Fritz Tegtmeier

Fritz Tegtmeier
Leutnant Tegtmeier
Birth date	30 July 1917(1917-07-30)
Place of birth	Sundern, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Death date	8 April 1999 (aged 81)
Place of death	Greven, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Allegiance	National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	JG 54, EJGr Ost, JG 7
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Barbarossa Eastern Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Fritz Tegtmeier (30 July 1917 – 8 April 1999) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht and fighter pilot (Jagdflieger) of the Luftwaffe, finally Oberleutnant, flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in World War II.

Military career

WWII

(Unteroffizier) Fritz Tegtmeier was posted to the 2nd Squadron (Staffel) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (2./JG 54) in October 1940 (after c. three years of service and training). He was severely injured on 17 November 1940, when his aircraft (Bf 109 E-1) crashed due to engine fire. He returned to his Staffel in the spring of 1941 and claimed his first aerial victory on 23 June 1941 (Soviet SB-2), the first day of Operation Barbarossa on the Eastern front. Tegtmeier, with seven aerial victories claimed, was again severely injured on 11 September 1941 (Bf 109 F-2) in a midair collision with a Messerschmitt Bf 110 near Gatschina. He bailed out with his parachute and was put in convalescence for many months. He returned to active duty in April 1942 and was assigned to the 1./JG 54. By the end of 1942, he had claimed 29 aerial victories. He claimed aerial victories number 36 and 37 on 23 January 1943. 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./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. Tegtmeier was promoted to Leutnant on 20 April 1944. He claimed his 100th and 101st aerial victory on 3 May 1944. In October 1944, he was made Staffelkapitän of the 3./JG 54. By the end of 1944, his score of aerial victories stood at 139 claims. When he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7 for flight training on the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter in March 1945 his score stood at 146 aerial victories. Fritz Tegtmeier had been nominated for the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub).

Fighter ace

Fighter ace Tegtmeier flew 700 missions, of which c. 530 were combat missions, including numerous close support sorties. All of his 146 victories (Luftsiege) were in the East. 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. On 14 September 1944, he shot down six Soviets.

His first known Soviet victory, a SB-2 on 23 June, 1941. Two more SB-2s on 24 June, 1941. A Yak-1 on 22 July, 1942. Two MiG-3s on 5 August, 1942. A Pe-2 on 30 December, 1942. A LaGG-3 on 7 January, 1943. Two LaGG-5s and three Il-2s on 14 January, 1943. A LaGG-3 and a LaGG-5 on 21 February, 1943. Two Il-2s on 1 May, 1943. Two Il-2s on 3 February, 1944. Five La-5s on 7 February, 1944. An La-5 and a Yak-9 on 6 March, 1944. Two Yak-9s, two P-39s, an Il-2 and a Pe-2 on 14 September, 1944. Just a few of many multiples! In addition, he sank two Motor Torpedo Boats.

Awards and decorations

• Pilot Badge (Flugzeugführerabzeichen)
• Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg) on 5 October 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot (Flugzeugführer)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe (Frontflugspange) in Gold with Pennant
• German Cross in Gold on 23 January 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the I. Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 54
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 March 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 2. Staffel/I. Gruppe//Jagdgeschwader 54

Gallery

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