Wilhelm Freuwörth

Wilhelm "Willi" Freuwörth (4 November 1917 – 5 December 1970) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career Wilhelm Freuwörth was credited with 58 aerial victories.

Wilhelm Freuwörth
Nickname(s)	"Willi"
Born	4 November 1917 Börßum
Died	5 December 1970(1970-12-05) (aged 53) Wetzlar
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Rank	Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)
Unit	JG 52 JG 26
Battles / wars	World War II Eastern Front Defence of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

War against the Soviet Union

I./JG 52 insignia

On 22 June, German forces had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Pror to its deployment on the Eastern Front, I. Gruppe was fully equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2. The Gruppe reached Orsha on 27 September before heading to Ponyatovka on 2 October. There, the Gruppe was initially subordinated to the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing) and supported German forces fighting in the Battle of Vyazma as part of Operation Typhoon, the code name of the German offensive on Moscow.^[1][2] On 20 October, the Gruppe moved to an airfield named Kalinin-Southwest, present-day Tver, and located on the Volga, and to Staritsa on 31 October and then to Ruza located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Moscow on 3 November.^[3] While transferring to Ruza, Freuwörth belly landed his Bf 109 F-2 at Smolensk on 4 October.^[4]

On 29 May 1942, Freuwörth was shot down in his Bf 109 F-4 during aerial combat with I-61 fighters, an early German designation of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter.^[5] Freuwörth was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 5 January 1943.^[6]

On 24 March 1943, Freuwörth and his wingman Unteroffizier Peter Crump intercepted two Supermarine Spitfire from No. 91 Squadron. Both Spitfires were claimed shot down. Freuwörth hit the Spitfire piloted by Flying Officer Jim Anstie, resulting in a forced landing near RAF Lympne.^[7] The following day, Freuwörth claimed another Spitfire fighter shot down 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) southeast of Dover.^[8] According to Mathews and Foreman, the aircraft he shot down was a misidentified Hawker Typhoon fighter from the No. 609 Squadron piloted by John Robert Baldwin who was shot down over the English Channel that day.^[9] On 1 January 1945, Freuwörth was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).^[10]

Later life

Freuwörth died on 5 December 1970 at the age of 53 in Wetzlar, West Germany.^[11]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Freuwörth was credited with 58 aerial victories.^[12] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 48 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 45 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and three over the Western Allies.^[13]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 40412". 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.^[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Freuwörth 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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[9] On the Western Front — April – 23 September 1941
1	26 August 1941	14:20?[Note 1]	Blenheim	north of Juist[15]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[9] Operation Barbarossa — 2 October – 5 December 1941
2	26 November 1941	14:06	Il-2[16]		3	28 November 1941	14:45	I-61 (MiG-3)	west of Mytishchi[16]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[13] 19 May 1942 – 1 February 1943
4	24 May 1942	18:22	Il-2[17]		31	25 September 1942	10:40	LaGG-3	PQ 40412[18]
5	26 May 1942	15:43	Pe-2[19]		32?[Note 2]	25 September 1942	—	LaGG-3[18]
6	28 May 1942	09:53	I-26 (Yak-1)[19]		33	4 October 1942	14:58	Il-2	PQ 59321[18]
7	11 June 1942	05:24	I-16[20]		34	11 October 1942	12:03	LaGG-3	PQ 49432[18] Srednyaya Akhtuba
8	13 June 1942	06:36	LaGG-3	PQ 70213[20]	35	14 October 1942	08:05	U-2	PQ 40563[21] 55 km (34 mi) north of Hrebinka
9	2 July 1942	09:32	LaGG-3[22]		36	25 October 1942	14:40	Yak-1	PQ 49214[21] northeast of Hrebinka
10	31 July 1942	04:52	LaGG-3	PQ 97471[23]	37	27 October 1942	09:08	R-5	PQ 59534[21] vicinity of Jarsew
11	2 August 1942	18:30	I-153	PQ 66664[23] east of Zaporizhzhia	38	28 October 1942	11:52	Yak-1	PQ 49431[21] Srednyaya Akhtuba
12	6 August 1942	09:15	R-5	PQ 75161[23] east of Anapa	39	29 October 1942	08:23	Yak-1	PQ 59321[21]
13	6 August 1942	17:20	Pe-2	PQ 75161[23] east of Anapa	40	29 October 1942	14:50	LaGG-3	PQ 50593[21]
14	10 August 1942	11:30	I-16	PQ 75413[23] vicinity of Vasilyevka	41	31 October 1942	12:52	LaGG-3	PQ 59333[21]
15	22 August 1942	08:05	R-5	PQ 55764[24] Black Sea	42	1 November 1942	12:56	LaGG-3	PQ 49431[21] vicinity of Srednyaya Akhtuba
16	22 August 1942	08:08	LaGG-3	PQ 55884[24] Black Sea	43	1 November 1942	12:59?[Note 3]	LaGG-3	PQ 49431[21] vicinity of Srednyaya Akhtuba
17	26 August 1942	06:22	I-180 (Yak-7)	PQ 47852[24] east-southeast of Zubtsov	44	1 November 1942	13:03	LaGG-3	PQ 59143[21]
18	31 August 1942	11:08	Yak-1	PQ 47881[24]	45	1 November 1942	13:06	LaGG-3	PQ 59123[21]
19	31 August 1942	11:10	Yak-1	PQ 47841[24]	46	2 November 1942	10:35	R-5	PQ 59193[26]
20	2 September 1942	13:20	R-5	PQ 56452[24] Black Sea	47	3 November 1942	14:03?[Note 4]	Il-2	PQ 50751[26]
21	2 September 1942	16:39	LaGG-3	PQ 56414, Garetewo[24]	48?[Note 2]	29 November 1942	—	R-5[26]
22	3 September 1942	14:35	Il-2	PQ 46253[24]	49♠[Note 2]	16 December 1942	—	Il-2[26]
23	3 September 1942	14:36	Il-2	PQ 46262[24]	50♠[Note 2]	16 December 1942	—	Il-2[26]
24	4 September 1942	17:30	Pe-2	PQ 46293[24]	51♠[Note 2]	16 December 1942	—	Il-2[26]
25	5 September 1942	12:05	LaGG-3	PQ 57894[24]	52♠[Note 2]	16 December 1942	—	Il-2[26]
26	5 September 1942	12:07	LaGG-3	PQ 57893[24] Sea of Azov	53♠[Note 2]	16 December 1942	—	Il-2[26]
27	6 September 1942	10:01	R-5	PQ 49814[27]	54♠[Note 2]	16 December 1942	—	Il-2[26]
28	11 September 1942	16:17	P-39	PQ 47852[27]	55?[Note 2]	17 December 1942	—	Il-2[26]
29	14 September 1942	07:50	U-2 (Seversky)	PQ 49824[27]	56?[Note 2]	17 December 1942	—	Il-2[26]
30	16 September 1942	09:53	R-5	PQ 47361[27]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[25] On the Western Front — 1 February – 21 December 1943
57	24 March 1943	10:17	Spitfire	8 km (5.0 mi) east of Dungeness[8]	58	25 March 1943	18:14	Spitfire	5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Dover[8]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class^[28]
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 as Unteroffizier and pilot^{[29][Note 5]}
• German Cross in Gold on 17 November 1942 as Unteroffizier in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52^[30]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 January 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 52^[31][32]

Notes

1. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:27.^[9]
2. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.^[13]
3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:58.^[25]
4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:30.^[25]
5. According to Obermaier on 6 July 1942.^[10]

References

Citations

1. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 12.
2. Schreier 1990, p. 59.
3. Schreier 1990, p. 63.
4. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 23.
5. Prien et al. 2006, p. 439.
6. Schreier 1990, p. 174.
7. Goss, Cornwell & Rauchbach 2010, p. 216.
8. Prien et al. 2010, p. 554.
9. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 338.
10. Obermaier 1989, p. 113.
11. Dixon 2023, p. 2.
12. Zabecki 2014, p. 1618.
13. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 338–339.
14. Planquadrat.
15. Prien et al. 2003a, p. 69.
16. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 21.
17. Prien et al. 2006, p. 427.
18. Prien et al. 2006, p. 436.
19. Prien et al. 2006, p. 428.
20. Prien et al. 2006, p. 429.
21. Prien et al. 2006, p. 437.
22. Prien et al. 2006, p. 430.
23. Prien et al. 2006, p. 433.
24. Prien et al. 2006, p. 434.
25. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 339.
26. Prien et al. 2006, p. 438.
27. Prien et al. 2006, p. 435.
28. Dixon 2023, p. 1.
29. Patzwall 2008, p. 79.
30. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 122.
31. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 186.
32. Scherzer 2007, p. 318.

Bibliography

• Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
• Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten 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.
• Goss, Chris; Cornwell, Peter; Rauchbach, Bernd (2010). Luftwaffe Fighter-Bombers Over Britain: The Tip and Run Campaign, 1942–43. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0691-9.
• Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• 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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände 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 Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung 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 Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände 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 Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron 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.
• Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
• Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.

External links

• TracesOfWar.com