Emil Omert

Emil Omert (15 January 1918 – 24 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Omert claimed 70 aerial victories in over 700 missions, including 125 fighter-bomber and ground attack mission. He also claimed 25 aircraft destroyed on the ground. Emil Omert was awarded the Knight's Cross on 19 March 1942 for 50 victories. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Emil Omert
Born15 January 1918
Ginolfs
Died24 April 1944(1944-04-24) (aged 26)
Finta Mare
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service?–1944
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 3, JG 2, JG 77
Commands heldII./JG 77, III./JG 77
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career

Omert was born on 15 January 1918 in Ginolfs, present-day part of Oberelsbach, at the time in the Kingdom of Bavaria within the German Empire. Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) on 1 February 1940. He was then transferred to the 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) before he was again transferred to 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) in late 1940.[2]

Eastern Front

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, III. Gruppe was moved to Bucharest and was located in the sector of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South). III. Gruppe arrived in Bucharest on 16 June.[3] Four days later, III. Gruppe moved to Roman.[4]

By end-1941, Omert had increased his total number of aerial victories to 39 claims.[5] On 10 February 1942, Omert was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8. Staffel of JG 77, replacing Leutnant Wilhelm Schopper in this capacity.[6]

Mediterranean Theater and Romania

On 23 October 1942, the British Eighth Army launched the Second Battle of El Alamein. Preceding this attack, the Luftwaffe had already planned to replace Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing), which had been fighting in North African theater, with JG 77.[7] In preparation for this rotation, III. Gruppe of JG 77 was moved to Munich on 19 October where it was equipped with the Bf 109 G-2/trop. On 23 and 24 October, the Gruppe moved to Bari in southern Italy.[8] The Gruppe then relocated to Tobruk Airfield on 26 October.[9] The following day, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Tanyet-Harun.[10]

On 31 January 1943, Omert claimed two Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters near Kebili and El Hamma.[11] On 4 April, Omert claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northwest of Skhira.[12] On 13 July, Omert was shot down and wounded in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 18447—factory number) in aerial combat with Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters resulting in an emergency landing north-northeast of Enna.[13] During his convalescence, he was temporarily replaced by Oberleutnant Helmut Hänsel.[14]

When on 10 March 1944, Major Kurt Ubben, the commander of III. Gruppe of JG 77 was transferred, Omert was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe. At the time, Omert at the time was still with II. Gruppe of JG 77 and in consequence, III. Gruppe was briefly led by Hauptmann Karl Bresoschek.[15][16] Omert was killed in action on 24 April 1944 after attacking USAAF four engine bombers over Finta Mare, Romania. He bailed out of his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 160826) and was then shot and killed by marauding US fighter aircraft while hanging in his parachute.[16] Command of III. Gruppe was then again given to Bresoschek, and later to Oberleutnant Erhard Niese, before Major Armin Köhler took command on 1 August 1944.[16]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Omert was credited with 70 aerial victories.[17] Spick also lists him with 70 aerial victories, 50 on the Eastern Front, 3 in the Mediterranean theater and 17 on the Western Front, claimed in approximately 700 combat missions.[18] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 55 aerial victory claims, plus ten further unconfirmed claims. This number includes 42 claims on the Eastern Front and 13 on the Western Front, including two four-engined bombers.[19]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 3744". 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.[20]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Omert did not receive credit.
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim! Date Time Type Location
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[21]
Balkans and Crete — 1 April – 1 June 1941
1 6 April 1941 12:40 IK-2 Belgrade[22]
northwest of Prnjavor		 2 26 May 1941 15:50 Blenheim Maleme
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[19]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – September 1941
3 24 June 1941
—
?[Note 2]		 SB-2[23]?[Note 2] 14 29 August 1941 07:24 DB-3[24]
4 24 June 1941 18:42 SB-2[23]  ?[Note 3] 1 September 1941 16:02 I-16
5 24 June 1941 18:50 SB-2[23] 15 2 September 1941 08:55 SB-2[25]
6 26 June 1941
—
?[Note 4]		 ZKB-19[23]?[Note 4] 16 6 September 1941 09:20 I-16[26]
7 26 June 1941 10:50 SB-2[23] 17 6 September 1941 09:30 I-16[26]
8 26 June 1941 10:56 SB-2[23] 18 8 September 1941 07:30 I-16 PQ 3744[26]
9 26 June 1941 11:12 SB-2[23] 19 23 September 1941 17:17 I-153[27]
10 4 August 1941 18:44?[Note 5] R-10[28]?[Note 5] 20 25 September 1941 13:13 SB-2[27]
11 20 August 1941 18:32 Seversky[28] 21 28 September 1941 15:50 Il-2[27]
12?[Note 6] 22 August 1941 14:38 I-15[24] 22 30 September 1941 10:30 Il-2[27]
13 29 August 1941 07:16 DB-3[24]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Operation Barbarossa — October – 5 December 1941
23 2 October 1941 11:51 MiG-3 PQ 3858[27] 30 20 October 1941 13:10 LaGG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Dzhankoi[30]
24 9 October 1941 15:10 MiG-3[31] 31 20 October 1941 16:15 I-15 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Juschun[30]
25 9 October 1941 15:11 MiG-3[31] 32?[Note 7] 20 October 1941
—
 I-15[30]
26 10 October 1941 06:22 MiG-3[31] 33?[Note 7] 23 October 1941
—
 I-16[30]
27 10 October 1941 06:24 MiG-3[31] 34 23 October 1941 16:25 I-15[30]
28 12 October 1941 10:10 I-16 PQ 3628[31] 35 26 October 1941 15:32 I-15[30]
29 18 October 1941 06:10 LaGG-3[30]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 10 February 1942
36 9 December 1941 12:33 I-15[32] 39 11 December 1941 13:39 SB-2[32]
37 9 December 1941 12:36 I-15[32] 40 24 January 1942 16:05 R-5[33]
38 9 December 1941 12:38 I-15[32]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Eastern Front — 10 February – 20 March 1942
41 23 February 1942 11:20 I-153[33] 43?[Note 7] 14 March 1942
—
 I-61 (MiG-3)[34]
42?[Note 7] 23 February 1942
—
 I-15[33] 44 16 March 1942 10:58 DB-3 PQ 5687[34]
vicinity of Kerch
—
 12 March 1942
—
 I-153[34] 45?[Note 7] 16 March 1942
—
 I-180 (Yak-7)[34]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Eastern Front — 1 May – 16 October 1942
47?[Note 8] 9 May 1942
—
 I-16[35] 51 18 June 1942
—
?[Note 9]		 Il-2[36]
48 20 May 1942 04:07 Pe-2 PQ 79241[36]
5 km (3.1 mi) north-northwest of Sloviansk		 52 12 September 1942 14:02 LaGG-3 PQ 10182[37]
49 26 May 1942 14:10 Il-2 PQ 60832[36]
vicinity of Petrovskaya		 53?[Note 7] 13 September 1942
—
 Il-2[38]
50 12 June 1942 18:26 Il-2 PQ 35444[36]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 26 October – 31 December 1942
54?[Note 7] 7 November 1942
—
 P-40[39]
—
 21 December 1942
—
 P-40 southeast os Sirte[39]
55 10 December 1942 10:30 P-40 PQ 03 Ost 9135[39]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 1 January – May 1943
56 14 January 1943 11:25 P-40 PQ 13 Ost 42143, west of Bir Dufan[40] 59 26 February 1943 08:45 P-40 PQ 13 Ost 04353, Mareth[40]
57 31 January 1943 12:43 P-38 PQ 03 Ost 94153, south of Sened[40] 60 26 February 1943 15:45 P-40 PQ 13 Ost 04874, southeast of Medenine[40]
58 31 January 1943 12:48 P-38 PQ 03 Ost 94151, south of Sened[40] 61 4 April 1943 10:57 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) northwet of Cekleira[40]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — June – 25 October 1943
—
?[Note 10]		 23 June 1943
—
 P-38
—
?[Note 10]		 24 June 1943
—
 P-38
– Stab II. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — 29 January – 31 March 1944
62 19 February 1944 13:27 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Nettuno[41] 63 19 February 1944 13:57 Spitfire PQ 14 Ost S/GD-5[41]
Marta
– Stab III. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[29]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — 3 – 24 April 1944
64 5 April 1944?[Note 11] 14:22 B-24* PQ 24 Ost 55143[42]
20 km (12 mi) east of Pitești		 65 5 April 1944?[Note 11] 15:00 B-24 PQ 24 Ost 55242[42]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Târgșoru Nou

Awards

Notes
  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.[1]
  2. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 05:55 as a Ilyushin DB-3.[21]
  3. According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, this claim was attributed to Feldwebel Robert Helmer, not to Omert as stated by Mathews and Foreman.[25][21]
  4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:58 as a Ilyushin DB-3.[21]
  5. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:35 as a Polikarpov R-5.[21]
  6. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[21]
  7. According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[29]
  8. The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, list this claim as his 47th aerial victory, not stating when the 46th victory was claimed.[35] According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[29]
  9. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:13.[29]
  10. This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[21]
  11. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 4 April 1944.[29]
  12. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 77.[45]

References

Citations
  1. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  2. Obermaier 1989, p. 176.
  3. Prien 1993, p. 628.
  4. Prien 1993, p. 630.
  5. Page 2020, p. 70.
  6. Prien et al. 2005, p. 317.
  7. Prien 1994, p. 1293.
  8. Prien 1994, p. 1296.
  9. Prien 1994, p. 1298.
  10. Prien 1994, p. 1301.
  11. Shores et al. 2016, pp. 289–291.
  12. Shores et al. 2016, p. 437.
  13. Prien et al. 2011, p. 540.
  14. Prien et al. 2011, p. 529.
  15. Prien 1995, p. 2035.
  16. Prien et al. 2021, p. 430.
  17. Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
  18. Spick 1996, p. 238.
  19. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 939–940.
  20. Planquadrat.
  21. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 939.
  22. Prien et al. 2003a, p. 293.
  23. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 362.
  24. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 368.
  25. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 369.
  26. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 370.
  27. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 371.
  28. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 367.
  29. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 940.
  30. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 373.
  31. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 372.
  32. Prien et al. 2005, p. 322.
  33. Prien et al. 2005, p. 323.
  34. Prien et al. 2005, p. 324.
  35. Prien et al. 2006, p. 351.
  36. Prien et al. 2006, p. 352.
  37. Prien et al. 2006, p. 353.
  38. Prien et al. 2006, p. 354.
  39. Prien et al. 2004, p. 331.
  40. Prien et al. 2011, p. 534.
  41. Prien et al. 2021, p. 372.
  42. Prien et al. 2021, p. 435.
  43. Patzwall 2008, p. 157.
  44. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 329.
  45. Scherzer 2007, p. 577.
  46. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 338.

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