Erwin Kortlepel,DKiG

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

I could find very little information about Erwin Kortlepel who awarded the German Cross in Gold on March 27,1942. He had at least 27 victories. I haven't found him in the MIA or KIA list so I think he survived World War II. He was in JG-3 fighter unit. I also think that Kortlepel had a lot more air to air victories than just a mere 27 score. His rank was Oberfeldwebel. Could you help me please find more about this little known German ace?

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[VtwinVince]

According to the Abschuss-Tafel of 4. JG3 Kortlepel scored his first victory over a Curtis on June 5, 1940, followed by Hurricanes on August 28 and September 8. He was flying with my uncle at this time.

[G.R.Morrison]

The only incident I have for him:
Bf 109F-2 WNr.6745 of the 4./JG 3, coded “weiße 6” Ofw. Erwin Kortlepel reported lost 24.June 1941 due to enemy fire during Tiefangriff at Kol Knidhininek; he returned 27.June.

He made his 27th claim with the 4./JG 3 on 23.October 1941, an I-16 Rata at 16.26 hours.

Back in Dec. 2011 Matti Salonen responded (to a similar inquiry):
"1944-12-16, Messerschmitt GmbH Regensburg, Bf 109K-4, 332333, Haselmühle bei Amberg, Unbekannt um 12.15 Uhr. Bruch 40 %.
Flugzeugführer Fhj-Ofw Kortlepel, Erwin Von Fl.Sonderkommando OKL (LP)
Don't know whether he was wounded or killed, because that part of NVM is badly burnt. Matti"

Sorry I don't have other biographic details, GRM

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Well if Erwin Kortlepel had flown fighter combat without much breaks in between till the end of WWII,he would have a huge score of over 100 air to air kills. That is if he didn't gone to a training unit in the middle of WWII. This is just my calculation. Kortlepel was a good marksman against aircraft. It's really too bad we don't any additional information about him.
There were at least 103 Luftwaffe fighter pilots who scored over 100 air to air victories during WWII. There were a few other Germans that claimed over 100 air kills but lacked confirmation and documentation. Just my thought.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Johannes]

Hi Edward

Kortlepel 19th February 1912-3rd August 1985, had only twenty-five confirmed claims between 5th June 1940 and 23rd October 1941. He like so many other pilots made no claims over the 1941-1942 winter period. He later was transferred to "Sonderkommando" On 16th December 1944 he crashed a Bf109 at Haslemuhle, Germany.

Regarding "!00" plus aces. Those generally thought to have but didn't(by memory) are:-

Friedrich Geisshardt(93)
Siegfried Freytag(89)
Kurt Tanzer(less than 50)
Gunther von Fassong(63)
Franz Woidich(82)
Herbert Rollwage(66)
Rudolf Rademacher(93)
Kurt Buhligen(99 until end 1944, probably just over 100)

In fact ninety-three confirmed century makers. Many of these with fewer, sometime many fewer that what has been generally accepted. Reasons being those unconfirmed, sometimes it's hard to explain why. Woidich's own abschusse list has exactly what the micro films have! I can only think that with Tanzer 143 was perhaps confused from 43.

Regards

Johannes

P.S

Paul-Hinrich Dähne is the only real candidate for possible "100" he had 99 until micro films end. Likewise with Ulrich Wohnert 83 until micro films end, could at a stretch have made "100" but unlikely.

[Matti Salonen]

Erwin Kortlepel was wounded in 16 Dec 44. He died on 3 Aug 1985.

Matti

[Karsten]

The village is named Haselmühl without e

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