Hugo Dahmer

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Hugo Dahmer
Born7 May 1918
Koblenz
Died1 August 2006(2006-08-01) (aged 88)
Troisdorf
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Bundeswehrkreuz (Iron Cross) German Air Force
Years of service1938–1944
1956–1974
RankOberleutnant (Wehrmacht)
Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
UnitJG 26, JG 77, JG 5, JG 2
Commands held1./JG 2
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hugo Dahmer (7 May 1918 – 1 August 2006) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hugo Dahmer was credited with anywhere between 45 - 57 victories. In 1956 he joined the Bundeswehr and retired in 1974 as an Oberstleutnant.

Career[edit]

Dahmer was born on 7 May 1918 in Koblenz, at the time in the Rhine Province within the German Empire.[1] Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 234 "Schlageter" (JG 234—234th Fighter Wing). On 16 August 1938, Dahmer crashed Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1 (Werknummer 447—factory number), the aircraft assigned to the Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) Oberstleutnant Eduard Ritter von Schleich, on a maintenance flight near Düsseldorf.[3] On 1 November, this Gruppe became II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 132 "Schlageter" (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing). On 1 May 1939, II. Gruppe of JG 132 was again renamed, receiving its final designation of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26th—26th Fighter Wing).[4]

World War II[edit]

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. At the time, Dahmer was assigned to 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 26, a Staffel of II. Gruppe.[5] On 16 May 1940 during the Battle of France, Dahmer claimed his first aerial victory. II. Gruppe engaged in aerial combat east Lille, claiming three aerial victories for the loss of one of their own. During this engagement, Dahmer claimed a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter shot down near Tournai. Since the Armée de l'air reported no losses in this area of operations, the opponents may have been Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane fighters from No. 615 Squadron who lost three Hurricanes and claimed one Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter shot down.[6] On 28 May during the Battle of Dunkirk, Dahmer claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down over the Thames Estuary.[7]

On 1 February 1941, Dahmer was transferred to 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) which was based in Norway. Dahmer was never given a reason for this transfer. He assumed that he may have offended one of the officers.[8]

War on the Arctic Front[edit]

On 30 July 1941, Dahmer was presented the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), the first pilot to receive this distinction on the Eismeerfront (Ice Sea Front)—the area of operations nearest the Arctic Ocean. The presentation was made by Hauptmann Horst Carganico, the Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe of JG 77.[9][Note 2]

On 17 August 1943, Dahmer was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing). He replaced Oberleutnant Ferdinand Müller who had been killed in action the day before. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe of JG 2 under command of Hauptmann Erich Hohagen.[11] On 11 September, Dahmer was shot down in aerial combat with Supermarine Spitfire and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. Although he managed to bail out of his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 (Werknummer 1171) 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) north of Rouen, Dahmer was severely injured.[12]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Dahmer was credited with 57 aerial victories.[13] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that he was credited with more than 40 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 26 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and another 14 over the Western Allies, including three four-engined bombers.[14]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 14 West 4967". 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.[15]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Dahmer did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Caldwell, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[16]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 16 May 1940 16:50?[Note 3] M.S.406 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Tournai[18] 4 7 June 1940 19:35 Hurricane south of Dieppe[19][20]
2 28 May 1940 12:50 Spitfire Thames Estuary[18][7] 5 7 June 1940 19:40 Hurricane south of Dieppe[19][20]
3 29 May 1940 19:00 Spitfire Dover[18][21]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[16]
Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 31 January 1941
6 31 August 1940 09:45 Hurricane Brentwood[22][23]
south of Gravesend
—
 28 September 1940
—
 Spitfire Canterbury[24]
7 31 August 1940 19:45 Spitfire Gravesend[22][23] 9 30 September 1940 10:25 Hurricane Tonbridge[25][26]
8 24 September 1940 10:55 Hurricane Southend[24][27]
—
 15 October 1940
—
 Spitfire east of London[25]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[16]
Eastern and northern Norway — 22 June – 5 December 1941
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Dahmer claimed his 10th to 36th aerial victories in the timeframe 22 June to 5 December 1941, one of which can't be dated.[28]
10 26 June 1941
—
 unknown[29] 24 22 August 1941
—
 unknown[30]
11 28 June 1941
—
 unknown[29] 25 23 August 1941
—
 unknown[30]
12 28 June 1941
—
 unknown[29] 26 26 August 1941
—
 I-153[31] Titovka[30]
13 29 June 1941
—
 unknown[29][32] 27 26 August 1941
—
 I-153[31] Titovka[30]
14 29 June 1941
—
 unknown[29][32] 28 26 August 1941
—
 I-153[31] Titovka[30]
15 29 June 1941
—
 unknown[29][32] 29 31 August 1941
—
 fighter aircraft Warlamowo[30]
16 2 July 1941
—
 unknown[33][32] 30 12 September 1941
—
 I-16[31][30]
17 7 July 1941
—
 fighter aircraft vicinity of Shonguy[33][31] 31 17 September 1941
—
 I-153[31] Zapadnaya Litsa[34]
18 8 July 1941
—
 fighter aircraft over the Zapadnaya Litsa bight[33][31] 32 19 September 1941
—
 I-153[31] Alakurtti[34]
19 9 July 1941
—
 SB-2 Murmansk[33][31] 33 28 September 1941
—
 fighter aircraft[31][34]
20 11 July 1941
—
 unknown[33][31] 34 12 October 1941
—
 SB-2 Alakurtti[28]
21 24 July 1941
—
 I-16[35][31] 35 12 October 1941
—
 SB-2 Alakurtti[28]
30 July 1941
—
 unknown[35][31] 36 12 October 1941
—
 SB-2 Alakurtti[28]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[16]
Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — 6 December 1941 – February 1942
37 21 February 1942 11:15 Hurricane[36][37] 38 22 February 1942 12:10 LaGG-3 Titovka[36][38]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[16]
On the Western Front — 1 January – 16 August 1943
39?[Note 4] 23 January 1943 14:08 B-17 PQ 14 West 4967[39] 42 8 March 1943 14:15 B-17 PQ 15 West 3055[39]
40 6 March 1943 14:40 B-17 northwest of Lorient[39] 43?[Note 4] 16 August 1943 10:30 P-47 PQ 05 Ost 2075[39]
41?[Note 4] 6 March 1943 15:05 B-17 PQ 14 West 6825[39]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[16]
On the Western Front — 17 August – 11 September 1943
44 22 August 1943 19:55 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost SA-6/6, southwest of Bolbec[40] 45 6 September 1943 12:20 B-17 Villeneuve[40]

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ According to Weal, Dahmer was awarded the Knight's Cross on 1 August 1941 for 22 confirmed aerial victories to date.[10]
  3. ^ According to Caldwell claimed at 16:31.[17]
  4. ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[16]
  5. ^ According to Scherzer on 30 July 1941 as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 77.[43]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 99.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2000a, pp. 188, 200.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2000a, p. 186.
  5. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 88.
  6. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 26–27.
  7. ^ a b Caldwell 1996, p. 31.
  8. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 99.
  9. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 67.
  10. ^ Weal 2016, p. 12.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2010, p. 438.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2010, p. 451.
  13. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1618.
  14. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 200–201.
  15. ^ Planquadrat.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 201.
  17. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 27.
  18. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2000b, p. 218.
  19. ^ a b Prien et al. 2000b, p. 219.
  20. ^ a b Caldwell 1996, p. 38.
  21. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 33.
  22. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 310.
  23. ^ a b Caldwell 1996, p. 66.
  24. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 311.
  25. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 312.
  26. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 80.
  27. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 78.
  28. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 430.
  29. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 425.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2003, p. 428.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Mombeek 2011, p. 257.
  32. ^ a b c d Mombeek 2011, p. 256.
  33. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003, p. 426.
  34. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 429.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 427.
  36. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 421.
  37. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 258.
  38. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 251.
  39. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2010, p. 500.
  40. ^ a b Prien et al. 2010, p. 444.
  41. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 89.
  42. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 156.
  43. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 264.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  • Caldwell, Donald L. (1996). The JG 26 War Diary: Volume One 1939–1942. London, UK: Grubstreet. ISBN 978-1-898697-52-7.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • 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.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • Mombeek, Eric (2003). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 2 [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 2]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-9600236-4-0.
  • Mombeek, Eric (2011). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 4 [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 4]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-930546-05-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10 May bis 25 June 1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-63-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/IV—Einsatz im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/IV—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-92-2.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Weal, John (2016). Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 124. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-798-2.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
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