Full name: Walter Oesau (While many German military figures of the era had multiple middle names, official records (including his birth registration in Meldorf and his military personnel files) consistently identify him simply as Walter Oesau)
Nickname: Gulle
Date of Birth: 28.06.1913 - Farnewinkel, Meldorf, Schleswig-Holstein (German Empire)
Date of Death: 11.05.1944 - St. Vith, Liège (Belgium)
Battles and Operations: Spanish Civil War, Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, Channel Front, Defense of the Reich.
NSDAP-Number: not listed
SS-Number: not listed
Religion : No information
Parents: Father: Richard Oesau. He was a master glazier (Glaser-Meister) by trade in the town of Meldorf. Mother: Anna Oesau (née Söth)
Siblings: Brother: Name not publicly specified in major military biographies, though he is noted to have survived his brother. Sister: Name not publicly specified.
Spouse: Edith Oesau (née von Karstenn). They were married in 1939. Edith was the daughter of a high-ranking forestry official. Following Walter's death in 1944, she remained a widow for several years before eventually remarrying.
Children: One daughter. Information on his daughter remains private in most historical archives to protect the family's privacy, though she was a young child at the time of his father's death in May 1944.
Promotions:
00.10.1933 Enlisted soldier
00.00.1934 Fahnenjunker
20.04.1937 Leutnant
15.07.1939 Oberleutnant
19.07.1940 Hauptmann
20.07.1941 Major
01.02.1943 Oberstleutnant
01.05.1944 Oberst (posthumous promotion)
Career:
Walter Oesau was born on 28 June 1913 in Farnewinkel near Meldorf in the Dithmarschen region of Holstein, Germany. His father was a bank director. He completed his Abitur and served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst before joining the German Army (Heer) in October 1933 with Artillerie-Regiment 2. In 1936 he transferred to the Luftwaffe, undergoing flight training at the Verkehrsfliegerschule in Hanover and later joining Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". He was promoted to Leutnant on 20 April 1937.
In April 1938 Oesau volunteered for the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, serving with 3./Jagdgruppe 88. Over approximately 130 combat missions he claimed nine aerial victories against Republican aircraft, including Polikarpov I-15 and I-16 fighters as well as SB-2 bombers. He was wounded during operations and received the Spanish Wound Badge. For his performance he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (one of only 27-28 such awards), along with the Spanish Medalla de la Campaña and Medalla Militar.
Returning to Germany in early 1939, Oesau rejoined JG 2 as Oberleutnant. At the start of World War II he served with Jagdgeschwader 20 (redesignated III./Jagdgeschwader 51), participating in the invasion of Poland but without claims there. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109, his first Western Front victory came on 13 May 1940 with a Curtiss P-36 Hawk over Halsteren during the campaign in the Netherlands. He added more during the Battle of France, including three Spitfires on 31 May northwest of Dunkirk, a Bristol Blenheim on 1 June, and an Amiot 143 on 13 June. He received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 15 May 1940 and 1st Class on 20 May 1940. During the Battle of Britain, as Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 51, he claimed multiple Spitfires and other types. On 18 August 1940 he reached his 20th victory (a Hurricane), earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 August 1940 as the 102nd recipient and the first in JG 51. The citation highlighted his distinction as a fighter pilot with 20 enemy aircraft downed, ceaseless readiness, and brave disposition. Promoted to Hauptmann on 19 July 1940, he became Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51 on 24 August 1940. By late October 1940 his score stood at around 48, including many Spitfires, and he received a Wehrmachtbericht mention on 6 September 1940.
On 10 November 1940 Oesau took command of III./JG 3. He continued scoring over the Channel, downing a Hurricane on 5 February 1941 for his 40th victory, which brought the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub on 6 February 1941 (9th award) as the fourth Luftwaffe pilot to reach 40 victories, with a second Wehrmachtbericht mention. In May 1941 he added two more.
With Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, III./JG 3 supported Army Group South. Oesau claimed his first Soviet aircraft on 24 June (a MiG-1/I-18). His tally rose rapidly: to 60 by 30 June, including an SB-2. On 10 July he claimed five victories, followed by two more by 11 July, and seven in a single sortie on 12 July (MiG-1, Pe-2, I-153, I-16, Il-2, SB-2 types). By 15 July 1941 he achieved his 80th overall victory (an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber), with 44 on the Eastern Front in five weeks. These exceptional successes, featuring multiple high-scoring days and effective leadership against intense Soviet opposition, led to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on 15 July 1941 (3rd award of Swords overall). The actions involved rapid accumulation to 80 victories, including seven in one mission amid heavy fighting. He received a third Wehrmachtbericht mention. During this period he was wounded by splinters to the face and knee.
Oesau returned west to command Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" from 4 July 1941, succeeding Wilhelm Balthasar. He reached his 100th victory (a Spitfire) on 26 October 1941, becoming the third Luftwaffe pilot to do so and earning a fourth Wehrmachtbericht entry on 27 October 1941. JG 2 transitioned to Focke-Wulf Fw 190s in 1942. After 100 victories he was temporarily grounded for his value as an experienced leader but flew occasionally, claiming a Lancaster on 17 April 1942 during the Augsburg raid (his 101st). He received the Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold and Diamonds on 17 October 1943 and the German Cross in Gold on 10 January 1944. Promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 February 1943, he served as Jagdfliegerführer Bretagne from 1 July 1943.
From 12 November 1943 Oesau commanded Jagdgeschwader 1, focusing on Reich defense against Allied four-engine bombers. He claimed 14 heavy bombers (B-17s and B-24s) in 1943-1944, such as a B-24 on 5 January 1944 and B-17s on 30 January, 22 February, and 24 February 1944. His total victories reached 127 (nine in Spain, 44 on the Eastern Front, 74 on the Western Front, including 13-14 four-engine bombers) over about 300 missions.
Despite suffering from influenza, Oesau led a mission on 11 May 1944 from Paderborn against US bombers. Flying a Bf 109 G-6/AS marked "Green 13," he engaged escorting fighters (likely P-38 Lightnings from the 474th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force) near St. Vith in the Ardennes. After a prolonged dogfight his aircraft was damaged, and during an attempted emergency landing about 10 km southwest of St. Vith it was hit again in the cockpit area by gunfire, crashing fatally. He was 30 years old. US pilots credited with the victory included Lt. James Leslie Doyle. Oesau was posthumously promoted to Oberst on 1 May 1944. In his honor, JG 1 was later titled "Oesau."
Awards and Decorations:
Spanish Medalla de la Campaña
Spanish Medalla Militar
Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds
Iron Cross 2nd Class (15 May 1940)
Iron Cross 1st Class (20 May 1940)
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold for fighter pilots with pennant "300"
Wound Badge (1939) in Black
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 August 1940 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 51
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #9 on 6 February 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #3 on 15 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3
German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberstleutnant and Jagdfliegerführer 4
Source :
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Oesau)
Lexikon der Wehrmacht (lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/O/OesauW-R.htm)
Traces of War (tracesofwar.com/persons/1128/Oesau-Walter.htm)
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. (various editions)
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945. Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, 2007.
Weal, John. Various Osprey titles on JG 51, JG 3, JG 2, JG 1, and Luftwaffe aces (1999-2006).
Prien et al. Jagdgeschwader histories (various volumes).
Mathews & Foreman. Luftwaffe Aces - Biographies and Victory Claims.
Axis History Forum discussions and related threads.
Wehrmacht Awards Forum archives.
Bundesarchiv records (via referenced citations)
Nickname: Gulle
Date of Birth: 28.06.1913 - Farnewinkel, Meldorf, Schleswig-Holstein (German Empire)
Date of Death: 11.05.1944 - St. Vith, Liège (Belgium)
Battles and Operations: Spanish Civil War, Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, Channel Front, Defense of the Reich.
NSDAP-Number: not listed
SS-Number: not listed
Religion : No information
Parents: Father: Richard Oesau. He was a master glazier (Glaser-Meister) by trade in the town of Meldorf. Mother: Anna Oesau (née Söth)
Siblings: Brother: Name not publicly specified in major military biographies, though he is noted to have survived his brother. Sister: Name not publicly specified.
Spouse: Edith Oesau (née von Karstenn). They were married in 1939. Edith was the daughter of a high-ranking forestry official. Following Walter's death in 1944, she remained a widow for several years before eventually remarrying.
Children: One daughter. Information on his daughter remains private in most historical archives to protect the family's privacy, though she was a young child at the time of his father's death in May 1944.
Promotions:
00.10.1933 Enlisted soldier
00.00.1934 Fahnenjunker
20.04.1937 Leutnant
15.07.1939 Oberleutnant
19.07.1940 Hauptmann
20.07.1941 Major
01.02.1943 Oberstleutnant
01.05.1944 Oberst (posthumous promotion)
Career:
Walter Oesau was born on 28 June 1913 in Farnewinkel near Meldorf in the Dithmarschen region of Holstein, Germany. His father was a bank director. He completed his Abitur and served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst before joining the German Army (Heer) in October 1933 with Artillerie-Regiment 2. In 1936 he transferred to the Luftwaffe, undergoing flight training at the Verkehrsfliegerschule in Hanover and later joining Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". He was promoted to Leutnant on 20 April 1937.
In April 1938 Oesau volunteered for the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, serving with 3./Jagdgruppe 88. Over approximately 130 combat missions he claimed nine aerial victories against Republican aircraft, including Polikarpov I-15 and I-16 fighters as well as SB-2 bombers. He was wounded during operations and received the Spanish Wound Badge. For his performance he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (one of only 27-28 such awards), along with the Spanish Medalla de la Campaña and Medalla Militar.
Returning to Germany in early 1939, Oesau rejoined JG 2 as Oberleutnant. At the start of World War II he served with Jagdgeschwader 20 (redesignated III./Jagdgeschwader 51), participating in the invasion of Poland but without claims there. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109, his first Western Front victory came on 13 May 1940 with a Curtiss P-36 Hawk over Halsteren during the campaign in the Netherlands. He added more during the Battle of France, including three Spitfires on 31 May northwest of Dunkirk, a Bristol Blenheim on 1 June, and an Amiot 143 on 13 June. He received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 15 May 1940 and 1st Class on 20 May 1940. During the Battle of Britain, as Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 51, he claimed multiple Spitfires and other types. On 18 August 1940 he reached his 20th victory (a Hurricane), earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 August 1940 as the 102nd recipient and the first in JG 51. The citation highlighted his distinction as a fighter pilot with 20 enemy aircraft downed, ceaseless readiness, and brave disposition. Promoted to Hauptmann on 19 July 1940, he became Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51 on 24 August 1940. By late October 1940 his score stood at around 48, including many Spitfires, and he received a Wehrmachtbericht mention on 6 September 1940.
On 10 November 1940 Oesau took command of III./JG 3. He continued scoring over the Channel, downing a Hurricane on 5 February 1941 for his 40th victory, which brought the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub on 6 February 1941 (9th award) as the fourth Luftwaffe pilot to reach 40 victories, with a second Wehrmachtbericht mention. In May 1941 he added two more.
With Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, III./JG 3 supported Army Group South. Oesau claimed his first Soviet aircraft on 24 June (a MiG-1/I-18). His tally rose rapidly: to 60 by 30 June, including an SB-2. On 10 July he claimed five victories, followed by two more by 11 July, and seven in a single sortie on 12 July (MiG-1, Pe-2, I-153, I-16, Il-2, SB-2 types). By 15 July 1941 he achieved his 80th overall victory (an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber), with 44 on the Eastern Front in five weeks. These exceptional successes, featuring multiple high-scoring days and effective leadership against intense Soviet opposition, led to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on 15 July 1941 (3rd award of Swords overall). The actions involved rapid accumulation to 80 victories, including seven in one mission amid heavy fighting. He received a third Wehrmachtbericht mention. During this period he was wounded by splinters to the face and knee.
Oesau returned west to command Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" from 4 July 1941, succeeding Wilhelm Balthasar. He reached his 100th victory (a Spitfire) on 26 October 1941, becoming the third Luftwaffe pilot to do so and earning a fourth Wehrmachtbericht entry on 27 October 1941. JG 2 transitioned to Focke-Wulf Fw 190s in 1942. After 100 victories he was temporarily grounded for his value as an experienced leader but flew occasionally, claiming a Lancaster on 17 April 1942 during the Augsburg raid (his 101st). He received the Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold and Diamonds on 17 October 1943 and the German Cross in Gold on 10 January 1944. Promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 February 1943, he served as Jagdfliegerführer Bretagne from 1 July 1943.
From 12 November 1943 Oesau commanded Jagdgeschwader 1, focusing on Reich defense against Allied four-engine bombers. He claimed 14 heavy bombers (B-17s and B-24s) in 1943-1944, such as a B-24 on 5 January 1944 and B-17s on 30 January, 22 February, and 24 February 1944. His total victories reached 127 (nine in Spain, 44 on the Eastern Front, 74 on the Western Front, including 13-14 four-engine bombers) over about 300 missions.
Despite suffering from influenza, Oesau led a mission on 11 May 1944 from Paderborn against US bombers. Flying a Bf 109 G-6/AS marked "Green 13," he engaged escorting fighters (likely P-38 Lightnings from the 474th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force) near St. Vith in the Ardennes. After a prolonged dogfight his aircraft was damaged, and during an attempted emergency landing about 10 km southwest of St. Vith it was hit again in the cockpit area by gunfire, crashing fatally. He was 30 years old. US pilots credited with the victory included Lt. James Leslie Doyle. Oesau was posthumously promoted to Oberst on 1 May 1944. In his honor, JG 1 was later titled "Oesau."
Awards and Decorations:
Spanish Medalla de la Campaña
Spanish Medalla Militar
Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds
Iron Cross 2nd Class (15 May 1940)
Iron Cross 1st Class (20 May 1940)
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold for fighter pilots with pennant "300"
Wound Badge (1939) in Black
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 August 1940 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 51
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #9 on 6 February 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #3 on 15 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3
German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberstleutnant and Jagdfliegerführer 4
Source :
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Oesau)
Lexikon der Wehrmacht (lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/O/OesauW-R.htm)
Traces of War (tracesofwar.com/persons/1128/Oesau-Walter.htm)
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. (various editions)
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945. Scherzers Militaer-Verlag, 2007.
Weal, John. Various Osprey titles on JG 51, JG 3, JG 2, JG 1, and Luftwaffe aces (1999-2006).
Prien et al. Jagdgeschwader histories (various volumes).
Mathews & Foreman. Luftwaffe Aces - Biographies and Victory Claims.
Axis History Forum discussions and related threads.
Wehrmacht Awards Forum archives.
Bundesarchiv records (via referenced citations)
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