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Walter Oesau

January 01, 1970

Walter "Gulle" Oesau (28 June 1913 – 11 May 1944) was a German fighter pilot during World War II. A fighter ace, he served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944. He rose to command Jagdgeschwader 1, which was named in his honor after his death.

Walter Oesau
Walter Oesau ca. 1941
Nickname(s)"Gulle"
Born(1913-06-28)28 June 1913
Farnewinkel, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died11 May 1944(1944-05-11) (aged 30)
near St. Vith, German-occupied Belgium
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Friedhof Meldorf Meldorf, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1933–1944
RankOberst (colonel)
UnitCondor Legion, JG 1, JG 2, JG 51, Jagdgruppe 88
Commands heldIII./JG 3, III./JG 51, JG 2, Jagdfliegerführer Bretagne, JG 1.
Battles/wars
See battles

Spanish Civil War

World War II

AwardsSpanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Signature

He served with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War with the Jagdgruppe 88. He claimed nine aircraft during the campaign, becoming one of only 28 people to earn the award of the Spanish Cross in Gold and Diamonds.

At the start of World War II, Oesau was given command of a fighter group within Jagdgeschwader 20. The group took part in the Invasion of Poland, later moving to the Western Front as the redesignated III Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51. Oesau operated on both the Western and Eastern Fronts.

He returned to operations as commander of Jagdgeschwader 1. He was killed in action on 11 May 1944 aged 30. JG 1 was given the name "Oesau" in his honor.

Early life edit

Walter "Gulle" Oesau was born to a bank director in Farnewinkel near Meldorf, Germany on 28 June 1913. He joined the German Army (Heer) in October 1933 and served in the Second Artillery Regiment as an enlisted soldier. After being transferred to a Luftwaffe transport unit, he undertook flying training in 1934 as a cadet (Fahnenjunker) at the Luftwaffe Academy (Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule) in Hanover. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 132, as a Leutnant. The unit was re–designated as Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" in May 1939.[Note 1][1][2]

Combat career edit

Spanish Civil War edit

Main article: Spanish Civil War
 
Bf 109 C–1, Similar to one flown by Oesau in the Spanish Civil War.

Oesau started his operational career with the Condor Legion, along with future contemporary aces such as Werner Mölders and Adolf Galland. He was one of the first to join 3. Jagdgruppe 88 in Spain in April 1938.[Note 2] The Staffel, commanded by Werner Mölders, took part in the Spanish Civil War where Oesau claimed nine victories, flying 130 combat missions. For this he received the Spanish Cross (Spanienkreuz) in Gold with Diamonds. He was also wounded in this conflict which earned him the Spanish Wound Badge. He also received the Medalla de la Campaña and the Medalla Militar.[1]

Western Front 1939–40 edit

Main article: Phoney War

On 1 March 1939 Oesau joined the Headquarters Flight (Stabsschwarm) of I./JG 2. By 15 July 1939 Oesau was promoted to Oberleutnant and given command of 2./JG 20. On 15 July 1939, I./JG 20 was activated in Döberitz initially consisting of two Staffeln drawn from JG 2. Prior to the invasion of Poland I./JG 20 was transferred to Strausberg on 26 August 1939. From there, the group was transferred to Sprottau (modern Szprotawa) anticipating an attack from the Polish Air Force. A week later the group moved to Brandenburg. On 21 February 1940, the unit was relocated to Bönninghardt under the control of JG 51. It continued to operate in this fashion until the end of the Battle of France. On 4 July it was re–designated III./JG 51. Oesau served as Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 51.[3][4]

Battle of France edit

Main article: Battle of France

Oesau got his first World War II victory during the Battle of France on 13 May 1940, when he claimed a French Curtiss P-36 Hawk over Halsteren in the Netherlands, earning him the Iron Cross 1st class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse). On 31 May, he claimed three Spitfires during a patrol North West of Dunkirk and next day he claimed a Bristol Blenheim. On 13 June 1940, he shot down the last French aircraft kill claimed by JG 51, a French Amiot bomber. By the end of hostilities in France on 25 June, his World War II tally stood at 5 (13 including Spanish kills).[3][5]

Following the Battle of France, the Luftwaffe started its attacks on Channel convoys as a prelude to the Battle of Britain. The primary task of JG 51 during this time was to provide fighter escort to these bomber missions. The commander of JG 51, Oberst Theo Osterkamp established a policy of unrestricted combat air patrol (freie Jagd) of fighter Staffeln providing loose protection rather than close escort to the bombers, actively seeking out Royal Air Force fighters. On 7 July 1940 Oesau claimed one Spitfire.[1][3]

Battle of Britain edit

Main article: Battle of Britain

On 10 July 1940, the first major clashes of the Battle of Britain occurred in a phase known as the Kanalkampf. 20 Bf 109s of III./JG 51 led by Hauptmann Hannes Trautloft and 30 Bf 110 C of I./Zerstörergeschwader 26 escorted 20 Dornier Do 17 bombers of II./Kampfgeschwader 2 attacking a large convoy off Folkestone. Oberleutnant Oesau was leading 7./JG 51.[3][6][7]

Trautloft noticed three of a flight of six intercepting Hurricanes of No. 32 squadron higher than the escorts, attempting to intercept the bombers. Soon they were joined by four squadrons of British fighters: No. 56 Squadron, No. 111 Squadron, No. 64 Squadron and No. 74 Squadron. Oesau was able to claim three Spitfires. Two 7./JG 51 aircraft crash landed in France.[6][7][8] British losses show that no Spitfire was lost or destroyed in the ensuing battle. Only one No. 32 Hurricane, piloted by Pilot Officer Higgs, was destroyed in a collision with one of the Do 17s and only one other Hurricane was damaged. It is possible Oesau was responsible for damaging Higgs' Hurricane, causing him to lose control. Two Spitfires landed with light damage while a third was also slightly damaged and force-landed at RAF Manston. Over claiming of enemy losses was rife on both sides during the battle.[9]

On 19 July, III./JG 51 were confronted by Defiants of No. 141 Squadron south of Folkestone. As the German pilots were now aware of the Defiant's lack of forward armament, they soon gained the advantage in combat and claimed 11 Defiants shot down in 8 minutes. Oesau was credited with one Defiant, taking his score to 19. He was the first one of JG 51 to reach double digits in World War II.[10][1][3][6][7] RAF losses record six Defiants destroyed and two damaged.[11]

On 18 August 1940, III./JG 51 escorted Dorniers attacking Hornchurch airfield. Intercepted by Hurricanes over Kent, Oesau claimed one Hurricane shot down as his 20th victory, earning him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) two days later, the first pilot of JG 51 to be thus honored. On 24 August 1940, Trautloft took over as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 54, and Oesau replaced him as Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51 while command of 7./JG 51 went to Oberleutnant Hermann Staiger.[12] By October 1940, Oesau had a total score of 48 (including 26 Spitfires).[13][14][15]

On 10 November 1940, Oesau succeeded Wilhelm Balthasar as Gruppenkommandeur of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3. With 39 victories he was currently the 4th highest scoring fighter pilot behind Helmut Wick, Werner Mölders and Adolf Galland. On 5 February 1941, the RAF flew "Circus" No. 3 targeting the airfield at Saint-Omer. That day, Oesau shot down the Hurricane piloted by Sergeant H. D. Denchfield from No. 610 Squadron over Desvres, France. This was his 40th aerial victory.[16] Oesau was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) next day. It also earned him a second entry in the Wehrmachtbericht. In early 1941, JG 3 returned to Germany to replace their Bf 109 'Emils' with the new 'F' variant (Friedrich). However, Oesau disliked the Bf 109F and kept flying his 'Emils' for some time. JG 3 returned to France in May 1941 and Oesau added two more kills on 16 May and 28 May bringing his total to 51.[17][4][15][18][19]

Operation Barbarossa edit

Main article: Operation Barbarossa

The Gruppe relocated to an airfield at Moderówka on 18 June where the Gruppe concluded their last preparations for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. At the start of the campaign, JG 3 was subordinated to the V. Fliegerkorps (5th Air Corps), under command of General der Flieger Robert Ritter von Greim, which was part of Luftflotte 4 (4th Air Fleet), under command of Generaloberst Alexander Löhr. These air elements supported Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South), with the objective of capturing the Ukraine and its capital Kiev.[20] Oesau shot down his first Soviet aircraft on 24 June, and by 30 June 1941 had reached his 60th victory, downing a Tupolev SB bomber. Next day he downed three more SB bombers near Lvov (modern Lviv, Ukraine). This earned him his 3rd entry in the Wehrmachtbericht. On 10 July 1941, Oesau claimed 5 more aircraft and two more kills by 11 July 1941. On 12 July 1941, he shot down 7 Soviet aircraft in one sortie. In the five weeks since moving to the Eastern Front, Oesau was credited with 44 Soviet aircraft downed. He became the third pilot to reach 80 victories, the 80th kill an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on same day. He was the third person to earn the Swords. He was again then wounded, receiving heavy splinter injuries in face and knee. A fortnight later he was transferred to the Western Front to take over JG 2.[1][2][15][21]

Defence of the Reich 1941–44 edit

He succeeded Balthasar for the second time as JG 2 commander, who had died in combat with Spitfires over northern France when he pulled the tail off his Bf 109F in a dive. The Bf 109F-2 proved an excellent match to the Spitfire V, but Oesau disliked its reduced armament compared to the 'Emil', and continued to fly an E-4 model in preference to the Bf 109F, until lack of spares forced him to switch to the newer variant. Upon his appointment on 4 July 1941, he addressed JG 2 with the following words.[1][22][23][24]

In the spirit of Manfred von Richthofen, and following the example set by my predecessors, Major Wick and Hauptmann Balthasar, constant readiness and devotion to duty will enable us to achieve yet further successes.[24]

 
Oesau at the funeral of Ernst Udet.[Note 3]

JG 2 was tasked with defending targets in occupied France against the RAF fighter offensive. For the next two years Oesau led JG 2 through the war of attrition waged by the RAF. On 10 August 1941 Oesau claimed a Spitfire for his first kill with JG 2. Over the next two days, he claimed four more Spitfires. By the end of September 1941, Oesau had claimed two more Spitfires.

JG 2 participated in the Luftwaffe air cover of the Channel Dash. Two Boeing B-17C Flying Fortresses of No. 90 Squadron attacked the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. In one of the highest altitude interceptions of World War II, the bombers were attacked by I./JG 2, resulting in the destruction of one. This aircraft put JG 2's score past the 800 mark, matching the score of their Great War namesake. Kills No. 88 to 92 were all Spitfires claimed between Calais and Dungeness on 12 August 1941. Oesau claimed his 100th kill on 26 October 1941, the third pilot to do so.[Note 4] This earned him his 4th entry in the Wehrmachtbericht.[1][26][27]

He was then grounded from flying on operations, as his experience and leadership qualities were regarded as too valuable to risk further in front line combat. He did fly on occasional sorties, the most famous involving the shooting down of an Avro Lancaster bomber of No. 44 Squadron RAF piloted by Warrant Officer G. T. Rhodes in April 1942, during a rare RAF daylight raid on the MAN engine plant in Augsburg. It was his 101st kill. In August 1942, the Geschwaderstab of JG 2 exchanged their Bf 109 F aircraft for Fw 190 A–2s.

From late 1942 onwards JG 2 was in the front line against the increasingly numerous United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) day bomber formations of B-17s and B-24s.[1][23][24][28]

Oesau added four more to his tally by mid-1943. Shortly before his 30th birthday, Oesau was elevated to a series of Luftwaffe staff and administration positions. On 1 July 1943 he was posted as Fighter Leader Brittany (Jagdfliegerführer Bretagne[Note 5]), before being appointed as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 1 on 12 November 1943, following the death of JG 1's Hans Philipp in October 1943. The ban on Oesau's combat flying was lifted. While commanding JG 1, Oesau became an expert (Experten) at shooting down 4 engine bombers, with 14 bomber kills claimed. He was awarded the Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in gold and diamonds on 17 October 1943. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 10 January 1944.[1][29]

For Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring it was an ongoing concern that inadequate numbers of fighters were able to continually engage the bomber streams, at the very time that the USAAF's 8th Air Force's new commander, Maj. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle had instituted a new fighter strategy against the Luftwaffe. Hence on 23 February 1944 – near the midpoint of the USAAF's Big Week bomber offensive against the Luftwaffe, also being carried out by the 15th Air Force flying out of Italian bases – Generalmajor Joseph Schmid Commander of I. Jagdkorps established a new rule for the fighters returning to base. They were to arrive at the nearest designated fighter airfield for resupply instead of returning to their own base. They were to be commanded by the senior pilot landing on that airfield, irrespective of their unit. This was meant to turn around the fighters in time to intercept returning bombers.[30]

On the next day, B-24s of 2nd Bomb division of the Eighth Air Force bombed Gotha. JG 1 (under Oesau), JG 11 and JG 3 were sent to intercept. Due to high winds, the bombers were ahead of the escorts unprotected. Two groups of JG 1 met them before Gotha and 9 B-24s were claimed as a result. Since B-17s of 1st Bomb division also bombed Schweinfurt, other fighter units also arrived to intercept, eventually involving almost all the Western day fighter units of the Luftwaffe. This caused some confusion among pilots landing on airfields other than their own. This tested the directive of Schmid. Oesau led one of two such improvised formations successfully, with the other led by Hauptmann Borris of I./JG 26[30] Oesau added 4 fighters to his score between January and March 1944, and his tally stood at 117. On 8 May 1944 he claimed a Thunderbolt shot down over Hanover; his last kill.[1][2]

Death edit

While being the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 1 Oesau frequently received his share of Hermann Göring's anger and frustration over the failure to beat off the Allied bomber offensive. Göring questioned the commitment of commanders who were not flying regularly and thus not really "leading" their respective units. In this context it should be stated that in order not to risk one of the Luftwaffe expert's life [German fighter aces were called Experten], there was an automatic ban on Oesau for further combat flying since his 100th victory. Perhaps the ban was lifted temporarily or bypassed when he was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 1.[4] On the other hand, Oesau might simply have ignored the ban and continued to lead missions.

Oesau added several victories over American heavy bombers in the first five months of 1944. On 11 May 1944 one thousand U.S. heavy bombers from Eighth Air Force attacked railway targets in Eastern France and North East Belgium. They were escorted by even more numbers of P-38 and P-51 fighters. Oesau was in bed with influenza. Upon hearing the news, Göring phoned Oesau's staff:[4]

Göring – "Is the Kommodore flying?"
Staff – "No, he is in bed with fever."
Göring – "Yes, yes, I know that kind!", Göring said scornfully,
Göring – "He has also turned tired and coward!"[4]

Angered by this comment, Oesau took off in a Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6/AS "Green 13" (Werknummer 20601—factory number) from Paderborn despite a high fever. Leading three aircraft of the Geschwaderstab, the schwarm broke formation over the Ardennes as it approached the bombers. In the dogfight Oesau's wingman reported damage to his machine and he was ordered to break off. Left alone, Oesau faced P-38s and possibly P-51s as well. According to Major Hartmann Grasser, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 1, who was on the same mission, there were five P-38s facing Oesau.[1][4]

What followed is unclear as there are several versions. Oesau was chased by 1st Lt. James Leslie Doyle, 1st Lt. Wilbur L. Jarvis III and 1st Lt. James C. Austin, of the 428th Fighter Squadron (474th FG, 9th AF). All three were experienced pilots and chased Oesau from 28,000 feet to tree-top level. In the ensuing 20-minute dogfight, Oesau defended skillfully, though his aircraft was damaged by gunfire. While attempting an emergency landing, his Gustav received a final burst of fire in the cockpit area and crashed into the ground 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) southwest of St. Vith. His body was thrown clear of the aircraft some yards away.[1][4][31]

 
His grave in Meldorf.

According to the "Eighth Air Force Mission Folder for 11 May 1944, Mission 351", Lt. Doyle engaged in a turning dogfight with a pair of Bf 109s, scoring hits on the leader. Doyle had then broken off combat without claiming a kill, unaware that his victim, Oesau, had been killed by a 20 mm shell. Doyle's kill had been the first kill of the 474th Fighter Group in its first combat with the Luftwaffe.[32]

There is some dispute regarding who exactly shot down his fighter. Some sources claim that he was shot during the dogfight and while the aircraft was falling to the ground, he was shot at again a few feet above ground, possibly by the Mustangs of 354th FG. Lt Wilbur Jarvis, No. 2 in the flight led by Doyle received a Damaged credit (not a kill) for Oesau's aircraft. Doyle noted bullet damage in the cockpit area and his gun camera footage showed that it was Oesau's Green 13. German records indicated that his death was caused by an explosive shell in the cockpit, his body having several bullet wounds. Later an image from the Gun camera was published (without caption) that purportedly showed Oesau's aircraft from the right side.[33][34]

Oesau was aged 30 at the time of his death. He had a total of 127 kills gained over 300 missions. 27 were Spitfires, 14 four-engined bombers, 44 were scored on the Eastern Front and 9 in the Spanish Civil War. In recognition of his record, JG 1 received the title Oesau in honor of its fallen Geschwaderkommodore. Only Werner Mölders had a similar honor with JG 51 Mölders. Walter Oesau is buried in Meldorf, close to his birthplace and the town museum (Dithmarscher Landesmuseum) has documented his last journey in pictures.[1][2][4][15]

Aftermath edit

Johannes Steinhoff, the high-ranking Luftwaffe ace (176 Kills) who went on to become the Chief of Staff for Allied Air Forces in Central Europe, once said: "Walter Gulle Oesau was the toughest fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe".[4]

In 1940, frustrated with the perceived lack of success against RAF Fighter Command, Göring was keen on infusing the fighter force leadership with younger blood. He perceived a lack of aggressiveness in the Jagdgeschwader leadership. The likes of Theo Osterkamp were the first victim of this policy, handing over JG 51 to Werner Mölders. Oesau was considered to be one such rising star. However, being a star and staying in Göring's favor required keeping up the kill rate and promotions were invariably linked to scores. According to Dr. Kurt Tank, the Focke–Wulf designer, although many of the younger generation were good flyers, they were unable to cope with problems of overall planning and broader strategic aspects. However, Oesau was one of the outstanding leaders ever produced by Luftwaffe fighter wings with the likes of Werner Mölders and Adolf Galland.[1][35]

The decision to continually retain or return gifted experts (Experten) to front line battle proved extremely costly, resulting in the death in combat of many of the earlier experts and aces. This, coupled with the acute shortage of well trained pilots and the fact that by 1943 they were facing a better equipped and well-trained enemy, meant the life expectancy of even the most gifted was tragically short. Author John Weal says that, although other Geschwaderkommodore would end up dying in combat, nothing would showcase the changing fortunes of Luftwaffe fighter forces than the death of Walter Oesau.[1]

Personality and personal life edit

German historian Hans Otto Böhm commented on Oesau as "One of my best professors". There is little information available on the personal side of Walter Oesau. He had good sense of humor and liked to spend time with his friends. He was a simple man, who did not display any flamboyant personal emblems on his aircraft. His aircraft while commanding JG 2 did not have any special markings except for the unit's normal yellow under–cowling. While Oesau commanded, JG 2, like many others, dropped the special symbols for Stab (headquarters flight) units in favor of numerals. This helped make the leader's aircraft anonymous. Unlike other aces, Oesau reportedly never had markings on his rudder representing his personal tally, although this is contradicted by some photos displaying what may be his aircraft rudder painted with score of downed aircraft. The authenticity of the photograph is questioned by some as there are also Ju 87 photos supposedly signed by Oesau (he never flew a Stuka bomber).[36][37]

Summary of career edit

Aerial victory claims edit

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Oesau was credited with 125 aerial victories, nine of which during the Spanish Civil War.[38] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 127 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This number includes nine claims during the Spanish Civil War, 44 on the Eastern Front, and 74 on the Western Front, including 13 four-engined bombers.[39]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost 0021". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) 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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[40]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Oesau an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Oesau 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 along with the & (ampersand) indicates an endgültige Vernichtung (final destruction)—a coup de grâce inflicted on an already damaged heavy bomber.
  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
– Stab of Jagdgruppe 88 –[41]
Spanish Civil War — July – November 1938
1 15 July 1938
—
 I-15[42] 6 15 August 1938
—
 I-15[42]
2 17 July 1938
—
 I-15[42] 7 20 August 1938
—
 I-16[42]
3 18 July 1938
—
 I-16[42] 8 15 October 1938
—
 I-16[42]
4 20 July 1938
—
 I-15[42] 9 3 November 1938
—
 I-16[42]
5 27 July 1938
—
 SB-2[42]
World War II
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 20 –[41]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
10 13 May 1940 19:27 Curtiss Halsteren[43] 12 31 May 1940 18:26 Spitfire northwest of Dunkirk[43]
—
[Note 6] 		23 May 1940
—
 Hurricane 13 1 June 1940 11:35 Blenheim 20 km (12 mi) north of Ostend[43]
11 31 May 1940 18:22 Spitfire northwest of Dunkirk[43] 14?[Note 7] 13 June 1940 15:41 Amiot 351 southwest of Les Andelys[44]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[41]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June – August 1940
15 7 July 1940 14:05 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Dover[45] 22 5 August 1940 09:59 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Dover[45]
15?[Note 8] 7 July 1940 19:27 Curtiss 23 14 August 1940 13:59 Hurricane northwest of Dover[45]
16 10 July 1940 14:39 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Dover[45] 24 15 August 1940 12:32 Spitfire south of Folkestone[45]
17 10 July 1940 14:49 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Dover[45]
west of Folkestone 		25 15 August 1940 12:34 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Folkestone[45]
18?[Note 9] 10 July 1940 15:04 Spitfire west of Folkestone[45] 26 16 August 1940 17:35 Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Cap Gris-Nez[45]
19 19 July 1940 13:50?[Note 10] Defiant south of Folkestone[45] 27 16 August 1940 17:36 Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Cap Gris-Nez[45]
20 19 July 1940 13:55?[Note 11] Hurricane south of Dover[45] 28 18 August 1940 18:37 Hurricane 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Canterbury[46]
21 25 July 1940 15:52?[Note 12] Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Dover[45] 29 18 August 1940 18:50 Hurricane 8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of Cap Gris-Nez[46]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[47]
At the Channel and over England — September – November 1940
30 4 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[46] 40 28 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[48]
31 6 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[46] 41 29 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[48]
32 7 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[46] London 42 29 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[48]
33 11 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[48] 43 30 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[48]
34 14 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[48] 44 5 October 1940
—
 Spitfire London[48]
35 14 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[48] 45 12 October 1940
—
 Spitfire[48]
36 15 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[48] 46 15 October 1940
—
 Hurricane[48]
37 18 September 1940 14:30 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Ashford[48] 47 25 October 1940
—
 Spitfire[48]
38 27 September 1940
—
 Hurricane[48] 48 1 November 1940
—
 Spitfire[48]
39 27 September 1940
—
 Hurricane[48]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –[49]
At the Channel and over England — February – 9 June 1941
49 5 February 1941 15:05?[Note 13] Hurricane Desvres[50] 51 28 May 1941 19:25 Hurricane north of Calais[50]
50 16 May 1941 15:45 Spitfire south of Folkestone[50]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –[49]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – July 1941
52 24 June 1941 12:08 I-18 (MiG-1)[51] 74♠ 10 July 1941 11:50 I-17 (MiG-1)[52]
53 24 June 1941 15:15 I-15[51] 75♠ 10 July 1941 12:35 Pe-2[52]
54 26 June 1941 06:42 SB-2[51] 76♠ 10 July 1941 15:55 I-153[52]
55 26 June 1941 06:45 SB-2[51] 77♠ 10 July 1941 18:35 I-16 east of Makarow[52]
56 26 June 1941 12:45 I-15[51] 78 11 July 1941 17:44 I-16[53]
57 26 June 1941 12:50 SB-2[51] 79 11 July 1941 18:00 SB-2[53]
58 29 June 1941 18:10 V-11 (Il-2) north of Ostroh[54] 80♠ 12 July 1941 13:00 V-11 (Il-2)[53]
59 30 June 1941 09:20 V-11 (Il-2)[54] 81♠ 12 July 1941 13:04 V-11 (Il-2)[53]
60 30 June 1941 13:30 SB-2[54] 82♠ 12 July 1941 15:35 I-16[53]
61 1 July 1941 18:20 SB-2[52] vicinity of Lviv 83♠ 12 July 1941 15:35 I-16[53]
62 1 July 1941 18:22 SB-2 north of Hoszca[52] 84♠ 12 July 1941 15:35 I-16[53]
63 1 July 1941 18:24 SB-2 north of Korets[52] 85♠ 12 July 1941 15:36 SB-2[53]
64 2 July 1941 12:00 DB-3[52] 86♠ 12 July 1941 15:37 SB-2[53]
65 6 July 1941 14:42 SB-3[52] 87 13 July 1941 11:44 DB-3[55]
66 6 July 1941 17:20 SB-2[52] 88 15 July 1941 12:50 I-153[55]
67 6 July 1941 17:24 Pe-2[52] 89 15 July 1941 12:55 DB-3[55]
68 7 July 1941 05:57 Pe-2[52] 90 22 July 1941 16:40?[Note 14] Il-2?[Note 14] low level attack on an airfield[56]
69 8 July 1941 13:00 SB-2[52] 91 23 July 1941?[Note 15] 11:20?[Note 15] DB-3?[56][Note 15]
70 8 July 1941 13:02 SB-2[52] 92 23 July 1941 13:44 SB-2[56]
71 8 July 1941 13:04 SB-2 northeast of Miropol[52] 93 23 July 1941 15:28 I-15[56]
72 8 July 1941 17:15 SB-2[52] 94 23 July 1941 17:22 DB-3 west of Bila Tserkva[56]
73♠ 10 July 1941 09:07 V-11 (Il-2)[52] 95 24 July 1941 13:55 DB-3[56]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[57]
On the Western Front — August – 31 December 1941
96 10 August 1941 14:15 Spitfire northeast of Calais[58] 103 21 August 1941 10:23 Spitfire west of Calais[58]
97♠ 12 August 1941 11:43 Spitfire?[Note 16] north-northwest of Calais[58] 104 21 August 1941 15:10 Spitfire east of Étaples[58]
98♠ 12 August 1941 12:50?[Note 17] Spitfire northwest of Saint-Omer[58] 105 31 August 1941 20:07 Spitfire Rouen[58]
99♠ 12 August 1941 12:54 Spitfire northwest of Saint-Omer[58] 106 4 September 1941 17:35 Spitfire[59] Saint-Omer/Béthune
100♠ 12 August 1941 13:06 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Dover[58] 107 13 October 1941 14:35 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Boulogne[59]
101♠ 12 August 1941 13:15?[Note 18] Spitfire southeast of Dover[58]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Dungeness 		108 13 October 1941 15:28 Spitfire[59]
102 16 August 1941 19:38 Spitfire 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Calais[58] 109 26 October 1941 13:08 Spitfire[59]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[60]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1942
110 17 April 1942 17:10 Lancaster west of Évreux[61] 111?[Note 19] 20 December 1942 12:30 B-17 Melun
111 5 September 1942 12:30 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 0021[61] 112 20 December 1942 13:53 B-17 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Dieppe[61]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[60]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1943
113 4 April 1943 14:30 B-17 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Elbeuf[62]
west of Saint-Pierre 		114 29 May 1943 17:25 B-17* PQ 14 West 3972[62]
PQ 14 West 3831
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 1 –[60]
Defense of the Reich — January – 11 May 1944
115 5 January 1944 12:00?[Note 20] B-24[63] Heide 121 22 February 1944 15:25 B-17[64]
116 30 January 1944 12:00 B-17[65] southwest of Osnabrück 122 24 February 1944 12:40 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/HT/HU, vicinity of Minden[66]
—
 30 January 1944 12:20 B-17&[65] 123 25 February 1944 13:05 B-17 PQ 04 Ost N/AR, vicinity of Baden-Baden[66]
117 8 February 1944 12:00 P-38 PQ 05 Ost S/PS[65]
220° from Bad Nauheim 		124 25 February 1944 15:00 B-24 PQ 04 Ost N/AQ-2/3, west of Baden-Baden[66]
118 10 February 1944 12:55?[Note 21] B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/FO, east of Zwolle[65] 125 6 March 1944 12:05?[Note 22] P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/EQ, northwest of Vechta[66]
119 10 February 1944 13:00 P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/FM/FN, vicinity of Zwolle[65] 126 6 March 1944 12:20?[Note 23] B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/ER, south of Delmenhorst[66]
120 22 February 1944 13:36?[Note 24] B-17 north of Thiel[64] 127 8 May 1944 09:45?[Note 25] P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/FS/FT, southwest of Verden[67]

Awards edit

Date of Rank edit

October 1933: Enlisted Soldier[2]
1934: Fahnenjunker[2]
20 April 1937: Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)[1]
15 July 1939: Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant)[2]
19 July 1940: Hauptmann (Captain)[1][3]
20 July 1941: Major (Major)[75]
1 February 1943: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
1 May 1944: Oberst (Colonel) (posthumous promotion after death)[76]

Notes edit

  1. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
  2. ^ Jagdgruppe 88, four squadrons equipped with the Heinkel He 51
  3. ^ Oesau is the 2nd person on the left side of the coffin behind Adolf Galland and in front of Dietrich Peltz.
  4. ^ The first fighter pilot to claim 100 aerial victories in combat was Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders on 15 July 1941 and the second was Major Günther Lützow on 24 October 1941.[25]
  5. ^ Reformed 6 September 1943 in Saint-Pol–Brias from Jagdfliegerführer 2
  6. ^ This unconfirmed claim is listed by Mathews and Foreman,[41] but not by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[43]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[41]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is listed as Oesau's 15th aerial victory.[41] However, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock do not list this claim.[45]
  9. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[41]
  10. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:48.[41]
  11. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:50.[41]
  12. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:34.[41]
  13. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:05.[49]
  14. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:20 over an Ilyushin DB-3.[49]
  15. ^ a b c According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 22 July 1941 at 16:40 over an aircraft of unknown type.[49]
  16. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Hawker Hurricane.[49]
  17. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:50.[49]
  18. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 19:27.[49]
  19. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is listed as Oesau's 111th aerial victory.[60] However, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock do not list this claim.[61]
  20. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:10.[60]
  21. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:00.[60]
  22. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:10.[60]
  23. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:10.[60]
  24. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:26.[60]
  25. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:00.[60]
  26. ^ According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941.[71]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Weal 1999, pp. 70–71.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Williamson & Bujeiro 2004, pp. 30–31.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Weal 2006, pp. 15–25.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Sundin & Bergström 2002, p. 56.
  5. ^ Weal & Price 1996, pp. 50–52.
  6. ^ a b c Weal & Price 1996, p. 68.
  7. ^ a b c Bekker & Ziegler 1994, p. 132.
  8. ^ Foreman 2003, p. 99.
  9. ^ Mason 1969, p. 158.
  10. ^ Kacha 2007.
  11. ^ Mason 1969, p. 180.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2002b, p. 80.
  13. ^ Weal 2006, p. 31.
  14. ^ Holmes 2007, p. 74.
  15. ^ a b c d Miller 1997, p. 30.
  16. ^ Franks 2016, p. 11.
  17. ^ Weal 2006, pp. 41–43.
  18. ^ Weal 1999, p. 10–11.
  19. ^ Deighton 1977, p. 281.
  20. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 105.
  21. ^ Weal 2001, p. 28.
  22. ^ Kay, Smith & Creek 2002, p. 234.
  23. ^ a b Mombeek 2003.
  24. ^ a b c Weal 2000, p. 78.
  25. ^ Berger 1999, p. 268.
  26. ^ Weal 2000, p. 80.
  27. ^ Weal 1996, p. 79.
  28. ^ Weal 1996, p. 21.
  29. ^ Weal 2000, pp. 77–104.
  30. ^ a b Caldwell & Muller 2007, pp. 160–162.
  31. ^ Weal 1996, p. 57.
  32. ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 194.
  33. ^ "Aero-Journal", no 3, April 1997
  34. ^ James L. Doyle at Arlington National Cemetery
  35. ^ Townsend 2000, p. 339.
  36. ^ Weal 2000, p. 125.
  37. ^ Toliver & Constable 1996, p. 352.
  38. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1610.
  39. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 932–934.
  40. ^ Planquadrat.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 932.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i Forsyth 2011, p. 103.
  43. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2000, p. 187.
  44. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 188.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2002b, p. 83.
  46. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2002b, p. 84.
  47. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 932–933.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Prien et al. 2002b, p. 86.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 933.
  50. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002a, p. 247.
  51. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003b, p. 137.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prien et al. 2003b, p. 140.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2003b, p. 141.
  54. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 138.
  55. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 142.
  56. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003b, p. 144.
  57. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 933–934.
  58. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2003a, p. 411.
  59. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003a, p. 412.
  60. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 934.
  61. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2004, p. 213.
  62. ^ a b Prien et al. 2010, p. 428.
  63. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 1200.
  64. ^ a b Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 1202.
  65. ^ a b c d e Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 1201.
  66. ^ a b c d e Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 1203.
  67. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 1208.
  68. ^ a b c d e Berger 1999, p. 255.
  69. ^ a b Thomas 1998, p. 130.
  70. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 336.
  71. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 576.
  72. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 329.
  73. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 54.
  74. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 39.
  75. ^ Stockert 1996, p. 66.
  76. ^ Stockert 1996, p. 68.

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Further reading edit

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Mikhailov, Andrey (2000). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume I, Operation Barbarossa 1941. California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 0-935553-48-7.
  • Holmes, Tony; Dibbs, John (2000). Spitfire: Flying Legend. Osprey Publishing. p. 192. ISBN 1-84603-190-7.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen
4 July 1941 – 1 July 1943 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
unknown
 Commander of Jagdfliegerführer 4
1 July 1943 – 6 September 1943 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Jagdfliegerführer Bretagne
6 September 1943 – 11 November 1943 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 1 Oesau
12 November 1943 – 11 May 1944 		Succeeded by

January 01, 1970
walter, oesau, walter, gulle, oesau, june, 1913, 1944, german, fighter, pilot, during, world, fighter, served, luftwaffe, from, 1934, until, death, 1944, rose, command, jagdgeschwader, which, named, honor, after, death, 1941nickname, gulle, born, 1913, june, 1. Walter Gulle Oesau 28 June 1913 11 May 1944 was a German fighter pilot during World War II A fighter ace he served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944 He rose to command Jagdgeschwader 1 which was named in his honor after his death Walter OesauWalter Oesau ca 1941Nickname s Gulle Born 1913 06 28 28 June 1913Farnewinkel Kingdom of Prussia German EmpireDied11 May 1944 1944 05 11 aged 30 near St Vith German occupied BelgiumCause of deathKilled in actionBuriedFriedhof Meldorf Meldorf GermanyAllegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branch LuftwaffeYears of service1933 1944RankOberst colonel UnitCondor Legion JG 1 JG 2 JG 51 Jagdgruppe 88Commands heldIII JG 3 III JG 51 JG 2 Jagdfliegerfuhrer Bretagne JG 1 Battles warsSee battlesSpanish Civil War World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Defence of the Reich AwardsSpanish Cross in Gold with Swords and DiamondsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsSignature He served with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War with the Jagdgruppe 88 He claimed nine aircraft during the campaign becoming one of only 28 people to earn the award of the Spanish Cross in Gold and Diamonds At the start of World War II Oesau was given command of a fighter group within Jagdgeschwader 20 The group took part in the Invasion of Poland later moving to the Western Front as the redesignated III Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 51 Oesau operated on both the Western and Eastern Fronts He returned to operations as commander of Jagdgeschwader 1 He was killed in action on 11 May 1944 aged 30 JG 1 was given the name Oesau in his honor Contents 1 Early life 2 Combat career 2 1 Spanish Civil War 2 2 Western Front 1939 40 2 2 1 Battle of France 2 2 2 Battle of Britain 2 3 Operation Barbarossa 2 4 Defence of the Reich 1941 44 3 Death 4 Aftermath 5 Personality and personal life 6 Summary of career 6 1 Aerial victory claims 6 2 Awards 6 3 Date of Rank 7 Notes 8 References 8 1 Citations 8 2 Bibliography 9 Further readingEarly life editWalter Gulle Oesau was born to a bank director in Farnewinkel near Meldorf Germany on 28 June 1913 He joined the German Army Heer in October 1933 and served in the Second Artillery Regiment as an enlisted soldier After being transferred to a Luftwaffe transport unit he undertook flying training in 1934 as a cadet Fahnenjunker at the Luftwaffe Academy Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule in Hanover Upon completion of his training he was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 132 as a Leutnant The unit was re designated as Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen in May 1939 Note 1 1 2 Combat career editSpanish Civil War edit Main article Spanish Civil War nbsp Bf 109 C 1 Similar to one flown by Oesau in the Spanish Civil War Oesau started his operational career with the Condor Legion along with future contemporary aces such as Werner Molders and Adolf Galland He was one of the first to join 3 Jagdgruppe 88 in Spain in April 1938 Note 2 The Staffel commanded by Werner Molders took part in the Spanish Civil War where Oesau claimed nine victories flying 130 combat missions For this he received the Spanish Cross Spanienkreuz in Gold with Diamonds He was also wounded in this conflict which earned him the Spanish Wound Badge He also received the Medalla de la Campana and the Medalla Militar 1 Western Front 1939 40 edit Main article Phoney War On 1 March 1939 Oesau joined the Headquarters Flight Stabsschwarm of I JG 2 By 15 July 1939 Oesau was promoted to Oberleutnant and given command of 2 JG 20 On 15 July 1939 I JG 20 was activated in Doberitz initially consisting of two Staffeln drawn from JG 2 Prior to the invasion of Poland I JG 20 was transferred to Strausberg on 26 August 1939 From there the group was transferred to Sprottau modern Szprotawa anticipating an attack from the Polish Air Force A week later the group moved to Brandenburg On 21 February 1940 the unit was relocated to Bonninghardt under the control of JG 51 It continued to operate in this fashion until the end of the Battle of France On 4 July it was re designated III JG 51 Oesau served as Staffelkapitan of 7 JG 51 3 4 Battle of France edit Main article Battle of France Oesau got his first World War II victory during the Battle of France on 13 May 1940 when he claimed a French Curtiss P 36 Hawk over Halsteren in the Netherlands earning him the Iron Cross 1st class Eisernes Kreuz 1 Klasse On 31 May he claimed three Spitfires during a patrol North West of Dunkirk and next day he claimed a Bristol Blenheim On 13 June 1940 he shot down the last French aircraft kill claimed by JG 51 a French Amiot bomber By the end of hostilities in France on 25 June his World War II tally stood at 5 13 including Spanish kills 3 5 Following the Battle of France the Luftwaffe started its attacks on Channel convoys as a prelude to the Battle of Britain The primary task of JG 51 during this time was to provide fighter escort to these bomber missions The commander of JG 51 Oberst Theo Osterkamp established a policy of unrestricted combat air patrol freie Jagd of fighter Staffeln providing loose protection rather than close escort to the bombers actively seeking out Royal Air Force fighters On 7 July 1940 Oesau claimed one Spitfire 1 3 Battle of Britain edit Main article Battle of Britain On 10 July 1940 the first major clashes of the Battle of Britain occurred in a phase known as the Kanalkampf 20 Bf 109s of III JG 51 led by Hauptmann Hannes Trautloft and 30 Bf 110 C of I Zerstorergeschwader 26 escorted 20 Dornier Do 17 bombers of II Kampfgeschwader 2 attacking a large convoy off Folkestone Oberleutnant Oesau was leading 7 JG 51 3 6 7 Trautloft noticed three of a flight of six intercepting Hurricanes of No 32 squadron higher than the escorts attempting to intercept the bombers Soon they were joined by four squadrons of British fighters No 56 Squadron No 111 Squadron No 64 Squadron and No 74 Squadron Oesau was able to claim three Spitfires Two 7 JG 51 aircraft crash landed in France 6 7 8 British losses show that no Spitfire was lost or destroyed in the ensuing battle Only one No 32 Hurricane piloted by Pilot Officer Higgs was destroyed in a collision with one of the Do 17s and only one other Hurricane was damaged It is possible Oesau was responsible for damaging Higgs Hurricane causing him to lose control Two Spitfires landed with light damage while a third was also slightly damaged and force landed at RAF Manston Over claiming of enemy losses was rife on both sides during the battle 9 On 19 July III JG 51 were confronted by Defiants of No 141 Squadron south of Folkestone As the German pilots were now aware of the Defiant s lack of forward armament they soon gained the advantage in combat and claimed 11 Defiants shot down in 8 minutes Oesau was credited with one Defiant taking his score to 19 He was the first one of JG 51 to reach double digits in World War II 10 1 3 6 7 RAF losses record six Defiants destroyed and two damaged 11 On 18 August 1940 III JG 51 escorted Dorniers attacking Hornchurch airfield Intercepted by Hurricanes over Kent Oesau claimed one Hurricane shot down as his 20th victory earning him the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes two days later the first pilot of JG 51 to be thus honored On 24 August 1940 Trautloft took over as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 54 and Oesau replaced him as Gruppenkommandeur of III JG 51 while command of 7 JG 51 went to Oberleutnant Hermann Staiger 12 By October 1940 Oesau had a total score of 48 including 26 Spitfires 13 14 15 On 10 November 1940 Oesau succeeded Wilhelm Balthasar as Gruppenkommandeur of III Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 With 39 victories he was currently the 4th highest scoring fighter pilot behind Helmut Wick Werner Molders and Adolf Galland On 5 February 1941 the RAF flew Circus No 3 targeting the airfield at Saint Omer That day Oesau shot down the Hurricane piloted by Sergeant H D Denchfield from No 610 Squadron over Desvres France This was his 40th aerial victory 16 Oesau was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub next day It also earned him a second entry in the Wehrmachtbericht In early 1941 JG 3 returned to Germany to replace their Bf 109 Emils with the new F variant Friedrich However Oesau disliked the Bf 109F and kept flying his Emils for some time JG 3 returned to France in May 1941 and Oesau added two more kills on 16 May and 28 May bringing his total to 51 17 4 15 18 19 Operation Barbarossa edit Main article Operation Barbarossa The Gruppe relocated to an airfield at Moderowka on 18 June where the Gruppe concluded their last preparations for Operation Barbarossa the German invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941 At the start of the campaign JG 3 was subordinated to the V Fliegerkorps 5th Air Corps under command of General der Flieger Robert Ritter von Greim which was part of Luftflotte 4 4th Air Fleet under command of Generaloberst Alexander Lohr These air elements supported Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt s Heeresgruppe Sud Army Group South with the objective of capturing the Ukraine and its capital Kiev 20 Oesau shot down his first Soviet aircraft on 24 June and by 30 June 1941 had reached his 60th victory downing a Tupolev SB bomber Next day he downed three more SB bombers near Lvov modern Lviv Ukraine This earned him his 3rd entry in the Wehrmachtbericht On 10 July 1941 Oesau claimed 5 more aircraft and two more kills by 11 July 1941 On 12 July 1941 he shot down 7 Soviet aircraft in one sortie In the five weeks since moving to the Eastern Front Oesau was credited with 44 Soviet aircraft downed He became the third pilot to reach 80 victories the 80th kill an Ilyushin DB 3 bomber He was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on same day He was the third person to earn the Swords He was again then wounded receiving heavy splinter injuries in face and knee A fortnight later he was transferred to the Western Front to take over JG 2 1 2 15 21 Defence of the Reich 1941 44 edit He succeeded Balthasar for the second time as JG 2 commander who had died in combat with Spitfires over northern France when he pulled the tail off his Bf 109F in a dive The Bf 109F 2 proved an excellent match to the Spitfire V but Oesau disliked its reduced armament compared to the Emil and continued to fly an E 4 model in preference to the Bf 109F until lack of spares forced him to switch to the newer variant Upon his appointment on 4 July 1941 he addressed JG 2 with the following words 1 22 23 24 In the spirit of Manfred von Richthofen and following the example set by my predecessors Major Wick and Hauptmann Balthasar constant readiness and devotion to duty will enable us to achieve yet further successes 24 nbsp Oesau at the funeral of Ernst Udet Note 3 JG 2 was tasked with defending targets in occupied France against the RAF fighter offensive For the next two years Oesau led JG 2 through the war of attrition waged by the RAF On 10 August 1941 Oesau claimed a Spitfire for his first kill with JG 2 Over the next two days he claimed four more Spitfires By the end of September 1941 Oesau had claimed two more Spitfires JG 2 participated in the Luftwaffe air cover of the Channel Dash Two Boeing B 17C Flying Fortresses of No 90 Squadron attacked the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau In one of the highest altitude interceptions of World War II the bombers were attacked by I JG 2 resulting in the destruction of one This aircraft put JG 2 s score past the 800 mark matching the score of their Great War namesake Kills No 88 to 92 were all Spitfires claimed between Calais and Dungeness on 12 August 1941 Oesau claimed his 100th kill on 26 October 1941 the third pilot to do so Note 4 This earned him his 4th entry in the Wehrmachtbericht 1 26 27 He was then grounded from flying on operations as his experience and leadership qualities were regarded as too valuable to risk further in front line combat He did fly on occasional sorties the most famous involving the shooting down of an Avro Lancaster bomber of No 44 Squadron RAF piloted by Warrant Officer G T Rhodes in April 1942 during a rare RAF daylight raid on the MAN engine plant in Augsburg It was his 101st kill In August 1942 the Geschwaderstab of JG 2 exchanged their Bf 109 F aircraft for Fw 190 A 2s From late 1942 onwards JG 2 was in the front line against the increasingly numerous United States Army Air Forces USAAF day bomber formations of B 17s and B 24s 1 23 24 28 Oesau added four more to his tally by mid 1943 Shortly before his 30th birthday Oesau was elevated to a series of Luftwaffe staff and administration positions On 1 July 1943 he was posted as Fighter Leader Brittany Jagdfliegerfuhrer Bretagne Note 5 before being appointed as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 1 on 12 November 1943 following the death of JG 1 s Hans Philipp in October 1943 The ban on Oesau s combat flying was lifted While commanding JG 1 Oesau became an expert Experten at shooting down 4 engine bombers with 14 bomber kills claimed He was awarded the Combined Pilots Observation Badge in gold and diamonds on 17 October 1943 He was awarded the German Cross in Gold Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 10 January 1944 1 29 For Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Goring it was an ongoing concern that inadequate numbers of fighters were able to continually engage the bomber streams at the very time that the USAAF s 8th Air Force s new commander Maj Gen Jimmy Doolittle had instituted a new fighter strategy against the Luftwaffe Hence on 23 February 1944 near the midpoint of the USAAF s Big Week bomber offensive against the Luftwaffe also being carried out by the 15th Air Force flying out of Italian bases Generalmajor Joseph Schmid Commander of I Jagdkorps established a new rule for the fighters returning to base They were to arrive at the nearest designated fighter airfield for resupply instead of returning to their own base They were to be commanded by the senior pilot landing on that airfield irrespective of their unit This was meant to turn around the fighters in time to intercept returning bombers 30 On the next day B 24s of 2nd Bomb division of the Eighth Air Force bombed Gotha JG 1 under Oesau JG 11 and JG 3 were sent to intercept Due to high winds the bombers were ahead of the escorts unprotected Two groups of JG 1 met them before Gotha and 9 B 24s were claimed as a result Since B 17s of 1st Bomb division also bombed Schweinfurt other fighter units also arrived to intercept eventually involving almost all the Western day fighter units of the Luftwaffe This caused some confusion among pilots landing on airfields other than their own This tested the directive of Schmid Oesau led one of two such improvised formations successfully with the other led by Hauptmann Borris of I JG 26 30 Oesau added 4 fighters to his score between January and March 1944 and his tally stood at 117 On 8 May 1944 he claimed a Thunderbolt shot down over Hanover his last kill 1 2 Death editWhile being the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 1 Oesau frequently received his share of Hermann Goring s anger and frustration over the failure to beat off the Allied bomber offensive Goring questioned the commitment of commanders who were not flying regularly and thus not really leading their respective units In this context it should be stated that in order not to risk one of the Luftwaffe expert s life German fighter aces were called Experten there was an automatic ban on Oesau for further combat flying since his 100th victory Perhaps the ban was lifted temporarily or bypassed when he was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 1 4 On the other hand Oesau might simply have ignored the ban and continued to lead missions Oesau added several victories over American heavy bombers in the first five months of 1944 On 11 May 1944 one thousand U S heavy bombers from Eighth Air Force attacked railway targets in Eastern France and North East Belgium They were escorted by even more numbers of P 38 and P 51 fighters Oesau was in bed with influenza Upon hearing the news Goring phoned Oesau s staff 4 Goring Is the Kommodore flying Staff No he is in bed with fever Goring Yes yes I know that kind Goring said scornfully Goring He has also turned tired and coward 4 Angered by this comment Oesau took off in a Messerschmitt Bf 109 G 6 AS Green 13 Werknummer 20601 factory number from Paderborn despite a high fever Leading three aircraft of the Geschwaderstab the schwarm broke formation over the Ardennes as it approached the bombers In the dogfight Oesau s wingman reported damage to his machine and he was ordered to break off Left alone Oesau faced P 38s and possibly P 51s as well According to Major Hartmann Grasser Gruppenkommandeur of III JG 1 who was on the same mission there were five P 38s facing Oesau 1 4 What followed is unclear as there are several versions Oesau was chased by 1st Lt James Leslie Doyle 1st Lt Wilbur L Jarvis III and 1st Lt James C Austin of the 428th Fighter Squadron 474th FG 9th AF All three were experienced pilots and chased Oesau from 28 000 feet to tree top level In the ensuing 20 minute dogfight Oesau defended skillfully though his aircraft was damaged by gunfire While attempting an emergency landing his Gustav received a final burst of fire in the cockpit area and crashed into the ground 10 kilometres 6 2 miles southwest of St Vith His body was thrown clear of the aircraft some yards away 1 4 31 nbsp His grave in Meldorf According to the Eighth Air Force Mission Folder for 11 May 1944 Mission 351 Lt Doyle engaged in a turning dogfight with a pair of Bf 109s scoring hits on the leader Doyle had then broken off combat without claiming a kill unaware that his victim Oesau had been killed by a 20 mm shell Doyle s kill had been the first kill of the 474th Fighter Group in its first combat with the Luftwaffe 32 There is some dispute regarding who exactly shot down his fighter Some sources claim that he was shot during the dogfight and while the aircraft was falling to the ground he was shot at again a few feet above ground possibly by the Mustangs of 354th FG Lt Wilbur Jarvis No 2 in the flight led by Doyle received a Damaged credit not a kill for Oesau s aircraft Doyle noted bullet damage in the cockpit area and his gun camera footage showed that it was Oesau s Green 13 German records indicated that his death was caused by an explosive shell in the cockpit his body having several bullet wounds Later an image from the Gun camera was published without caption that purportedly showed Oesau s aircraft from the right side 33 34 Oesau was aged 30 at the time of his death He had a total of 127 kills gained over 300 missions 27 were Spitfires 14 four engined bombers 44 were scored on the Eastern Front and 9 in the Spanish Civil War In recognition of his record JG 1 received the title Oesau in honor of its fallen Geschwaderkommodore Only Werner Molders had a similar honor with JG 51 Molders Walter Oesau is buried in Meldorf close to his birthplace and the town museum Dithmarscher Landesmuseum has documented his last journey in pictures 1 2 4 15 Aftermath editJohannes Steinhoff the high ranking Luftwaffe ace 176 Kills who went on to become the Chief of Staff for Allied Air Forces in Central Europe once said Walter Gulle Oesau was the toughest fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe 4 In 1940 frustrated with the perceived lack of success against RAF Fighter Command Goring was keen on infusing the fighter force leadership with younger blood He perceived a lack of aggressiveness in the Jagdgeschwader leadership The likes of Theo Osterkamp were the first victim of this policy handing over JG 51 to Werner Molders Oesau was considered to be one such rising star However being a star and staying in Goring s favor required keeping up the kill rate and promotions were invariably linked to scores According to Dr Kurt Tank the Focke Wulf designer although many of the younger generation were good flyers they were unable to cope with problems of overall planning and broader strategic aspects However Oesau was one of the outstanding leaders ever produced by Luftwaffe fighter wings with the likes of Werner Molders and Adolf Galland 1 35 The decision to continually retain or return gifted experts Experten to front line battle proved extremely costly resulting in the death in combat of many of the earlier experts and aces This coupled with the acute shortage of well trained pilots and the fact that by 1943 they were facing a better equipped and well trained enemy meant the life expectancy of even the most gifted was tragically short Author John Weal says that although other Geschwaderkommodore would end up dying in combat nothing would showcase the changing fortunes of Luftwaffe fighter forces than the death of Walter Oesau 1 Personality and personal life editGerman historian Hans Otto Bohm commented on Oesau as One of my best professors There is little information available on the personal side of Walter Oesau He had good sense of humor and liked to spend time with his friends He was a simple man who did not display any flamboyant personal emblems on his aircraft His aircraft while commanding JG 2 did not have any special markings except for the unit s normal yellow under cowling While Oesau commanded JG 2 like many others dropped the special symbols for Stab headquarters flight units in favor of numerals This helped make the leader s aircraft anonymous Unlike other aces Oesau reportedly never had markings on his rudder representing his personal tally although this is contradicted by some photos displaying what may be his aircraft rudder painted with score of downed aircraft The authenticity of the photograph is questioned by some as there are also Ju 87 photos supposedly signed by Oesau he never flew a Stuka bomber 36 37 Summary of career editAerial victory claims edit According to US historian David T Zabecki Oesau was credited with 125 aerial victories nine of which during the Spanish Civil War 38 Mathews and Foreman authors of Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 127 aerial victory claims plus three further unconfirmed claims This number includes nine claims during the Spanish Civil War 44 on the Eastern Front and 74 on the Western Front including 13 four engined bombers 39 Victory claims were logged to a map reference PQ Planquadrat for example PQ 05 Ost 0021 The Luftwaffe grid map Jagermeldenetz 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 360 square miles 930 km2 These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km 4 km 1 9 mi 2 5 mi in size 40 Chronicle of aerial victories This and the Ace of spades indicates those aerial victories which made Oesau an ace in a day a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day This and the dash indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Oesau 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 along with the amp ampersand indicates an endgultige Vernichtung final destruction a coup de grace inflicted on an already damaged heavy bomber 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 Stab of Jagdgruppe 88 41 Spanish Civil War July November 1938 1 15 July 1938 I 15 42 6 15 August 1938 I 15 42 2 17 July 1938 I 15 42 7 20 August 1938 I 16 42 3 18 July 1938 I 16 42 8 15 October 1938 I 16 42 4 20 July 1938 I 15 42 9 3 November 1938 I 16 42 5 27 July 1938 SB 2 42 World War II 1 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 20 41 Battle of France 10 May 25 June 1940 10 13 May 1940 19 27 Curtiss Halsteren 43 12 31 May 1940 18 26 Spitfire northwest of Dunkirk 43 Note 6 23 May 1940 Hurricane 13 1 June 1940 11 35 Blenheim 20 km 12 mi north of Ostend 43 11 31 May 1940 18 22 Spitfire northwest of Dunkirk 43 14 Note 7 13 June 1940 15 41 Amiot 351 southwest of Les Andelys 44 7 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 41 At the Channel and over England 26 June August 1940 15 7 July 1940 14 05 Spitfire 5 km 3 1 mi south of Dover 45 22 5 August 1940 09 59 Spitfire 10 km 6 2 mi southwest of Dover 45 15 Note 8 7 July 1940 19 27 Curtiss 23 14 August 1940 13 59 Hurricane northwest of Dover 45 16 10 July 1940 14 39 Spitfire 5 km 3 1 mi south of Dover 45 24 15 August 1940 12 32 Spitfire south of Folkestone 45 17 10 July 1940 14 49 Spitfire 10 km 6 2 mi south of Dover 45 west of Folkestone 25 15 August 1940 12 34 Spitfire 5 km 3 1 mi south of Folkestone 45 18 Note 9 10 July 1940 15 04 Spitfire west of Folkestone 45 26 16 August 1940 17 35 Spitfire 20 km 12 mi northwest of Cap Gris Nez 45 19 19 July 1940 13 50 Note 10 Defiant south of Folkestone 45 27 16 August 1940 17 36 Spitfire 20 km 12 mi northwest of Cap Gris Nez 45 20 19 July 1940 13 55 Note 11 Hurricane south of Dover 45 28 18 August 1940 18 37 Hurricane 3 km 1 9 mi south of Canterbury 46 21 25 July 1940 15 52 Note 12 Spitfire 5 km 3 1 mi south of Dover 45 29 18 August 1940 18 50 Hurricane 8 km 5 0 mi northwest of Cap Gris Nez 46 Stab III Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 47 At the Channel and over England September November 1940 30 4 September 1940 Spitfire 46 40 28 September 1940 Spitfire 48 31 6 September 1940 Spitfire 46 41 29 September 1940 Spitfire 48 32 7 September 1940 Spitfire 46 London 42 29 September 1940 Spitfire 48 33 11 September 1940 Spitfire 48 43 30 September 1940 Spitfire 48 34 14 September 1940 Spitfire 48 44 5 October 1940 Spitfire London 48 35 14 September 1940 Spitfire 48 45 12 October 1940 Spitfire 48 36 15 September 1940 Spitfire 48 46 15 October 1940 Hurricane 48 37 18 September 1940 14 30 Spitfire 5 km 3 1 mi southeast of Ashford 48 47 25 October 1940 Spitfire 48 38 27 September 1940 Hurricane 48 48 1 November 1940 Spitfire 48 39 27 September 1940 Hurricane 48 Stab III Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 49 At the Channel and over England February 9 June 1941 49 5 February 1941 15 05 Note 13 Hurricane Desvres 50 51 28 May 1941 19 25 Hurricane north of Calais 50 50 16 May 1941 15 45 Spitfire south of Folkestone 50 Stab III Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 49 Operation Barbarossa 22 June July 1941 52 24 June 1941 12 08 I 18 MiG 1 51 74 10 July 1941 11 50 I 17 MiG 1 52 53 24 June 1941 15 15 I 15 51 75 10 July 1941 12 35 Pe 2 52 54 26 June 1941 06 42 SB 2 51 76 10 July 1941 15 55 I 153 52 55 26 June 1941 06 45 SB 2 51 77 10 July 1941 18 35 I 16 east of Makarow 52 56 26 June 1941 12 45 I 15 51 78 11 July 1941 17 44 I 16 53 57 26 June 1941 12 50 SB 2 51 79 11 July 1941 18 00 SB 2 53 58 29 June 1941 18 10 V 11 Il 2 north of Ostroh 54 80 12 July 1941 13 00 V 11 Il 2 53 59 30 June 1941 09 20 V 11 Il 2 54 81 12 July 1941 13 04 V 11 Il 2 53 60 30 June 1941 13 30 SB 2 54 82 12 July 1941 15 35 I 16 53 61 1 July 1941 18 20 SB 2 52 vicinity of Lviv 83 12 July 1941 15 35 I 16 53 62 1 July 1941 18 22 SB 2 north of Hoszca 52 84 12 July 1941 15 35 I 16 53 63 1 July 1941 18 24 SB 2 north of Korets 52 85 12 July 1941 15 36 SB 2 53 64 2 July 1941 12 00 DB 3 52 86 12 July 1941 15 37 SB 2 53 65 6 July 1941 14 42 SB 3 52 87 13 July 1941 11 44 DB 3 55 66 6 July 1941 17 20 SB 2 52 88 15 July 1941 12 50 I 153 55 67 6 July 1941 17 24 Pe 2 52 89 15 July 1941 12 55 DB 3 55 68 7 July 1941 05 57 Pe 2 52 90 22 July 1941 16 40 Note 14 Il 2 Note 14 low level attack on an airfield 56 69 8 July 1941 13 00 SB 2 52 91 23 July 1941 Note 15 11 20 Note 15 DB 3 56 Note 15 70 8 July 1941 13 02 SB 2 52 92 23 July 1941 13 44 SB 2 56 71 8 July 1941 13 04 SB 2 northeast of Miropol 52 93 23 July 1941 15 28 I 15 56 72 8 July 1941 17 15 SB 2 52 94 23 July 1941 17 22 DB 3 west of Bila Tserkva 56 73 10 July 1941 09 07 V 11 Il 2 52 95 24 July 1941 13 55 DB 3 56 Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen 57 On the Western Front August 31 December 1941 96 10 August 1941 14 15 Spitfire northeast of Calais 58 103 21 August 1941 10 23 Spitfire west of Calais 58 97 12 August 1941 11 43 Spitfire Note 16 north northwest of Calais 58 104 21 August 1941 15 10 Spitfire east of Etaples 58 98 12 August 1941 12 50 Note 17 Spitfire northwest of Saint Omer 58 105 31 August 1941 20 07 Spitfire Rouen 58 99 12 August 1941 12 54 Spitfire northwest of Saint Omer 58 106 4 September 1941 17 35 Spitfire 59 Saint Omer Bethune 100 12 August 1941 13 06 Spitfire 15 km 9 3 mi southeast of Dover 58 107 13 October 1941 14 35 Spitfire 15 km 9 3 mi southwest of Boulogne 59 101 12 August 1941 13 15 Note 18 Spitfire southeast of Dover 58 15 km 9 3 mi south of Dungeness 108 13 October 1941 15 28 Spitfire 59 102 16 August 1941 19 38 Spitfire 4 km 2 5 mi northwest of Calais 58 109 26 October 1941 13 08 Spitfire 59 Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen 60 On the Western Front 1 January 31 December 1942 110 17 April 1942 17 10 Lancaster west of Evreux 61 111 Note 19 20 December 1942 12 30 B 17 Melun 111 5 September 1942 12 30 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 0021 61 112 20 December 1942 13 53 B 17 25 km 16 mi north northwest of Dieppe 61 Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen 60 On the Western Front 1 January 31 December 1943 113 4 April 1943 14 30 B 17 10 km 6 2 mi southeast of Elbeuf 62 west of Saint Pierre 114 29 May 1943 17 25 B 17 PQ 14 West 3972 62 PQ 14 West 3831 Stab of Jagdgeschwader 1 60 Defense of the Reich January 11 May 1944 115 5 January 1944 12 00 Note 20 B 24 63 Heide 121 22 February 1944 15 25 B 17 64 116 30 January 1944 12 00 B 17 65 southwest of Osnabruck 122 24 February 1944 12 40 B 17 PQ 05 Ost S HT HU vicinity of Minden 66 30 January 1944 12 20 B 17 amp 65 123 25 February 1944 13 05 B 17 PQ 04 Ost N AR vicinity of Baden Baden 66 117 8 February 1944 12 00 P 38 PQ 05 Ost S PS 65 220 from Bad Nauheim 124 25 February 1944 15 00 B 24 PQ 04 Ost N AQ 2 3 west of Baden Baden 66 118 10 February 1944 12 55 Note 21 B 17 PQ 05 Ost S FO east of Zwolle 65 125 6 March 1944 12 05 Note 22 P 47 PQ 05 Ost S EQ northwest of Vechta 66 119 10 February 1944 13 00 P 47 PQ 05 Ost S FM FN vicinity of Zwolle 65 126 6 March 1944 12 20 Note 23 B 17 PQ 05 Ost S ER south of Delmenhorst 66 120 22 February 1944 13 36 Note 24 B 17 north of Thiel 64 127 8 May 1944 09 45 Note 25 P 47 PQ 05 Ost S FS FT southwest of Verden 67 Awards edit Spanish Medalla de la Campana 68 Spanish Medalla Militar 68 Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds 68 Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class 15 May 1940 69 1st Class 20 May 1940 69 Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold for fighter pilots with pennant 300 68 Wound Badge 1939 in Black 68 German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberstleutnant and Jagdfliegerfuhrer 4 70 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Knight s Cross on 20 August 1940 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitan of the 7 Jagdgeschwader 51 71 72 9th Oak Leaves on 6 February 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III JG 3 71 73 3rd Swords on 15 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III JG 3 74 Note 26 Date of Rank edit October 1933 Enlisted Soldier 2 1934 Fahnenjunker 2 20 April 1937 Leutnant Second Lieutenant 1 15 July 1939 Oberleutnant First Lieutenant 2 19 July 1940 Hauptmann Captain 1 3 20 July 1941 Major Major 75 1 February 1943 Oberstleutnant Lieutenant Colonel 1 May 1944 Oberst Colonel posthumous promotion after death 76 Notes edit For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization Jagdgruppe 88 four squadrons equipped with the Heinkel He 51 Oesau is the 2nd person on the left side of the coffin behind Adolf Galland and in front of Dietrich Peltz The first fighter pilot to claim 100 aerial victories in combat was Oberstleutnant Werner Molders on 15 July 1941 and the second was Major Gunther Lutzow on 24 October 1941 25 Reformed 6 September 1943 in Saint Pol Brias from Jagdfliegerfuhrer 2 This unconfirmed claim is listed by Mathews and Foreman 41 but not by Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock 43 According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed 41 According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is listed as Oesau s 15th aerial victory 41 However Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock do not list this claim 45 This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman 41 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13 48 41 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13 50 41 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15 34 41 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14 05 49 a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11 20 over an Ilyushin DB 3 49 a b c According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 22 July 1941 at 16 40 over an aircraft of unknown type 49 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Hawker Hurricane 49 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11 50 49 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 19 27 49 According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is listed as Oesau s 111th aerial victory 60 However Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock do not list this claim 61 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12 10 60 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13 00 60 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12 10 60 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12 10 60 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13 26 60 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10 00 60 According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941 71 References editCitations edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Weal 1999 pp 70 71 a b c d e f g Williamson amp Bujeiro 2004 pp 30 31 a b c d e f Weal 2006 pp 15 25 a b c d e f g h i Sundin amp Bergstrom 2002 p 56 Weal amp Price 1996 pp 50 52 a b c Weal amp Price 1996 p 68 a b c Bekker amp Ziegler 1994 p 132 Foreman 2003 p 99 Mason 1969 p 158 Kacha 2007 Mason 1969 p 180 Prien et al 2002b p 80 Weal 2006 p 31 Holmes 2007 p 74 a b c d Miller 1997 p 30 Franks 2016 p 11 Weal 2006 pp 41 43 Weal 1999 p 10 11 Deighton 1977 p 281 Prien amp Stemmer 1996 p 105 Weal 2001 p 28 Kay Smith amp Creek 2002 p 234 a b Mombeek 2003 a b c Weal 2000 p 78 Berger 1999 p 268 Weal 2000 p 80 Weal 1996 p 79 Weal 1996 p 21 Weal 2000 pp 77 104 a b Caldwell amp Muller 2007 pp 160 162 Weal 1996 p 57 Caldwell amp Muller 2007 p 194 Aero Journal no 3 April 1997 James L Doyle at Arlington National Cemetery Townsend 2000 p 339 Weal 2000 p 125 Toliver amp Constable 1996 p 352 Zabecki 2014 p 1610 Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 932 934 Planquadrat a b c d e f g h i j Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 932 a b c d e f g h i Forsyth 2011 p 103 a b c d e Prien et al 2000 p 187 Prien et al 2000 p 188 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al 2002b p 83 a b c d e Prien et al 2002b p 84 Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 932 933 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Prien et al 2002b p 86 a b c d e f g h Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 933 a b c Prien et al 2002a p 247 a b c d e f Prien et al 2003b p 137 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prien et al 2003b p 140 a b c d e f g h i Prien et al 2003b p 141 a b c Prien et al 2003b p 138 a b c Prien et al 2003b p 142 a b c d e f Prien et al 2003b p 144 Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 933 934 a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al 2003a p 411 a b c d Prien et al 2003a p 412 a b c d e f g h i j Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 934 a b c d Prien et al 2004 p 213 a b Prien et al 2010 p 428 Prien amp Rodeike 1996 p 1200 a b Prien amp Rodeike 1996 p 1202 a b c d e Prien amp Rodeike 1996 p 1201 a b c d e Prien amp Rodeike 1996 p 1203 Prien amp Rodeike 1996 p 1208 a b c d e Berger 1999 p 255 a b Thomas 1998 p 130 Patzwall amp Scherzer 2001 p 336 a b c Scherzer 2007 p 576 Fellgiebel 2000 p 329 Fellgiebel 2000 p 54 Fellgiebel 2000 p 39 Stockert 1996 p 66 Stockert 1996 p 68 Bibliography edit Bekker Cajus Ziegler Frank H 1994 The Luftwaffe War Diaries The German Air Force in World War II Da Capo Press p 448 ISBN 978 0 306 80604 9 Berger Florian 1999 Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern Die hochstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges With Oak Leaves and Swords The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War in German Vienna Austria Selbstverlag Florian Berger ISBN 978 3 9501307 0 6 Bergstrom Christer in Swedish Bergstrom Black Cross Red Star website Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat Retrieved 1 March 2019 Caldwell Donald Muller Richard 2007 The Luftwaffe Over Germany Defense of the Reich MBI Publishing Company ISBN 978 1 85367 712 0 Deighton Len 1977 Fighter The True Story of the Battle of Britain London UK Jonathan Cape ISBN 978 0 7126 7423 2 Records of Colonel James Leslie Doyle on Arlington National cemetery Colonel James Leslie Doyle Retrieved 10 September 2008 Fellgiebel Walther Peer in German 2000 1986 Die Trager des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 1945 Die Inhaber der hochsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile The Bearers of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 1945 The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches in German Friedberg Germany Podzun Pallas ISBN 978 3 7909 0284 6 Foreman John 2003 Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939 45 A Listing of Combat Claims Submitted by RAF Fighter Pilots 1939 to 1940 Red Kite Air Research p 311 ISBN 978 0 9538061 8 8 Forsyth Robert 2011 Aces of the Legion Condor Aircraft of the Aces Vol 99 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84908 347 8 Franks Norman 2016 Fighter Command s Air War 1941 RAF Circus Operations and Fighter Sweeps Against the Luftwaffe Barnsley South Yorkshire Pen and Sword Books ISBN 978 1 47384 723 1 Holmes Tony 2007 Spitfire Vs Bf 109 Battle of Britain Duel Vol 5 Osprey Publishing p 80 ISBN 978 1 84603 190 8 Kacha Petr 2007 Walter Oesau Luftwaffe cz Archived from the original on 1 February 2018 Retrieved 20 February 2007 Kay Antony L Smith Richard J Creek Eddie J 2002 German Aircraft of the Second World War Including Helicopters and Missiles Naval Institute Press p 400 ISBN 978 1 55750 010 6 Mason Francis 1969 Battle Over Britain London McWhirter Twins Ltd ISBN 978 0 901928 00 9 Mathews Andrew Johannes Foreman John 2015 Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims Volume 3 M R Walton on Thames Red Kite ISBN 978 1 906592 20 2 Miller David A 1997 Die Schwertertraeger Der Wehrmacht Recipients of the Knight s Cross with Oakleaves and Swords 3rd Revised ed Merriam Press p 62 ISBN 978 1 57638 025 3 Mombeek Eric 13 September 2003 Defenders of the Reich Volume 3 1944 45 Classic Publications ISBN 978 1 903223 03 1 Patzwall Klaus D Scherzer Veit 2001 Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II The German Cross 1941 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 in German Norderstedt Germany Verlag Klaus D Patzwall ISBN 978 3 931533 45 8 Prien Jochen Rodeike Peter 1996 Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11 Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945 Teil 2 1944 Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11 Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945 Volume 2 1944 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 24 3 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard 1996 Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 1945 Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the III Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 1945 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 33 5 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2000 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3 Einsatz in Danemark und Norwegen 9 4 bis 30 11 1940 Der Feldzug im Westen 10 5 bis 25 6 1940 Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3 Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940 The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940 in German Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 61 8 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2002a Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 4 I Einsatz am Kanal und uber England 26 6 1940 bis 21 6 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 4 I Action at the Channel and over England 26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 63 2 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2002b Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 4 II Einsatz am Kanal und uber England 26 6 1940 bis 21 6 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 4 II Action at the Channel and over England 26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 64 9 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003a Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 5 Heimatverteidigung 10 Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941 Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum Oktober 1940 bis November 1941 Einsatz im Westen 22 Juni bis 31 Dezember 1941 Die Erganzungsjagdgruppen Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflosung Anfang 1942 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 5 Defense of the Reich 10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941 Action in the Mediterranean Theater October 1940 to November 1941 Action in the West 22 June to 31 December 1941 The Supplementary Fighter Groups Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 68 7 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003b Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 6 I Unternehmen BARBAROSSA Einsatz im Osten 22 6 bis 5 12 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 6 I Operation BARBAROSSA Action in the East 22 June to 5 December 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 69 4 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2004 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 7 Heimatverteidigung 1 January bis 31 Dezember 1942 Einsatz im Westen 1 Januar bis 31 Dezember 1942 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 7 Defense of the Reich 1 January to 31 December 1942 Action in the West 1 January to 31 December 1942 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 73 1 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2010 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 10 IV Einsatz im Westen 1 1 bis 31 12 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 10 IV Action in the West 1 January to 31 December 1943 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 92 2 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives The Knight s Cross Bearers 1939 1945 The Holders of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army Air Force Navy Waffen SS Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives in German Jena Germany Scherzers Militaer Verlag ISBN 978 3 938845 17 2 Stockert Peter 1996 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 1 The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 1 in German Bad Friedrichshall Germany Friedrichshaller Rundblick ISBN 978 3 9802222 7 3 Sundin Claes Bergstrom Christer 2002 More Luftwaffe Fighter Aircraft in Profile Schiffer Publishing p 56 ISBN 978 0 7643 1559 6 Thomas Franz 1998 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 2 L Z The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 2 L Z in German Osnabruck Germany Biblio Verlag ISBN 978 3 7648 2300 9 Toliver Raymond F Constable Trevor J 1996 Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe Schiffer Publishing p 352 ISBN 978 0 88740 909 7 Townsend Peter 2000 Duel of Eagles The Struggle for the Skies from the First World War to the Battle of Britain Sterling Publishing Company Inc p 480 ISBN 978 1 84212 211 2 Weal John 1996 Focke Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front Aircraft of the Aces Vol 9 Osprey Publishing p 96 ISBN 978 1 85532 595 1 Weal John Price Alfred 1996 Bf 109D E Aces 1939 41 Aircraft of the Aces Vol 11 Osprey Publishing p 96 ISBN 978 1 85532 487 9 Weal John 1999 Bf 109 F G K Aces of the Western Front Aircraft of the Aces Vol 29 Osprey Publishing p 96 ISBN 978 1 85532 905 8 Weal John 2000 Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen Aviation Elite Units Vol 1 Osprey Publishing p 128 ISBN 978 1 84176 046 9 Weal John 2001 Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front Aircraft of the Aces Vol 37 Osprey Publishing p 96 ISBN 978 1 84176 084 1 Weal John 2006 Jagdgeschwader 51 Molders Aviation Elite Units Vol 22 Osprey Publishing p 128 ISBN 978 1 84603 045 1 Williamson Gordon Bujeiro Ramiro 2004 Knight s Cross and Oak Leaves Recipients 1939 40 Knight s Cross and Oakleaves 1939 40 Osprey Publishing p 64 ISBN 978 1 84176 641 6 Zabecki David T ed 2014 Germany at War 400 Years of Military History Santa Barbara California ABC Clio ISBN 978 1 59884 981 3 Further reading editBergstrom Christer in Swedish Mikhailov Andrey 2000 Black Cross Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front Volume I Operation Barbarossa 1941 California Pacifica Military History ISBN 0 935553 48 7 Holmes Tony Dibbs John 2000 Spitfire Flying Legend Osprey Publishing p 192 ISBN 1 84603 190 7 Military offices Preceded byWilhelm Balthasar Commander of Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen4 July 1941 1 July 1943 Succeeded byEgon Mayer Preceded byunknown Commander of Jagdfliegerfuhrer 41 July 1943 6 September 1943 Succeeded byJagdfliegerfuhrer Bretagne Preceded byJagdfliegerfuhrer 4 Commander of Jagdfliegerfuhrer Bretagne6 September 1943 11 November 1943 Succeeded byErich Mix Preceded byHermann Graf Commander of Jagdgeschwader 1 Oesau12 November 1943 11 May 1944 Succeeded byHeinz Bar Portals nbsp Aviation nbsp BiographyWalter Oesau at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Oesau amp oldid 1219465625, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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