Heinrich-Wilhelm Ahnert
Encyclopedia
Heinrich-Wilhelm Ahnert (12 April 1915 – 23 August 1942) was a German Luftwaffe
ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II. Ahnert claimed 57 aerial victories, 4 over the Western Front and 53 over the Eastern Front
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
and reconnaissance pilot, he flew missions during the Invasion of Poland and during the Battle of France. In 1941 he was retrained as a fighter pilot and joined 3 Staffel, JG 52
in Holland, claiming 4 victories over the Western Front. Oberfeldwebel Ahnert claimed a Hurricane over Ostende on 15 February 1941, two Bristol Blenheim
's shot down on 9 June 1941 and 26 August, and a Spitfire was claimed on 12 September 1941. In October 1941 he was transferred to the Eastern Front
and claimed another 53 victories. On 9 July 1942 Ofw. Ahnert claimed his 50th enemy aircraft destroyed.
On 23 August 1942 Ahnert engaged Pe-2 twin-engine bombers in combat over Koptewo. His Bf 109 G-2 “Yellow 9” was hit by return fire from the bomber gunners and he crashed to his death. For his actions he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during World War II. Ahnert claimed 57 aerial victories, 4 over the Western Front and 53 over the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Heinrich-Wilhelm Ahnert was originally an intelligence officerIntelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
and reconnaissance pilot, he flew missions during the Invasion of Poland and during the Battle of France. In 1941 he was retrained as a fighter pilot and joined 3 Staffel, JG 52
Jagdgeschwader 52
Jagdgeschwader 52 of the Luftwaffe, was the most successful fighter-wing of all time, with a claimed total of more than 10,000 victories over enemy aircraft during World War II. It was the unit of the top three scoring Fighter aces of all time, Erich Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn and Günther Rall...
in Holland, claiming 4 victories over the Western Front. Oberfeldwebel Ahnert claimed a Hurricane over Ostende on 15 February 1941, two Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
's shot down on 9 June 1941 and 26 August, and a Spitfire was claimed on 12 September 1941. In October 1941 he was transferred to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
and claimed another 53 victories. On 9 July 1942 Ofw. Ahnert claimed his 50th enemy aircraft destroyed.
On 23 August 1942 Ahnert engaged Pe-2 twin-engine bombers in combat over Koptewo. His Bf 109 G-2 “Yellow 9” was hit by return fire from the bomber gunners and he crashed to his death. For his actions he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(23 February 1942) - Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
in Gold - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 27 July 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./JG 52 - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 23 August 1942 (posthumous) as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52