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Karl-Wolfgang Redlich

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Karl-Wolfgang Redlich
Born(1914-12-13)13 December 1914
Hamburg
Died29 May 1944(1944-05-29) (aged 29)
Sankt Pölten
Cause of deathKilled in action
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
RankMajor in the general staff
Commands1./JG 27, I./JG 27
Battles/wars
See battles
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl-Wolfgang Redlich (13 December 1914 – 29 May 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator in the Spanish Civil War and a fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 45 aerial victories, including four in Spain. All his World War II victories were claimed over the Western Allies.

Career

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Redlich was born on 13 December 1914 in Hamburg, at the time a sovereign state of the German Empire.[1] In April 1934, he volunteered for military service in the Reichsmarine (German Navy), later renamed to Kriegsmarine, as an officer cadet. He later transferred to the Luftwaffe and following flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 1] was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 134 (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) in August 1936.[3]

North Africa

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Following Operation Marita, the German invasion of Greece, the air elements of I. Gruppe briefly moved to Munich-Riem Airfield before they transferred to North Africa, arriving in Ayn al-Ġazāla between 18 and 22 April 1941.[4] On 9 July, Redlich was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 21 aerial victories claimed.[5] After Oberleutnant Gerhard Homuth from 3. Staffel, he was the second pilot within I. Gruppe of JG 27 to receive this distinction in North Africa.[6][7]

In late October, I. Gruppe was reequipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4/trop. To retain operation status, 1. and 3. Staffel left North Africa on 22 October while 2. Staffel stayed. In Italy they handed over their Bf 109 E variants and continued the journey back home by train. The pilots were sent on a short home-leave before returning to Ayn al-Ġazāla on 10 November.[8]

Group commander and death

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On 19 May 1944, Redlich was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 27. He succeeded Hauptmann Ernst Börngen who had been severely injured in combat that day.[9]

Redlich was buried in the war grave section of the Main Cemetery Sankt Pölten [de] (Block 3–Row 7–Grave 202).[10]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 184.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b c Dixon 2023, p. 77.
  4. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 138.
  5. ^ Page 2020, p. 78.
  6. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 144.
  7. ^ Weal 2003, p. 43.
  8. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, pp. 149–150.
  9. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, pp. 407, 550.
  10. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 78.
  11. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 616.
  12. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 351.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • 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, UK: 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.
  • Page, Neil (2020). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1939–42. Philadelphia, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61200-849-3.
  • 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; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1998). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei Stab und I./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1939 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the Headquarters Unit and I./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1939 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-46-5.
  • 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.
  • Weal, John (2003). Jagdgeschwader 27 "Afrika". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 12. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-538-9.
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