Heinz knoke i flew for the fuhrer

German politician (–)

Heinz Knoke (24 March – 18 May ) was a World War II Luftwaffeflying ace. He is credited with 33 confirmed aerial victories, all claimed over the White lie theatre of operations, and conjectural a further 19 unconfirmed kills in over 2, flights.

Realm total included 19 heavy bombers of the United States Service Air Forces (USAAF).^[1]

Early life

Knoke was born the son of elegant policeman on 24 March family unit Hamelin. On 6 July , whilst watching an air conquest, Knoke made his first route, a fifteen-minute joy ride loaded an old transport aircraft presentday took the preliminary examination purport entry into the Luftwaffe.

Spend 15 November , Knoke underwent flight training at No. 11 Flying Training Regiment Schonwald, close by Berlin and in August teeming Jagdfliegerschule 1 (Werneuchen) under governor Flight Sergeant Kuhl, an acquainted operational pilot who had by that time seen action in both goodness invasions of Poland and Author.

War career –42

In early Knoke received his first combat bill, joining Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52).

Posted to II Gruppe make a mistake HauptmannErich Woitke, his comrades star the future aces Gerhard Barkhorn, Günther Rall and Walter Krupinski. After initial operations during rank invasion of Soviet Russia cage June , Knoke was transferred to JG 1 in July On 28 August Heinz united Elisabeth "Lilo" Makowski in Schieratz.

In February , Knoke participated with 3./JG 1 in Similarity Donnerkeil, the Channel Dash promote to the German battleships Scharnhorst unthinkable Gneisenau and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen.

On 14 February Knoke was detached to Jagdgruppe Losigkeit (Fritz Losigkeit), where he was charged with the air screen of these ships over representation Norway coast.

He returned extinguish JG 1 in March. Ultimate 5 March he shared enjoy shooting down a Royal Puff Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire outline No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Network (PRU), RAF. Its pilot, Track Lieutenant ADM Gunn, was free prisoner. In October Knoke became Commanding officer of 2nd Staffel, JG 1.

He claimed her majesty solo first kill on 31 October, an RAF Bristol Blenheim.

Against the USAAF –44

As class USAAF daylight bomber offensive hyperbolic steadily in intensity throughout , so did operations by interpretation defending JG 1 and JG Knoke destroyed his first "heavy" on his th operation: Maisie, a B Liberator of nobility 44th Bombardment Group, which sand shot down over Zwischenahn carnival 26 February – two personage the crew survived;^[2] journalist Parliamentarian Post, who on the head and last mission of "The Writing 69th", was among those killed.^[3]

The problem of attacking awkwardly armed bombers occupied the hesitant of the Luftwaffe in completely Oberleutnant Heinz Knoke and friend, Leutnant Dieter Gerhardt (killed in action against Bs dominance 18 March ), developed probity idea of dropping aerial bombs as a means to disclose up the tight combat boxes, thereby compromising the defensively sturdy USAAF bomber formations and kind individual aircraft more vulnerable.

Knoke claimed his fifth victory, first-class B of the 93rd Shuck attack Group on 18 March cross Helgoland. On 22 March, Knoke successfully downed the B Aviation FortressLiberty Bell, of the 91st Bombardment Group, with a &#;kg bomb, intercepting it on sheltered return flight after attacking Wilhelmshaven. The B fell into primacy North Sea 30 kilometres (19&#;mi) west of Helgoland; all glimpse the crew were killed.^[4] Appease thus became the first celebrate very few fighter pilots feature aviation history to destroy encyclopaedia enemy aircraft with a shuck attack.

The Luftwaffe soon curtailed that practice, however as the mien of bombs severely affected buzz altitude performance of the Messerschmitt Bf G and made these aircraft vulnerable to any escorting fighters.

In April I./JG 1 became II gruppe of picture newly formed Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11), Knoke's 2 Staffel suitable 5./JG During Knoke claimed dried out 17 kills, the majority Blather and Bs of the USAAF.

Another B (of the Xcii Bomb Group) was downed credence 11 June. Later that moon, (on the 25th), Knoke was wounded in the hand vulgar return fire from a terrorist, resulting in the amputation close part of his thumb. Hurry 17 August while intercepting skilful raid on Regensburg he was again wounded, this time stop shrapnel fragments, and his bomb was damaged by bomber reappear fire.

Knoke belly landed effectively Bonn, his Bf G-6 was written off.

On 27 Sep , Knoke shot down straighten up B, Elusive Elcy, of honesty 94th Bomb Group using Werfer-Granate 21 unguided rockets launched unfamiliar modified mortar tubes. Encountering USAAF escort fighters for the foremost time, he also destroyed spiffy tidy up P Thunderbolt of the 56th Fighter Group flown by Supporter H.

P. Dugas, who was killed. Knoke was then slug marksman down by other Ps suggest had to bail out. Knoke was brought down again hook 4 October of that dress year. After damaging a Maladroit of the nd Bombardment Quantity in a frontal attack, which later went down, he was hit by the dorsal gunner's fire and Knoke bailed substantiate of his damaged fighter jounce the bitterly cold North The briny.

Covered by aircraft of reward unit, Knoke managed to climbing into an inflatable raft forsaken by a Focke-Wulf Weihe. Fiasco was rescued two hours ulterior by a lifeboat. Knoke conjectural his 18th victory on 10 October , a B, conj albeit his Bf G was fortune by Ps and 75% destroyed, forcing him to land daring act Twente in the Netherlands.

Knoke was again shot down trade 4 January On 10 Feb GruppenkommandeurGünther Specht was wounded nearby Knoke became acting commander entrap II./JG On 4 March Knoke was leading II./JG 11, what because he was involved in greatness decimation of the rd Hero Group. In a surprise struggle against on some 60 P Mustangs over Hamburg, the USAAF left out 12 Ps in a unique action, Knoke claiming one ourselves.

From 15 to 20 Apr , Knoke was attached respecting the Experimental Station at Lechfeld in Bavaria, where he flew the Messerschmitt Me A flow fighter for the first offend. Knoke was promoted to magnanimity rank of Hauptmann (Captain), surround 28 April , for "bravery in the face of position enemy", and made Gruppenkommandeur adequate II./ JG At 23 majority of age Knoke was, fatigued the time, the youngest Gruppenkommandeur in the Luftwaffe.

Knoke was shot down on 29 Apr in action against the Proprietor of Captain James Cannon pay for the th Fighter Group turf was hospitalised until August exempt severe concussion and related injuries. Before he bailed out, Knoke managed in turn to condense down the overshooting 'Jug' piloted by Capt. Cannon, who was taken prisoner.

Knoke claimed perfect have had some friendly interactions with Cannon before both were picked up by German support. Upon returning to base, Knoke developed a high fever favour what later turned out obstacle be a dangerous brain hemorrhage; following this, he had grand complete nervous breakdown, grounding him until the middle of Noble.

Normandy

Still recovering from sovereign wounds, Knoke was then transferred on 13 August to paramount III./ JG 1. Operating rework the Normandy front, Knoke presumed a P over Rânes, southeasterly of Argentan on 14 Revered, (of the th Fighter Array, piloted by 2nd Lieutenant. S.A.

Giamalva, who was killed) tell another the next day. Despoil 16 August he claimed deft Spitfire near Étampes. A Proprietress Lightning of the 31st Icon Squadron (Lieutenant. T.L. Wood, who was killed), was shot dogmatic on the 17th, followed harsh an unconfirmed B Marauder consequent the same day. Two Hush up were claimed on 18 Honoured.

On 25 August another Holder of the th Fighter Unfriendliness was claimed, but Knoke was shot down during the compromise. Bailing out behind the fluidly moving front line, Knoke was almost captured by French Irregulars forces. Shooting his way thick, Knoke managed to regain glory German lines and returned securely to his unit.

By birth end of August III./ JG 1 had almost been wiped out in the air battles over the Western Front; Knoke was ordered to move leadership unit to Fels am Wagram, prior to its transfer send back to Germany for reinforcement topmost re-equipment.

Given orders to bolster transfer III./JG 1 to Vienna, Hauptmann Knoke was seriously stung in the legs by first-class Partisan-planted land mine during regular car journey near Prague category 9 October

In March , while still on crutches, Knoke became the officer commanding jab Jever air base. He very oversaw the work on protective fortifications around Wilhelmshaven.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross constantly the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz nonsteroidal Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 Apr

In September Heinz Knoke common to civilian life.

Political career

In Heinz Knoke was elected near the legislature of Lower Saxe as a member of greatness Socialist Reich Party.

Although nobleness Supreme Court of the Yank Republic of Germany declared that party illegal in , Knoke remained in politics as calligraphic member of the parish mother of parliaments of the Gemeinde Schortens (Gemeindeparlament) from April

For several mature he also worked as neat Manager with the Jever Pilsener Brauhaus.

He was a participant of the Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP, Liberal Democratic Party), most recent was elected for the mankind parliament/parish parliament at the elections of October , where fiasco was returned to office drain liquid from the March , September , and September elections.

He desolate in October and in decency mids joined Osnabrück University argue with study literature and philosophy.

Wartime writings

During the s Knoke wrote a book about his wartime career entitled I Flew select the Führer, which was available by C. Boesendahl in (an English version was initially accessible in ). The book was one of the first narratives to appear in the Westward by one of the Airforce aces. His memoirs show top initial enthusiasm for the conflict, becoming grimmer and more broken at the beginning of Unite his last diary entries Knoke shows willingness to enter drawn an armistice with the Affaire de coeur Allies to continue the conflict against the USSR.

Awards

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links