[SEE]Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (1913 - 1944)[SEE]

[size=150]Oberst Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke[/b]



Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke [called “Fürst”; “Prince / Ruler” in German], was born on 11 March 1913 in Schrimm, in Posen (Prussia). He joined the German Army (Wehrmacht) in 1934, being part of a Cavalry Regiment until he was transferred to the newly formed Luftwaffe in 1935. He completed his flying training at Perleberg and joined JG 132. In early 1939, Oberleutnant (Lieutenant) Wilcke was sent to Spain to serve with the Condor Legion. His time spent there was short and he was soon back in Germany serving with III./Jagdgeschwader 53.

His first victory was on 7 November 1939 when he claimed a French Potez 637 twin-engined fighter. However, some time after it, Wilcke was shot down on 18 May 1940 by a French Hawk 75 fighter during the Battle of France. He was captured but was released soon at the fall of France. After that, Wilcke returned to JG 53 and participated in the Battle of Britain. During a late afternoon mission on 12 August, Wilcke’s Bf 109 E-4 suffered engine failure. He bailed out into the sea and was very fortunate to be found in bright moonlight and rescued by a Do 18 twin-engine flying boat of the German air-sea rescue services.

III./JG 53 then took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Soviet Russia. On 22 June 1941, III./JG 53 encountered a formation of I-15 bis biplane fighters, Wilcke claiming three of the fighters. He recorded two more victories later that day to take his total to 18. Hauptmann (Captain) Wilcke was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) on 6 August 1941 for his 25 victories.

In December 1941, III./JG 53 were transferred into Sicily to operate over Malta. Wilcke added four Royal Air Force fighters to his score. In May 1942, III./JG 53 switched to North Africa, and on 18 May 1942, Wilcke was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3) operating on the Eastern front, before becoming Kommodore (Wing Commander) of JG 3 in August. His 100th claim on 6 September led him to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves) award on 9 September.

During the Battle of Stalingrad, based at Pitomnik Airfield (Wilcke's Messerschmitt Bf 109G on the base), he directed day fighter operations over the city, as part of the Stalingrad air-lift. During the intensive summer offensive the Geschwaderstab (Squadron Staff) of JG 3 recorded a total of 137 victories of which Wilcke claimed 97 (39-135). In September 1942 Wilcke alone claimed 32 victories, including four enemy aircraft shot down on 18 September (103-106), six on 24 September (111-116) and another four shot down on 24 September (117-120).
When Russian forces encircled Stalingrad, JG 3 was transferred to Morozovskaya-Öst, outside the pocket. Wilcke directed fighter escort missions for the transport aircraft attempting to supply the surrounded 6th German Army, claiming five victories on 17 December (147-151).

Wilcke became the fourth German fighter pilot to reach 150 victories.
Here a list with the rest of aces who reached that number of victories:


On 23 December, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords) for his 155 victories.

From March 1943, he led JG 3 over the Kuban bridgehead. However, he had been forbidden to fly operationally and had to lead the unit from the ground. In May 1943, JG 3 was withdrawn to Germany. On its return to Germany, the Geschwaderstab/JG 3 was based at Mönchenglagbach. Oberst (Colonel) Wilcke was still under instructions not to fly during combat missions. Nevertheless, he began ignoring the orders in February 1944 and was able to record four victories over USAAF B-17 four-engined bombers and a single P-51 fighter. On 6 March, his machine Bf 109G-6 was damaged in aerial combat and Wilcke had to make an emergency landing at Neuruppin. Although his aircraft was destroyed, Wilcke escaped unharmed.

However, his luck was about to end when, on 23 March 1944, Wilcke led JG 3 in an attack on a USAAF bomber formation near Braunschweig. During the ensuing combat, Wilcke shot down his 162nd, and last, victory, an escorting P-51 fighter, but was shot down near Schöppenstedt. He died in the wreckage of his Bf 109 G-6 possibly the victim of notable American aces Captain Don Gentile and Captain John Trevor Godfrey of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF.
Images of Colonel Wilcke's Funeral. The Coffin was followed by Wilcke's relatives and Luftwaffe officers. Finally, the coffin was towed by a Sd Kfz 6/7.

Military Summary

Victories: 162
Missions: 730
Highest Rank reached: Oberst / Colonel
Awards:
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (3 November 1942)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (6 August 1941)
mit Eichenlaub (8 September 1942)
mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (23 December 1942)
Units: JG 53, JG 3

Extra Curiosity

The two higher versions of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross:
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds) (got by Erich Hartmann)