the region of Pernitza, Russia due to technical problems, but again was unharmed. He was the Staffelkapitan of 4./Jg1 from 14th February 1944 until 6th March 1944 when he was shot dwon in combat with Allied fighter aircraft, wounded he bailed-out of his Fw190 near Quakenbruck, Germany. He returnrd as short-term Staffelkapitan of 4./Jg1 on 1st June 1944. He survived the war, and died on 7th August 1999. His claims, all claimed as a Leutnant are:-

27th June 1941 1.Erg./Jg54 SB-2 South of Sommersett 1245 hrs Nr.1
27th August 1941 MiG-1 1.Erg./Jg54 20km East of Demjansk 1235 hrs 800 metres Nr.2
14th September 1941 1.Erg./Jg54 I-153 Moon Island 0700 hrs 1200 metres Nr.3
22nd September 1941 1./Erg./Jg54 I-153 55km North-West of Waldai 1415 hrs 500 metres Nr.4
17th February 1942 1.Erg./Jg54 MiG-1 1605 hrs 2000 metres A.S.M Nr.5
4th June 1942 5./Jg54 Jak-1 North-West of Winy 1742 hrs Nr.6
8th June 1942 5./Jg54 Pe-2 West of Chotschuzschi 0910 hrs Nr.7
9th June 1942 5./Jg54 Pe-2 South of Lytschuzschi 1004 hrs Nr.8
14th June 1942 5./Jg54 MiG-3 East of Lake Eubanskoje 1532 hrs Nr.9
17th June 1942 5./Jg54 MiG-3 u/c
26th June 1942 5./Jg54 U-2 North of Kraseja 0026 hrs Nr.10
27th July 1942 5./Jg54 LaGG-3 u/c
18th August 1942 5./Jg54 Jak-1 15km East of Suchinici 1205 hrs 30 metres Nr.11
22nd August 1942 5./Jg54 LaGG-3 15km West of Belev 0835 hrs 2500 metres Nr.12
24th August 1942 5./Jg54 Pe-2 20km South-West of Belev 1530 hrs 2500 metres Nr.13
1st September 1942 6./Jg54 Jak-1 East of Mga 0625 hrs 2500 metres Nr.14
3rd September 1942 6./Jg54 P-40 West of Volkhov 1435 hrs 3000 metres Nr.15
23rd February 1943 6./Jg54 LaGG-3 into lake Ilmen 1550 hrs 500 metres Nr.16
14th March 1943 6./Jg54 Pe-2 30km North of Demjansk 1137 hrs 2300 metres Nr.17
15th March 1943 6./Jg54 P-40 40km South-East of Staraya Russa 1252 hrs 2500 metres Nr.18
19th March 1943 6./Jg54 LaGG-3 Pushkin area 1405 hrs 3500 metres Nr.19

He ended the war as an Oberleutnant. Sorry I have no photo.

Regards

Johannes

[G.R.Morrison]

Data from his 6.March 1944 shoot-down:

FW 190A-7 WNr.643000, "weiße 3 + -" of 4./JG 1, Oblt. Wolfgang Kretschmer, Staffelkapitän. WIA 6.March 1944 due to Luftkampf with P-47s (Col. Hubert Zemke of 56th Fighter Group), FSA (Fallschirmabsprung = parachuted) near Quakenbrück.

There is a small portrait of Kretschmer in Ethell & Prices's TARGET BERLIN Mission 250: 6 March 1944, Jane's Pub. ©1981

Hope this helps, GRM

[Javi E]

thank you very much for all this info!!!!!!!!!!!!! much apreciated!!!!! any idea what medals received him?

G.R. can you post a scan of this pic?

thank you again for all help received!

Javi

[Johannes]

Hi Javi

Nothing big in the medal department. I would speculate the EKI and the Medal for the Winter Campaign 1941-1942.

Johannes

[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have about this fellow:

KRETSCHMER, Wolfgang.
(DOB: 15.04.22).
1941 in II./JG 54.
11.41 trf to 1./Erg.Gr. JG 54.
06.42 trf to 5./JG 54.
08.42 with 5.& 6./JG 54.
06.03.43 WIA.
25.06.43 Lt., awarded the Ehrenpokal.
01.07.43 in JG 54, promo to Oblt.
07.43 Oblt., appt Staka 3./Erg.JGr. Ost (to 14.01.44).
14.02.44 Oblt., appt Staka 4./JG 1.
02.03.44 in Erg.JGr. Ost, trf to 4./JG 1 and appt Stafü (to 06.03.44, WIA - severely burned).
01.06.44 re-appt Staka 4./JG 1 (to 06.44).
29.09.44 Oblt., appt Staka 3./Erg.JGr. Ost (to 09.11.44).
10.11.44 Oblt., appt Staka 11./Erg.JG 1 (to 21.04.45).
22.04.45 Oblt., appt Staka 1. (Schul)/Erg.JG 1 (to 05.45).
Post war worked as an architect in Haan.
†1999 (apparently).
Credited with 11 victories.


Here is what Tom Kracker has in his database:

Kretschmer, Wolfgang. - Oblt. - 11 victories. - 1.(Erg)/JG-54 (9/41 S.U.), 5& 6/JG-54 (8/42 S.U.),4/JG-1 (3/44) Bf 109E, F & G in JG-54, Fw 190A-7 Werk # 643000 (lost 3/6/44) in 4/JG-1EP, EK 1 & 2, Wound Badge, Fighter Operational ClaspShot down 6 March, 1944 by Col. Hub Zemke of the 57FG, flying a P-47. He bailed out with severe burns landing on a farm on the outskirts of Quakenbrück. His first known Soviet victory, an I-153 on 14 September, 1941. A 2nd, an I-153 on 22 September, 1941. A 3rd, an I-18 at Kassybunge See on 17 February, 1942. A 4th, a Yak-1 on 18 August, 1942. A LaGG-3 on 22 August, 1942. A P-2 on 24 August, 1942. A 7th, a Yak-1 on 1 September, 1942. An 8th, a P-40 on 3 September, 1942. A 9th, a LaGG-3 on 23 February, 1943. A 10th, a P-2 on 14 March, 1943. An 11th, a LaGG-3 on 19 March, 1943. Magnus, 15 victories. He worked as an architect after the war in Haan. Believed deceased in 1999.

That is all we can find. We hope that this helps.

HLdZ
DGS

[Javi E]

thank you very much friends,

much apreciated all this search!!!!

thank you again!

Javi