8 April 1944(1944-04-08) (aged 28) near Gardelegen
Cause of death
Killed in action
Allegiance
Nazi Germany
Service/branch
Kriegsmarine (to 1936) Luftwaffe
Years of service
1935–1944
Rank
Hauptmann (captain)
Unit
JG 52, JG 77, JG 11
Commands held
5./JG 52, 1./JG 11
Battles/wars
See battles
World War II
Battle of France
Battle of Britain
Battle of Crete
Eastern Front
Operation Barbarossa
Defense of the Reich †
Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Josef Zwernemann (26 March 1916 – 8 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a fighter ace credited with 126 enemy aircraft shot down in over 600 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed on the Eastern Front, with ten aerial victories claimed over the Western Front during the Battle of Britain and in Defense of the Reich.
Born in Kirchworbis, Zwernemann volunteered for military service in the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany in 1935 and transferred to the Luftwaffe a year later. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in 1940. Zwernemann participated in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain where he claimed his first three aerial victory on 24 July 1940. In July 1941, he fought in the Battle of Crete and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Following his 57th aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 June 1942 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 31 October 1942 after 102 aerial victories.
In December 1943, Zwernemann was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) which was based in Germany and fighting in Defense of the Reich. Zwernemann claimed nine more victories before he was killed in action in combat with a North American P-51 Mustangs on 8 April 1944.
JosefZwernemann (26 March 1916 – 8 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a fighter ace credited with 126 enemy aircraft...
Josef "Pips" Priller (German: [ˈpʁɪlɐ]; 27 July 1915 – 20 May 1961) was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War...
with such experienced pilots as Alfred Grislawski, Hans Dammers and JosefZwernemann. After a few days of intensive mock combats and practice flights, Grislawski...
down According to Obermaier, he is credited with 97 aerial victories. JosefZwernemann † Germany Luftwaffe 126 Credited with 5 heavy bombers shot down Killed...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...
Johannes Wiese (Oak Leaves) Franz Woidich Hermann Wolf Walter Wolfrum JosefZwernemann (Oak Leaves) For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations, see...
ace in a day. On 22 September 1942, then again on 29 November 1942, JosefZwernemann, Luftwaffe fighter pilot on the Eastern Front, became a two-time ace...
Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 52. He succeeded Leutnant JosefZwernemann who temporarily led the Staffel after its former commander, Leutnant...
Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland (19 March 1912 – 9 February 1996) was a German Luftwaffe general and flying ace who served throughout the Second World War...
Gordon Gollob, Major Rudolf Schoenert, Hauptmann Heinz Strüning, Major Josef Fözö and Major Georg Christl. The eulogy was delivered by Generaloberst...
sailors died. Schuck, one of his junior officers, appealed to Reichskommissar Josef Terboven. On 12 January 1945 Terboven hand-delivered Schuck's affidavit...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...
Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller (4 May 1917 – 22 June 1944) was a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 102 enemy aircraft shot...
three children, with two older brothers, Wilhelm Wilhelm (1904–1981) and Josef Wilhelm (1909–1981). His father fought in and survived World War I as an...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...
17 September. At the time, JG 26 was under the command of Oberstleutnant Josef Priller. Caldwell described Krupinski's style of command as too loose. He...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...
(129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? JosefZwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123)...