Fritz Tegtmeier

Fritz Tegtmeier (30 July 1917 – 8 April 1999) was a World War II Luftwaffe 146 aerial victories Flying ace and recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.^[1] The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.^[2]

Fritz Tegtmeier
Fritz Tegtmeier
Born	(1917-07-30)30 July 1917 Sundern, Westphalia
Died	8 April 1999(1999-04-08) (aged 81) Greven
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Rank	Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)
Unit	JG 54, EJGr Ost, JG 7
Battles / wars	See battles World War II Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Military career

Fritz Tegtmeier was posted to the 2. Staffel (2nd Squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in October 1940. He was severely injured on 17 November 1940 when his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 (Werknummer 6043—factory number) suffered engined failure, resulting in crash landing at Jever Airfield.^[3] He returned to his Staffel in the spring of 1941 and claimed his first aerial victory on 22 June 1941, the first day of Operation Barbarossa on the Eastern Front.^[4]

On 8 September, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Siversky located southwest of Leningrad.^[5] There, on 11 September he was again severely injured in a collision in his Bf 109 F-2 resulting in a crash landing at Siversky.^[6] He returned to active duty in April 1942 and was assigned to the 1. Staffel of JG 54. By the end of 1942 he had claimed 24 aerial victories.

On 14 January 1943, Tegtmeier became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time. That day, pilots of I. Gruppe had claimed 30 aerial victories (Luftsiege).^[7] He claimed aerial victories number 36 and 37 on 23 January. On 3 May 1943 he claimed numbers 51–53 and was posted to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost as fighter pilot instructor. He returned to front line duty, this time with the 3. Staffel of JG 54, in September 1943. In November 1943 he achieved his 75th aerial victory. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 28 March 1944 following his 99th aerial victory.^[8] Tegtmeier was promoted to Leutnant on 20 April 1944. He claimed his 100th and 101st aerial victory on 3 May 1944. He was the 71st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[9] On 1 September 1944, he was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 3. Staffel of JG 54. He succeeded Leutnant Otto Kittel who was transferred.^[10] By the end of 1944 his score of aerial victories stood at 139 claims. When he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) for flight training on the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter in March 1945 his score stood at 146 aerial victories. Tegtmeier had been nominated for the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub).^[11][12]

Later life

Tegtmeier died on 8 April 1999 at the age of 81 in Greven, Germany.^[13]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Tegtmeier was credited with 146 aerial victories.^[14] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 146 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.^[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 01852". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) 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 360 square miles (930 km²). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.^[16]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Tegtmeier 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
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[17] Operation Barbrossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
1	23 June 1941?[Note 1]	10:24	SB-2[18]		5	13 August 1941	15:42	I-18 (MiG-1)[19]
2	24 June 1941	05:44	SB-2[18]		6	14 August 1941	05:07	I-18 (MiG-1)[19]
3	24 June 1941	05:48	SB-2[18]		7	3 September 1941	15:50	I-16	1 km (0.62 mi) north of Krasnogvardeysk[20]
4	18 July 1941	13:54	I-18 (MiG-1)[21]		8	15 November 1941	11:20	I-18 (MiG-1)[22]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[23] Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
9	10 June 1942	10:20	Pe-2[24]		24	30 December 1942	12:13?[Note 2]	Pe-2	PQ 01852[26] 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Shlisselburg
10	22 June 1942	18:45	MiG-3[27]		25	7 January 1943	11:30	LaGG-3	PQ 01762[28] 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Leningrad
11	22 July 1942	10:26	Yak-1[29]		26	12 January 1943	09:35	P-40	PQ 00251[28] 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg
12	23 July 1942	09:30	MiG-3[29]		27	12 January 1943	14:22	Il-2	PQ 10184[28] east of Mga
13	1 August 1942	16:40	LaGG-3	PQ 00172[29] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Selo	28♠	14 January 1943	09:02	La-5	PQ 10181[28] east of Mga
14	5 August 1942	15:10	MiG-3	PQ 20542[30] 45 km (28 mi) east of Lyuban	29♠	14 January 1943	09:05	La-5	PQ 10193[28] east of Mga
15	5 August 1942	15:13	MiG-3	PQ 20593[30] 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Chudovo	30♠	14 January 1943	09:10	Il-2	PQ 00292[28] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mga
16	7 August 1942	13:30	P-40	PQ 20731[30] 45 km (28 mi) east-northeast of Chudovo	31♠	14 January 1943	14:30	Il-2	PQ 00294[31] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mga
17	11 August 1942	14:23?[Note 3]	Il-2	PQ 28311[30] 20 km (12 mi) east-northeast of Demyansk	32♠	14 January 1943	14:33?[Note 4]	Il-2	PQ 00274[31] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mga
18	20 August 1942	06:20	Yak-1	PQ 47662[30] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Staritsa	33	16 January 1943	09:35	Il-2	PQ 10142[31] south of Shlisselburg
19	25 August 1942	14:20	Yak-1	PQ 36573[32] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Gagarin	34	16 January 1943	09:43	Yak-1	PQ 10311[31] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Mga
20	26 August 1942	13:30	R-5	PQ 47864[32] 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Zubtsov	35	22 January 1943	08:46	Yak-1	PQ 10212[31] 45 km (28 mi) west of Volkhov
21	5 September 1942	12:40	Yak-1	PQ 10841[33] southeast of Shlisselburg	36	23 January 1943	13:05	Yak-1	PQ 10191[34] east of Mga
22	5 September 1942	12:45	Yak-1	PQ 10954[33] southeast of Shlisselburg	37	23 January 1943	13:38	Il-2	PQ 00411[34] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin
23	11 September 1942	16:35	I-16	PQ 00223[33] 20 km (12 mi) west of Shlisselburg	38	24 January 1943	13:35	La-5	PQ 10143[34] south of Shlisselburg
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[25] Eastern Front — 4 February – March 1943
39	10 February 1943	11:15	Il-2	PQ 36 Ost 10142[35] south of Shlisselburg	42	21 February 1943	13:00	La-5	PQ 36 Ost 00412[36] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin
40	17 February 1943	12:05	Yak-1	PQ 36 Ost 00281[35] 20 km (12 mi) west of Mga	43	23 February 1943	07:05	Il-2	PQ 36 Ost 00412[36] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin
41	21 February 1943	10:50	LaGG-3	PQ 36 Ost 00442[36] 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Slutsk	44	23 February 1943	07:10	Il-2	PQ 36 Ost 00283[36] 20 km (12 mi) west of Mga
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[37] Eastern Front — April – 31 December 1943
?[Note 5]	3 March 1943	11:10	I-16	20 km (12 mi) east of Leningrad[25]	61	5 October 1943	13:21	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 02682[39]
45	3 April 1943	12:45	Yak-1?[Note 6]	PQ 36 Ost 00421[40] Pushkin-Mga	62	9 October 1943	07:20	P-39	PQ 35 Ost 07772[39] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Nevel
?[Note 5]	10 April 1943	11:50	Yak-1	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Lomonosov[25]	63	14 October 1943	08:15	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 15512, southeast of Bajewo[41] 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Krassnyj
46?[Note 7]	11 April 1943	18:25	Il-2	3 km (1.9 mi) south of Leningrad[40]	64	20 October 1943	11:35	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 06312[41]
47	13 April 1943	17:57?[Note 8]	Pe-2	PQ 36 Ost 00163[40] 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Leningrad	65	21 October 1943	10:45	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 02232[41]
48	2 May 1943	19:05	Il-2	PQ 36 Ost 00463[40] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Tosno	66	21 October 1943	10:50	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 02233, east of Lojew[41]
49	2 May 1943	19:07	Il-2	PQ 36 Ost 00273[40] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mga	67	22 October 1943	08:20	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 15332[41] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Krassnyj
50	3 May 1943	17:45	La-5	PQ 26 Ost 90252[40] 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg	68	22 October 1943	10:40	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 05282[41] east of Kshischtschew
51	14 September 1943	11:52?[Note 9]	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26231[42] 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Moschna	69	27 October 1943	09:15	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 15342[43] 20 km (12 mi) west of Krassnyj
52	14 September 1943	16:30	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 25663[42] 25 km (16 mi) east of Schatalowka	70	28 October 1943	12:45	Boston	PQ 35 Ost 03823[43]
53	15 September 1943	08:50	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 26732[42] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Moschna	71	28 October 1943	12:47	Boston	PQ 35 Ost 03824[43]
54	15 September 1943	14:00?[Note 10]	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 35492[42] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Yelnya	72	28 October 1943	12:50	Boston	PQ 35 Ost 03864[43]
55	15 September 1943	14:15	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 35531[42] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Yelnya	73	28 October 1943	12:53	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 03893[43]
56	17 September 1943	11:00	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 35321[42] 20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya	74	6 November 1943	09:50	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 06154[43]
57	22 September 1943	17:38	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 12742[39]	75	6 November 1943	09:55	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 06163, Lake Ssennitza[43]
58	22 September 1943	17:40	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 12721[39]	76?[Note 7]	17 November 1943	07:50	LaGG-3[44]
59	26 September 1943	12:20	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 25532[39] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Schatalowka	77	8 December 1943	14:00	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 06384[44]
60	5 October 1943	13:20	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 02682[39]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[45] Eastern Front — 1 January – September 1944
78	3 February 1944	14:15	Il-2		101	26 May 1944	18:50	La-5	Baltic Sea, 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Hungerburg
79	3 February 1944	14:17	Il-2		102	15 June 1944	07:37	Il-2
80	7 February 1944	07:37	La-5		103	16 June 1944	19:00	Yak-9
81	7 February 1944	10:36	La-5		104	16 June 1944	19:00	Yak-9
82	7 February 1944	10:37	La-5		105	14 July 1944	17:58	Yak-9
83	7 February 1944	11:05	La-5		106	16 July 1944	08:35	Yak-9
84	7 February 1944	11:07	La-5		107	16 July 1944	08:40	P-39
85	12 February 1944	14:30	La-5		108	21 July 1944	09:20	Yak-9
86	16 February 1944	14:10	Yak-9	40 km (25 mi) southwest of Narva	109	21 July 1944	09:25	Yak-9
87	24 February 1944	11:00	Yak-9	25 km (16 mi) southwest of Narva	110	22 July 1944	15:55	La-5
88	25 February 1944	11:10	Il-2	30 km (19 mi) southwest of Narva	111	22 July 1944	19:15	LaGG-3
89	6 March 1944	07:55	La-5	25 km (16 mi) south of Narva	112	27 July 1944	15:55	Pe-2
90	6 March 1944	08:05	Yak-9	southwest of Narva	113	28 July 1944	15:15	Yak-9
91	7 March 1944	12:36	La-5	30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Narva	114	1 August 1944	12:17	La-5
92	8 March 1944	15:46	Il-2	Baltic Sea, 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Kunda	115	6 August 1944	18:39	Yak-9
93	8 March 1944	16:10	Il-2	Baltic Sea, 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Kunda	116	7 August 1944	13:43	P-39
94	8 March 1944	16:23	Yak-9	Baltic Sea, 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Kunda	117	7 August 1944	18:20	La-5
95	9 March 1944	09:08	La-5	southwest of Narva	118	7 August 1944	18:24	La-5
96	23 March 1944	15:35	Il-2		119	16 August 1944	10:45	La-5
97	1 April 1944	10:12	LaGG-3	25 km (16 mi) southeast of Pskov	120	25 August 1944	09:23	Pe-2
98	2 April 1944	15:25	La-5	northeast of Kunda	121	27 August 1944	15:05	Yak-9
99	4 April 1944	08:19	La-5	northeast of Kunda	122	27 August 1944	15:10	Pe-2
100	20 May 1944	12:31	Yak-1	Baltic Sea, 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Hungerburg	123	29 August 1944	18:30	La-5
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[46] Eastern Front — September – October 1944
124♠	14 September 1944	10:00	Yak-9	35 km (22 mi) northwest of Kreuzburg	132	17 September 1944	13:22	Yak-9	25 km (16 mi) northwest of Pasewalk
125♠	14 September 1944	12:00	P-39	45 km (28 mi) northeast of Pasewalk	133	20 September 1944	11:13	Yak-9	45 km (28 mi) south of Riga
126♠	14 September 1944	12:03	P-39	45 km (28 mi) northeast of Pasewalk	134	10 October 1944	09:07	La-5	10 km (6.2 mi) east of Riga
127♠	14 September 1944	12:04	Yak-9	45 km (28 mi) northeast of Pasewalk	135	12 October 1944	12:25	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Riga
128♠	14 September 1944	12:10	Il-2	45 km (28 mi) northeast of Pasewalk	136	12 October 1944	16:05	Pe-2	10 km (6.2 mi) north of Riga
129♠	14 September 1944	16:40	Pe-2	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Riga	137	12 October 1944	16:07	Pe-2	10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Riga
130	15 September 1944	09:33	Il-2	50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Kreuzburg	138	29 October 1944	19:56	Il-2	60 km (37 mi) northeast of Telsche
131	17 September 1944	12:40	Yak-9	40 km (25 mi) south-southeast of Riga	139	30 October 1944	11:35	Pe-2	40 km (25 mi) east of Libau
According to Mathews and Foreman, aerial victories 140 to 146 were not documented.[47]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class^[48]
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (5 October 1942)^[11]
• German Cross in Gold on 23 January 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54^[49]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 March 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 54^{[50][Note 11]}

Notes

1. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 3 June 1941.^[17]
2. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:15.^[25]
3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:25.^[17]
4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:32.^[25]
5. This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.^[38]
6. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1.^[25]
7. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.^[25]
8. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:57.^[25]
9. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:51.^[25]
10. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:10.^[25]
11. According to Scherzer on 26 March 1944 as pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54.^[51]