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JG7

Name : JG7 Country : Germany

Nowotny was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II and the first operational jet fighter wing in the world. It was created late in 1944 and served until the end of the war in May 1945, and it operated the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter exclusively. JG 7 was formed under the command of Oberst Johannes Steinhoff, with Kommando Nowotny (the initial Me 262 test wing ) renumbered III./JG 7. Under the command of Major Erich Hohagen III./JG 7 was the only element of JG 7 ready to operate against the Allies. Throughout its existence JG 7 suffered from an irregular supply of new aircraft, fuel and spares. With such a radically new aircraft, training accidents were also common, with 10 Me 262s being lost in six weeks. The technical troubles and material shortages meant initial tentative sorties were only in flight strength, usually no more than 4 or 6 aircraft. Flying from Brandenburg-Briest, Oranienburg and Parchim, the Geschwader flew intermittently against the huge USAAF bomber streams. By the end of February 1945 JG 7 had claimed around 45 four-engine bombers and 15 fighters, but at this stage of war this success rate had no affect whatsoever on the Allied air offensive. During March JG 7 finally began to deliver larger scale attacks against the heavy bomber streams. 3 March saw 29 sorties for 8 kills claimed (one jet was lost). On 18 March III./JG 7 finally managed their biggest attack numerically thus far, some 37 Me 262s engaging a force of 1,200 American bombers and 600 fighters. This action also marked the first use of the new R4M rockets. 12 bombers and 1 fighter were claimed for the loss of 3 Me 262s. The total numbers of aircraft shot down by JG 7 is difficult to quantify due to the loss of Luftwaffe records, but at least 136 aircraft were claimed, and research indicates as many as 420 Allied aircraft may have been claimed shot down.

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
Alois Biermeier	Feldwebel	unknown	unknown	19th February 1945	Me262	0111539
E Buttner	Oberfeldwebel	unknown	20th March 1945		Me262	0501196	Killed in Action
Heinrich Ehrler	Major	unknown	4th April 1945	21st March 1945			Killed in Action
Fritz Gehlker	Oberfahnrich	unknown	20th March 1945		Me262	0110598	Killed in Action
Geisthovel	Feldwebel	unknown	unknown	30th March 1945	Me262
Norbert Hannig		1945	1945		Me262
Heinrich Jansen	Leutnant	unknown	unknown	30th March 1945	Me262
Hans Mehn	Unteroffizier	unknown	20th March 1945		Me262	0111924	Killed in Action
Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert		March 1945	unknown		Me262
Erich Rudorffer	Major	February 1945	unknown	30th March 1945	Me262
Heinz Russel	Oberfahnrich	unknown	9th March 1945		Me262		Killed in Action
Wilhelm Schneller	Unteroffizier	unknown	15th December 1944		Me262		Killed in Action
Karl Schnorrer	Leutnant	unknown	unknown	30th March 1945	Me262
Gunther Schrey	Oberfahnrich	unknown	18th March 1945	22nd February 1945	Me262	0500224	Killed in Action
Erich Schulte	Leutnant	unknown	30th March 1945		Me262	0111593	Killed in Action
Fritz Tegtmeier		March 1945	unknown		Me262
Hans Waldmann	Oberleutnant	December 1944	18th March 1945		Me262	0170097	Killed in Action
Hans-Dieter Weihs	Leutnant	unknown	unknown	18th March 1945 27th March 1945	Me262
Hans Werner	Unteroffizier	unknown	15th February 1945		Me262	0130171	Killed in Action
Wilhlem Wilkenloh	Feldwebel	unknown	23rd December 1944		Me262		Killed in Action

Pilots and Aircrew for : JG7
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Ambs, Alfred Click the name above to see a profile of Ambs, Alfred    Died : 30 / 3 / 2010	Ambs, Alfred Born in Gladbeck on the 23rd January 1923, Alfred Ambs joined the Luftwaffe on the 10th July 1942. Initiqally attached to a training unit, he flew Ju88s, Me110s, Me109 and Fw190 aircraft. He was in the following units : Flg.Rgt. 53, Luftkriegsschule 3, Flugzeugführerschule C14 in Prague. Flugzeugführerschule B33 (Prague-Rusin), and Zerstörergeschwader 101. As the war situation worsened, Ambs was transferred to train on the new Messerschmitt 262 fighter with JG7 in Lechfeld. Flying with this unit, Ambs shot down 6 Allied aircraft to finish the war an Me 262 jet Ace. He flew his last mission on 23rd March 1945, and had flown a total of nearly 75 missions on the Me262. Sadly, Alfred Ambs passed away on 30th March 2010.
Arnold, Heinz Click the name above to see a profile of Arnold, Heinz	Arnold, Heinz
Biermeier, Alois Click the name above to see a profile of Biermeier, Alois	Biermeier, Alois Injured on 19th February 1945 when his Me262A-1 0111539 of JG7 suffered mechanical failure and crash landed near Stubben.
Buchner, Hermann Click the name above to see a profile of Buchner, Hermann    Died : 1 / 12 / 2005	Buchner, Hermann Hermann Buchner was born in Salzburg, Austria, 30th October 1919. Hermann Buchner's first combat role was ground attack. After 215 combat missions he was badly injured when his Me109 exploded at 22,000ft. Returning to action in 1943, he flew a further 200 missions before again being wounded. Back in action a third time, he fought in the Crimea and Romania. After 500 ground attack missions he transferred to join 'Nowotny', the Me262 jet trials unit, and then 9./JG7. He was the first jet pilot in history to score a victory. Hermann Buchner had 58 air victories plus 48 tanks, numerous trucks and anti-aircraft units. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in July 1944. Hermann Buchner died in Lorsching, 1st December 2005, aged 86.
Buttner, E Click the name above to see a profile of Buttner, E    Died : 20 / 3 / 1945	Buttner, E Killed on 20th March 1945 when his Me262A-1 0501196 of JG7 was shot down by American aircraft and crashed near Holtenau airfield.
Eder, Georg-Peter Click the name above to see a profile of Eder, Georg-Peter    Died : 11 / 3 / 1986	Eder, Georg-Peter
Ehrler, Heinrich Click the name above to see a profile of Ehrler, Heinrich    Died : 4 / 4 / 1945	Ehrler, Heinrich Heinrich Ehrler started his career in the Luftwaffe in early 1940, when he started his Pilot training after transferring from a Flak-artillery unit. Ehrler joined 4./Jagdgeschwader 77 on his first operational posting and achieved his first victory in May 1940. JG 77 was based in Norway and he spent most of the war on the Northfront. JG 77 was restructured as JG 5 Eismeer in January 1942. JG 5 operated from bases in northern Norway and Finland, and they mostly engaged Russian aircraft, but were also given the task of intercepting British raids on Norway. Ehrler did not achieve his second victory until 19 February 1942. He was promoted to Leutnant and made Staffelkapitän(Squadron Leader) in 6./Jagdgeschwader 5 after his 11th victory on 20 July. On 4 September, he was awarded the Knights Cross for 64 aerial victories. By 1 June 1943 he was promoted to Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur for II./JG 5. During this period he was also awarded the Oak Leaves to his Ritterkreuz. On 25 May 1944 he achieved nine victories in one day, bringing his tally up to 155. On 1 August he was appointed to Geschwaderkommodore of JG 5 and at the same time was promoted to Major.
Gehlker, Fritz Click the name above to see a profile of Gehlker, Fritz    Died : 20 / 3 / 1945	Gehlker, Fritz Killed on 20th March 1945 when his Me262A-1 0110598 of JG7 was shot down by an American Flying Fortress of 303rd Bomb Group and crashed north east of Hamburg.
Geisthovel, Click the name above to see a profile of Geisthovel,	Geisthovel, On 30th March 1945 his Me262A-1 of JG7 was shot down by an American P-51 Mustang of 339th Fighter Group and force landed near Hamburg. He was uninjured.
Giefing, Ernest Click the name above to see a profile of Giefing, Ernest	Giefing, Ernest Ernest Giefing was born on February 7th, 1924 in Stockerau, Austria. After graduating from flight school he joined the training unit Jagdschule 107 in July, 1943 and later joined Jagdschule 107 as a flying instructor. Five months later, Giefing was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen (JG2) followed by a posting to JG7 in December 1944. Ernest Giefing held the rank of Flight Sergeant by the end of the war, having flown approximately 75 combat missions including 12 in Me262 jets, and gaining four confirmed aerial victories, two in the Me262 and two flying the Me109. Ernest Giefing was shot down four times, the fourth time on March 24th, 1945 - the day of his last combat mission.
Glunz, Adolf Click the name above to see a profile of Glunz, Adolf    Died : 1 / 8 / 2002	Glunz, Adolf Adolf Glunz served with 4/JG-52 on both the Channel Coast and then in Russia. Returning to the English Channel with II./JG-25 he became one of the most successful fighter pilots on the Western Front. Adolf Glunz saw combat continuously right up to the war end and, remarkably, was never shot down or wounded in over 574 missions, many whilst flying the Fw190. Awarded the Knight's Cross in 1943, he acheived a personal score of 71 victories. He died 1st August 2002.
Grunberg, Hans Click the name above to see a profile of Grunberg, Hans    Died : 16 / 1 / 1998	Grunberg, Hans
Hannig, Norbert Click the name above to see a profile of Hannig, Norbert    Died : 21 / 2 / 2014	Hannig, Norbert Norbert Hannig began operations with JG54 on the Eastern Front near Leningrad in early 1943, flying first the Messerschmitt Bf109G, later converting to the Fw190. He became a Staffelkapitan with JG54, notching up an impressive 42 victories. Towards the end of the war, in early 1945, he converted to fly the new jet fighter, the Me262, and flew it in combat with III./JG7 from their airfield base at Brandenberg-Briest. Norbert Hannig died on 21st February 2014.
Heckmann, Gunther Click the name above to see a profile of Heckmann, Gunther	Heckmann, Gunther
Heim, Fritz Click the name above to see a profile of Heim, Fritz	Heim, Fritz
Jansen, Heinrich Click the name above to see a profile of Jansen, Heinrich    Died : 30 / 3 / 1945	Jansen, Heinrich On 30th March 1945 his Me262A-1 of JG7 was shot down by American aircraft and crashed near Erfde. He was ok.
Lennartz, Helmut Click the name above to see a profile of Lennartz, Helmut	Lennartz, Helmut
Leykauf, Erwin Click the name above to see a profile of Leykauf, Erwin	Leykauf, Erwin Born in January 1918, Erwin Leykauf learned to fly at glider school and Luftkriegschule, before being called up to fly at the beginning of the war. He flew with JG21 at the beginning of the Battle of Britain, which soon became JG54 where he scored his first 7 victories. Transferring to the Balkans and later the Eastern Front he was forced into an emergency landing behind enemy lines during Operation Barbarossa, eventually making his way back to rejoin his unit. On the night of 22nd - 23rd June 1942, he claimed 6 victories in less than one hour. In August 1943, Leykauf began converting with JG54 to the Fw190 fighter. At the end of the war he was with JG7, flying the Me262, although he did not get a chance to fly any missions on the jet fighter. Erwin was awarded the Iron Cross I and II and his victories had climbed to 33.
Lubking, August Click the name above to see a profile of Lubking, August	Lubking, August
Mehn, Hans Click the name above to see a profile of Mehn, Hans    Died : 20 / 3 / 1945	Mehn, Hans Killed on 20th March 1945 when his Me262A-1 0111924 White 7 of JG7 was shot down by an American P-51 Mustang of 33rd Fighter Group and crashed near Kaltenkirchen.
Muller, Fritz Click the name above to see a profile of Muller, Fritz	Muller, Fritz
Muller, Siegfried Click the name above to see a profile of Muller, Siegfried	Muller, Siegfried Born in 1924, Siegfried Muller first flew with JG1 Molders in the south of France. In 1943 he took part in the air battles over Salerno and Monte Cassino. He joined IV./JG3 Udet in June 1944, where he was promoted to Staffelkapitan of 16 Staffel /IV Sturm Gruppe flying heavily armoured Fw190s. With this Gruppe he took part in the Ardennes Offensive and on 1st January 1945, Operation Bodenplatte. At the end of the war he was attached to JG7 for training on the Me262 jet fighter. Awarded the Iron Cross 1 and 2, he scored 17 victories, including 9 four-engined bombers.
Petermann, Viktor Click the name above to see a profile of Petermann, Viktor    Died : 19 / 5 / 2001	Petermann, Viktor Joining III./JG-52, Viktor Petermann flew in Russia as an Oberfeldwebel and became skilled in low-level attacks, sinking a gun boat and 50 troop ferries. On one of these missions, after being hit by ground fire, his left arm was amputated and he was hospitalized for a long period. After his recovery he was sent back into combat in 1945 with II./JG-52, with an artificial arm, and scored another 4 victories! He finished the war with JG-7, and a total of 64 victories. Viktor Petermann was awarded the Knights Cross.
Rademacher, Rudolf Click the name above to see a profile of Rademacher, Rudolf    Died : 13 / 6 / 1953	Rademacher, Rudolf Rudolf “Rudiâ€� Rademacher was born on 19 July 1913 at Lüneburg. Unteroffizier Rademacher served with 3./JG 54 on the Eastern front from 1 December 1941. He achieved his first victory on 9 January 1942 on his fifth combat mission. He was awarded the Ehrenpokal on 19 October 1942. By the end of 1942 he had claimed 22 victories. In March 1943, he was transferred to 1./JG 54, the famous “Nowotny Schwarmâ€� led by Walter Nowotny (258 victories, RK-Br, killed in action 8 November 1944) and also including Anton Döbele (94 victories, RK, killed in action 11 November 1943) and Karl “Quaxâ€� Schnörrer (46 victories, RK). Together the pilots of the Schwarm were to total over 500 victories between them. He claimed seven enemy aircraft shot down in one day on 5 July 1943 to record his victories 39 through 45. Rademacher was promoted Oberfeldwebel whilst serving with 1./JG 54. On 30 April 1943 he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz. On 30 August 1944 he was transferred to 1./Jagdgruppe Nord, redesignated Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 1 on 4 November 1944, based at Sagan, to undertake instructing duties. Despite his training duties Rademacher was able to engage in aerial combat and claimed five enemy aircraft shot down, including four four-engined bombers and P-47, during his stay with the unit. On 18 September 1944, during an attack on a formation of USAAF bombers, he was badly wounded when he was shot down in Fw 190 A-8 “White 13â€�. On 30 September 1944, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross for 81 victories. In January 1945, Leutnant Rademacher transferred to 11./JG 7 where he undertook conversion training on to the Me 262 jet fighter. The training consisted of six flights totalling 150 minutes before he was declared operational. On 1 February 1945, he gained his first victory flying the jet, a RAF Spitfire over Braunschweig. In February 1945, he scored at least seven victories according to some sources. Rademacher was to be credited with at least 16 victories, including several Herausschüsse, flying the Me 262, although sources do differ over his final tally crediting him with scores as low as eight and as high as 24. “Rudiâ€� Rademacher survived the war only to be killed in a glider crash at Lüneburg on 13 June 1953. Rudolf Rademacher’s final score is a matter of some conjecture. Sources claim his total to be 97, 102 and 126 in more than 500 missions. Some claim he had an additional 23 unconfirmed victories. It is thought he gained 76 victories over the Eastern front with JG 54, including 21 Il-2 Stormoviks and 7 Pe-2, and a further five whilst with JGr. Nord. To this can be added his jet victories, at least 16, including 11 four-engine bombers.
Reinert, Ernst-Wilhelm Click the name above to see a profile of Reinert, Ernst-Wilhelm    Died : 5 / 9 / 2007	Reinert, Ernst-Wilhelm Ernst Wilhelm Reinert flew with JG77, before transferring to the Eastern Front in 1941. He was posted to Tunisia in January 1943 where he became the most successful Luftwaffe Ace in North Africa during that period. On January 2nd 1945 he was given the leadership of IV./JG27. In March he transferred to III./JG7 flying the Me262. In his 715 missions Reinert scored 174 aerial victories. he was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Born 2nd February 1919 in Lindenthal, died 5th September 2007.
Rudorffer, Erich Click the name above to see a profile of Rudorffer, Erich    Died : 8 / 4 / 2016	Rudorffer, Erich Erich Rudorffer joined I./JG2 'Richthofen' in November 1939, and was soon flying combat patrols. He took part in the Battle of France, and the Battle of Britain, becoming Adjutant of II./JG2 in June 1941. In December 1942 he was transferred to North Africa. In July 1943 he was posted to command II./JG54 in Russia. In February 1945 he took command of I./JG7 flying the Me262. Erich Rudorffer was the master of multiple scoring - achieving more multiple victories than any other pilot. This included 8 RAF aircraft in 32 minutes in December 1943, 7 in 20 minutes a few days later. In Russia he shot down 5 aircraft in only 4 minutes. He ended the war with 222 victories from over 1000 missions. He was awarded the Knight's Cross, with Oak Leaves and Swords. He died on 8th April 2016.
Russel, Heinz Click the name above to see a profile of Russel, Heinz    Died : 9 / 3 / 1945	Russel, Heinz Killed on 9th March 1945 when his Me109A-1 of JG7 crashed into the sea west of Langeland.
Schall, Franz Click the name above to see a profile of Schall, Franz    Died : 10 / 4 / 1945	Schall, Franz Franz Schall was born on 1 June 1918 at Graz in Steiermark, Austria. He was a flak gunner early in the war but, on 1 September 1941, he began flying training. On completion of his training in February 1943, Schall was transferred to JG 52 on the Eastern Front. Leutnant Schall was assigned to 3./JG 52. He gained his first victory on 6 May 1943, when he shot down a Russian LaGG-5 fighter. On 1 August 1943, Schall recorded his 10th victory when he shot down a Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft. He recorded another two Il-2s shot down on 24 October to raise his victory total to 20. Schall’s victory total had reached 26 by the end of 1943. On 16 January 1944, Schall shot down three Russian fighters for his 30th through 32nd victories. He claimed his 40th victim, a Russian P-39 fighter, shot down on 19 April. Schall recorded 11 victories in May, including three P-39s shot down on 2 May (45-47), his 50th victory on 17 May 1944, another Il-2, and three enemy aircraft shot down on 30 May (51-53). He shot down an Il-2 and a P-39 on 4 June to raise his victory total to 60. In July, Schall recorded a further 10 victories, including three enemy aircraft on 14 July (65-67) and four on 16 July (70-73). Schall was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 52 on 11 August 1944. This would herald his most successful period of the war. In August he recorded 38 victories, including three enemy aircraft shot down on 12 August (74-76), three on 24 August (79-81), 11, including six Il-2s, on 26 August (83-93), three further Il-2s on 28 August (94-96) and 13, including 11 Il-2s, on 31 August (97-109). However, Schall was shot down by flak and required to make forced-landings on four occasions, including once behind Russian lines from which he successfully negotiated his way back to his unit. On 25 September 1944, Oberleutnant Schall was transferred to Eprobungskommando Nowotny, commanded by Major Walter Nowotny (258 victories, RK-Br) operating the new Me 262 jet fighter. He was assigned command of 2. Staffel. In the morning of 8 November 1944, he shot down three USAAF P-51 fighters (120-122) escorting a USAAF bomber raid but then suffered flameouts of both engines. While attempting to glide back to his base at Hesepe, he was intercepted by a P-51, piloted by Lt James Kenney of the 357th FG, which badly damaged Schall’s Me 262 A-1a (W.Nr. 110 404) “White 7â€�. Schall baled out only to see his aircraft explode. Following Major Walter Nowotny’s death on 8 November 1944, the surviving pilots and personnel from Eprobungskommando Nowotny were incorporated into JG 7. Hauptmann Schall led 10./JG 7, based at Oranienburg, and continued scoring with the Me 262 but many of his victories were never confirmed by disintegrating official sources. On 4 April 1945, Schall shot down a P-51 (131) but was then shot down himself. He baled out surviving unharmed. On 10 April 1945, Schall shot down a P-51, for his 133rd, and last, victory, but then attempted an emergency landing at Parchim. His aircraft rolled into a bomb crater and exploded, killing him instantly. Franz Schall was credited with 133 victories in 530 missions. He recorded 116 victories over the Eastern front, including 61 Stormoviks. Of his 17 victories recorded over the Western front, all were gained flying the Me 262 jet fighter and include six four-engine bombers and 10 P-51 fighters.
Schneller, Wilhelm Click the name above to see a profile of Schneller, Wilhelm    Died : 15 / 12 / 1944	Schneller, Wilhelm Killed on 15th December 1944 when his Me262A-1 of JG7 crashed near Schwabstedt.
Schnorrer, Karl Click the name above to see a profile of Schnorrer, Karl	Schnorrer, Karl Injured on 30th March 1945 when his Me262A-1 of JG7 was shot down by an American P-51 Mustang and crashed near Hamburg.
Schrey, Gunther Click the name above to see a profile of Schrey, Gunther    Died : 18 / 3 / 1945	Schrey, Gunther On 22nd February 1945, his Me262A-1 of JG7 was damaged in combat with an American aircraft and force landed at Kaltenkirchen airfield. Killed on 18th March 1945 when his Me262A-1 0500224 Yellow 2 of JG7 was shot down by American aircraft and crashed near Eeegenbuttel.
Schuck, Walter Click the name above to see a profile of Schuck, Walter    Died : 27 / 3 / 2015	Schuck, Walter Initially with JG3, Walter Schuck was posted north to 7./JG5 in April 1942. On 15 June 1944 he chalked up his 100th victory during a day when he shot down 6 aircraft. Two days later he had his most successful day, achieving 12 victories in twenty-four hours, a feat never surpassed in JG5. On 1 August, he assumed command of 10./JG5. Walter Schuck transferred to fly the Me262 as Staffelkapitan of 3./JG7, and achieved 8 further victories flying the new jet. His final tally was 206 air victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.
Schulte, Erich Click the name above to see a profile of Schulte, Erich    Died : 30 / 3 / 1945	Schulte, Erich Killed on 30th March 1945 when his Me262A-1 0111593 of JG7 was shot down by an American P-51 Mustang of 339th Fighter Group and crashed near Hemdingen.
Sinner, Rudolf Click the name above to see a profile of Sinner, Rudolf	Sinner, Rudolf Scored 2 of his victories in the Me262 jet. Rudolf “Rudi� Sinner was born in 1915 in Austria. In 1936, he was serving in the Austrian Army in the horsedrawn artillery. During the invasion of Poland, he served with an anti-aircraft artillery unit before transferring to the Luftwaffe in 1940. Sinner began his aerial combat career with JG 3, based on the Western front, but was then transferred to JG 27 serving in North Africa. He was assigned to 2./JG 27. It was with JG 27 that Sinner gained his greatest successes. He claimed his first victory on 12 October 1941, when he shot down a RAF P-40 fighter near Sidi Omar. On 4 June 1942, Sinner was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 27. On 10 June, Oberleutnant Sinner was shot down near Bir Hacheim by the British Ace, Charles Overton (5.5 confirmed, 1 probable and 0.5 damaged victories), flying a Spitfire Vb fighter of 145 Squadron, RAF. Then, on 24 June, Sinner’s aircraft was hit in the engine during combat with RAF Hurricane fighters and he was forced to make a forced-landing. On 10 July, he shot down a Hurricane fighter with only one of his 7.92mm MG 17 machine-guns functioning. Sinner recorded his 10th victory on 13 July and his 20th on 24 July. On 31 August, Sinner shot down a Hurricane near Alam el Haifa. His victim was South African Ace, John “Harry� Gaynor (5.5 destroyed and 6 damaged victories) of 1 Sqn, SAAF, who crash-landed unhurt. He claimed his 30th victory on 3 September. In June 1943, Hauptmann Sinner was appointed Gruppenkommandeur IV./JG 27 then based at Kalamaki, Greece. However, his stay with the unit was destined to brief. On 30 July 1943, Sinner was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of IV./JG 54, based on the Russian front, taking over from Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer (224 victories, RK-S). Sinner led the Gruppe until 10 February 1944. He added three further victories to his victory total during his time with the unit. In March 1944, Hauptmann Sinner became Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 54 located on the Western front. On 6 March 1944, Sinner shot down a USAAF B-17 four-engine bomber for his 36th victory. However, his aircraft was hit by the bombers’ defensive fire and Sinner was badly wounded. He successfully baled out of his stricken Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 410 557) "2". By 12 June 1944, Sinner was again serving with JG 27, based on the Invasion front in France, in command of I. Gruppe. He was to lead the Gruppe until 1 August 1944. On 1 January 1945, Major Sinner was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 7 flying Me 262 jet fighters. At this time his victory total stood at 36, including 32 victories achieved over North Africa. Sinner was to add three confirmed victories to his tally flying the jet, including two USAAF B-24 four-engine bombers near Rathenow on 3 March. On 4 April, Sinner led seven other Me 262s off from Rechlin. Emerging from the clouds shortly after take-off, the flight was bounced by P-51 fighters of the 339th Fighter Group, USAAF. In the ensuing combat “Rudi� Sinner’s aircraft was hit. With his face and hands badly burned, he baled out at low level. His parachute deployed at the last moment, but did not completely fill, and he was hanging by just the left strap when he hit the ground heavily in a ploughed field and dragged into a barbed wire fence. He reported that the P-51s then attempted to strafe him, but he feigned death and, as the P-51 fighters departed, he made his way to the safety of a deep furrow. Sinner’s wounds were serious enough to keep him out of the rest of war. Rudolf Sinner was credited with 39 victories in 305 missions. 36 of his victories were achieved over the Western front, including three four-engine bombers and three flying the Me 262 jet fighter. Three victories were achieved over the Eastern front. He was shot down 12 times, baling out on three occasions, and was wounded five times.
Spate, Wolfgang Click the name above to see a profile of Spate, Wolfgang	Spate, Wolfgang
Tegtmeier, Fritz Click the name above to see a profile of Tegtmeier, Fritz    Died : 8 / 4 / 1999	Tegtmeier, Fritz Born in 1917 he joined 2/JG-54 in October 1940, but after being injured in a crash it wasn't until 1941 that he achieved his first victory. A brief time as a fighter Instructor in 1943 he returned to the Russian Front and his score soon started to mount, By May 1944 he had over 100 victories. August 1944 saw his appointment as Staffelkapitan of 3/JG-54. In March 1945 he transferred to JG-7 flying Me262 Jet. By the end of the war he had flown 700 combat missions and had 146 victories. He was awarded the Knights Cross. Fritz Tegtmeier died on 8th April 1999 aged 81.
Waldmann, Hans Click the name above to see a profile of Waldmann, Hans    Died : 18 / 3 / 1945	Waldmann, Hans Hans Dackel Waldmann was born 24 September 1922 in Braunschweig, killed in flying accident 18 March 1945 near Schwarzenbek, Holstein he was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Hans Waldmann voluntarily joined the Luftwaffe in 1940. On 21 August 1942 Unteroffizier Waldmann was assigned to the 6./JG 52 on the Eastern front. On 9 September 1942 Waldmann scored his first aerial victory, and thereafter managed to score rapidly. After 84 victories on 1 September 1943, Waldmann was promoted to Leutnant and assigned to ErgGr. Ost. Here he shot down a B-17 Flying Fortress. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after his 85th aerial victory. In late February 1944 he took command of 4./JG 52 as its Staffelkapitän. He was able to continue his success and claimed victories 98 to 125 by 31 May 1944. In June 1944 his entire staffel was reassigned to 8./JG 3, now fighting against the Allied invasion forces. In August he shot down 7 enemy planes, including one B-24 and five P-47 Thunderbolts. In December 1944 he converted to the Messerschmitt Me 262. He was then transferred to 3./JG 7, flying now the ’’Stormbird’’. On 22 February 1945 he shot down two P-51 Mustangs. Hans Waldmann flew 527 combat missions, being credited with 134 aerial victories, 10 on the Western front and 124 on the Eastern front. His tally on the Eastern front includes 5 bombers, 87 fighters and 32 Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft. On the Western front he claimed 8 fighters and 2 four-engine bombers. He also flew a number of ground attack missions, destroying 33 various vehicles and 8 heavy transports. Climbing in dense fog on 18 March 1945, he collided with his wingman, Leutnant Hans-Dieter Weihs, and crashed near Schwarzenbek south of Hamburg. He was killed in his Me262A-1 0170097 Yellow 3 of JG7. Waldmann was recommended for the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, but the recommendation was not finalized before the end of the war.
Wegmann, Gunther Click the name above to see a profile of Wegmann, Gunther	Wegmann, Gunther
Weihs, Hans-Dieter Click the name above to see a profile of Weihs, Hans-Dieter	Weihs, Hans-Dieter On 18th March 1945 his Me262A-1 of JG7 was destroyed after he collided with another Me262 in fog and crashed near Schwarzenbeck. He survived, but Knight's Cross winner Hans Waldmann in the other Me262 was killed. On 21st March 1945 his Me262A-1 of JG7 was damaged by an American B-17 and crash landed near Crimmitschau. On 27th March 1945 his Me262A-1 of JG7 was damaged by American aircraft and force landed at Kaltenkirchen. On both occasions he was unharmed.
Weissenberger, Theodor Click the name above to see a profile of Weissenberger, Theodor    Died : 10 / 6 / 1950	Weissenberger, Theodor Major Theodor Weissenberger was born 21 December 1914 in Mühlheim am Main, he was unfortunately killed in a car racing accident 10 June 1950 on the Nürburgring ring. Major Theodor was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the end of World War II in 1945. He flew more than 500 combat missions claiming 208 enemy aircraft shot down. 33 claims were made on the Western Front, including some 7 heavy bombers. Pre-war Major Weissenberger was a keen glider pilot and was an instructor in the early war years. He finally managed an operational posting in mid 1941, to I (Z). /JG 77 in Norway. He claimed his first kill in October 1941, and went on to score a further twenty-one kills in the Bf 110, in addition to fifteen locomotives, two flak installations, and numerous ground targets destroyed. In September 1942 he was posted to II./JG 5, based in Northern Finland. Flying with 6 Staffel, and then as commander of 7 Staffel, he had claimed 104 kills by July 1943, and been awarded the Knights Cross. Becoming Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 5 in April 1944, he had claimed some 175 kills by May 1944 in over 350 missions on the Arctic Front. Taking over I./JG 5 on 4 June, the unit transferred to the Western Front in mid 1944 and through June and July 1944, Weissenberger flew twenty-six sorties and was credited with twenty-five victories over the Invasion Front around Normandy (his claims were half the total score by the whole unit, I./JG 5, during this period). He claimed five P-47's on 7 June, two more P-47's on 9 June, and another three P-47's on 12 June. He scored again on 19 July with three Typhoons and a P-51. On 25 July he claimed two more Spitfires shot down. Major Weissenberger converted to the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter in the second half of 1944. In November 1944 he was posted to command I./JG 7.
Werner, Hans Click the name above to see a profile of Werner, Hans    Died : 15 / 2 / 1945	Werner, Hans Killed on 15th February 1945 when his Me262A-1 0130171 of JG7 suffered engine failure and crashed near Alveslohe.
Wilkenloh, Wilhlem Click the name above to see a profile of Wilkenloh, Wilhlem    Died : 23 / 12 / 1944	Wilkenloh, Wilhlem Killed on 23rd December 1944 when his Me262A-1 of JG7 was shot down by a British Mosquito of No.488 Sqn.

Aircraft for : JG7
A list of all aircraft associated with JG7. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Me262 Click the name above to see prints featuring Me262 aircraft. Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Number Built : 1400	Me262 The Messerschmitt Me-262 Swallow, a masterpiece of engineering, was the first operational mass-produced jet to see service. Prototype testing of the airframe commenced in 1941 utilizing a piston engine. General Adolf Galland, who was in charge of the German Fighter Forces at that time, pressured both Goring and Hitler to accelerate the Me-262, and stress its use as a fighter to defend Germany from Allied bombers. Hitler, however, envisioned the 262 as the aircraft which might allow him to inflict punishment on Britain. About 1400 Swallows were produced, but fortunately for the Allies, only about 300 saw combat duty. While the original plans for the 262 presumed the use of BMW jet engines, production Swallows were ultimately equipped with Jumo 004B turbojet engines. The wing design of the 262 necessitated the unique triangular hull section of the fuselage, giving the aircraft a shark-like appearance. With an 18 degree swept wing, the 262 was capable of Mach .86. The 262 was totally ineffective in a turning duel with Allied fighters, and was also vulnerable to attack during take off and landings. The landing gear was also suspect, and many 262s were destroyed or damaged due to landing gear failure. Despite its sleek jet-age appearance, the 262 was roughly manufactured, because Germany had lost access to its normal aircraft assembly plants. In spite of these drawbacks the 262 was effective. For example, on April 7, 1945 a force of sixty 262s took on a large force of Allied bombers with escort fighters. Armed with their four nose-mounted cannons, and underwing rockets the Swallows succeeded in downing or damaging 25 Allied B-17s on that single mission. While it is unlikely that the outcome of the War could have been altered by an earlier introduction or greater production totals for this aircraft, it is clear to many historians that the duration of the War might have been drastically lengthened if the Me-262 had not been too little too late.