Nickname: Fuerst
Date of Birth: March 11, 1913 - Schrimm, Province of Posen (now Srem, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland)
Date of Death: March 23, 1944 - near Schoeppenstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany
Battles and Operations: Polish Campaign, Phoney War, Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, Siege of Malta, North African Campaign, Battle of Stalingrad, Kuban Bridgehead, Defense of the Reich
NSDAP-Number: No information
SS-Number: No information
Religion: No information
Parents: Hans Wilcke (Hauptmann in Infanterie-Regiment 47, died April 1913) and Hertha von Schuckmann (remarried Friedrich von Scotti on June 14, 1919)
Siblings: No information
Spouse: No information
Children: No information
Promotions:
April 1, 1934 Fahnenjunker
October 1, 1934 Faehnrich
November 1, 1935 Oberfaehnrich
April 20, 1936 Leutnant
July 1, 1939 Oberleutnant
July 1, 1940 Hauptmann
October 1, 1942 Major
February 1, 1943 Oberstleutnant
December 1, 1943 Oberst
Career:
April 1, 1934 Fahnenjunker, Artillerie-Regiment 6 in Minden
October 1, 1934 Faehnrich, Kriegsschule in Dresden
November 1, 1935 Oberfaehnrich, transferred to the Luftwaffe
April 20, 1936 Leutnant, flight school in Perleberg
October 15, 1936 Jagdgeschwader 132 Richthofen
June 1937 fighter pilot instructor, Jagdfliegerschule in Werneuchen
March 1939 1. Staffel, Jagdgruppe 88 - J/88, Legion Condor
July 1, 1939 Oberleutnant, transferred from I. of J/88 Legion Condor to III./JG 53
September 7, 1939 Oberleutnant, 3. Staffel, JG 53
September 18, 1939-May 18, 1940 Oberleutnant, Staffelkapitaen, 7. Staffel, JG 53
July 1, 1940 Hauptmann and reappointed Staffelkapitaen, 7. Staffel, JG 53
August 13, 1940 Gruppenkommandeur, III. Gruppe, JG 53
June 22, 1941 7. Staffel, III. Gruppe, JG 53
July 1, 1941 formed the Gefechtsverband Wilcke
December 2, 1941 with III. Gruppe, JG 53, deployed in Catania in Sicily
December 6, 1941 ordered to move to Timimi in Libya
December 11, 1941 relocated back to Sicily for operations in the siege of Malta
May 18, 1942 transferred to Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet
August 11, 1942 Geschwaderkommodore, Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet
February 1, 1943 Oberstleutnant
March 1943 led Geschwaderstab, II. and III. Gruppe during operations against the Kuban bridgehead as part of the IV. Fliegerkorps
May 1943 Geschwaderstab, returned to Muenchen-Gladbach
December 1, 1943 Oberst, Kommodore, JG 3 Udet, banned from flying
Awards and Decorations:
Medalla de la Campana de Espana 1936-1939 1939 (Leutnant, Pilot Officer, 1. Staffel, Jagdgruppe 88, Legion Condor, Spanish Civil War 1936-1939)
Spanienkreuz, Bronze mit Schwertern 1939 (Leutnant, Pilot Officer, 1. Staffel, Jagdgruppe 88, Legion Condor, Spanish Civil War 1936-1939)
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse November 25, 1939 (Leutnant, Pilot Officer, 3. Staffel, JG 53, Second World War 1939-1945, for shooting down a French Air Force Potez 630 twin-engined fighter near Voelklingen during the Phoney War)
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse July 11, 1940 (Hauptmann, Flight Lieutenant, 7. Staffel, JG 53, Second World War 1939-1945)
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale fuer besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg April 1, 1941 (Hauptmann, Flight Lieutenant, Flugzeugfuehrer, JG 53, Second World War 1939-1945, in recognition of achievements during the Battles of France and Britain, achieving a total of 13 air victories)
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz June 1941 (Hauptmann, Flight Lieutenant, Second World War 1939-1945, wounded on June 25, 1941)
Frontflugspange fuer Jaeger in Bronze (Second World War 1939-1945)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on August 6, 1941, decorated by Kesselring on August 9, 1941 with Leutnant Herbert Schramm (Hauptmann, Flight Lieutenant, Kommandeur, III. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 53, Second World War 1939-1945, after 25 aerial victories, 270th Award)
Frontflugspange fuer Jaeger in Silber (Second World War 1939-1945)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #122 on September 9, 1942 (Hauptmann, Flight Lieutenant, Fuehrer, Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet, Second World War 1939-1945, for being the 20th pilot achieving 100 aerial victories, 122nd Award)
Frontflugspange fuer Jaeger in Gold (Second World War 1939-1945)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold November 3, 1942 (Major, Squadron Leader, Kommandeur, Jagdgeschwader 3, Second World War 1939-1945, for 135 air victories, Award 1/126)
Frontflugspange fuer Jaeger in Gold mit Anhaenger und Einzatszahl (Second World War 1939-1945, with pennant 700)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #23 December 23, 1942 (Major, Squadron Leader, Kommodore, Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet, Second World War 1939-1945, after 155 aerial victories, 23rd Award)
Wehrmachtbericht March 30, 1944 (Oberst, Group Captain, Kommodore, Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet, Second World War 1939-1945, the commodore of a fighter wing Oberst Wilcke, who had been awarded the Oak Leaves and Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 155 aerial victories by the Fuehrer, found a heroes death in aerial combat. With him the Luftwaffe loses one of their most outstanding fighter pilots and formation leaders)
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Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (11 March 1913 – 23 March 1944) was a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 162 enemy aircraft shot down in 732 combat missions. He claimed the majority of his victories over the Eastern Front, and 25 over the Western Front, including four four-engined bombers.
Wilcke was born on 11 March 1913 at Schrimm in the Province of Posen, part of the Kingdom of Prussia at the time, now Śrem in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland. He was the son of a Hauptmann (captain) of Infanterie-Regiment 47 (47th Infantry Regiment), Hans Wilcke, who died of pneumonia when Wilcke was just four weeks of age. His mother, Hertha von Schuckmann, married again on 14 June 1919. In 1931, Wilcke was arrested for attending a then-illegal demonstration of the Nazi Party. Although his loyalty to the Nazi cause is emphasized multiple times in his personal military files, according to biographers Prien and Stemmer, he was a firm opponent of the National Socialist regime; later in his career, for a time after taking command of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing), he had the Swastikas on his unit's aircraft painted over. He volunteered for military service in the Reichswehr after receiving his Abitur (diploma). He joined Artillerie-Regiment 6 (6th Artillery Regiment) in Minden as a Fahnenjunker (officer cadet) on 1 April 1934. His legal guardian and stepfather, Friedrich von Scotti, also served in this regiment.
As a Fähnrich (officer candidate), Wilcke was posted to the Kriegsschule (war school) in Dresden on 1 October 1934. On 1 November 1935, he was transferred to the newly emerging Luftwaffe holding the rank of Oberfähnrich (senior officer candidate). On 20 April 1936, while serving at the flight school in Perleberg, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant). On 15 October he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader "Richthofen", also known as Jagdgeschwader 132 (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing), named after the World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen and forerunner of Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) "Richthofen". There he excelled as a pilot and showed exceptional leadership ability and was sent as fighter pilot instructor to the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school) in Werneuchen in the second half of 1937.
In March 1939, Wilcke volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. For a few weeks, he flew with 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) without claiming any aerial victories. He was awarded the Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Bronze mit Schwertern) for his service in Spain. In Spain he became friends with Werner Mölders and when Mölders was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the newly created III. Gruppe of JG 53, he selected Wilcke as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of JG 53.
World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Wilcke, who at the time was still a member of 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 53, flew missions over Poland. He claimed his first aerial victory on 7 November 1939, over the Western Front when he shot down an Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) Potez 630, a twin-engined fighter, near Völklingen during the Phoney War. For this achievement he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) on 25 November 1939.
From 2–16 January 1940, Wilcke and other pilots from III. Gruppe went on a ski vacation to the Vorarlberg. On 11 March 1940, he shot down another Potez at an altitude of 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) near the "three-nations-corner" north of Metz. He claimed his third victory at 2:55 pm on 25 March. 7. Staffel engaged a flight of Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 at 4,000 m (13,000 ft). In the resulting aerial battle, Wilcke shot down one of the Moranes over Diedenhofen.
The Battle of France, the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, began on 10 May 1940. On 18 May 1940, Wilcke was shot down by eight French Curtiss P-36 Hawks west of Rethel, bailed out, and was taken prisoner of war. After the armistice on 22 June 1940, he returned on 30 June 1940, was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 July, and reassumed command of 7. Staffel, earning the Iron Cross 1st Class on 11 July 1940.
On 13 August 1940, he replaced Hauptmann Harro Harder as Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 53 during the Battle of Britain. On the same day, his engine failed over the English Channel, forcing him to bail out; he was rescued by a Dornier Do 18. III./JG 53 escorted bombers to London on 30 August; Wilcke destroyed a barrage balloon and claimed a Spitfire near Dover. On 1 September, he claimed a Hurricane south of London. On 11 September, he claimed a Fairey Swordfish biplane over the Channel. On 15 September (Battle of Britain Day), he claimed a Hurricane south of London. On 17 September, he claimed another Hurricane near Ashford. On 20 September, he claimed a Hurricane northwest of Dungeness. On 30 September, during two missions, he claimed two Spitfires (one unconfirmed). On 10 October, he claimed a Spitfire, his last of the Battle of Britain, earning the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 1 April 1941.
On 22 June 1941, supporting Operation Barbarossa, III./JG 53 crossed into Soviet airspace. Wilcke claimed three I-15 biplanes at Alytus and Oranji, and another I-15 during a Stuka escort to Grodno, achieving an ace-in-a-day with five victories. On 25 June, he was slightly injured in a takeoff collision at Vilnius. He claimed an I-15 on 30 June near Barysaw. On 1 July, he formed "Gefechtsverband Wilcke" with III./JG 53 and II./JG 52. He claimed a Pe-2 on 9 July, an I-16 on 25 July near Vyazma, an I-180 on 29 July near Dukhovshchina, and another near Yartsevo-Bely. He reached 25 victories and was awarded the Knight's Cross on 6 August 1941, presented by Albert Kesselring on 9 August. He claimed two more near Velikiye Luki on 23 August. III./JG 53 returned to Germany in October, claiming 769 victories with losses of 6 killed, 7 missing, 2 captured, and 12 wounded.
III./JG 53 deployed to Catania, Sicily, on 28 November 1941; Wilcke arrived on 2 December. It moved to Timimi, Libya, on 6 December. Wilcke claimed a Hurricane on 11 December during a Ju 88 escort to Bir Hakeim. The unit returned to Sicily on 17 December for the siege of Malta, claiming four RAF fighters (Spitfire and Hurricanes) in April-May 1942: a Spitfire on 2 April, a Hurricane on 22 April (killing Pilot Officer "Sonny" Ormrod), another Hurricane on 25 April, and a Spitfire on 12 May.
On 18 May 1942, Wilcke transferred to JG 3 "Udet" Stab. He became its Geschwaderkommodore on 11 August, replacing Oberst Günther Lützow. JG 3 operated from Chuguyev, then Schtschigry for the Stalingrad advance, based at Gorshechnoye, Olkhovatka, Millerovo, Nowy-Cholan, Frolovo, Tuzov, and Pitomnik. Wilcke claimed a LaGG-3 on 13 June (39th victory), another LaGG-3 on 22 June, a LaGG-3 and R-5 on 24 June, three Bostons on 3 July, two LaGG-3s and a Boston on 4 July, an ace-in-a-day (P-39, LaGG-3, R-5, three Hurricanes) on 6 July, two Il-2s on 9 July, four Bostons on 10 July, an R-5 and two MiG-1s on 11 July, an R-5 and two LaGG-3s on 12 July, a LaGG-3 on 18 July, an I-153 and two Hurricanes and two Pe-2s on 26-27 July, and more LaGG-3s in late July. In August, he claimed a Su-2 and two LaGG-3s on 5-6, an unknown on 9, his first as Kommodore (unknown) on 12, and more unknowns and identified (Yak-7, etc.) through 31 August, reaching 96. In September, he claimed four unknowns on 3-6, reaching 100 victories (20th Luftwaffe pilot to do so), earning Oak Leaves on 9 September.
Wilcke claimed unknowns on 10, 12, 18 (four), and 19 September. On 20 September, two LaGG-3s; on 22 September, six Yak-1s (third ace-in-a-day, to 116). At Pitomnik from 23 September, he claimed victories on 24-26 September, 1 November (to 135). He received the German Cross in Gold on 3 November. During the 6th Army encirclement, JG 3 Stab moved to Morozovskaya-West then -South, then Tazinskaya, claiming 25 victories (21 by Wilcke). He claimed an Il-2 and Yak-1 on 24 November, three unknowns on 30 November, one on 2 December, three on 8 December, and four (La-5, three Yak-1s) on 12 December (to 148). He reached 150 on 17 December (149-151), claimed three more on 18 December, and two on 28 December and 5 January 1943, despite a ban. He led operations against the Kuban bridgehead in March 1943; JG 3 Stab returned to München-Gladbach in May, with no missions until October 1943.
Promoted to Oberst on 1 December 1943, Wilcke requested operational flying. In February 1944, ignoring the ban, he flew missions against USAAF, claiming a P-38 on 10 February (157th), a B-24 on 24 February (158th), two B-17s on 4 March (159th-160th). His Bf 109 G-6 was crippled on 6 March; he landed at Neuruppin. On 23 March 1944, leading JG 3 against a USAAF raid on Braunschweig, he claimed a B-17 and P-51 (162nd), but was shot down near Schöppenstedt by Captain Don Gentile and John T. Godfrey of the 4th Fighter Group. He was buried in Mönchengladbach-Holt; Major Friedrich-Karl Müller succeeded him.
Wilcke was credited with 162 aerial victories in 732 combat missions. This includes 138 on the Eastern Front and 24 on the Western Front, plus further unconfirmed claims. He achieved ace-in-a-day status multiple times and was one of the top-scoring Luftwaffe aces.
Wilcke's victory claims are chronicled in various sources, listing dates, times, enemy aircraft types, and locations from his first on 7 November 1939 to his last on 23 March 1944. Notable achievements include multiple claims in single days, such as five on 22 June 1941 and six on 22 September 1942.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf-Dietrich_Wilcke
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34534/Wilcke-Wolf-Dietrich-F%C3%BCrst-JG-3-Udet.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/W/WilckeWD.htm
https://grokipedia.com/page/wolf_dietrich_wilcke
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/index.php?file=/officers/personsx.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027052912fw_/http://geocities.com/orion47.geo/index2.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=25771
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://www.geni.com/people/Friedrich-von-Scotti/6000000191170162827
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&q=Wolf-Dietrich+Wilcke
Obermaier, E., Die Ritterkreuztraeger der Luftwaffe, Hoffmann, 1989
Die Ordenstraeger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrueck, 2002
Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubtraeger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
Patzwall K, Scherzer V, Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D.
Heaton, Colin D. and Lewis, Anne-Marie, The German Aces Speak: World War II Through the Eyes of Four of the Luftwaffe's Most Important Commanders, Zenith Press, 2011, ISBN 978-0760341155
Angolia, John R., Knight's Cross, Oak-Leaves and Swords Recipients 1941-45, Osprey Publishing, 2005, ISBN 978-1841766430
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