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The Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: Axis Powers Pilots and Crew




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There is a rogue group of copyright infringers who have stolen a much earlier version of my data - from at least 10 years ago - and have the affrontery to publish that, along with using my name, on their poorly researched website. They claim this is the 'original' Kracker Archive, a ridiculous claim since my Archive has been in a state of continuous development for over 30 years and nobody - NOBODY - has the original. They have no right to use my name or my data and readers who come across this nonsense should do nothing to encourage theft of this nature. I am outraged by this blatant theft and misrepresentation of my lifetime's work. The ONLY person I have ever authorized to publish my data and use my name is Kelvin Youngs, who earned my trust and respect many years ago and is authorized by me to publish my work on whichever website he organizes, currently this being its present home at the highly respected Aircrew Remembered.

 
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You searched for: “Knoke AND Heinz

#Pilot (↑)RankBornPlaceScore (↑)UnitsAircraftAwards*************Notes*************PhotoLinksAuthorComments
1 Dolenga, WernerHptm11/16/1914Leipzig1Stfkpt 10/NJG-1 (NF Experimental unit 7/41), Stfkpt 2/JG-1 (10/41), Stfkpt 3/JGr. Losigkeit (3/42), Stfkpt 1/JG-1 (3/42), 2/JG-300 (9/43)Bf 109E Werk # ? "Black 1" (dam 3/6/42), Fw 190A EK 2
Fighter Operational Clasp
Emergency landing 6 March, 1942 on frozen Lake Hallingdalselva at Nesbyen Norway, due to lack of fuel. He, Lt Heinz Knoke and Uffz Hans Wennekers landed there at the same time. No one was injured (Source: SIG Norway). Dolenga appears on an AC Loss List; the AC lost 9/4/43 at Goslar, pilot KilledInAction (KIA). Added: Buried in Halle (Saale) Stadtgottesacker-Friedhof (J.Mückler 1/2023).
2 Fest, Johannes Wilhelm "Jonny"Fw105/JG-11 (5/43 Jever), I/JG-1 (7/43), 5/JG-11 (9/43 to 5/44 Reich Def)Fw 190A-4 in JG-1, Bf 109G-6/U4 Werk # 20020 "Black 2" (lost 9/27/43), Bf 109G-5 Werk # 110216 "Black 19" (lost 5/8/44)EP


EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge
Fighter Operational Clasp
KilledInAction (KIA) 8 May, 1944 during aerial combat with a P-47. The 109 crashed at Uelzen. He was able to bail, but his chute failed to deploy (L.Wiegels). WIA 27 September, 1943 during aerial combat, crashing at Norden. Three bombers in one day, on 28 July, 1943, while in JG-1. One known victory, his 5th, a B-17 on 11 January, 1944. His 6th, a P-51 at St. Wendel-Idar Oberstein on 11 February, 1944. His 7th, a P-51 on 3 March, 1944, no location. His 8th, a P-47 S of Löningen on 6 March, 1944. His 9th, a P-38 at Diepholz-Wagenfeld on 15 March, 1944. His 10th, a B-24 W of Minden on 29 April, 1944. He was a good friend of Heinz Knoke.
3 Gerhardt, DieterOblt8/27/1922Landweiler82/JG-1Bf 109 E Werk # 6381 (5/42), Bf 109F-4 "Black 5" (9/42), Bf 109G-1/R2 Werk # 14150 "Black 6" (lost 3/18/43)
EK 1 & 2

at least Fighter Operational Clasp in Bronze
KilledInAction (KIA) 18 March, 1943 over Helgoland; after downing a B-24 of 93BG thought to be "Eager Beaver", and while attacking a B-17, he was brought down by return fire. Prior to takeoff this date, he yelled to his wingman and closest friend, Heinz Knoke, "I want to bag the formation leader today". Gerhardt had bailed successfully and entered his dingy, but died of his mortal wounds, as reported by the ASR craft "Falke". His 1st victory, a Blenheim on 15 October, 1941, no location. A shared victory with Heinz Knoke, a PRU Spitfire AA810 piloted by F/Lt Alistair Gunn off Trondheim on 5 March, 1942. Gunn later became POW and was shot because of his involvement in the Great Escape. He was also credited with another PRU Spitfire piloted by P/O Ken Wright, near Bremen on 17 August, 1942. Another, his 3rd, a B-17 6 km north of Wilhelmshaven on 26 February, 1943. In late February 1943, he came up with the idea of dropping 100 lb. bombs onto the tightly formed American bombers. He and Knoke practiced the technique off Heligoland. His victories may only be 4. Buried Schiffweiler-Landweiler Reden. Alternative spelling: Gerhard, Dieter

Steiger - Schmude - Gerhard relax at Jever 1941 (courtesy Willi Weiss).


Shown right

4 Knoke, HeinzHptm3/24/1921Hameln44II/JG-52 (Russia 6/41), 11/JG-2, 2/JG-1 (8/41), Stab/JGr-1 (aka Kdo Losigkeit (3/42 Norway), 5/JG-1, Stfkpt 5/JG-11 (4/43-4/44), Kdr III/JG-1 (8/44)Bf 109E-4 Werk # ? "Black 3" (dam 3/6/42; emergency landing on Lake Sperrilen, near Honefoss Norway due to fuel shortage, pilot OK?), Bf 109F-2 Wk#12866 "Yellow 7" w/JG-1 (25% dam 8/16/41), Bf 109G-1/R2 Werk # 14049 "Black 3" in 2/JG-1 (2/43), Bf 109G-1 "Black 1" (dam 5/21/43; combat w/bombers, pilot OK) in 5/JG-11, Bf 109G-1/R2 "Red 1" in 5/JG-11, Fw 190A-8, Bf 109G-6 Werk # 15623 "Black 1" (60% dam 8/17/43; emergency landing at Rheinbach after combat, pilot OK) in 5/JG-11
RK(4/27/45)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(11/17/43)

EK 1 & 2
DRL Sports Badge
Wound Badge

Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold with pendant
Barbarossa pilot. 19 bombers. Over 400 missions. All victories in the West. He wore the Croatian Pilot wings also. He joined the "circle of four-engine bomber slayers: Specht, Frey, Sommer and König. He tried the new idea of dropping a timed-fuse bomb into the middle of a B-17 "box". He crashed a Bf 109G at Hilversum Holland on 30 January, 1944, his injuries, if any, unknown, serving in 5/JG-11 at the time (DeSwart). His 20th victory, a B-17 at Wagenfeld-Sulingen on 10 February, 1944. Opposed the 6 March, 1944 Berlin Raid, and the Schweinfurt Raid, but crashed at an airfield near Bonn after his left wing spar was severely damaged by B-17 return fire. His mechanic was Ogefr Arndt. Flew Bf 109E "Black 3" in Autumn 1941 in JG-1. Flew Bf 109G-1 in 5/JG-11. His 25th victory, a P-51 at the Waggum airfield on 29 April, 1944. Alt incorrect spelling; Knocke. His flying career ended with a car crash on 9 October, 1944 which nearly caused him to lose a leg. After the war, he resided at Ahornweg 7, 4505 Bad Iburg, Ger. Deceased 18 May, 1993.


Knoke by a Me-109 G-6 Gunboat, Jever 1943

Courtesy Christian König




5 Specht, GüntherObstlt11/13/1914Frankenstein Schlesien343/ZG-26 (9/39), Kdr III/NJSchule-1 (10/41), 10/JG-1 (2/43), Kdr II/JG-11 (2/43 Wunstorf, 5/43), Kdr JG-11 (5/44 Eschborn)Bf 110C, Bf 109G-5/AS Werk # 110064 "Black << + -" in II/JG-11, Bf 109G-6 Werk # Unk "Black << + -" (2/44), Fw 190A-9 Wk# 205033 'Black 4' (lost 1/1/45) RK(4/8/44)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(2/7/44)
EP(8/23/43)

EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge

Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold with star pendant
Opposed the 6 March, 1944 Berlin Raid. Spechts personal marking was a 'winged pencil'. A Luftwaffe vet since 1939. His 1st victory, two Hampdens SE of Helgoland on 29 September, 1939. Lost his left eye in combat on 3 December, 1939 while downing a Wellington NW of Helgoland, over the North Sea. Due to his injury, he was forced to ditch into the North Sea also. KilledInAction (KIA) 1 January, 1945 in 'Black 4' during the attack on the Asch airfield. (Mombeek lists Specht as MIA.) He was shot down by a P-47, piloted by F/O Dave Johnson of the 366th FG. Johnson had to bail from his stricken AC and went to Specht's crashsite gathering papers and his pistol. Nominated for the EL. At least 32 victories in the West, including 15 four-engine bombers. One source states the victories at 35. Per Heinz Knoke, 'he was one of the bravest men I had ever known.' One known victory, his 20th, a P-38 at Fürstenau on 13 November, 1943. His 25th, a P-38 on 5 January, 1944. His 31st, a P-51 on 11 September, 1944, over northern Germany. Nos. 32 & 33 were Typhoons at Deventer on 26 September, 1944. A 34th, a P-51 at Stadthagen on 5 December, 1944.

>

Courtesy Christian König


L-R: Specht - Hauptmann Gerhard Sommer (RK Holder) - Kurt Tank (Fw 190 designer)
Courtesy Christian König
6 Veit,Uffz5/JG-11 (3/44)Bf 109G (lost 3/8/44)Fighter Operational ClaspKilledInAction (KIA) 8 March, 1944 during aerial combat while opposing American bombers. His body was found in a cornfield north of the airfield. (Heinz Knoke narrative)

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Wer vor der Vergangenheit die Augen verschließt, wird blind für die Gegenwart. Richard von Weizsäcker

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