Werner Husemann

Werner Husemann
Born	10 November 1919 Schötmar/Lippe
Died	2 February 2014 (aged 94) Bad Salzuflen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	Major
Unit	NJG 1, NJG 3
Commands held	7./NJG 1 I./NJG 3
Battles/wars	World War II Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Werner Husemann (10 November 1919 – 2 February 2014) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter 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. Husemann claimed 34 aerial victories—that is, 34 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—during World War II.^{[Note 1]}

Career

Husemann was born on 10 November 1919 in Schötmar/Lippe. He enlisted in the Luftwaffe in 1941 and served with a weather reconnaissance squadron. In late 1942 he transferred to the Stab (staff) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (the 1st Night Fighter Wing). He claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 17 to 18 August 1942. His victories had increased to 17 by the end of 1943, among them three British Avro Lancaster bombers shot down on the night of 25/26 June 1943. He was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron commander) of the 7th squadron of NJG 1 on 1 October 1943. Husemann was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 24 October 1943, and the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 1 November 1943. The following January, he became commander of the I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 3—3rd Night Fighter Wing). Husemann was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 after he had been credited with 30 aerial victories. By the war's end he had scored 34 victories in over 250 night combat missions. His last 13 victories were claimed with Oberfeldwebel Hans-Georg Schierholz as his wireless/radio operator.^[1]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 1 November 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot^[2]
• German Cross in Gold on 24 October 1943 as Oberleutnant in the 7./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1^[3]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3^[4][5]

Notes

1. For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.

References

Citations

1. Obermaier 1989, p. 138.
2. Patzwall 2008, p. 107.
3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 203.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 238.
5. Scherzer 2007, p. 412.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
• 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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
• 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.
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com