Theo Osterkamp

Theo Osterkamp
Theo Osterkamp
Nickname	Onkel (Uncle)
Born	15 April 1892(1892-04-15) Düren, Rhine Province
Died	2 February 1975(1975-02-02) (aged 82) Baden-Baden
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1914–1944
Rank	Generalmajor
Unit	JG 51
Commands held	JG 51
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain
Awards	House Order of Hohenzollern Pour le Mérite Ritterkreuz

Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp (15 April 1892 – 2 January 1975) was a World War I and World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He flew in the first World War, scoring 32 victories. In World War II he led Jagdgeschwader 51 through the Battle of Britain and claimed a further 6 victories, in the process becoming one of only a few men to score victories in both World Wars.

World War I

Osterkamp flew as a naval pilot operating over the Western Front. On 14 August 1914 he joined the Marinefliegerkorps. He then flew with the 2. Marine-Fliegerabteilung in Flanders. During 1915–1916 he served as an air observer, and became the first German pilot to fly a land-based aircraft to England on a reconnaissance-mission. In March 1917 he joined the Kampffliegerschule (Combat pilot school) in Putzig and then joined the Marine-Jagdstaffel 1. On 15 October 1917 Leutnant Osterkamp took command over Marine-Jagdstaffel 2. He scored a total of 32 victories during the war, and was awarded the Prussian military order Pour le Mérite on 2 September 1918, and was the last individual to receive it.

Interwar years

Wedding of Theodor Osterkamp with Fel Gudrun Pagge in Eppendorf, Hamburg

Between the two World Wars Osterkamp was involved in the formation of the new Luftwaffe, amongst other things by setting up Jagdfliegerschule 1. He also participated in the second, third and fourth FAI International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930 (11th place), Challenge 1932 (12th place) and Challenge 1934 (5th place).

World War II

On 19 September 1939 Oberst Osterkamp was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51). During the Battle of France he claimed four victories, the first on 12 May 1940. During the Kanalkampf period of the Battle of Britain he claimed a further two victories, bringing his total to six. He was replaced as commander of JG 51 by Werner Mölders on 23 July. Promoted to Generalmajor, Osterkamp was awarded his Ritterkreuz on 22 August 1940. Following his replacement from JG 51, Osterkamp was appointed Jagdfliegerführer 2, the commander of fighter aircraft in Luftflotte 2.

On 1 August 1942 he was transferred to Luftgaustab z.b.V. Afrika. On 5 April 1943 he was appointed Jagdfliegerführer Sizilien and served until replaced on 15 July by Adolf Galland. He then served in a number of Staff positions until being appointed Inspekteur der Luftwaffen-Bodenorganisation (Inspector of Luftwaffe ground organisation) in 1944. After criticism from High Command he was dismissed from the service on 21 December 1944.

Awards and decorations

• Abzeichen für Marine-Flugzeugführer
• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
• Baltic Cross
  • 2nd Class
• Pour le Mérite (2 September 1918)
• Cross of Honor
• Flugzeugführer- und Beobachter-Abzeichen
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
  • Knight's Cross on 22 August 1940 as Generalmajor and Jagdfliegerführer of Luftflotte 2
• Ärmelband Afrika

References

• Aces of the Luftwaffe Osterkamp bio
• Short Osterkamp bio (German)
• Freie Jagd Details

Military offices
Preceded by none	Commander of Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders November 25, 1939 – July 23, 1940	Succeeded by Major Werner Mölders
Preceded by unknown	Commander of Jagdfliegerführer 1 July 22, 1940 – January 1, 1941	Succeeded by unknown
Preceded by Generalmajor Kurt-Bertram von Döring	Commander of Jagdfliegerführer 2 December 1, 1940 – August 1, 1941	Succeeded by Oberst Joachim-Friedrich Huth
Preceded by General Stefan Fröhlich	Acting Commander of Fliegerführer Afrika April, 1942 – April 12, 1942	Succeeded by General Otto Hoffmann von Waldau
Preceded by none	Commander of Jagdfliegerführer Sizilien April 5, 1943 – June 15, 1943	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Adolf Galland