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'''Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld'''<ref group="Notes">{{German title|Prinz}}</ref> (14 July 1918&nbsp;– 12 March 1944) was a ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' [[night fighter]] [[flying ace]] of royal descent during [[World War II]]. A flying ace or fighter ace is a [[military aviation|military aviator]] credited with shooting down five or more enemy [[aircraft]] during aerial combat.<ref>Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.</ref> Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was credited with 51 aerial victories, all of them claimed in nocturnal combat missions.<ref group="Notes">For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see ''[[List of German World War II night fighter aces]]''</ref>
'''Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld''' (14 July 1918&nbsp;– 12 March 1944) was a ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' night fighter flying ace of royal descent during [[World War II]]. A flying ace or fighter ace is a [[military aviation|military aviator]] credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.<ref>Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.</ref> Lippe-Weißenfeld was credited with 51 aerial victories, all of them claimed in nocturnal combat missions.


Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was born on 14 July 1918 in [[Salzburg]], [[Austria]] and joined the infantry of the Austrian [[Austrian Armed Forces|Bundesheer]] in 1936. He transferred to the emerging ''Luftwaffe'', initially serving as a reconnaissance pilot in the [[Zerstörergeschwader 76|''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76]] (ZG 76), before he transferred to the night fighter force. He claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 16 to 17 November 1940. By the end of March, he had accumulated 21 aerial victories for which he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes'') on 16 April 1942. He received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub'') on 2 August 1943, for 45 aerial victories. He was promoted to [[Major (Germany)|''Major'']] and tasked with leading [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 5|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 5]] (NJG 5) in January 1944, before he and his crew were killed in a flight accident on 12 March 1944.
Lippe-Weißenfeld was born on 14 July 1918 in [[Salzburg]], [[Austria]] and joined the infantry of the Austrian [[Austrian Armed Forces|Bundesheer]] in 1936. He transferred to the emerging ''Luftwaffe'', initially serving as a reconnaissance pilot in the [[Zerstörergeschwader 76|''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76]] (ZG 76), before he transferred to the night fighter force. He claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 16 to 17 November 1940. By the end of March, he had accumulated 21 aerial victories for which he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] on 16 April 1942. He received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] on 2 August 1943, for 45 aerial victories. He was promoted to [[Major (Germany)|''Major'']] and tasked with leading [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 5|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 5]] (NJG 5) in January 1944, before he and his crew were killed in a flight accident on 12 March 1944.

==Personal life==
Egmont Prinz<ref group="Notes">since all royal and noble titles were abolished after the establishment of the [[First Austrian Republic]] his official name there became Egmont zur Lippe-Weißenfeld instead of ''Prince of Lippe-Weißenfeld''</ref> zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was born on 14 July 1918 in [[Salzburg]], [[Austria]] as a member of a [[cadet branch]] of the ruling [[House of Lippe]]. His father was Prince Alfred of Lippe-Weißenfeld and his mother was born Countess Anna von Goëß. Egmont was the only son of four children. His sisters Carola, Sophie and Dora were all younger than Egmont. The family lived in an old castle in [[Upper Austria]] called ''Alt Wartenburg''.<ref>Knott 2008, pp. 129, 199.</ref> At birth he had a remote chance of succeeding to the throne of the [[Principality of Lippe]], a small state within the [[German Empire]]. However, only months after his birth, Germany became a republic and all the German royal houses were forced to abdicate.

Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld in his younger years was very enthusiastic about the mountains and wildlife. From his fourteenth year he participated in hunting. At the same time he was also very much interested in music and sports and discovered his love for flying at the [[Gaisberg]] near [[Salzburg]]. Here he attended the glider flying school of the Austrian Aëro Club. He attended a basic flying course with the second air regiment in [[Graz]] and [[Wiener Neustadt]] even before he joined the military service.<ref>Knott 2008, p. 133.</ref>

Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld never married or had children. In January 1941 he became acquainted with Hannelore Ide, nicknamed ''Idelein''. She was a secretary for a Luftgau. The two shared a close relationship and spent as much time together as the war permitted, listening to music and sailing on the [[IJsselmeer]] until his death in 1944.<ref>Knott 2008, p. 169.</ref>


==Military service==
==Military service==
Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld joined the [[Austrian Armed Forces|Austrian Bundesheer]] in 1936 at the age of 18, initially serving in the infantry. In the aftermaths of the 1938 ''[[Anschluss]]'', the incorporation of Austria into Greater Germany by [[Nazi Germany]], he transferred to the German Luftwaffe and was promoted to ''[[Leutnant]]'' in 1939. He had earned his Luftwaffe Pilots Badge on 5 October 1938 and underwent further training at [[Fürstenfeldbruck]], [[Schleißheim]] and [[Vienna]]-[[Aspern]].<ref>Knott 2008, pp. 134, 149.</ref> His Luftwaffe career started with the ''II. [[Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II#Gruppe|Gruppe]]'' (2nd group) of the [[Zerstörergeschwader 76|''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76]] (ZG 76) before he was transferred to the night fighter wing [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 1|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 1]] (NJG 1) on 4 August 1940.<ref group="Notes">For an explanation of the meaning of ''Luftwaffe'' unit designation see [[Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II]].</ref> The unit was based at [[Gütersloh]] where he familiarised himself with the methods of the night fighters.<ref name="Helden der Wehrmacht p136">''Helden der Wehrmacht II&nbsp;– Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten'' 2003, p. 136.</ref>
Lippe-Weißenfeld joined the [[Austrian Armed Forces|Austrian Bundesheer]] in 1936 at the age of 18, initially serving in the infantry. In the aftermaths of the 1938 ''[[Anschluss]]'', the incorporation of Austria into Greater Germany by [[Nazi Germany]], he transferred to the German Luftwaffe and was promoted to ''[[Leutnant]]'' in 1939. He had earned his Luftwaffe Pilots Badge on 5 October 1938 and underwent further training at [[Fürstenfeldbruck]], [[Schleißheim]] and [[Vienna]]-[[Aspern]].<ref>Knott 2008, pp. 134, 149.</ref> His Luftwaffe career started with the ''II. [[Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II#Gruppe|Gruppe]]'' (2nd group) of the [[Zerstörergeschwader 76|''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76]] (ZG 76) before he was transferred to the night fighter wing [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 1|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 1]] (NJG 1) on 4 August 1940. The unit was based at [[Gütersloh]] where he familiarised himself with the methods of the night fighters.<ref name="Helden der Wehrmacht p136">''Helden der Wehrmacht II&nbsp;– Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten'' 2003, p. 136.</ref>


[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-658-6357-22, Reichsgebiet, Funkleitstelle.jpg|thumb|left|Nightly briefing at the group headquarter]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-658-6357-22, Reichsgebiet, Funkleitstelle.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Nightly briefing at the group headquarter]]
By the summer of 1940, the first night fighters were transferred to [[Leeuwarden]] in the [[Netherlands]]. Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was one of the pilots included in this small detachment. As early as 20 October 1940, he had taken over command of an independent night fighter commando at [[Schiphol]] and later at [[Bergen, North Holland|Bergen]]. On his first encounter with the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) bomber, in the night of 16 to 17 November 1940, he claimed a [[Vickers Wellington]] bomber from [[No. 115 Squadron RAF]] shot down at 0205 hours.<ref name="Knott p149">Knott 2008, p. 149.</ref> His second victory was claimed on the night of 15 January 1941, when he shot down an [[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley]] ''N1521'' of the [[Linton-on-Ouse]] based [[No. 58 Squadron RAF]] over the northern [[Netherlands]], near the Dutch coast in the [[Zwanenwater]] at a nature reserve at [[Callantsoog]].<ref>Knott 2008, pp. 149, 152.</ref> He was wounded in action on 13 March 1941, while flying [[Messerschmitt Bf 110|Bf 110 D-2]] (''W.Nr.'' 3376&nbsp;– factory number) of the 4./NJG1 with his radio operator Josef Renette when he made an emergency landing at Bergen after their aircraft was hit by the defence fire, wounding them both.<ref name="Knott p163">Knott 2008, p. 163.</ref> Shortly after midnight on 10 April 1941, Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld claimed a [[No. 12 Squadron RAF]] Wellington over the [[IJsselmeer]], raising NJG 1's victory score to 100. This achievement was celebrated at the [[Amstel Hotel]] in [[Amsterdam]] with General [[Josef Kammhuber]], [[Wolfgang Falck]], [[Werner Streib]], [[Helmut Lent]] and others attending.<ref>Knott 2008, p. 152.</ref> On 30 June 1941 while flying Bf 110 C-4 (''W.Nr.'' 3273) on a practice intercept mission over [[Noord Holland]], he collided with Bf 110 C-7 (''W.Nr.'' 2075) piloted by ''Leutnant'' [[Rudolf Schoenert]] of the 4./NJG 1 and crashed near [[Bergen aan Zee]].<ref>Knott 2008, pp. 155, 163.</ref> On 19 June 1941 he earned his first of four references in the daily ''[[Wehrmachtbericht]]'', a daily radio report made by the ''[[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]]'' (High Command of the Armed Forces) regarding the military situation on all fronts. By July 1941 his number of aerial victory claims stood at 10. Promoted to ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' he became ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' of the 5th ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II#Staffel|Staffel]]'' of [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 2|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 2]] (NJG 2) on 15 November 1941. By the end of 1941 he had claimed a total of 15 aerial victories.<ref name="Helden der Wehrmacht p136"/>
By the summer of 1940, the first night fighters were transferred to [[Leeuwarden]] in the [[Netherlands]]. Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was one of the pilots included in this small detachment. As early as 20 October 1940, he had taken over command of an independent night fighter commando at [[Schiphol]] and later at [[Bergen, North Holland|Bergen]]. On his first encounter with the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) bomber, in the night of 16 to 17 November 1940, he claimed a [[Vickers Wellington]] bomber from [[No. 115 Squadron RAF]] shot down at 0205 hours.<ref name="Knott p149">Knott 2008, p. 149.</ref> His second victory was claimed on the night of 15 January 1941, when he shot down an [[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley]] ''N1521'' of the [[Linton-on-Ouse]] based [[No. 58 Squadron RAF]] over the northern [[Netherlands]], near the Dutch coast in the [[Zwanenwater]] at a nature reserve at [[Callantsoog]].<ref>Knott 2008, pp. 149, 152.</ref> He was wounded in action on 13 March 1941, while flying [[Messerschmitt Bf 110|Bf 110 D-2]] (''W.Nr.'' 3376&nbsp;– factory number) of the 4./NJG1 with his radio operator Josef Renette when he made an emergency landing at Bergen after their aircraft was hit by the defence fire, wounding them both.<ref name="Knott p163">Knott 2008, p. 163.</ref> Shortly after midnight on 10 April 1941, Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld claimed a [[No. 12 Squadron RAF]] Wellington over the [[IJsselmeer]], raising NJG 1's victory score to 100. This achievement was celebrated at the [[Amstel Hotel]] in [[Amsterdam]] with General [[Josef Kammhuber]], [[Wolfgang Falck]], [[Werner Streib]], [[Helmut Lent]] and others attending.<ref>Knott 2008, p. 152.</ref> On 30 June 1941 while flying Bf 110 C-4 (''W.Nr.'' 3273) on a practice intercept mission over [[Noord Holland]], he collided with Bf 110 C-7 (''W.Nr.'' 2075) piloted by ''Leutnant'' [[Rudolf Schoenert]] of the 4./NJG 1 and crashed near [[Bergen aan Zee]].<ref>Knott 2008, pp. 155, 163.</ref> On 19 June 1941 he earned his first of four references in the daily ''[[Wehrmachtbericht]]'', a daily radio report made by the ''[[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]]'' (High Command of the Armed Forces) regarding the military situation on all fronts. By July 1941 his number of aerial victory claims stood at 10. Promoted to ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' he became ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' of the 5th ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II#Staffel|Staffel]]'' of [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 2|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 2]] (NJG 2) on 15 November 1941. By the end of 1941 he had claimed a total of 15 aerial victories.<ref name="Helden der Wehrmacht p136"/>


He was awarded the [[German Cross]] in Gold (''Deutsches Kreuz in Gold'') on 25 January 1942 and the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes'') on 16 April 1942 after he had shot down 4 RAF bombers in the night of 26 to 27 March 1942, his score standing at 21 aerial victories. This feat earned him his third reference in the ''Wehrmachtbericht'' on 27 March 1942. In July 1942 he was one of the leading German night fighter aces with 37 aerial victories.<ref name="Helden der Wehrmacht p137">''Helden der Wehrmacht II&nbsp;– Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten'' 2003, p. 137.</ref>
He was awarded the [[German Cross]] in Gold on 25 January 1942 and the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] on 16 April 1942 after he had shot down 4 RAF bombers in the night of 26 to 27 March 1942, his score standing at 21 aerial victories. This feat earned him his third reference in the ''Wehrmachtbericht'' on 27 March 1942. In July 1942 he was one of the leading German night fighter aces with 37 aerial victories.<ref name="Helden der Wehrmacht p137">''Helden der Wehrmacht II&nbsp;– Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten'' 2003, p. 137.</ref>


Promoted to ''[[Hauptmann]]'', Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was made ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' of the ''I. Gruppe'' (1st group) of [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 3|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 3]] on 1 October 1942, where he claimed 3 further aerial victories. He was transferred again, taking command of the ''III. Gruppe'' (3rd group) of NJG 1 on 31 May 1943. One month later he claimed his 45th aerial victory for which he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross#Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (mit Eichenlaub)|Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub'') on 2 August 1943.<ref name="Helden der Wehrmacht p137"/>
Promoted to ''[[Hauptmann]]'', Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was made ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' of the ''I. Gruppe'' (1st group) of [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 3|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 3]] on 1 October 1942, where he claimed 3 further aerial victories. He was transferred again, taking command of the ''III. Gruppe'' (3rd group) of NJG 1 on 31 May 1943. One month later he claimed his 45th aerial victory for which he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross#Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (mit Eichenlaub)|Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] on 2 August 1943.<ref name="Helden der Wehrmacht p137"/>


After a one-month hospital stay, Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was promoted to [[Major (Germany)|Major]] and made ''[[Geschwaderkommodore]]'' of [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 5|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 5]] (NJG 5) on 20 February 1944. He and his crew, ''[[Oberfeldwebel]]'' Josef Renette and ''[[Unteroffizier]]'' Kurt Röber, were killed in a flying accident on 12 March 1944 on a routine flight from [[Parchim]] to [[Athies-sous-Laon]]. Above Belgium, they seem to have encountered a bad weather zone with low clouds and a dense snowstorm and it was assumed that the aircraft hit the high [[Ardennes]] ground after being forced to fly lower because of ice forming on the wings.<ref>Knott 2008, p. 195.</ref> The exact circumstances of this flight may never be known, the [[Messerschmitt Bf 110|Bf 110 G-4]] C9+CD (''Werknummer'' 720 010—factory number) crashed into the Ardennes mountains near [[Saint-Hubert, Belgium|St. Hubert]] where the completely burned-out wreck was found the following day.<ref>Obermaier 1989, p. 57.</ref> The funeral service was held in the city church of [[Linz]] on 15 March 1944.<ref>Knott 2008, p. 201.</ref> Prinz Egmont zur Lippe-Weißenfeld and Prinz [[Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein|Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein]] are buried side by side at [[Ysselsteyn]] in the [[Netherlands]].<ref>Knott 2008, p. 206.</ref>
After a one-month hospital stay, Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was promoted to [[Major (Germany)|Major]] and made ''[[Geschwaderkommodore]]'' of [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 5|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 5]] (NJG 5) on 20 February 1944. He and his crew, ''[[Oberfeldwebel]]'' Josef Renette and ''[[Unteroffizier]]'' Kurt Röber, were killed in a flying accident on 12 March 1944 on a routine flight from [[Parchim]] to [[Athies-sous-Laon]]. Above Belgium, they seem to have encountered a bad weather zone with low clouds and a dense snowstorm and it was assumed that the aircraft hit the high [[Ardennes]] ground after being forced to fly lower because of ice forming on the wings.<ref>Knott 2008, p. 195.</ref> The exact circumstances of this flight may never be known, the [[Messerschmitt Bf 110|Bf 110 G-4]] C9+CD (''Werknummer'' 720 010—factory number) crashed into the Ardennes mountains near [[Saint-Hubert, Belgium|St. Hubert]] where the completely burned-out wreck was found the following day.<ref>Obermaier 1989, p. 57.</ref> The funeral service was held in the city church of [[Linz]] on 15 March 1944.<ref>Knott 2008, p. 201.</ref> Prinz Egmont zur Lippe-Weißenfeld and Prinz [[Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein|Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein]] are buried side by side at [[Ysselsteyn]] in the [[Netherlands]].<ref>Knott 2008, p. 206.</ref>
Line 52: Line 45:
*[[German Cross]] in Gold on 25 January 1942 as ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' in the 5./[[NJG 2]]<ref>Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 281.</ref>
*[[German Cross]] in Gold on 25 January 1942 as ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' in the 5./[[NJG 2]]<ref>Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 281.</ref>
*[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross| Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
*[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross| Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
** Knight's Cross on 16 April 1942 as ''Oberleutnant'' and ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' of the 5./NJG 2<ref name="Scherzer p510">Scherzer 2007, p. 510.</ref><ref>Fellgiebel 2000, p. 293.</ref>
** Knight's Cross on 16 April 1942 as ''Oberleutnant'' and ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' of the 5./NJG 2<ref name="Scherzer p510">Scherzer 2007, p. 510.</ref>
** 263rd Oak Leaves on 2 August 1943 as ''[[Hauptmann]]'' and ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' of the III./NJG 1<ref name="Scherzer p510"/><ref>Fellgiebel 2000, p. 70.</ref>
** 263rd Oak Leaves on 2 August 1943 as ''[[Hauptmann]]'' and ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' of the III./NJG 1<ref name="Scherzer p510"/>
* Mentioned four times in the [[Wehrmachtbericht]]
* Mentioned four times in the [[Wehrmachtbericht]]

===''Wehrmachtbericht'' references===
{|class="wikitable"
! Date
! Original German ''Wehrmachtbericht'' wording
! Direct English translation
|-
| Thursday, 19&nbsp;June&nbsp;1941 || {{Lang|de|''Bei der Abwehr feindlicher Luftangriffe auf das Reichsgebiet zeichneten sich folgende Besatzungen von Nachtjagdflugzeugen in hohem Maße aus: Erstens Oberfeldwebel Gildner, Unteroffizier Poppelmeyer und Unteroffizier Schlein, zweitens Oberleutnant Prinz zu Lippe, Unteroffizier Renette und drittens Oberleutnant Semrau, Unteroffizier Peter und Unteroffizier Behrens.''}}<ref>''Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1'', p. 581.</ref> || The following crews of night fighter aircraft highly distinguished themselves in defense of the Reich: First ''Oberfeldwebel'' [[Paul Gildner|Gildner]], ''Unteroffizier'' Poppelmeyer and ''Unteroffizier'' Schlein, second ''Oberleutnant'' Prinz zu Lippe, ''Unteroffizier'' Renette and third ''Oberleutnant'' [[Paul Semrau|Semrau]], Unteroffizier Peter und Unteroffizier Behrens.
|-
| Thursday, 28&nbsp;January&nbsp;1942 || {{Lang|de|''Bei der Abwehr eines Angriffs britischer Bomber auf das Reichsgebiet in der Nacht vom 27. Januar erzielte eine Nachjagdstaffel unter Führung von Hauptmann Lent und Oberleutnant Prinz zu Lippe-Weißenfeld ihren 100. Abschuß.''}}<ref>''Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2'', p. 21.</ref> || A night fighter squadron under the leadership of ''Hauptmann'' [[Helmut Lent|Lent]] and ''Oberleutnant'' Prince zu Lippe-Weißenfeld scored their 100th aerial victory in defense of the Reich on the night of 27 January.
|-
| Friday, 27&nbsp;March&nbsp;1942 || {{Lang|de|''Oberfeldwebel Gildner errang seinen 26. bis 28. und Oberleutnant zu Lippe-Weißenfeld seinen 18. bis 21. Nachtjagdsieg.''}}<ref>''Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2'', p. 68.</ref> || ''Oberfeldwebel'' Gildner achieved his 26th to 28th and ''Oberleutnant'' zu Lippe-Weißenfeld his 18th to 21st nocturnal aerial victory.
|-
| Sunday, 21&nbsp;June&nbsp;1942 || {{Lang|de|''Oberleutnant zur Lippe Lippe-Weißenfeld errang in der letzten Nacht drei Luftsiege, Hauptmann Lent erzielte seinen 35. Nachtjagdabschuß.''}}<ref>''Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2'', p. 170.</ref> || ''Oberleutnant'' zur Lippe Lippe-Weißenfeld achieved three aerial victories last night, ''Hauptmann'' Lent achieved his 35th nocturnal aerial victory.
|}


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 79: Line 57:
;Bibliography
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book
|last=Fellgiebel
|first=Walther-Peer
|authorlink=Walther-Peer Fellgiebel
|year=2000
|origyear=1986
|title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile
|trans_title=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
|language=German
|location=Friedberg, Germany
|publisher=Podzun-Pallas
|isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6
}}
* {{Cite book
|last=Hinchliffe
|first=Peter
|title=Luftkrieg bei Nacht 1939–1945
|trans_title=Air War at Night 1939–1945
|language=German
|location=Stuttgart, Germany
|publisher=Motorbuch Verlag
|year=1998
|isbn=978-3-613-01861-7
}}
* Knott, Claire Rose (2008). ''Princes of Darkness&nbsp;– The lives of Luftwaffe night fighter aces Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld''. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903223-95-6.
* Knott, Claire Rose (2008). ''Princes of Darkness&nbsp;– The lives of Luftwaffe night fighter aces Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld''. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903223-95-6.
* {{Cite book
* {{Cite book
Line 127: Line 81:
|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall
|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall
|isbn=978-3-931533-45-8
|isbn=978-3-931533-45-8
}}
* {{Cite book
|last=Schaulen
|first=Fritjof
|year=2004
|title=Eichenlaubträger 1940–1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe II Ihlefeld – Primozic
|trans_title=Oak Leaves Bearers 1940–1945 Contemporary History in Color II Ihlefeld – Primozic
|language=German
|location=Selent, Germany
|publisher=Pour le Mérite
|isbn=978-3-932381-21-8
}}
}}
* {{Cite book
* {{Cite book
Line 170: Line 113:
|publisher=Biblio-Verlag
|publisher=Biblio-Verlag
|isbn=978-3-7648-2300-9
|isbn=978-3-7648-2300-9
}}
* {{Cite book
|year=1985
|title=Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941
|trans_title=The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941
|language=German
|location=München, Germany
|publisher=Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
|isbn=978-3-423-05944-2
}}
* {{Cite book
|year=1985
|title=Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943
|trans_title=The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943
|language=German
|location=München, Germany
|publisher=Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
|isbn=978-3-423-05944-2
}}
}}
* [[Gerhard Frey (politician)|Frey, Gerhard]]; [[Hajo Herrmann|Herrmann, Hajo]]: ''Helden der Wehrmacht II – Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten'' (in German). München, Germany: FZ-Verlag GmbH, 2003. ISBN 3-924309-62-0.
* [[Gerhard Frey (politician)|Frey, Gerhard]]; [[Hajo Herrmann|Herrmann, Hajo]]: ''Helden der Wehrmacht II – Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten'' (in German). München, Germany: FZ-Verlag GmbH, 2003. ISBN 3-924309-62-0.
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web|work=Lexikon der Wehrmacht |title=Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld |url=http://www.wehrmachtslexikon.de/Personenregister/L/LippeWeissenfeldEPv.htm |language=German |accessdate=27 October 2014}}
* {{Cite web|work=World War 2 Awards.com |title=Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld |url=http://en.ww2awards.com/person/24580 |accessdate=27 October 2014}}


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Revision as of 04:53, 9 June 2016

Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld
Prince Zur Lippe-Weißenfeld is casually sitting and smiling. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, German Cross in Gold and Pilots Badge can be seen on his uniform.
Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld
Nickname(s)Egi
Born(1918-07-14)14 July 1918
Salzburg, Austria
Died12 March 1944(1944-03-12) (aged 25)
St. Hubert, Belgium
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery, Netherlands
Allegiance Federal State of Austria
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1936–44
RankMajor
UnitZG 76, NJG 1, NJG 2
Commands held5./NJG 2, I./NJG 3, III./NJG 1, NJG 5
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld (14 July 1918 – 12 March 1944) was a Luftwaffe night fighter flying ace of royal descent during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] Lippe-Weißenfeld was credited with 51 aerial victories, all of them claimed in nocturnal combat missions.

Lippe-Weißenfeld was born on 14 July 1918 in Salzburg, Austria and joined the infantry of the Austrian Bundesheer in 1936. He transferred to the emerging Luftwaffe, initially serving as a reconnaissance pilot in the Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76), before he transferred to the night fighter force. He claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 16 to 17 November 1940. By the end of March, he had accumulated 21 aerial victories for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 April 1942. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 2 August 1943, for 45 aerial victories. He was promoted to Major and tasked with leading Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5) in January 1944, before he and his crew were killed in a flight accident on 12 March 1944.

Military service

Lippe-Weißenfeld joined the Austrian Bundesheer in 1936 at the age of 18, initially serving in the infantry. In the aftermaths of the 1938 Anschluss, the incorporation of Austria into Greater Germany by Nazi Germany, he transferred to the German Luftwaffe and was promoted to Leutnant in 1939. He had earned his Luftwaffe Pilots Badge on 5 October 1938 and underwent further training at Fürstenfeldbruck, Schleißheim and Vienna-Aspern.[2] His Luftwaffe career started with the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of the Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76) before he was transferred to the night fighter wing Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1) on 4 August 1940. The unit was based at Gütersloh where he familiarised himself with the methods of the night fighters.[3]

Nightly briefing at the group headquarter

By the summer of 1940, the first night fighters were transferred to Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was one of the pilots included in this small detachment. As early as 20 October 1940, he had taken over command of an independent night fighter commando at Schiphol and later at Bergen. On his first encounter with the Royal Air Force (RAF) bomber, in the night of 16 to 17 November 1940, he claimed a Vickers Wellington bomber from No. 115 Squadron RAF shot down at 0205 hours.[4] His second victory was claimed on the night of 15 January 1941, when he shot down an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley N1521 of the Linton-on-Ouse based No. 58 Squadron RAF over the northern Netherlands, near the Dutch coast in the Zwanenwater at a nature reserve at Callantsoog.[5] He was wounded in action on 13 March 1941, while flying Bf 110 D-2 (W.Nr. 3376 – factory number) of the 4./NJG1 with his radio operator Josef Renette when he made an emergency landing at Bergen after their aircraft was hit by the defence fire, wounding them both.[6] Shortly after midnight on 10 April 1941, Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld claimed a No. 12 Squadron RAF Wellington over the IJsselmeer, raising NJG 1's victory score to 100. This achievement was celebrated at the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam with General Josef Kammhuber, Wolfgang Falck, Werner Streib, Helmut Lent and others attending.[7] On 30 June 1941 while flying Bf 110 C-4 (W.Nr. 3273) on a practice intercept mission over Noord Holland, he collided with Bf 110 C-7 (W.Nr. 2075) piloted by Leutnant Rudolf Schoenert of the 4./NJG 1 and crashed near Bergen aan Zee.[8] On 19 June 1941 he earned his first of four references in the daily Wehrmachtbericht, a daily radio report made by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (High Command of the Armed Forces) regarding the military situation on all fronts. By July 1941 his number of aerial victory claims stood at 10. Promoted to Oberleutnant he became Staffelkapitän of the 5th Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2) on 15 November 1941. By the end of 1941 he had claimed a total of 15 aerial victories.[3]

He was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 25 January 1942 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 April 1942 after he had shot down 4 RAF bombers in the night of 26 to 27 March 1942, his score standing at 21 aerial victories. This feat earned him his third reference in the Wehrmachtbericht on 27 March 1942. In July 1942 he was one of the leading German night fighter aces with 37 aerial victories.[9]

Promoted to Hauptmann, Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was made Gruppenkommandeur of the I. Gruppe (1st group) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 on 1 October 1942, where he claimed 3 further aerial victories. He was transferred again, taking command of the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of NJG 1 on 31 May 1943. One month later he claimed his 45th aerial victory for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 2 August 1943.[9]

After a one-month hospital stay, Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was promoted to Major and made Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5) on 20 February 1944. He and his crew, Oberfeldwebel Josef Renette and Unteroffizier Kurt Röber, were killed in a flying accident on 12 March 1944 on a routine flight from Parchim to Athies-sous-Laon. Above Belgium, they seem to have encountered a bad weather zone with low clouds and a dense snowstorm and it was assumed that the aircraft hit the high Ardennes ground after being forced to fly lower because of ice forming on the wings.[10] The exact circumstances of this flight may never be known, the Bf 110 G-4 C9+CD (Werknummer 720 010—factory number) crashed into the Ardennes mountains near St. Hubert where the completely burned-out wreck was found the following day.[11] The funeral service was held in the city church of Linz on 15 March 1944.[12] Prinz Egmont zur Lippe-Weißenfeld and Prinz Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein are buried side by side at Ysselsteyn in the Netherlands.[13]

Awards

Notes

References

Citations
  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ Knott 2008, pp. 134, 149.
  3. ^ a b Helden der Wehrmacht II – Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten 2003, p. 136.
  4. ^ Knott 2008, p. 149.
  5. ^ Knott 2008, pp. 149, 152.
  6. ^ Knott 2008, p. 163.
  7. ^ Knott 2008, p. 152.
  8. ^ Knott 2008, pp. 155, 163.
  9. ^ a b Helden der Wehrmacht II – Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten 2003, p. 137.
  10. ^ Knott 2008, p. 195.
  11. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 57.
  12. ^ Knott 2008, p. 201.
  13. ^ Knott 2008, p. 206.
  14. ^ a b Knott 2008, p. 200
  15. ^ a b Thomas 1998, p. 31.
  16. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 281.
  17. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 510.
Bibliography
  • Knott, Claire Rose (2008). Princes of Darkness – The lives of Luftwaffe night fighter aces Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903223-95-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Scutts, Jerry (1998). German Night Fighter Aces of World War 2. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-696-5.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Frey, Gerhard; Herrmann, Hajo: Helden der Wehrmacht II – Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten (in German). München, Germany: FZ-Verlag GmbH, 2003. ISBN 3-924309-62-0.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
20 February 1944 – 12 March 1944 		Succeeded by
Oberstleutnant Walter Borchers

Template:KCwithOL Template:Knight's Cross recipients of NJG 2

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