Johann-Hermann Meier

Johann-Hermann Meier (10 June 1921 – 15 March 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 77 enemy aircraft shot down in 305 combat missions. All of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.

Johann-Hermann Meier
Born10 June 1921
Kronprinzenkoog
Died15 March 1944(1944-03-15) (aged 22)
Florennes, Belgium
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service?–1944
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 52
JG 26
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

On 15 March 1944, Meier was killed in a takeoff accident after his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 collided with another Fw 190 while taxiing at the Luftwaffe base in Florennes, Belgium. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 December 1944.

Career

On 12 October 1942, Meier was posted to 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) fighting on the Eastern Front.[1] The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) and had moved to Pitomnik Airfield, approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west of Stalingrad, on 22 September.[2] At the time, his commanding officer of 1. Staffel was Oberleutnant Friedrich Bartels while the Gruppe was headed by Hauptmann Helmut Bennemann.[3]

On 10 June 1943, the Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 52 was killed in action.[4] In consequence, Meier was transferred from 1. Staffel and temporarily given command of 3. Staffel until Hauptmann Erich Schreiber assumed command on 15 July.[5]

With Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" and death

Meier was transferred to I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26–26th Fighter Wing) in February 1944 fighting on the Western Front flying the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter. At the time, the Gruppe was based at Florennes Airfield and commanded by Hauptmann Karl Borris. There, Meier was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel on 29 February. He replaced Leutnant Leberecht Altmann who was transferred.[6]

On 15 March, the United States Army Air Forces attacked Braunschweig with a force of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers. Defending against this attack, I. and II. Gruppe of JG 26 was scrambled. During takeoff, Meier in his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 470057–factory number) collided with his wingman Unteroffizier Hans Ruppert. Both aircraft caught fire, while Ruppert escaped, Meier was killed in the accident. According to an eyewitness report, Meier was drunk at the time. For his 77 aerial victories claimed with JG 52, Meier was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). Meier was succeeded by Oberleutnant Kurt Kranefeld as Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel.[7]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Spick, Meier was credited with 77 aerial victories, 76 of which on the Eastern Front and one on the Western Front, claimed in 305 combat missions.[8] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces: Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 76 aerial victory claims, all of which were claimed on the Eastern Front.[9]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 62322". 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.[10]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Meier an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  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
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[11]
Eastern Front — December 1942 – 3 February 1943
1?[Note 1] 18 December 1942 14:10 Il-2[13] 2 1 February 1943 09:00 Il-2 PQ 62322[14]
vicinity of Kursk
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[12]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
3 28 April 1943 10:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85281[15]
vicinity of Smolenskaya		 27 5 September 1943 07:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 65253[16]
over sea, south of Taman
4 14 May 1943 17:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61222[17]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Prokhorovka		 28 9 September 1943 16:34 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76883[16]
vicinity of Akkermanka
5 14 May 1943 17:37?[Note 3] La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61276, 25 km (16 mi) north of Belgorod[17]
20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Belograd		 29 13 September 1943 14:15 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76351[16]
northeast of Varenikovskaya
6 26 May 1943 05:11 Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 76887[17]
vicinity of Kesselerowo		 30 14 September 1943 11:14 Boston PQ 34 Ost 75393[16]
over sea, southeast of Anapa
7 26 May 1943 09:45 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76853[17]
vicinity of Kolonka		 31 14 September 1943 11:46 Boston PQ 34 Ost 76613[16]
vicinity of Sswisteljnikoff
8 29 May 1943 09:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85112, 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Krymskaja[17]
north of Mertschanskaja		 32 20 September 1943 15:47 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75483[19]
vicinity of Gaiduk
9 4 June 1943 05:55 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 85112, 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Krymskaja[20]
north of Mertschanskaja		 33 21 September 1943 12:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 66882[19]
over sea, south of Taman
10 5 June 1943 18:25 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 75236, north of Krymskaja[20]
north of Mertschanskaja		 34 21 September 1943 16:37 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76772[19]
vicinity of Blagoweschtschenskaja
11 5 June 1943 18:32 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 75262, west of Krymskaja[20]
vicinity of Warenikowskaja		 35 22 September 1943 07:10 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 66842[19]
southwest of Taman
12 6 June 1943 18:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76682, 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Kurtschannoje[20]

vicinity of Sswisteljnikoff		 36 22 September 1943 09:44 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76813[19]
south of Kurtschanskaja
13 8 June 1943 16:01 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76821, east of Kalabatka[20]

vicinity of Kalabatka		 37 22 September 1943 16:37 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76642[19]
northeast of Temryuk
14 14 June 1943 06:35 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76674[20]
east of Temryuk		 38 23 September 1943 07:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76273[19]
Gostagdiewskaja
15 16 June 1943 09:12 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 75454[20]
Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Novorossiysk		  ?[Note 4] 23 September 1943 07:51 Il-2 south of Starotitarovskaya
16 16 June 1943 09:16 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 75494[20]
Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Gelendzhik		  ?[Note 4] 23 September 1943 07:51 Il-2 over sea, west of Blagoweschtschenskaja
17 16 June 1943 19:06 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75492[20]
Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Gelendzhik		 39 24 September 1943 12:51 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76782[19]
vicinity of Ssuworowsko-Tscherkeskij
18♠ 5 July 1943 05:53 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61151[20]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Krasnyi Lyman		 40 25 September 1943 12:45 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 66893[19]
over sea, south of Wennlowka
19♠ 5 July 1943 09:10 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51234[21]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Krasnyi Lyman		 41 26 September 1943 12:45 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76354[19]
Sea of Azov
20♠ 5 July 1943 09:23 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61132[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Prokhorovka		 42 27 September 1943 11:47 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76593[19]
east of Temryuk
21♠ 5 July 1943 18:27 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61481, vicinity of Belgorod[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Belograd		 43 27 September 1943 14:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76714[19]
Black Sea, 75 km (47 mi) west-southwest of Gelendzhik
22♠ 5 July 1943 18:29 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 61613, vicinity of Belgorod[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Belograd		 44?[Note 1] 29 September 1943 07:58 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76742[19]
23♠ 5 July 1943 18:34 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 61484, vicinity of Belgorod[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Belograd		 45?[Note 1] 29 September 1943 08:04 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75712[19]
24 7 July 1943 18:27 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61152[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Krasnyi Lyman		 46 2 October 1943 09:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76723[19]
east of Starotitarovskaya
25 9 July 1943 10:56 Il-m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 62786, east of Belgorod[21]
20 km (12 mi) south of Oboyan		 47 2 October 1943 15:24 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76714[19]
south of Starotitarovskaya
26 5 September 1943 07:27 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 66893[16]
over sea, south of Wennlowka		 48 3 October 1943 12:10 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76584[19]
west of Temryuk
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[22]
Eastern Front — 4 February 1943 – 31 December 1943
49 14 October 1943 11:56 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58154, south of Zaporizhzhia[23]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia		 58 27 October 1943 07:28 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 48884[24]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Bilozerka
50 20 October 1943 14:09 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58173[23]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Zaporizhzhia		 59 27 October 1943 07:30 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 48893[24]
20 km (12 mi) south of Bilozerka
51 20 October 1943 14:13 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58181[23]
5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zaporizhzhia		 60 30 October 1943 06:47 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 47361[24]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Ivanovka
52 23 October 1943 09:05 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58561[23]
vicinity of Kalinówka		 61 5 November 1943 09:25 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 37872[24]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Perekop
53 23 October 1943 12:42 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 59751[24]
35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia		 62 10 November 1943 14:51 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 37842[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Perekop
54 23 October 1943 12:49 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 59751[24]
35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia		 63 29 November 1943 07:03 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 39344[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Alexandrija
55 24 October 1943 06:26 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 59742[24]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zaporizhzhia		 64 29 November 1943 07:06 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 39174[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Alexandrija
56 24 October 1943 06:29 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 59744[24]
20 km (12 mi) south of Grishino		 65 29 November 1943 14:21 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 29294[25]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Alexandrija
57 25 October 1943 15:02 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 57152[24]
3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Melitopol		 66 17 December 1943 14:15 P-39 west of Dubiyevka[25]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[26]
Eastern Front — January 1944
67 6 January 1944 11:50 P-39 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Kirovograd 73 15 January 1944 10:05 Yak-9 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Kirovograd
68 6 January 1944 12:07 Yak-9 vicinity of Fewal 74 16 January 1944 09:30 Yak-9 24 km (15 mi) west-northwest of Kirovograd
69 7 January 1944 14:15 Yak-9 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kirovograd 75 16 January 1944 11:50 P-39 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kirovograd
70 11 January 1944 13:16 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Kirovograd 76 16 January 1944 11:52 P-39 25 km (16 mi) west of Kirovograd
71 11 January 1944 13:17 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Kirovograd 77 17 January 1944 14:36 Il-2 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Aleksandrovka
72 12 January 1944 11:02 P-39 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kirovograd

Awards

Notes
  1. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[12]
  2. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:34.[18]
  4. This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[19]
  5. According to Obermaier on 31 August 1943.[1]
  6. According to Scherzer as Staffelführer in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52.[30]

References

Citations
  1. Obermaier 1989, p. 166.
  2. Prien et al. 2006, p. 417.
  3. Prien et al. 2006, p. 423.
  4. Prien et al. 2012, p. 296.
  5. Prien et al. 2012, p. 278.
  6. Caldwell 1998, pp. 223, 485, 488.
  7. Caldwell 1998, pp. 230–231.
  8. Spick 1996, p. 236.
  9. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 829–831.
  10. Planquadrat.
  11. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 829.
  12. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 829–830.
  13. Prien et al. 2006, p. 438.
  14. Prien et al. 2006, p. 439.
  15. Prien et al. 2012, p. 283.
  16. Prien et al. 2012, p. 289.
  17. Prien et al. 2012, p. 284.
  18. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 830.
  19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 290.
  20. Prien et al. 2012, p. 285.
  21. Prien et al. 2012, p. 286.
  22. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 830–831.
  23. Prien et al. 2012, p. 291.
  24. Prien et al. 2012, p. 292.
  25. Prien et al. 2012, p. 293.
  26. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 831.
  27. Patzwall 2008, p. 143.
  28. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 301.
  29. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 251.
  30. Scherzer 2007, p. 534.

Bibliography
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  • Caldwell, Donald L. (1998). The JG 26 War Diary: Volume Two 1943–1945. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-86-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [First published 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 Holders 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. (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.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—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/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • 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.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
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