Walter Adolph | |
|---|---|
 Adolph as aHauptmann | |
| Born | (1913-06-11)11 June 1913 Fântânele,Kingdom of Romania |
| Died | 18 September 1941(1941-09-18) (aged 28) North Sea, offOstend,German-occupied Belgium |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 193?–1941 |
| Rank | Hauptmann (captain) |
| Unit | J/88,JG 26 |
| Commands | II./JG 26 |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Walter Adolph (11 June 1913 – 18 September 1941) was a GermanLuftwaffemilitary aviator in theSpanish Civil War and afighter ace duringWorld War II. He is credited with 25 aerial victories, including one in Spain, achieved in 79 combat missions. All his World War II victories were claimed over theWestern Front.
Born inFântânele,Romania, Adolph served in theCondor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, where he claimed his first aerial victory on 30 December 1937. He was madeStaffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2.Staffel (2nd squadron) ofJagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1–1st Fighter Wing), a squadron which was later redesignated 8.Staffel ofJagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27–27th Fighter Wing). In October 1940, he was appointedGruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II.Gruppe ofJagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26–26th Fighter Wing) and received theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 November 1940. On 16 September 1941, he waskilled in action withSupermarine Spitfire fighters fromNo. 41 Squadron.
Adolph was born on 11 June 1913 atFântânele,Bacău County,Romania. After the fall of theAustro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, he moved with his family to Germany.[1] From late 1937 until spring 1938, he served with 1.Staffel (1st squadron) ofJagdgruppe 88 (J/88–88th Fighter Group) of theCondor Legion during theSpanish Civil War.[2][Note 1] Adolph arrived in Spain at the time J/88 received a complement of 14 newMesserschmitt Bf 109 B-2 fighters.[3] He claimed one victory,[4] aRepublicanPolikarpov I-15 fighter, on 30 December 1937. He was awarded theSpanish Cross in Gold with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern), for his service in the Spanish Civil War.[5]
On 1 January 1939, Adolph was appointedStaffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2.Staffel ofJagdgeschwader 130 (JG 130–130th Fighter Wing), a squadron of I.Gruppe (1st group) of JG 130 under the command ofHauptmannBernhard Woldenga. This unit was renamed on 1 May 1939 and was then referred to 2.Staffel ofJagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1–1st Fighter Wing) from then on.[6] In mid-August 1939, 2.Staffel was ordered to move from Jesau, near present-dayBagrationovsk, toHeiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo, in preparation for the GermanInvasion of Poland.[7][8]
World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 6 September, I.Gruppe (1st group) of JG 1 was withdrawn and ordered toLübeck-Blankensee and then on 15 September toVörden where the unit stayed until January 1940. There, theGruppe flew fighter protection during the "Phoney War" on the German border to the Netherlands.[9][10] Adolph claimed his first aerial victory in World War II on 1 October 1939 overOsnabrück. His opponent was aRoyal Air Force (RAF)Bristol BlenheimN6281 ofNo. 139 Squadron flown by F/O AC MacLachlan.[11][12][13]
In mid-January 1940, I.Gruppe was ordered to an airfield at Gymnich, today part ofErftstadt, where the unit was tasked with patrolling Germany's western border. There, theGruppe continuously conducted various flight exercises. In late April, the unit received the first Bf 109 E-4 variant, replacing the Bf 109 E-3s.[14]
TheWehrmacht launched the invasion of France and the Low Countries on 10 May 1940. During this campaign, I.Gruppe of JG 1 was subordinated to theStab (headquarters unit) ofJagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27–27th Fighter Wing) which was under the control ofVIII.Fliegerkorps (8th Air Corps) under the command ofGeneraloberstWolfram Freiherr von Richthofen. That day, I.Gruppe flewcombat air patrols in the area ofVenlo–Tirlemont–Liège and later that day toMaastricht.[15] On 12 May, German forces began crossing the bridges overMeuse andAlbert Canal. Atfirst light, nineBristol Blenheims belonging toNo. 139 Squadron RAF took off fromPlivot to bomb the bridgeheads. They ran into Bf 109s from Stab./JG 51, and 2. and 3./JG 27.[16] In defense of these bridges, I.Gruppe claimed ten bombers shot down, including three Blenheim bombers from No. 139 Squadron by Adolph.[17][18] No. 139 Squadron lost seven of the unescorted bombers.[16] On 16 May, I.Gruppe was moved to an airfield atCharleville.[17] On 6 June, Adolph was credited with two aerial victories over FrenchLioré et Olivier LeO 451 bombers in the vicinity ofMontdidier, his fifth and last during the French campaign.[19]
I.Gruppe moved to an airfield atPlumetot on 30 June 1940 for combat against the RAF. On 5 July, the Luftwaffe began reorganizing its fighter units. In consequence, I.Gruppe of JG 1 was officially integrated into JG 27 as its III.Gruppe, with 2.Staffel of JG 1 then becoming the 8.Staffel of JG 27.[20] On 19 July, III.Gruppe escorted a number ofJunkers Ju 87dive bombers on aKanalkampf mission to theIsle of Wight where they encountered a number ofHawker Hurricane fighters. TheGruppe claimed five Hurricanes shot down, including one by Adolph.[21] The RAF attacked theQuerqueville Airfield on the afternoon of 1 August. In defense of this attack, I.Gruppe claimed three aerial victories, including a Blenheim bomber shot down by Adolph nearCherbourg.[22] On 7 September, the Luftwaffe launched Operation Loge, a 65-dayair offensive against London. That day, Adolph claimed aSupermarine Spitfire destroyed south ofStanford.[23]
Adolph was appointedGruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II.Gruppe ofJagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26–26th Fighter Wing) on 4 October 1940.[24] JG 26 was named afterAlbert Leo Schlageter, amartyr cultivated by theNazi Party.[25] On 11 October, Adolph claimed his tenth and eleventh aerial victory over two Spitfire fighters. Both Spitfires came fromNo. 41 Squadron and were shot down off the coast ofKent nearMaidstone. Four days later, he claimed a Hurricane destroyed near London. The Hurricane either belonged toNo. 46 Squadron orNo. 501 Squadron.[26] His 13th victory, aNo. 603 Squadron Spitfire, was claimed on 25 October in aerial combat near Maidstone.[27] Adolph's victim,Pilot Officer Ludwig Martel, flyingP7350, lost consciousness and when he came around found he was flying upside down with a dead engine and promptly parachuted to safety.[28]
His next victory was claimed on 1 November over aNo. 74 Squadron Spitfire, also shot down near Maidstone.[29] On 8 November, Adolph was credited with his 15th aerial victory, a Spitfire claimed nearTonbridge. That day, II. Gruppe had claimed four Spitfires shot down while British records show that two Hurricanes were lost while further two had to make aforced landing.[30] On 13 November 1940, Adolph was awarded theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) in parts for increasing the combat performance of II.Gruppe.[31]
On 17 June, the RAF flew"Circus" No. 13 targeting theEtabs Kuhlmann Chemical Works and power station atChocques. In total,No. 2 Group sent 24 Blenheim bombers, escorted by fighters fromNorth Weald andBiggin Hill. JG 26 claimed 15 aerial victories including a Hurricane by Adolph.[32][Note 2] The RAF flew "Circus" No. 24 on 26 June with the objective to bomb the electrical power station atComines with 28 bombers. Adolph claimed his 18th aerial victory that day, shooting down a Spitfire.[34] On 1 July, II.Gruppe began relocating toMoorsele Airfield where the unit was closer to the RAF "Circus" routes. The infrastructure at Moorsele was ideal for the planned transition to the then newFocke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft which began arriving in July.[35][36] On 6 July, the RAF flew another "Circus". No. 35 targeted Lille and theFives-Lille engineering company. In defense of this attack, Adolph shot down a Spitfire from No. 74 Squadron.[37] On 23 July, JG 26 claimed four Blenheim bombers shot down fromNo. 21 Squadron off theScheldt Estuary andOstend, including Adolph's 21st aerial victory.[38] On 16 August, Adolph claimed aerial victories numbering 23 and 24 of World War II while defending against "Circus" No. 75. That day, he shot down aNo. 602 Squadron Spitfire 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest ofBoulogne and a No. 602 Squadron 8 km (5.0 mi) north ofMarquise.[39]
On 18 September 1941, elements of JG 26 escorted a German tanker through the English Channel. The tanker came under attack by three Blenheim bombers just off the coast near Blankenberge. The bombers were escorted by Spitfire fighters from No. 41 Squadron and Hurricane fighters fromNo. 615 Squadron. Adolph headed a flight of eight Fw 190 from II.Gruppe in defense of the tanker. Following the attack on the tanker, one Blenheim bomber was claimed shot down by a German pilot.[40] Adolph, while observing the crashed bomber, was shot down and killed in his Fw 190 A-1 (Werknummer 0028—factory number) 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Ostend.[41][42][43] The British flying ace F/O Cyril Babbage of No. 41 Squadron is believed to have shot down Adolph.[44][45] Adolph's Fw 190 was the first of its kind to be lost in aerial combat.[2][46] Adolph's successor asGruppenkommandeur wasHauptmannJoachim Müncheberg who took command of II.Gruppe on 19 September.[47] On 12 October 1941, his body was washed ashore nearKnokke, Belgium and was interred at theLommel German war cemetery.[48]
Author Spick lists him with 28 aerial victories, claimed in 79 combat missions.[49] That are three victories more than authors Obermaier,[2] Caldwell,[39] Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock attribute him with.[50] Mathews and Foreman, authors ofLuftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched theGerman Federal Archives and found records for more than 21 aerial victory claims, plus four further unconfirmed claims. This number includes one claim during the Spanish Civil War and 20 on the Western Front of World War II.[5]
| Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
| Spanish Civil War | |||||||||
| – 1.Staffel ofJagdgruppe 88 –[5] Spanish Civil War — January 1937 – January 1938 | |||||||||
| 1 | 30 December 1937 | — | I-15 | ||||||
| World War II | |||||||||
| – 2.Staffel ofJagdgeschwader 1 –[5] "Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 October 1939 | 14:10 | Blenheim | Bad Driburg[51] | |||||
| – 2.Staffel ofJagdgeschwader 1 –[5] Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 | |||||||||
| 2 | 12 May 1940 | 06:00 | Blenheim | vicinity ofMaastricht[52] | 5?[Note 3] | 6 June 1940 | — | LeO 451 | Montdidier[53] |
| 3 | 12 May 1940 | 06:07 | Blenheim | vicinity of Maastricht[52] | 6?[Note 3] | 6 June 1940 | — | LeO 451 | Montdidier[53] |
| 4 | 12 May 1940 | 10:37 | Blenheim | vicinity ofLiège[52] | |||||
| – 8.Staffel ofJagdgeschwader 27 –[5] Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June – 30 September 1940 | |||||||||
| 7 | 19 July 1940 | 18:25 | Hurricane | off theIsle of Wight[54] | 9 | 7 September 1940 | 18:25 | Spitfire | south ofStanford[54] |
| 8 | 1 August 1940 | 16:45 | Blenheim | vicinity ofCherbourg[54] | |||||
| –Stab II.Gruppe ofJagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[5] Action at the Channel and over England — 3 October – 21 June 1941 | |||||||||
| 10 | 11 October 1940 | 17:38 | Spitfire | Maidstone[55] | 14 | 1 November 1940 | 12:50 | Spitfire | Maidstone[55] |
| 11 | 11 October 1940 | 17:38 | Spitfire | Maidstone[55] | 15 | 8 November 1940 | 14:50 | Spitfire | Tonbridge[55] |
| 12 | 15 October 1940 | 14:10 | Hurricane | London[55] | 16 | 17 June 1941 | 19:50 | Hurricane | Boulogne[56] |
| 13 | 25 October 1940 | 11:04 | Spitfire | Maidstone[55] | |||||
| –Stab II.Gruppe ofJagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[5] Action at the Channel and over England — 22 June – 18 September 1941 | |||||||||
| 17 | 22 June 1941 | 16:00 | Spitfire | Gravelines[57] | 21 | 23 July 1941 | 14:20 | Blenheim | Ostend[57] |
| 18 | 26 June 1941 | 11:55 | Spitfire | Mardyck[57] | 22 | 24 July 1941 | 14:55?[Note 4] | Spitfire | 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Gravelines[57] |
| 19 | 6 July 1941 | 14:45?[Note 5] | Spitfire | Wormhout[57] vicinity ofCalais | 23?[Note 3] | 16 August 1941 | 09:30?[Note 6] | Spitfire | 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Boulogne[50] |
| 20 | 8 July 1941 | 15:30 | Spitfire | Gravelines[57] | 24?[Note 3] | 16 August 1941 | 19:30?[Note 7] | Spitfire | 8 km (5.0 mi) north ofMarquise[50] |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients ofJagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" | ||
|---|---|---|
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