Johannes Naumann

Johannes Naumann (11 October 1917 – 22 March 2010) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 34 aerial victories claimed in roughly 350 combat missions, all of which claimed over the Western Front. Following World War II, he served in the newly established West Germany's Air Force in the Bundeswehr and commanded the Helicopter Transport Wing 64.

Johannes Naumann
Nickname(s)"Fokke"
Born11 October 1917
Dresden
Died22 March 2010(2010-03-22) (aged 92)
Fürstenfeldbruck
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Bundeswehrkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
RankMajor (Wehrmacht)
Oberst (Bundeswehr)
UnitJG 26, JG 6, JG 7
Flugzeugführerschule "S"
Commands heldII./JG 26, II./JG 6, III./JG 7
Helicopter Transport Wing 64
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career

Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) was created on 1 May 1939 in Düsseldorf by renaming Jagdgeschwader 132 (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing) and was commanded by Oberst Eduard Ritter von Schleich, a flying ace of World War I.[1] Naumann was among the first pilots assigned to this unit following his training as a fighter pilot.[2]

Naumann claimed his fifth and sixth confirmed aerial victory during Operation Donnerkeil. The objective of this operation was to give the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen fighter protection in the breakout from Brest to Germany. The Channel Dash operation (11–13 February 1942) by the Kriegsmarine was codenamed Operation Cerberus by the Germans. In support of this, the Luftwaffe, formulated an air superiority plan dubbed Operation Donnerkeil for the protection of the three German capital ships. Noumann was credited with two Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from 825 Naval Air Squadron shot down at 13:45 and 13:47 on 12 February north of Gravelines.[3]

Defense of the Reich

The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) VIII Bomber Command, later renamed to Eighth Air Force, had begun its regular combat operations on 17 August 1942.[4] On 6 September, VIII Bomber Command targeted the airfield at Wizernes and Abbeville Airfield, escorted by RAF Spitfire fighters. At 18:54, Naumann claimed a No. 402 Squadron Spitfire shot down north of Hallencourt.[5] On 20 September, Naumann was transferred from 4. Staffel to 6. Staffel where he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader). He succeeded Oberleutnant Theo Lindemann who was transferred.[6]

Boeing B-17F-5, shot down by Naumann on 30 July 1943.

During the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission on 17 August 1943, Naumann shot down an escorting Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter of the 56th Fighter Group 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) west of Liège.[7] That day, Gruppenkommandeur Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was killed in action. Galland was temporarily succeeded by Naumann until Oberstleutnant Johannes Seifert took command on II. Gruppe on 9 September.[8] During this brief period, command of 6. Staffel was given to Oberleutnant Waldemar Radener.[9] On 1 October, as part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe, Naumann's 6. Staffel was renamed to 7. Staffel.[10] On 9 February 1944, Naumann again temporarily took command of II. Gruppe.[11] Its former commander, Major Wilhelm Gäth had been wounded in combat on 14 January and was grounded.[12] Naumann was officially appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe on 2 March.[13] On 14 October, during the second Schweinfurt raid also called "Black Thursday", Naumann claimed his fifth heavy bomber,[14] a B-17 bomber shot down near Domburg.[15]

On 1 September 1944, Naumann was transferred to take command of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 6 (JG 6—6th Fighter Wing). He replaced Hauptmann Willi Elstermann who had been transferred.[16]

Later life and service

From 1 April 1963 to 15 July 1966, Naumann served as an advisor (Hilfsreferent) with the German Air Staff (Führungsstab der Luftwaffe—Fü L III 2 Internationale Zusammenarbeit Luftwaffe) for international collaboration.[17] Since April 1959, the Bundesluftwaffe formed three Staffeln for rescue and utility transport and liaison purposes. These units were based at Faßberg Air Base, Lechfeld Air Base and Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, flying the Bell H-13 Sioux, Bristol Type 171 Sycamore, Aérospatiale Alouette II, Sikorsky S-58, and Vertol H-21 helicopters, as well as the Dornier Do 27 aircraft for liaison duties. On 1 October 1966, these units were consolidated and reformed as Helicopter Transport Wing 64 at Landsberg-Lech Air Base, formerly known as Penzing Air Base, and placed under the command of Oberst Naumann.[18]

Naumann credited his father with inspiring him to become a fighter pilot. In May 2008, interviewer James Holland asked Naumann why he wanted to fly fighters, to which he responded, "The most important reason was that my father was a pilot in the 1st World War. My father told me a lot of his experiences, so it was not a difficult decision for me."[19] Naumann went on to fly both the Me 109 and the Fw 190 in combat during World War II, and while he also trained on the Me 262, he never flew the jet operationally.[19]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Naumann was credited with 34 aerial victories all which claimed in approximately 350 combat missions over the Western Front, including seven heavy bombers.[20] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 34 aerial victories, plus one further unconfirmed claim. All of his aerial victories were claimed over the Western Allies and includes seven four-engined bombers.[21]

Chronicle of aerial victories

  This and the – (dash) indicates unwitnessed aerial victory claims for which Naumann 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 Caldwell, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.

Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[22]
Action at the Channel and over England — 26–21 June 1941
—
 12 August 1940 18:20 Spitfire Folkestone[23][24] 2 21 June 1941 16:35 Hurricane[25][26] west of Boulogne
1 3 September 1940 11:10 Spitfire Thames Estuary[27][28]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Southend
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[22]
On the Western Front — 22 June – 31 December 1941
3 3 July 1941 11:45 Spitfire[29][30] 4 21 August 1941 15:10 Spitfire[31][32]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[22]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 21 September 1942
5 12 February 1942 13:45 Swordfish north of Gravelines[33][34] 7 27 April 1942 12:30 Spitfire 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Calais[35][36]
6 12 February 1942 13:47 Swordfish north of Gravelines[33][34] 8 23 May 1942 11:52 Spitfire north of Calais[35][37]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[22]
On the Western Front — 28 February – 21 September 1942
9 6 September 1942 18:54 Spitfire north of Hallencourt[38][39]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[21]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 30 September 1943
10 13 February 1943 12:24 Spitfire northeast of Rue[40][41] 18 26 July 1943 11:16 Boston Vendeville airfield[42][43]
11 16 February 1943 17:28 Spitfire Bourseville, east-northeast of Le Tréport[44][45] 19 30 July 1943 10:25 B-17 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Est[46][47]
12 8 March 1943 14:08?[Note 1] B-24 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Hastings[44][48] 20 12 August 1943 09:05?[Note 2] B-17* coal mine Hagen[46]
vicinity of Hagen[49]
13 4 April 1943 14:41?[Note 3] Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Dieppe[44][50] 21 17 August 1943 17:00 P-47 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Liège[46][51]
14 3 May 1943 18:15 Spitfire west of Zandvoort[44][52] 22 19 August 1943 18:32 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Le Tréport[46][53]
15 13 May 1943 16:35 Spitfire 10–20 km (6.2–12.4 mi) northwest of Albert[44][54]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Doullens		 23 2 September 1943 20:21 P-47 8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of Lens[46][55]
vicinity of Merville
16 14 May 1943 12:40 B-17 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Menen[42]
Dadizele[56]		 24 11 September 1943 18:45?[Note 4] Typhoon Forges-les-Eaux[46][58]
17 22 June 1943 09:16?[Note 5] B-17 west of Antwerp[42][59] 25 21 September 1943 10:40 B-25 between Arras and Saint-Pol[46][60]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[57]
On the Western Front — 1 October 1943 – 9 February 1944
26 14 October 1943 13:35?[Note 6] B-17 Domburg[46][61]
vicinity of Maastricht		 28 21 December 1943 11:51 Spitfire Douai[62][63]
27 11 November 1943 14:55 B-17 north-northwest of Breda[62][64]
– II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 6 "Horst Wessel" –[57]
On the Western Front and in defense of the Reich — 1 September 1944 – 30 March 1945
29 8 September 1944 17:05 Auster west of Huy[65] 31 12 September 1944 16:11 P-38 south-southeast of Düren[65]
Düren-Zülpich
30 12 September 1944 16:09 P-38 south-southeast of Düren[65] 32 14 October 1944 10:50 P-38 east of Cologne

Awards

Notes
  1. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:10.[22]
  2. According to Caldwell claimed at 09:00.[49]
  3. According to Caldwell claimed at 14:42.[50]
  4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:42.[57]
  5. According to Caldwell claimed at 09:15.[59] According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:20 as an Herausschuss over a four-engined bomber.[22]
  6. According to Caldwell claimed at 13:30.[61]

References

Citations
  1. Prien et al. 2000, p. 177.
  2. Caldwell 1996, p. 4.
  3. Caldwell 1996, pp. 204–210.
  4. Caldwell 1996, p. 268.
  5. Caldwell 1996, pp. 286–288.
  6. Caldwell 1996, pp. 289, 327.
  7. Caldwell 1998, pp. 138–139.
  8. Prien et al. 2010, p. 550.
  9. Caldwell 1998, p. 140.
  10. Prien et al. 2010, p. 547.
  11. Caldwell 1998, p. 211.
  12. Caldwell 1998, pp. 199–200.
  13. Caldwell 1998, p. 485.
  14. Weal 2011, pp. 34–35.
  15. Caldwell 1998, pp. 165–167.
  16. Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 475.
  17. Ahrens 2019, p. 494.
  18. Lemke et al. 2006, p. 634.
  19. Holland 2008.
  20. Obermaier 1989, p. 172.
  21. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 901–902.
  22. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 901.
  23. Prien et al. 2002, p. 335.
  24. Caldwell 1996, p. 53.
  25. Prien et al. 2002, p. 341.
  26. Caldwell 1996, p. 139.
  27. Prien et al. 2002, p. 337.
  28. Caldwell 1996, p. 68.
  29. Prien et al. 2003, p. 548.
  30. Caldwell 1996, p. 146.
  31. Prien et al. 2003, p. 549.
  32. Caldwell 1996, p. 169.
  33. Prien et al. 2004, p. 396.
  34. Caldwell 1996, p. 210.
  35. Prien et al. 2004, p. 397.
  36. Caldwell 1996, p. 233.
  37. Caldwell 1996, p. 242.
  38. Prien et al. 2004, p. 375.
  39. Caldwell 1996, p. 288.
  40. Prien et al. 2010, p. 553.
  41. Caldwell 1998, p. 27.
  42. Prien et al. 2010, p. 555.
  43. Caldwell 1998, p. 124.
  44. Prien et al. 2010, p. 554.
  45. Caldwell 1998, p. 29.
  46. Prien et al. 2010, p. 556.
  47. Caldwell 1998, p. 129.
  48. Caldwell 1998, p. 34.
  49. Caldwell 1998, p. 133.
  50. Caldwell 1998, p. 42.
  51. Caldwell 1998, p. 139.
  52. Caldwell 1998, p. 53.
  53. Caldwell 1998, p. 142.
  54. Caldwell 1998, p. 57.
  55. Caldwell 1998, p. 147.
  56. Caldwell 1998, p. 58.
  57. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 902.
  58. Caldwell 1998, p. 154.
  59. Caldwell 1998, p. 106.
  60. Caldwell 1998, p. 158.
  61. Caldwell 1998, p. 167.
  62. Prien et al. 2010, p. 557.
  63. Caldwell 1998, p. 189.
  64. Caldwell 1998, p. 175.
  65. Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 477.
  66. Patzwall 2008, p. 152.
  67. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 326.
  68. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 321.
  69. Scherzer 2007, p. 563.

Bibliography
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  • Caldwell, Donald L. (1996). The JG 26 War Diary: Volume One 1939–1942. London, UK: Grubstreet. ISBN 978-1-898697-52-7.
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