Franz Woidich

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Franz Woidich
Born(1921-01-02)2 January 1921
Znojmo
Died5 July 2004(2004-07-05) (aged 83)
Mainz
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
RankOberleutnant of the Reserves
UnitJG 27, JG 52, JG 400
Commands held6./JG 400
Battles/wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other workIngenieurbüro Woidich

Franz-Walter Woidich (2 January 1921 – 5 July 2004) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Wernitz was credited with 110 aerial victories claimed in roughly 1000 combat missions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Career[edit]

Woidich was born on 2 January 1921 in Znojmo, present-day Czech Republic, at the time in the bilingual region of southern Moravia of the First Czechoslovak Republic. Oberfähnrich (Ensign) Woidich joined the 5. Staffel (5th Squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27–27th Fighter Wing) on 11 July 1941, then stationed in North Africa.[Note 1] He was credited with two aerial victories out of four claims filed in the North African theater of operations. The first claim was made on 22 November 1941 over a Royal Australian Air Force Curtiss P-40 during the Siege of Tobruk.[1][2] On 12 February 1942, Woidich engaged in combat with Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighters from No. 73 and No. 274 Squadron from the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the vicinity of Tobruk on a Junkers Ju 87 dive-bomber escort mission. In this aerial encounter, he claimed a P-40 shot down 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) southwest of Fort Acroma.[3] On 15 March 1942, Woidich claimed a Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk shot down in combat with No. 450 Squadron RAAF, No. 260 Squadron RAF and 2 Squadron SAAF. The combat occurred 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Ain el Gazala.[4]

Eastern Front[edit]

He was transferred to the 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing) which fought on the Eastern Front on 1 April 1942. Here he claimed seven aerial victories by the end of 1942. On 11 June 1943, Woidich succeeded Oberleutnant Rudolf Miethig who was killed in action the day before as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 52.[5] At the time his score had increased to 16 aerial victories.[1] On 13 July 1943 during the Battle of Kursk, Woidich, accompanied by his wingman Leutnant Franz Schall, claimed two Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft shot down.[6]

His score of enemy aircraft shot down had increased to 56 by the end of 1943. He had claimed four aircraft shot down on both 7 and 13 July 1943. He was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 11 June 1944 following his 80th aerial victory. A noteworthy achievement was made on 11 January 1944 when he claimed his 57th to 60th aerial victory. He became an "ace-in-a-day" on 17 January 1944 when he shot down his 62nd to 66th enemy aircraft. He again claimed four aircraft shot down on 16 April 1944 for victories 72 to 75. His most successful month was July 1944 with 29 aircraft shot down.[1] In July 1944, Woidich was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 84th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[7] On 10 August, he transferred command of 3. Staffel to Leutnant Leonhard Färber.[5]

Messerschmitt Me 163 at the Luftwaffenmuseum in Berlin-Gatow

Woidich was transferred to Ergänzungsstaffel (Training/Supplement Squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 400 (JG 400–400th Fighter Wing) for conversion training to the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket powered aircraft on 11 August 1944.[8] As a Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 6./JG 400 he claimed one of the very rare aerial victories while flying the Me 163 rocket fighter on 22 April 1945.[9]

After World War II in 1953, Ing.-grad. Woidich together with Dipl.-Ing. Karl Thress opened the Ingenieurbüro Woidich (Engineering Office Woidich), an automotive technical engineering bureau, in Mainz-Kastel.[Note 2] Woidich's son, Dipl.-Bw. Gerd Woidich, joined the firm in 1981.[10]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Woidich was credited with 110 aerial victories.[11] Spick also lists Woidich with 110 aerial victories claimed in approximately 1,000 combat missions.[9] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 82 aerial victory claims, plus thirty further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 78 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and three on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber flying the Me 163 rocket fighter.[12]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 82191". 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.[13]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Woidich 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 – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Woidich did not receive credit.
  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
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[14]
North Africa — 22 September 1941 – 6 December 1942
21 November 1941 15:00 P-40 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Ain el Gazala[15]
12 February 1942
P-40 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Fort Acroma[16]
1 22 November 1941 16:35 P-40 northwest of Bir Hakeim[17] 2 15 March 1942 11:25 P-40 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Ain el Gazala[16]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[14]
Eastern Front — 22 June – 5 December 1941
3 10 July 1942 10:12 MiG-1 1 km (0.62 mi) southeast of Putilin[18] 8 3 September 1942 14:30 Il-2 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Djatlicka[19]
4 23 August 1942 13:10 LaGG-3 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Kirejewskoje[19] 9 28 October 1942 15:05 Yak-1 6 km (3.7 mi) northwest of Akhtuba[20]
5 2 September 1942 05:36 Pe-2 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Kopetowka[19] 10 29 January 1943 07:06 Il-2 PQ 82191, 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Archangelskoje[21]
6 2 September 1942 16:42 LaGG-3 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Garetewo[19] 11 1 February 1943 08:06 R-5 PQ 72 654, 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Kolpna[21]
7 3 September 1942 14:20 Pe-2 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Sokolowo[19]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[22]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
12 29 March 1943 09:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61873, 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Nepokrytoje[23] 35 5 August 1943 18:20 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 61641, north of Pogarrowskij[24]
13 16 April 1943 10:52 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85742[25]
southeast of Krymsk
36 15 August 1943 07:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60158, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Bezliudivka[24]
14 18 April 1943 16:21 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75452[25]
8 km (5.0 mi) south of Novorossiysk[25]
37 21 August 1943 16:55 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88228, 9 km (5.6 mi) south of Pervomaisk[26]
15 27 April 1943 17:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85114, 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Krymskaya [25]
[25]
vicinity of Mertschanskaja
38 22 August 1943 09:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 70789, west Dolynska[26]
16 6 May 1943 13:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61272, 25 km (16 mi) north of Belgorod[25] 39 22 August 1943 10:01 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 70797, 1 km (0.62 mi) east Dolynska[26]
17 5 July 1943 07:58 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61192, 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Kowowino[27] 40 24 August 1943 13:58 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 79123, 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest Dolynska[26]
18 5 July 1943 15:25 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 61481, vicinity of Belgorod[28]
1 km (0.62 mi) wesr of Helewoje
41 20 September 1943 15:50 Yak PQ 34 Ost 76884, 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Gostagejewskaja[29]
1 km (0.62 mi) east of Dolynska
19 7 July 1943 03:38 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61642, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Rshewez[28] 42 22 September 1943 07:08 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 66663, 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Fontalowskaja[29]
20 7 July 1943 14:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 61463, 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Schechtelkino[28]
25 km (16 mi) east of Belgorod
43 27 September 1943 05:50 Boston PQ 34 Ost 76534, 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of Starotitarovskaya[29]
21 7 July 1943 17:30 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 61243, 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Luchki[28] 44 22 October 1943 05:45 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 58564, south of Kalinowka[30]
22 8 July 1943 03:48 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61484, 25 km (16 mi) east of Belgorod[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Belgorod
45 23 October 1943 07:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58671, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Nowo-Nuntal[30]
23 12 July 1943 14:50 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 62796, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Kotschetowka[28] 46 23 October 1943 07:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58671, 3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Jantschebrak[30]
24 13 July 1943 08:56 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 61413, 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Schepino[28] 47 23 October 1943 07:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 34 Ost 58533, 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Vasilyevka[30]
25 13 July 1943 08:58 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 61432, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Grenijatschet[31] 48 24 October 1943 06:55 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 59751, 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Grossa[32]
26 13 July 1943 13:59 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 61433, 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Schekino[31] 49 24 October 1943 13:51 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 34 Ost 57173, 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Nowo-Nikolajewka[32]
27 13 July 1943 14:01 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 61227, 3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Winogredowka[31] 50 27 October 1943 10:32 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 34 Ost 57362, 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of Girsowka[32]
28 15 July 1943 12:36 Il-4 PQ 35 Ost 61225, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Winogredowka[31] 51 27 October 1943 10:33 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 34 Ost 57381, 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Ternowka[32]
29 18 July 1943 06:51 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88432, 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Marienheim (Perekrestovo)[31] 52 6 November 1943 10:55 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 46114, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Tomaschewka[32]
30 26 July 1943 18:10 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88283, 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalizwechino[31] 53 28 November 1943 09:30 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29491, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Nowaja Praga[33]
31 31 July 1943 16:57 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88263, 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Marinowka[24] 54 29 November 1943 14:28 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 39173, 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Kossowka[33]
32 1 August 1943 10:32 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88258, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Kalinowka[24] 55 15 December 1943 10:30 Yak-9 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Nowgorodka[33]
33 1 August 1943 10:35 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88253, 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Stepanowka[24] 56 17 December 1943 12:27 P-39 north of Nowgorodka[33]
3 km (1.9 mi) north of Nowgorodka
34 4 August 1943 14:10 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 61683, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Starja Stavolz[24]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[34]
Eastern Front — January – July 1944
57 11 January 1944 08:25 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29379, 7 km (4.3 mi) west of Kirovograd[35]
17 July 1944
P-39
58 11 January 1944 15:05 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 29533, 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Kirovograd[35]
17 July 1944
La-5
59 11 January 1944 15:05 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 29533, 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Kirovograd[35]
17 July 1944
La-5
60 11 January 1944 15:06 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 29522, 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Kirovograd[35]
18 July 1944
Yak-9
61 12 January 1944 14:35 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 34 Ost 29512, 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Gruškovje[35]
18 July 1944
Yak-9
62♠ 17 January 1944 14:35 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 34 Ost 29512, 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Gruškovje[35]
18 July 1944
P-39
63♠ 17 January 1944 14:50 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 29183, 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Fedwa[35]
18 July 1944
P-39
64♠ 17 January 1944 14:51 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 29322, 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Fedwa[35]
18 July 1944
Il-2
65♠ 17 January 1944 14:52 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 29322, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Fedwa[35]
18 July 1944
P-39
66♠ 17 January 1944 14:53 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 29331, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Fedwa[35]
19 July 1944
Il-2
67 28 March 1944 16:42 Il-2 PQ 24 Ost 98181, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Domniza[36]
19 July 1944
Il-2
68 30 March 1944 17:00 P-39 PQ 24 Ost 78634, 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Tesanrani[36]
19 July 1944
Yak-9
69 30 March 1944 17:00?[Note 4] P-39 PQ 24 Ost 78632, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Slobozia[36]
19 July 1944
Yak-9
70 14 April 1944 11:40 R-5 PQ 24 Ost 78622, 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Soltozia[36]
19 July 1944
P-39
71 14 April 1944 11:41 R-5 PQ 24 Ost 78484, east of Fălești[36]
east of Fălești railroad
19 July 1944
P-39
72 16 April 1944 11:10 B-25 PQ 24 Ost 78524, 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Hallemi[38]
vicinity of Hallemi
20 July 1944
P-39
73 16 April 1944 12:40 P-39 PQ 24 Ost 78584, 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Românești[38]
20 July 1944
P-39
74 16 April 1944 12:41 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 24 Ost 78632, 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Gropmitz[38]
20 July 1944
La-5
75 16 April 1944 12:42 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 24 Ost 78552, 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Singeri[38]
20 July 1944
La-5
76 3 May 1944 09:24 P-39 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Targul Frumos[38]
21 July 1944
Il-2
77 11 May 1944 11:17 P-39 PQ 24 Ost 98723, 7 km (4.3 mi) northwest of Grigoriopol[39]
21 July 1944
Il-2
78 11 May 1944 11:21 Pe-2 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Tiraspol
22 July 1944
Yak-9
79 15 May 1944 13:16 La-5 PQ 24 Ost 98723, 7 km (4.3 mi) northwest of Grigoriopol[39]
22 July 1944
Yak-9
80 3 June 1944 10:20 La-5 PQ 24 Ost 78674, 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași[40]
22 July 1944
Yak-9
81 16 July 1944 16:00?[Note 5] Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 25 Ost 41822, 9 km (5.6 mi) south of Slotschuw[42]
vicinity of Zolochiv
24 July 1944
La-5
17 July 1944
P-39
24 July 1944
La-5
17 July 1944
La-5
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 400 –[41]
Defense of the Reich — 1945
82 22 April 1945
four-engined bomber

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
  2. ^ In German, an engineer's degree is called Diplom-Ingenieur, abbreviated Dipl.-Ing. The depreciated graduate engineering degree, Ing.-grad. (graduierter Ingenieur) are no longer awarded.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:01.[37]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:05.[41]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as Leutnant.[47]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 226.
  2. ^ Bergström 2008, p. 44.
  3. ^ Shores et al. 2012, pp. 36–38.
  4. ^ Shores et al. 2012, pp. 60–62.
  5. ^ a b Schreier 1990, p. 187.
  6. ^ Bergström 2007, p. 96.
  7. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 244.
  8. ^ Ransom & Cammann 2010, p. 97.
  9. ^ a b Spick 1996, p. 232.
  10. ^ "Wir über uns - Qualität mit Tradition". Ingenieurbüro Woidich (in German). Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  11. ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 330.
  12. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1436–1438.
  13. ^ Planquadrat.
  14. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1436.
  15. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 259.
  16. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 262.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 260.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 431.
  19. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 434.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 437.
  21. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 439.
  22. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1436–1437.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 288.
  25. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 283.
  26. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 289.
  27. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 285.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 286.
  29. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 290.
  30. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 291.
  31. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 287.
  32. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 292.
  33. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 293.
  34. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1437–1438.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2022, p. 71.
  36. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 72.
  37. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1437.
  38. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 73.
  39. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 74.
  40. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 75.
  41. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1438.
  42. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 76.
  43. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 127.
  44. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 220.
  45. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 520.
  46. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 451.
  47. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 794.

Bibliography[edit]

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish] (2007). Kursk—The Final Air Battle: July 1943. Hersham, Surrey: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-903223-88-8.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish] (2008). Bagration to Berlin—The Final Air Battles in the East: 1944–1945. Burgess Hill: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-903223-91-8.
  • 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.
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