Josef Wurmheller
Encyclopedia
Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller (born 4 May 1917 in Hausham
, Bavaria
, killed in action
22 June 1944 near Alençon
, France
) was a German
World War II
fighter ace
who served in the Luftwaffe
from 1937 until his death on 22 June 1944. He was also a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Wurmheller was serving with 2 Staffel, JG 53. He recorded his first victory, a RAF Fairey Battle
single-engined bomber on 30 September 1939. Between November 1939 and June 1940, Wurmheller served as an instructor before returning to 5./JG 53 in time for the Battle of Britain
. He ditched twice in the English Channel, the latter time (23 November) leading to hospitalisation until March 1941.
In May 1941, Wurmheller gained his 10th claim when he shot down an RAF Spitfire
. He then spent a short period on the Eastern Front with JG 53 where he added nine victories to his score. Oberfeldwebel Wurmheller was transferred back to the Channel front to II./JG 2 during July 1941. The following month, Wurmheller claimed 13 Spitfires, and on 4 September was awarded the Ritterkreuz
for a tally of 31 claims. A further spell of instructing followed before a return to JG 2 in May 1942. Posted to 1./JG 2, Wurmheller gained 10 victories during May 1942 and another 11 victories the following month. His most successful day came during the Allied landings at Dieppe
on 19 August 1942. Despite suffering with a broken leg, Wurmheller claimed seven victories during the day. Wurmheller was promoted to Leutnant and the award of the Eichenlaub in August 1942, with a score of 60 victories.
Wurmheller became Staffelkapitän
of 9./JG 2 in April 1943. He recorded his 70th victory on 17 May when he shot down a B-17 bomber. On 23 September, he was wounded by bomb splinters while making an emergency landing in his Fw 190 A-6
during a bombing raid at Vannes
-Meucon
. On 8 March 1944, he claimed his 90th victory. Hauptmann Wurmheller was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
III./JG 2 on 8 June 1944.
Wurmheller was killed in his Fw 190 A-8
on 22 June 1944 during aerial combat with P-47 and RCAF
Spitfire
fighters near Alençon
when he collided with his wingman
Feldwebel
Franzke. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
and promoted to the rank of Major
on 24 October 1944. Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller is credited with 102 victories, 93 of which were claimed over the Western Front
and 9 on the Eastern Front
, at least 20 were four-engine bombers and at least 56 RAF Supermarine Spitfire
fighters.
Hausham
Hausham is a municipality in the district of Miesbach in Bavaria in Germany.-geographical classification:Hausham is located approximately 45 km south of Munich, between Miesbach and Schliersee...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
22 June 1944 near Alençon
Alençon
Alençon is a commune in Normandy, France, capital of the Orne department. It is situated west of Paris. Alençon belongs to the intercommunality of Alençon .-History:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
who served in the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
from 1937 until his death on 22 June 1944. He was also a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Military career
Wurmheller was an experienced pre-war glider pilot, and began training as a pilot in the Luftwaffe in 1937. At the start of World War II, UnteroffizierUnteroffizier
Unteroffizier is both a specific military rank as well as a collective term for non-commissioned officers of the German military that has existed since the 19th century. The rank existed as a title as early as the 17th century with the first widespread usage occurring in the Bavarian Army of the...
Wurmheller was serving with 2 Staffel, JG 53. He recorded his first victory, a RAF Fairey Battle
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
single-engined bomber on 30 September 1939. Between November 1939 and June 1940, Wurmheller served as an instructor before returning to 5./JG 53 in time for the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. He ditched twice in the English Channel, the latter time (23 November) leading to hospitalisation until March 1941.
In May 1941, Wurmheller gained his 10th claim when he shot down an RAF Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
. He then spent a short period on the Eastern Front with JG 53 where he added nine victories to his score. Oberfeldwebel Wurmheller was transferred back to the Channel front to II./JG 2 during July 1941. The following month, Wurmheller claimed 13 Spitfires, and on 4 September was awarded the Ritterkreuz
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
for a tally of 31 claims. A further spell of instructing followed before a return to JG 2 in May 1942. Posted to 1./JG 2, Wurmheller gained 10 victories during May 1942 and another 11 victories the following month. His most successful day came during the Allied landings at Dieppe
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
on 19 August 1942. Despite suffering with a broken leg, Wurmheller claimed seven victories during the day. Wurmheller was promoted to Leutnant and the award of the Eichenlaub in August 1942, with a score of 60 victories.
Wurmheller became Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
of 9./JG 2 in April 1943. He recorded his 70th victory on 17 May when he shot down a B-17 bomber. On 23 September, he was wounded by bomb splinters while making an emergency landing in his Fw 190 A-6
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
during a bombing raid at Vannes
Vannes
Vannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2000 years ago.-Geography:Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin. It is around 100 km northwest of Nantes and 450 km south west...
-Meucon
Meucon
Meucon is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-References:* * -External links:* * *...
. On 8 March 1944, he claimed his 90th victory. Hauptmann Wurmheller was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
III./JG 2 on 8 June 1944.
Wurmheller was killed in his Fw 190 A-8
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
on 22 June 1944 during aerial combat with P-47 and RCAF
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
fighters near Alençon
Alençon
Alençon is a commune in Normandy, France, capital of the Orne department. It is situated west of Paris. Alençon belongs to the intercommunality of Alençon .-History:...
when he collided with his wingman
Wingman
A wingman is a pilot who supports another in a potentially dangerous flying environment. Wingman was originally a term referring to the plane flying beside and slightly behind the lead plane in an aircraft formation....
Feldwebel
Feldwebel
Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
Franzke. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
and promoted to the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
on 24 October 1944. Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller is credited with 102 victories, 93 of which were claimed over the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
and 9 on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, at least 20 were four-engine bombers and at least 56 RAF Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
fighters.
Awards
- Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Black - Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
- Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
in Gold with Pennant "400" - Combined Pilots-Observation BadgeCombined Pilots-Observation BadgeCombined Pilots-Observation Badge was a German military award instituted on 26 March 1936 by the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring to commemorate soldiers or servicemen who had already been awarded the Pilot's badge or Observer badge...
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 21 August 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./JG 2 - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939) 2nd and 1st class - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 4 September 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 5./JG 2 "Richthofen"
- 146th Oak Leaves on 14 November 1942 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the 7./JG 2 "Richthofen"
- 108th Swords on 24 October 1944 (posthumously) as HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
(war officer) and GruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of the III./JG 2 "Richthofen"