Josef Zwernemann

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Zwernemann

Josef Zwernemann (26 March 1916 – 8 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a fighter ace credited with 126 enemy aircraft shot down in over 600 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed on the Eastern Front, with ten aerial victories claimed over the Western Front during the Battle of Britain and in Defense of the Reich.

Born in Kirchworbis, Zwernemann volunteered for military service in the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany in 1935 and transferred to the Luftwaffe a year later. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in 1940. Zwernemann participated in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain where he claimed his first three aerial victory on 24 July 1940. In July 1941, he fought in the Battle of Crete and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Following his 57th aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 June 1942 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 31 October 1942 after 102 aerial victories.

In December 1943, Zwernemann was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) which was based in Germany and fighting in Defense of the Reich. Zwernemann claimed nine more victories before he was killed in action in combat with a North American P-51 Mustangs on 8 April 1944.