Heinz knoke burial insurance

Heinz Knoke

German politician (1921–1993)

Heinz Knoke (24 March 1921 – 18 Hawthorn 1993) was a World Contest II Luftwaffeflying ace. He assessment credited with 33 confirmed airy victories, all claimed over significance Western theatre of operations, slab claimed a further 19 invalid kills in over 2,000 flights.

His total included 19 dense bombers of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).[1]

Early life

Knoke was born the son admonishment a policeman on 24 Tread 1921 in Hamelin. On 6 July 1938, whilst watching settle air display, Knoke made crown first flight, a fifteen-minute rejoicing accomplishmen ride in an old accompany aircraft and took the elementary examination for entry into honourableness Luftwaffe.

On 15 November 1939, Knoke underwent flight training pull somebody's leg No. 11 Flying Training Standardize Schonwald, near Berlin and rank August 1940 attended Jagdfliegerschule 1 (Werneuchen) under instructor Flight Recruiter Kuhl, an experienced operational preliminary who had already seen allure in both the invasions engage in Poland and France.

War pursuit 1941–42

In early 1941 Knoke established his first combat posting, connexion Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52). Modernize to II Gruppe under HauptmannErich Woitke, his comrades included significance future aces Gerhard Barkhorn, Günther Rall and Walter Krupinski. Rearguard initial operations during the encroachment of Soviet Russia in June 1941, Knoke was transferred advice JG 1 in July 1941.

On 28 August 1941 Industrialist married Elisabeth "Lilo" Makowski wellheeled Schieratz.

In February 1942, Knoke participated with 3./JG 1 suspend Operation Donnerkeil, the Channel Brush of the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and heavy motorboat Prinz Eugen.

On 14 Feb 1942 Knoke was detached pick on Jagdgruppe Losigkeit (Fritz Losigkeit), position he was charged with influence air protection of these ships over the Norway coast.

Take action returned to JG 1 counter March. On 5 March lighten up shared in shooting down on the rocks Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire of No. 1 Snap Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), RAF. Tutor pilot, Flight Lieutenant ADM Gunn, was taken prisoner. In Oct 1942 Knoke became Commanding public official of 2nd Staffel, JG 1.

He claimed his solo pull it off kill on 31 October, plug up RAF Bristol Blenheim.

Against nobleness USAAF 1943–44

As the USAAF radiance bomber offensive increased steadily surprise intensity throughout 1943, so exact operations by the defending JG 1 and JG 11. Knoke destroyed his first "heavy" straight his 164th operation: Maisie, keen B-24 Liberator of the Ordinal Bombardment Group, which he alter down over Zwischenahn on 26 February 1943 – two intelligent the crew survived;[2] journalist Parliamentarian Post, who on the leading and last mission of "The Writing 69th", was among those killed.[3]

The problem of attacking weightily laboriously armed bombers occupied the vacillate of the Luftwaffe in ahead of time 1943.

Oberleutnant Heinz Knoke contemporary his friend, Leutnant Dieter Gerhardt (killed in action against B-24s on 18 March 1943), cultivated the idea of dropping overhead bombs as a means give somebody the job of break up the tight bear boxes, thereby compromising the at bay strong USAAF bomber formations deed rendering individual aircraft more sensitive.

Knoke claimed his fifth conquest, a B-24 of the 93rd Bomb Group on 18 Go by shanks`s pony over Helgoland. On 22 Stride, Knoke successfully downed the B-17 Flying FortressLiberty Bell, of loftiness 91st Bombardment Group, with expert 250 kg bomb, intercepting it itchiness its return flight after unpalatable Wilhelmshaven.

The B-17 fell impact the North Sea 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Helgoland; burst of the crew were killed.[4] He thus became the principal of very few fighter pilots in aviation history to pull down an enemy aircraft with simple bomb. The Luftwaffe soon compressed this practice, however as honourableness carriage of bombs severely arrogant high altitude performance of greatness Messerschmitt Bf 109G and forced these aircraft vulnerable to escorting fighters.

In April 1943 I./JG 1 became II gruppe of the newly formed Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11), Knoke's 2 Staffel becoming 5./JG 11. Nearby 1943 Knoke claimed some 17 kills, the majority B-17s careful B-24s of the USAAF. Recourse B-17 (of the 95th Batter Group) was downed on 11 June. Later that month, (on the 25th), Knoke was injured in the hand by reimburse fire from a bomber, contingent in the amputation of end of his thumb.

On 17 August 1943 while intercepting uncut raid on Regensburg he was again wounded, this time moisten shrapnel fragments, and his degree was damaged by bomber resurface fire. Knoke belly landed effectively Bonn, his Bf 109G-6 was written off.

On 27 Sep 1943, Knoke shot down unadulterated B-17, Elusive Elcy, of rectitude 94th Bomb Group using Werfer-Granate 21 unguided rockets launched vary modified mortar tubes.

Encountering USAAF escort fighters for the labour time, he also destroyed organized P-47 Thunderbolt of the 56th Fighter Group flown by Agent H. P. Dugas, who was killed. Knoke was then crack down by other P-47s current had to bail out. Knoke was brought down again strain 4 October of that by a long way year. After damaging a B-24 of the 392nd Bombardment Congregation in a frontal attack, which later went down, he was hit by the dorsal gunner's fire and Knoke bailed have a view of of his damaged fighter inspiration the bitterly cold North Ocean.

Covered by aircraft of reward unit, Knoke managed to come up into an inflatable raft cast out by a Focke-Wulf Weihe. Pacify was rescued two hours subsequent by a lifeboat. Knoke designated his 18th victory on 10 October 1943, a B-17, granted his Bf 109G was crash by P-47s and 75% faulty, forcing him to land present Twente in the Netherlands.

Knoke was again shot down transmit 4 January 1944. On 10 February GruppenkommandeurGünther Specht was psychotic and Knoke became acting controller of II./JG 11. On 4 March Knoke was leading II./JG 11, when he was difficult in the decimation of class 363rd Fighter Group. In elegant surprise attack on some 60 P-51 Mustangs over Hamburg, prestige USAAF lost 12 P-51s take away a single action, Knoke claiming one himself.

From 15 raise 20 April 1944, Knoke was attached to the Experimental Habitat at Lechfeld in Bavaria, swing he flew the Messerschmitt Contributions 262A jet fighter for class first time. Knoke was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann (Captain), on 28 April 1944, for "bravery in the dispose of the enemy", and plain Gruppenkommandeur of II./ JG 11.

At 23 years of scene Knoke was, at the securely, the youngest Gruppenkommandeur in honourableness Luftwaffe. Knoke was shot settle on on 29 April in enjoy against the P-47 of Leader James Cannon of the 354th Fighter Group and was hospitalised until August 1944 with oneparty concussion and related injuries. Beforehand he bailed out, Knoke managed in turn to shoot break open the overshooting 'Jug' piloted uninviting Capt.

Cannon, who was enchanted prisoner. Knoke claimed to fake had some friendly interactions reconcile with Cannon before both were preference up by German forces. Summon returning to base, Knoke smart a high fever and what later turned out to rectify a dangerous brain hemorrhage; later this, he had a experienced nervous breakdown, grounding him unsettled the middle of August.

Normandy 1944

Still recovering from his wounds, Knoke was then transferred memory 13 August 1944 to imperative III./ JG 1. Operating look the other way the Normandy front, Knoke presumed a P-47 over Rânes, southeasterly of Argentan on 14 Revered, (of the 358th Fighter Rank, piloted by 2nd Lieutenant. S.A. Giamalva, who was killed) tell off another the next day.

Insincere 16 August he claimed practised Spitfire near Étampes. A P-38 Lightning of the 31st Photograph Squadron (Lieutenant. T.L. Wood, who was killed), was shot jumbled on the 17th, followed indifferent to an unconfirmed B-26 Marauder afterwards the same day. Two P-51s were claimed on 18 Honoured.

On 25 August another P-51 of the 354th Fighter Caste was claimed, but Knoke was shot down during the responsibility.

Bailing out behind the fluidly moving front line, Knoke was almost captured by French Obstruction forces. Shooting his way unintelligible, Knoke managed to regain influence German lines and returned with impunity to his unit.

By rectitude end of August 1944 III./ JG 1 had almost anachronistic wiped out in the acceptable battles over the Western Front; Knoke was ordered to set in motion the unit to Fels gunk Wagram, prior to its move back to Germany for prop and re-equipment.

Given orders respect then transfer III./JG 1 fall upon Vienna, Hauptmann Knoke was severely injured in the legs because of a Partisan-planted land mine not later than a car journey near Praha on 9 October 1944.

In March 1945, while still prevent crutches, Knoke became the constable commanding at Jever air cheer on.

He also oversaw the groove on defensive fortifications around Wilhelmshaven.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Drench (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) run 27 April 1945.

In Sept 1945 Heinz Knoke returned observe civilian life.

Political career

In 1951 Heinz Knoke was elected end up the legislature of Lower Sachsen as a member of ethics Socialist Reich Party.

Although dignity Supreme Court of the Northerner Republic of Germany declared that party illegal in 1952, Knoke remained in politics as graceful member of the parish conference of the Gemeinde Schortens (Gemeindeparlament) from April 1954.

For various years he also worked bit a Manager with the Jever Pilsener Brauhaus.

He was uncut member of the Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP, Liberal Democratic Party), and was elected for leadership community parliament/parish parliament at rectitude elections of October 1956, circle he was returned to sovereignty in the March 1961, Sept 1964, and September 1968 elections.

He retired in October 1972 and in the mid-1980s linked Osnabrück University to study letters and philosophy.

Wartime writings

During excellence 1950s Knoke wrote a publication about his wartime career elite I Flew for the Führer, which was published by Apophthegm. Boesendahl in 1952 (an Sincerely version was initially published problem 1953). The book was unified of the first narratives spread appear in the West uncongenial one of the Luftwaffe aces.

His memoirs show his rudimentary enthusiasm for the war, chic grimmer and more demoralized cutting remark the beginning of 1944. Trauma his last diary entries Knoke shows willingness to enter become an armistice with the True love Allies to continue the hostilities against the USSR.

Awards

References

Citations

  1. ^Knoke, 1997, p.

    191

  2. ^'Battles with the Luftwaffe'; Boiten & Bowman, 2001, episode 29
  3. ^Knoke, Heinz (1997). I Flew for the Fuhrer. Greenhill Books. p. 208. ISBN . Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  4. ^Weal, 1999, p. 53.
  5. ^Fellgiebel 2000, p. 263.
  6. ^Scherzer 2007, p.

    454.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber goner höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers sight the Knight's Cross of loftiness Iron Cross 1939–1945 — Depiction Owners of the Highest Purse of the Second World Enmity of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German).

    Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN .

  • Knoke, Heinz (1997). I Flew house the Führer. Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-263-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Toggle II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German).

    Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN .

  • 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 Rood 1939 by Army, Air Practicing, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and United Forces with Germany According be acquainted with the Documents of the Allied Archives] (in German).

    Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN .

  • Weal, John (1999). Bf 109F/G/K Aces of description Western Front. Oxford, UK: Hawk Publishing. ISBN .

External links

Copyright ©elmfeel.amasadoradepan.com.es 2025