Wilhelm Philipp

Wilhelm Philipp
Born31 January 1916
Böhla, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Died10 January 1986(1986-01-10) (aged 69)
Duisburg
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service?–1945
RankOberfeldwebel (staff sergeant)
UnitJG 26
JG 54
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Wilhelm Philipp (31 January 1916 – 10 January 1986) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career Wilhelm Philipp was credited with 81 aerial victories in 500+ missions.

Career

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Philipp was born on 31 January 1916 in Böhla, present-day part of Priestewitz, at the time in the Kingdom of Saxony, part of the German Empire.[1]

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 31 October 1939, Unteroffizier Philipp joined Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing), which had been named after Albert Leo Schlageter on 1 May 1939.[2] On 27 May 1940 during the Battle of Dunkirk, II. Gruppe reported combat with Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire fighters over Ostend. This encounter is not matched with British records. However, the combat may have been with Hawker Hurricane fighters from No. 17 and No. 605 Squadron. That day at 17:30, Philipp claimed a Spitfire fighter shot down over Ostend.[3]

On 7 June 1940, Philipp was forced to bail out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 following combat with Hurricane fighters near Dieppe.[4]

At the Channel and over England

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On 17 August 1942, his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-3 (Werknummer 5405—factory number) suffered engine fire resulting in an emergency landing at Ligescourt.[5]

During the Dieppe Raid on 19 August, on II. Gruppe's second combat air patrol of the day, at 08:37, Philipp was credited with the destruction of a Spitfire southwest of Dieppe, the aircraft coming from either the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 31st Fighter Group or the RAF No. 350 Squadron.[6] At 17:32, a 4. Staffel Schwarm (flight) intercepted withdrawing Allied aircraft. In this encounter, Philipp claimed a Spitfire fighter west of Dieppe for his 20th aerial victory.[7] For his achievements to date, Philipp was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 24 August.[1]

In November 1942, Philipp was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) which was fighting on the Eastern Front.[8]

War against the Soviet Union

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Philipp claimed his first aerial victory on the Eastern Front on 15 January 1943. He had been assigned to 3. Staffel of JG 54 which at the time was commanded by Hauptmann Gerhard Koall. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe of JG 54 headed by Hauptmann Hans Philipp and was based at Krasnogvardeysk, present-day Gatchina. The Gruppe supported German forces of Army Group North fighting against the Soviet Operation Iskra which aimed to break the Wehrmacht's siege of Leningrad. On 15 January, Philipp was credited with shooting down a Lavochkin La-5 fighter.[9]

On 22 February, his Fw 190 A-4 suffered engine failure resulting in a forced landing at Krasnogvardeysk.[10] On 7 September, Philipp was wounded in combat when his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 550501—factory number) was shot up by Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters resulting in an emergency landing.[11]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to Spick, Philipp was credited with 81 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions. Of his 81 aerial victories, 22 were claimed during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, 55 on the Eastern Front, and four on the Western Front.[12] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that he claimed at least 79 claims. This figure includes 54 claims on the Eastern Front, and over 24 claims on the Western Front.[13]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 10243". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Caldwell, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[15]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 27 May 1940 17:30 Spitfire Ostend[16] 3 29 May 1940 18:45 Spitfire Dover[16]
2 28 May 1940 12:30 Spitfire east-southeast of Dover[16]
English Channel 		4 7 June 1940 19:30 Hurricane east of Dieppe[17]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[15]
Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 21 June 1941
5 16 August 1940 14:06?[Note 1] Spitfire Dover[18]
west of Dover 		7 8 November 1940 17:40 Spitfire Tonbridge[19]
6 22 August 1940 20:05 Spitfire Dover[18]
north-northeast of Dover 		8 5 February 1941 14:15 Spitfire Neufchâtel[19]
– 2. Ergänzungsjagdgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[15]
Western Front — 22 June – 31 December 1941
9 12 August 1941
—
 Blenheim[20] 10 12 August 1941
—
 Blenheim[20]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[21]
On the Western Front — 1 January – November 1942
11 9 March 1942 16:45 Spitfire Boulogne-sur-Mer[22] 17 31 July 1942 15:13 Spitfire west of Berck[23]
12 17 May 1942 11:37 Spitfire 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of Calais[24] 18 17 August 1942 19:06 Spitfire west of Dieppe[23]
13 2 June 1942 11:05 Spitfire middle of the English Channel, west of Berck[24]
Bay du Somme, Berck-sur-Mer 		19 19 August 1942 08:37 Spitfire southwest of Dieppe[23]
14 8 June 1942 13:58 Spitfire west-northwest of Dunkirk[24] 20 19 August 1942 17:32 Spitfire west of Dieppe[23]
15 13 July 1942 15:10 Spitfire middle of the English Channel[24] 21 24 August 1942 17:35 Spitfire northwest of Fécamp[23]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Fécamp
16 26 July 1942 13:47 Spitfire off the English Coast[24] 22 29 August 1942 12:53 Mosquito southeast of Hastings[25]
15–20 km (9.3–12.4 mi) southeast of Hastings
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[26]
Eastern Front — November 1942 – 3 February 1943
23 15 January 1943 09:37 La-5 PQ 10243[27]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shlisselburg 		26 23 January 1943 14:10 Il-2 PQ 00234[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Shlisselburg
24 15 January 1943 12:40 Yak-4 PQ 00282[27]
20 km (12 mi) west of Mga 		27 24 January 1943 09:15 MiG-3 PQ 00264[28]
25 23 January 1943 13:51 Il-2 PQ 10151[28]
southeast of Shlisselburg 		28 24 January 1943 09:40 Yak-1 PQ 10183[28]
east of Mga
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[26]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 7 September 1943
29 10 February 1943 12:41 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00412[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin 		46 23 August 1943 07:39 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 40292[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Shlisselburg
30 10 February 1943 15:14 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00414[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin 		47 25 August 1943 05:15 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 41691[30]
31 14 February 1943 15:10?[Note 2] Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00254[29]
Pushkin-Mga 		48 26 August 1943 18:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51741[30]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Okhtyrka
32 14 February 1943 15:14 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00283[29]
20 km (12 mi) west of Mga 		49 28 August 1943 11:36 Boston PQ 35 Ost 43674[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Sevsk
33 19 February 1943 07:55 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10414[29]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Lyuban 		50 29 August 1943 06:43 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 43681[30]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Sevsk
34 19 February 1943 07:58 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10533[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Lyuban 		51 1 September 1943 18:08 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25454[31]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Yelnya
35 21 February 1943 11:45 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10473[32]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Lyuban 		52 1 September 1943 18:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25424[31]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Yelnya
36 21 February 1943 11:47 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10442[32]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Mga 		53 1 September 1943 18:12 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25424[31]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Yelnya
37 23 February 1943 10:02?[Note 3] Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10144[32]
south of Shlisselburg 		54 1 September 1943 18:14 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25452[31]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Yelnya
38 23 February 1943 10:05 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10142[32]
south of Shlisselburg 		55 2 September 1943 17:20 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 25732[31]
20 km (12 mi) south of Schatalowka
39 7 March 1943 11:13?[Note 4] Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18382[33]
45 km (28 mi) north of Kholm 		56 4 September 1943 06:40 Boston northeast of Roslavl[31]
40 15 March 1943 09:23 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 19734[33]
20 km (12 mi) north of Staraya Russa 		57 4 September 1943 10:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 26674[31]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Moschna
41 15 March 1943 09:24 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 19734[33]
Lake Ilmen 		58 5 September 1943 11:18 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25463[31]
20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya
42 15 March 1943 09:29 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 19683[33]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Novgorod 		59 5 September 1943 11:20 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35341[31]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya
43?[Note 5] 15 March 1943 16:13 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18252[33] 60 5 September 1943 11:21 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25462[31]
20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya
44 20 March 1943 09:07 MiG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00442[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Slutsk 		61 6 September 1943 14:03 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26653[31]
40 km (25 mi) north of Yartsevo
45 20 March 1943 09:10 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 00274[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Pushkin

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:00.[15]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:11.[26]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:03.[26]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:03.[26]
  5. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[26]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54.[39]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 179.
  2. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 6, 13.
  3. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 30–31.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 220.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 378.
  6. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 269–271, 278.
  7. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 276, 279.
  8. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 301.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 77, 81, 98.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 189.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 193.
  12. ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
  13. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 964–966.
  14. ^ Planquadrat.
  15. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 964.
  16. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2001, p. 218.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 219.
  18. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 310.
  19. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 312.
  20. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 562.
  21. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 964–965.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 371.
  23. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2004, p. 373.
  24. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2004, p. 372.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 375.
  26. ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 965.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
  28. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 99.
  29. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 169.
  30. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2012, p. 183.
  32. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
  33. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 171.
  34. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 172.
  35. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 86.
  36. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 161.
  37. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 350.
  38. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 338.
  39. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 593.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  • Caldwell, Donald L. (1996). The JG 26 War Diary: Volume One 1939–1942. London, UK: Grubstreet. ISBN 978-1-898697-52-7.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-63-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 7—Heimatverteidigung—1. January bis 31 Dezember 1942—Einsatz im Westen—1. Januar bis 31. Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 7—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1942—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-73-1.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
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