Ulrich Wernitz


Ulrich Wernitz was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He was credited with 101 aerial victories—that is, 101 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in roughly 240 combat missions. He served in the post World War II German Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant.

Early life and career

Wernitz, nicknamed Pipifax, was born on 21 January 1921 in Schweinitz/Herzberg in the district of Wittenberg, a Province of Saxony. He joined the Luftwaffe in late 1941 and following flight training, he was posted to 3. Organization of the [Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Staffel|Staffel] of Jagdgeschwader 54 in April 1943. The Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Franz Eisenach and subordinated to I. Gruppe of JG 54 under command of Major Reinhard Seiler, flying the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Seiler had just replaced Hauptmann Gerhard Koall who temporarily led the Gruppe after Major Hans Philipp was transferred to take command of Jagdgeschwader 1 fighting in Defence of the Reich.

World War II

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In June 1941, German forces had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. In April 1943, I. Gruppe of JG 54 was based at Krasnogvardeysk, present-day Gatchina, located approximately south-south-west of Leningrad on the northern sector of the Eastern Front. Here on 2 May, Wernitz claimed his first aerial victory. In support of 18th Army during the Siege of Leningrad, a Rotte and Kette|Rotte], a flight of two aircraft, from 3. Staffel was scrambled shortly before 17:00 and intercepted a formation of Lavochkin La-5 fighter aircraft near Pushkin. In this encounter, Wernitz claimed a La-5 shot down.
On combat missions, he frequently flew as wingman to Otto Kittel, Hermann Schleinhege and Günther Scheel.
Wernitz claimed his 82nd aerial victory, a Petlyakov Pe-2 shot down on 28 August 1944. He then fell ill in September. During his convalescence, Feldwebel Wernitz, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1944, and the German Cross in Gold on 1 January 1945. He returned to his unit in early February 1945, which at the time was fighting in the Courland Pocket. He was then appointed Staffelführer of 3. Staffel of JG 54 and claimed 19 further aerial victories, including eight on 8 March 1945. On 26 March 1945, Wernitz was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 100th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

Later life

Following World War II, Wernitz served in the German Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant. He died on 23 December 1980.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wernitz was credited with 101 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Wernitz was credited with 101 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference, for example "PQ 36 Ost 00333". The Luftwaffe grid map 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. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Awards