Albin Wolf

Albin Wolf (28 October 1920 – 2 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 144 enemy aircraft shot down.Template:Sfn All of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.

Born in Neuhaus, Wolf grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Following graduation from school, he joined the Luftwaffe in 1940. In May 1942, Wolf was posted to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) and claimed his first aerial victory on 6 August 1942. Following his 117th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943. Promoted to an officer's rank, he was appointed squadron leader of 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 54 and claimed his 144th and last aerial victory on 2 April 1944. That day, he was shot down. He was posthumously bestowed with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Early life and career

Wolf was born on 28 October 1920 in Neuhaus, present-day part of Selbitz in the district Hof, at the time in the district of Naila, Bavaria. He was the son of a wage labourer. After graduation from school, Wolf joined the Luftwaffe in 1940. Following flight training,Template:Refn he was posted to the 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) based in Jever in the fall of 1941. Holding the rank of Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer), he flew with this unit in Defense of the Reich until May 1942.Template:Sfn

World War II

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 22 June 1941, Germany had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, which initiated the Eastern Front. In May 1942, Wolf was transferred to the 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), operating on the northern sector of the Eastern Front. At the time, he was made a wingman of Hans Beißwenger.Template:Sfn II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 54, to which 6. Staffel was subordinated, was one of the Luftwaffe units fighting in support of Army Group Centre, engaging in the Kholm Pocket and Demyansk Pocket.Template:Sfn

Wolf claimed his first aerial victory over an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, shot down on 6 August 1942 in the vicinity of Zubtsov during the Battles of Rzhev.Template:Sfn Following his fourth claim, filed on 30 September,Template:Sfn he was awarded Iron Cross 2nd Class () the next day.Template:Sfn On 23 March 1943, his number of aerial victories had increased to 18 following combat in the vicinity of Leningrad.Template:Sfn This resulted in the presentation of the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe () on 30 April 1943.Template:Sfn On 12 July, during the Battle of Kursk, Soviet forces launched its counteroffensive named Operation Kutuzov. The next day, General Paul Deichmann dispatched the equivalent of eight Jagdgruppen to defend against the Soviet 15th Air Army. That morning, Wolf claimed a Soviet fighter aircraft shot down.Template:Sfn He achieved his aerial victories 37–40 on 2 August 1943. By 4 September 1943, he had accumulated 78 victories. In November 1943, Wolf was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 59th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.Template:Sfn Wolf received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () for 117 victories on 22 November 1943.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

On 24 December 1943, following the German retreat during the Battle of the Dnieper (26 August – 23 December 1943), Soviet forces initiated the Zhitomir–Berdichev Offensive as part of the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive. The Soviet advance threatened the German airfield at Bila Tserkva and II. Gruppe of JG 54 was ordered to relocate to Tarnopol on 27 December. The transfer was attempted under adverse weather conditions. On 29 December, 24 aircraft took off but only one made it directly to Tarnopol. Many aircraft were lost that day, among them Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 531087—factory number) flown by Wolf who crash landed the aircraft and was severely wounded.Template:Sfn On 18 January 1944, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6. Staffel, succeeding Oberleutnant Horst Ademeit who was transferred.Template:Sfn

Wolf's 135th aerial victory claimed on 23 March 1944 was also JG 54's 7000th of the war.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Wolf was killed in action south-east of Pskov on 2 April 1944 at 09:30. During aerial combat at low altitude with a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter, his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 551142—factory number) took a direct hit from an anti-aircraft shell.Template:Sfn He was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves () on 27 April 1944.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn He was the 464th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. Stockert indicated that the Oak Leaves presentation date 27 April 1944 may be incorrect. Based on a list published by the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (High Command of the Air Force), the Oak Leaves were awarded on 25 April 1944.Template:Sfn Wolf was succeeded by Leutnant Heinrich Sterr as commander of 6. Staffel.Template:Sfn

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wolf was credited with 144 aerial victories.Template:Sfn Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 142 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.Template:Sfn

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 18234". The Luftwaffe grid map () 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 . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.Template:Sfn

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Wolf an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.   This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Template:Sfn Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
1	6 August 1942	15:50	Il-2	northwest of KamischtchewoTemplate:Sfn	6	29 December 1942	12:55	P-39	PQ 18234Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
2	23 August 1942	12:07	Yak-1	PQ 54244Template:Sfn south-southeast of Sukhinichi	7	30 December 1942	11:54	LaGG-3	PQ 28144Template:Sfn northwest of Demyansk
3	5 September 1942	11:10	Pe-2	PQ 28464Template:Sfn east of Demyansk	8	30 December 1942	13:44	Il-2	PQ 28145Template:Sfn northwest of Demyansk
4	30 September 1942	08:46	Il-2	PQ 29751Template:Sfn north-northwest of Demyansk	9	14 January 1943	12:35	Il-2	PQ 10162Template:Sfn southeast of Shlisselburg
5	4 December 1942	10:15	Il-2	PQ 09854Template:Sfn	10	26 January 1943	11:25	Il-2	PQ 10113Template:Sfn vicinity of Shlisselburg
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Template:Sfn Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
11	11 February 1943	10:30	La-5	PQ 36 Ost 20514Template:Sfn east-northeast of Lyuban	67	28 August 1943	06:14	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 43873Template:Sfn south-southeast of Sevsk
12	23 February 1943	15:53	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 19761Template:Sfn north-northeast of Staraya Russa	68	28 August 1943	11:52	Yak-4?Template:Refn	PQ 35 Ost 43822Template:Sfn east-northeast of Sevsk
13	27 February 1943	15:40	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18453Template:Sfn west of Demyansk	69	30 August 1943	14:23	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 35641Template:Sfn west of Spas-Demensk
14	5 March 1943	07:30	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 18423Template:Sfn southeast of Staraya Russa	70	30 August 1943	17:53	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 45523Template:Sfn northeast of Spas-Demensk
15	5 March 1943	13:55	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 18212Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa	71	30 August 1943	18:01	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 35491Template:Sfn north-northwest of Spas-Demensk
16	5 March 1943	16:18	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 18391Template:Sfn northeast of Kholm	72	31 August 1943	06:48	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 35632Template:Sfn northwest of Spas-Demensk
17	7 March 1943	09:15	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 18391Template:Sfn northeast of Kholm	73	31 August 1943	15:31	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 35554Template:Sfn south of Yelnya
18	23 March 1943	17:20	P-40	PQ 36 Ost 00243Template:Sfn southeast of Leningrad	74	31 August 1943	15:34	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 35643Template:Sfn west of Spas-Demensk
19	18 June 1943	12:20	LaGG-3	PQ 36 Ost 20113Template:Sfn west of Volkhov	75	1 September 1943	18:08	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 25453Template:Sfn west-northwest of Yelnya
20	24 June 1943	07:10	LaGG-3	PQ 36 Ost 21871Template:Sfn northeast of Volkhov	76	1 September 1943	18:10	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 25433Template:Sfn northwest of Yelnya
21	13 July 1943	06:57	Yak-7	PQ 35 Ost 63894Template:Sfn southeast of Mtsensk	77	4 September 1943	16:36	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26632Template:Sfn south of Bogolyubovo
22	13 July 1943	11:54	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 63222Template:Sfn east of Oryol	78	4 September 1943	17:04	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 25484Template:Sfn west of Yelnya
23	13 July 1943	14:15	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63412Template:Sfn north of Maloarkhangelsk	79	5 September 1943	11:24	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 25493Template:Sfn west of Yelnya
24	14 July 1943	14:21	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 54333Template:Sfn east-southeast of Zhizdra	80	5 September 1943	17:50?Template:Refn	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 35374Template:Sfn southwest of Yelnya
25	15 July 1943	17:02	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 64883Template:Sfn southeast of Mtsensk	81♠	7 September 1943	08:06	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26824Template:Sfn north of Yartsevo
26	16 July 1943	18:57	La-5Template:Sfn		82♠	7 September 1943	08:23	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26823Template:Sfn north of Yartsevo
27	17 July 1943	06:43	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 54614Template:Sfn west of Bolkhov	83♠	7 September 1943	11:09	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26673Template:Sfn northeast of Moschna
28	17 July 1943	06:58?Template:Refn	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 54183Template:Sfn east of Belyov	84♠	7 September 1943	11:17	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26861Template:Sfn east-northeast of Yartsevo
29	19 July 1943	11:47	Yak-7	PQ 35 Ost 54442Template:Sfn northwest of Bolkhov	85♠	7 September 1943	16:45	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26491Template:Sfn southwest of Bogolyubovo
30	20 July 1943	08:29	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 64871Template:Sfn south of Mtsensk	86	9 September 1943	17:04	Yak-9?Template:Refn	PQ 35 Ost 26242Template:Sfn northwest of Yartsevo
31	22 July 1943	15:18	Yak-7	PQ 35 Ost 64799Template:Sfn east-northeast of Oryol	87	10 September 1943	09:57	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26841Template:Sfn northwest of Yartsevo
32	23 July 1943	18:27	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63161Template:Sfn south-eastsouth of Oryol	88	11 September 1943	16:01?Template:Refn	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 35852Template:Sfn
33	25 July 1943	12:40	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 53291Template:Sfn south-southwest of Oryol	89	15 September 1943	08:51	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26812, northeast of DukhovshchinaTemplate:Sfn north-northwest of Yartsevo
34	30 July 1943	05:24	La-5	PQ 36 Ost 00224Template:Sfn west of Shlisselburg	90?Template:Refn	15 September 1943	10:29	Il-2	northwest of YelnyaTemplate:Sfn
35	30 July 1943	16:54	Il-2	PQ 36 Ost 10153Template:Sfn southeast of Shlisselburg	91	15 September 1943	11:01	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 35341Template:Sfn south of Smolensk
36	1 August 1943	06:13?Template:Refn	La-5	PQ 36 Ost 00263Template:Sfn southwest of Shlisselburg	92	15 September 1943	13:14	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 35541Template:Sfn south-southwest of Yelnya
37	2 August 1943	08:52	Yak-7	PQ 36 Ost 10191Template:Sfn east of Mga	93	15 September 1943	17:25	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 35374Template:Sfn southwest of Yelnya
38	2 August 1943	08:57	Yak-7	PQ 36 Ost 10411Template:Sfn east-southeast of Mga	94	17 September 1943	11:23	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 35383Template:Sfn south of Yelnya
39	2 August 1943	09:10	Yak-7	PQ 36 Ost 10414Template:Sfn east-southeast of Mga	95	23 October 1943	13:19	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10112Template:Sfn vicinity of Shlisselburg
40	2 August 1943	12:54	Il-2	PQ 36 Ost 10352Template:Sfn southeast of Mga	96	23 October 1943	15:17	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 10161Template:Sfn southeast of Shlisselburg
41	7 August 1943	13:55	Yak-9?Template:Refn	PQ 35 Ost 54631Template:Sfn west of Bolkhov	97	23 October 1943	15:23	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10114Template:Sfn vicinity of Shlisselburg
42	8 August 1943	19:00	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 54672Template:Sfn southwest of Bolkhov	98	24 October 1943	10:00	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 01454Template:Sfn Lake Ladoga
43	9 August 1943	18:31	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 54843Template:Sfn east of Karachev	99	25 October 1943	12:14	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 11371Template:Sfn Lake Ladoga
44	13 August 1943	16:20	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 54743Template:Sfn east of Karachev	100	25 October 1943	15:35	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 11794Template:Sfn Lake Ladoga
45	13 August 1943	16:30	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 53213Template:Sfn west of Oryol	101	26 October 1943	10:40	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10131Template:Sfn east of Shlisselburg
46	14 August 1943	05:01	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 45721Template:Sfn north-northwest of Kirov	102	26 October 1943	10:55	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 11733Template:Sfn Lake Ladoga
47	14 August 1943	05:08	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 45734Template:Sfn north-northeast of Kirov	103	28 October 1943	12:06	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 01394Template:Sfn northeast of Zelenogorsk
48	14 August 1943	05:14	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 45744, northwest of KirovTemplate:Sfn west of Kirov	104	28 October 1943	12:09	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 01391Template:Sfn northeast of Zelenogorsk
49	14 August 1943	08:46	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 45763Template:Sfn northeast of Kirov	105	1 November 1943	09:27	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 10121Template:Sfn east of Shlisselburg
50	16 August 1943	13:26	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 45733Template:Sfn vicinity of Spas-Demensk	106	2 November 1943	13:25	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10122Template:Sfn east of Shlisselburg
51	16 August 1943	13:35	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 35861Template:Sfn west of Kirov	107	2 November 1943	15:06	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 01361Template:Sfn northeast of Zelenogorsk
52	17 August 1943	08:53	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 44842Template:Sfn southeast of Bryansk	108	3 November 1943	13:55	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 01394Template:Sfn northeast of Zelenogorsk
53	19 August 1943	05:47?Template:Refn	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 43864Template:Sfn east-southeast of Sevsk	109	3 November 1943	14:29	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 01333Template:Sfn northeast of Zelenogorsk
54	19 August 1943	16:23	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 45751Template:Sfn northwest of Kirov	110♠	6 November 1943	07:17	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 01592Template:Sfn east-northeast of Zelenogorsk
55	20 August 1943	06:29	P-39	PQ 35 Ost 43851Template:Sfn southeast of Sevsk	111♠	6 November 1943	07:21	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 01594Template:Sfn east-northeast of Zelenogorsk
56	21 August 1943	13:20?Template:Refn	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 35624Template:Sfn west-northwest of Spas-Demensk	112♠	6 November 1943	07:25	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 01672Template:Sfn north-northeast of Leningrad
57	21 August 1943	16:20	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 43861Template:Sfn east-southeast of Sevsk	113♠	6 November 1943	15:19	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 01564Template:Sfn northeast of Zelenogorsk
58	22 August 1943	06:23	P-39	PQ 35 Ost 43832Template:Sfn east-southeast of Sevsk	114♠	6 November 1943	15:24	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 01643Template:Sfn north-northeast of Leningrad
59	22 August 1943	06:26	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 43863Template:Sfn east-southeast of Sevsk	115	22 November 1943	14:16	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 91564Template:Sfn north-northwest of Zelenogorsk
60	22 August 1943	13:07	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 43454Template:Sfn west-northwest of Dmitrowsk	116	29 November 1943	10:40	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 91651Template:Sfn north-northeast of Zelenogorsk
61	22 August 1943	16:22	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 43852Template:Sfn southeast of Sevsk	117	29 November 1943	10:43	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 91642Template:Sfn north of Zelenogorsk
62	23 August 1943	10:07	P-39	PQ 35 Ost 42224Template:Sfn	118	10 December 1943	08:47	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 00133Template:Sfn east of Leningrad
63	24 August 1943	06:58	DB-3	PQ 35 Ost 44553Template:Sfn north-northwest of Bryansk	119	11 December 1943	08:11	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 00121Template:Sfn vicinity of Leningrad
64	24 August 1943	07:00	DB-3	PQ 35 Ost 44374Template:Sfn west-southwest of Datkovo	120	12 December 1943	13:35	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 00112Template:Sfn west of Leningrad
65	24 August 1943	07:03	DB-3	PQ 35 Ost 44383Template:Sfn southwest of Datkovo	121	14 December 1943	09:37	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 01772Template:Sfn northwest of Leningrad
66	24 August 1943	15:09	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 44483Template:Sfn south of Zhizdra	122	17 December 1943	08:02	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 01722Template:Sfn northwest of Leningrad
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Template:Sfn Eastern Front — 1 January 1944 – 2 April 1944
123	15 January 1944	12:17	La-5	PQ 26 Ost 80862Template:Sfn southeast of Narva	133	19 March 1944	11:19	Yak-9?Template:Refn	PQ 25 Ost 99711Template:Sfn northwest of Porchov
124	15 January 1944	12:19	Il-2	PQ 26 Ost 90713Template:Sfn southwest of Lissino	134	22 March 1944	11:34	La-5?Template:Refn	PQ 25 Ost 97564Template:Sfn east-northeast of Idriza
125	15 January 1944	12:31	La-5	PQ 26 Ost 90574Template:Sfn southwest of Lissino	135	23 March 1944	16:47?Template:Refn	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 97641Template:Sfn east-northeast of Idriza
126	22 January 1944	14:46	La-5	PQ 26 Ost 80663Template:Sfn east of Narva	136	26 March 1944	09:40	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 88862Template:Sfn southeast of Ostrov
127	24 January 1944	10:34	Yak-9	PQ 26 Ost 80683Template:Sfn northeast of Narva	137	26 March 1944	12:57	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 78284Template:Sfn west of Pskov
128	28 January 1944	14:43	La-5	PQ 26 Ost 90572Template:Sfn southwest of Lissino	138	27 March 1944	06:20	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 78254, east-northeast of PetseriTemplate:Sfn
129	28 January 1944	15:09	La-5	PQ 26 Ost 80632Template:Sfn northeast of Narva	139	27 March 1944	06:25	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 78261Template:Sfn
130	11 February 1944	13:24	La-5	PQ 36 Ost 00683Template:Sfn south-southwest of Tosno	140	27 March 1944	06:37	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 89772Template:Sfn northwest of Pskov
131	19 March 1944	10:32	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 89451Template:Sfn northeast of Pskov	141	31 March 1944	14:47	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 89341Template:Sfn southeast of Gdov
132	19 March 1944	11:04	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 88112Template:Sfn Lake Peipus, northwest of Pskov	142	2 April 1944	09:27	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 88442Template:Sfn southeast of Pskov

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (1 October 1942)Template:Sfn
  • 1st Class (22 January 1943)Template:Sfn
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 30 April 1943 as Unteroffizier and pilotTemplate:Sfn
• German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54Template:Sfn
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 22 November 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54Template:SfnTemplate:Refn
  • 464th Oak Leaves on 27 April 1944 (posthumously) as Leutnant and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54Template:SfnTemplate:Refn