Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke
Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (11 March 1913 – 23 March 1944) was a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 162 enemy aircraft shot down in 732 combat missions. He claimed the majority of his victories over the Eastern Front, and 25 over the Western Front, including four four-engined bombers.

Born in Schrimm in the Province of Posen, Wilcke volunteered for military service in the "Reichswehr" of the Third Reich in 1934. Initially serving in the "Heer" (Army), he transferred to the Luftwaffe (Air Force) in 1935. Following flight training, he was posted to "Jagdgeschwader" "Richthofen" (Fighter Wing "Richthofen") in April 1936. After an assignment as fighter pilot instructor he volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War in early 1939. After his return from Spain, he was appointed "Staffelkapitän" (squadron leader) of the 7. "Staffel" (7th squadron) of "Jagdgeschwader" 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing). Following the outbreak of World War II, he claimed his first aerial victory on 7 November 1939. On 18 May 1940, during the Battle of France, he was shot down and taken prisoner of war. After the armistice with France, he returned from captivity and was appointed "Gruppenkommandeur" (group commander) of the III. "Gruppe" (3rd group) of JG 53 during the Battle of Britain, claiming 10 victories over England.

Wilcke then fought in the aerial battles of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. There, after 25 aerial victories, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 August 1941. In September 1941, he relocated with his group to the Mediterranean Theater, where he was able to claim further victories. At the end of May 1942, he was transferred to the "Stab" (headquarters unit) of "Jagdgeschwader" 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) "Udet", and that August he was appointed as its "Geschwaderkommodore" (wing commander). Following his 100th aerial victory on 6 September, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. During the Battle of Stalingrad, on 17 December, he claimed his 150th aerial victory. On 23 December 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, his total now 155 aerial victories.

Subsequent to the presentation of the Swords to his Knight's Cross, he was officially banned from operational flying. Occasionally he still flew combat missions and on 23 March 1944, flying in defense of the Reich, he claimed his 162nd and last aerial victory and was killed in action by United States Army Air Forces long-range P-51 Mustang fighters near Schöppenstedt, in Lower Saxony.
Q2564009
Luftwaffe
Concept
Q222982
fighter ace
Concept
Q189266
Eastern Front
LOC
Q216184
Western Front
LOC
Q3534114
four-engined bombers
Concept
Q387260
Schrimm
LOC
Q635253
Province of Posen
LOC
Q157608
Reichswehr
ORG
Q7318
Third Reich
Concept
Q701923
Heer
ORG
Q153324
Condor Legion
PER
Q10859
Spanish Civil War
EVE
Q4386940
Staffelkapitän
PER
None
Staffel
UNK
Q577378
"Jagdgeschwader" 53
ORG
Q151340
Battle of France
EVE
Q179637
prisoner of war
Concept
Q170360
armistice with France
EVE
Q5612276
Gruppenkommandeur
Concept
None
Gruppe
UNK
Q154720
Battle of Britain
EVE
Q21
England
LOC
Q83055
Operation Barbarossa
EVE
Q15180
Soviet Union
LOC
Q165558
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
PER
Q696817
Mediterranean Theater
Concept
Q3495357
Stab
ORG
Q2669729
"Jagdgeschwader" 3
MEDIA
Q2435929
Geschwaderkommodore
PER
Q165558
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
PER
Q38789
Battle of Stalingrad
EVE
Q165558
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
PER
Q2704274
defense of the Reich
EVE
Q210392
killed in action
Concept
Q741723
United States Army Air Forces
MEDIA
Q192075
P-51 Mustang
MISC
Q262655
Schöppenstedt
LOC
Q1197
Lower Saxony
LOC
Q71292
Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke
PER
1913-03-11T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
11 March 1913
DATE
1944-03-23T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
23 March 1944
DATE
1934-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1934
DATE
1935-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1935
DATE
1936-04-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
April 1936
DATE
1939-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1939
DATE
1939-11-07T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
7 November 1939
DATE
1940-05-18T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
18 May 1940
DATE
1941-08-06T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
6 August 1941
DATE
1941-09-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
September 1941
DATE
1942-05-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
May 1942
DATE
1942-12-23T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
23 December 1942
DATE
1944-03-23T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
23 March 1944
DATE
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date of birth
date of death
place of birth
allegiance
military branch
commander of (DEPRECATED)
cause of death
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date of death
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