Wilhelm Crinius
The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his white shirt collar. He is looking to the right of the camera.
Wilhelm Crinius
Born(1920-12-02)2 December 1920
Hohenhausen in Kalletal
Died26 April 1997(1997-04-26) (aged 76)
Stuhr-Fahrenhorst
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–45
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 53
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other workSenior manager, private industry

Wilhelm Crinius (2 December 1920 – 26 April 1997) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] Crinius is credited with 114 aerial victories claimed in approximately 400 combat missions. He recorded 100 victories over the Eastern Front. Of his 14 victories claimed over the Western Front, one was a four-engined bomber.[2] On 23 September 1942, Crinius became the only German fighter pilot to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves simultaneously.[2]

Early life and career

Wilhelm Crinius was born in Hohenhausen, Kalletal on 2 December 1920. His father, also named Wilhelm, was a master craftsman and house painter and decorator, his mother née Tölle.[3] Crinius attended the Volksschule, a primary school, in Hohenhausen from 1927 until 1935. In 1935 he started his merchant apprenticeship at the savings and loans bank in Hohenhausen. Parallel to his apprenticeship, he attended the vocational school. He worked at the saving and loans bank in Hohenhausen as an employee from Easter 1938 until November 1938.[4]

In the summer of 1939, Crinus served in the compulsory labour service (Reichsarbeitsdienst), working in a construction unit on the Westwall, a fortified defensive line on Germany's western border. In January 1940, Crinius joined the Luftwaffe and was trained as a pilot.[5][Note 1]

World War II

In February 1942, Gefreiter (lance corporal) Crinius was posted to 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) based in Sicily.[Note 2] In March and April 1942, he flew 60 missions over Malta. On 1 April, he was promoted to Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer). In May 1942, I./JG 53 was transferred to the Eastern Front near Kursk. Crinius achieved his first victories on 9 June when he shot down two Il-2 Sturmoviks. On 8 July, Crinius shot down two Douglas Boston bombers west of Voronezh, although his aircraft was hit by Russian anti-aircraft fire and he was forced to belly-landed his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 10243—factory number) between the enemy lines, where he was rescued by a German patrol and safely returned to his unit.[7]

In July 1942, I./JG 53 was sent to the southern sector of the Eastern Front, where Crinius claimed his 15th kill on 1 August.[8] He claimed his 24th victory on 11 August 1942. The next day I./JG 53 relocated from Bereska to Tusov, closer to the front and Crinius shot down three Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3s, bringing his total to 27 victories.[9] Crinius recorded his 49th victory on 27 August which was also the 1,000th victory for I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 53.[2] After his 55th victory on 1 September he was promoted to Feldwebel (Sergeant). Hereafter Crinius was particularly successful, claiming some 40 victories in August and 46 victories in the timeframe 1–22 September, including his 100th on 22 September.[2] He was the 22nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[10]

Together with Friedrich-Karl Müller, Crinius received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 23 September 1942.[11] He was the 127th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler in October at the Führerhauptquartier Werwolf, Hitler's headquarters located in a pine forest about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of Vinnytsia, in Ukraine. Three other Luftwaffe officers were presented with the Oak Leaves that day by Hitler, Oberleutnant Müller, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Tonne and Leutant Hans Beißwenger.[12] Crinius was promoted to Leutnant der Reserve (second lieutenant of the reserves) on 1 October 1942.[12] Following the presentation, Müller, Tonne and Crinius were ordered to Berlin where they made a propaganda appearance at the "House of the Press".[13] At the same time, I. Gruppe of JG 53 relocated from the Eastern Front to Comiso Airfiled in Sicily where they arrived on 10 October.[14]

In November 1942, Crinius relocated with I./JG 53 to Tunisia. In Africa, Crinius claimed another 14 victories, including a B-17 Flying Fortress on 26 December 1942 over Bizerte.[15] On 13 January 1943, he engaged in aerial combat with Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire fighters near El Kala, Crinius' aircraft was hit and he was wounded in the thigh. Breaking off combat, he headed for his base but his engine then caught fire. He ditched his damaged Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 10805) in the sea. He spent 24 hours in the water before being rescued by French sailors and Arabs. After hospitalisation for his wounds, Crinius became a prisoner of war.[2][16]

Later life

After World War II, Wilhelm Crinius worked in private industry, serving as a director in the German branch of the Dutch Philips GmbH. He was appointed chairman of the board of directors of the Ernst Düllmann GmbH in 1971.[17] On 18 June 1989, as a pensioner, Crinius ran for the European Parliament in Hesse as candidate for the right-wing German People's Union (Deutsche Volksunion).[18] He died on 26 April 1997 in Stuhr-Fahrenhorst, Lower Saxony.[15]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Crinius was credited with 114 aerial victories.[19] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 114 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 100 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 14 over the Western Allies, including one four-engined bomber.[20]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 39242". 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.[21]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Crinius did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[20]
Eastern Front — 28 May 1942 – 27 September 1942
1 9 June 1942 17:25 Il-2[22] 51 28 August 1942 14:41 LaGG-3 PQ 50792[23]
80 km (50 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad
2 9 June 1942 17:30 Il-2[22] 52 28 August 1942 14:44 LaGG-3 PQ 50792[23]
80 km (50 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad
3 21 June 1942 19:10 LaGG-3[24] 53 30 August 1942 05:27 MiG-3 PQ 4921[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Grebenka
4 23 June 1942 18:20 LaGG-3[24] 54 30 August 1942 05:31 MiG-3 PQ 4921[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Grebenka
5 23 June 1942 18:40 R-5[24]
vicinity of Yelets		 55 1 September 1942 07:43 Pe-2 PQ 4935[25]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Bassargino
6 23 June 1942 19:10 MiG-3[24] 56 2 September 1942 09:43 P-40 PQ 4948[25]
35 km (22 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
7 28 June 1942 18:30 R-10 (Seversky)[26] 57 2 September 1942 12:17?[Note 3] LaGG-3 PQ 4921[25]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Grebenka
8 28 June 1942 18:33 R-10 (Seversky) north of Tschurnawa[26] 58 2 September 1942 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 4923[25]
35 km (22 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad
9 3 July 1942 18:42 P-39 south of Walinow[26] 59 2 September 1942 15:23 P-40 PQ 4933[25]
vicinity of Stalingrad
10 3 July 1942 18:53 P-39 Kriwonka[26] 60 3 September 1942 14:12 La-5 PQ 4942[25]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad
11 5 July 1942 07:55 MiG-3 east of Voronezh[26] 61 4 September 1942 05:12?[Note 4] Yak-1 PQ 4992[25]
65 km (40 mi) east of Stalingrad
12 8 July 1942 04:50 Boston[26] 62 4 September 1942 10:25?[Note 5] Yak-1 PQ 4923[25]
35 km (22 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad
13 8 July 1942 08:50?[Note 6] Boston east of Podgonnoje[26] 63 4 September 1942 13:20 LaGG-3 PQ 49251[25]
25 km (16 mi) east of Stalingrad
14 27 July 1942 17:40 R-5 PQ 1761[29] 64 5 September 1942 13:20 Yak-1 PQ 49274[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Stalingrad
15 1 August 1942 14:19 LaGG-3 PQ 3941[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Kalach		 65 5 September 1942 13:22?[Note 7] Yak-1 PQ 49283[25]
25 km (16 mi) east of Stalingrad
16 3 August 1942 10:54 Il-2 PQ 3919[31]
vicinity of Kalach		 66 6 September 1942 13:31 Yak-1 PQ 4912[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Gumrak
17 3 August 1942 10:57 Il-2 PQ 3919[31]
vicinity of Kalach		 67 6 September 1942 13:32 Yak-1 PQ 4912[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Gumrak
18 3 August 1942 11:03 Il-2 PQ 3927[31]
vicinity of Kalach		 68 6 September 1942 13:33 Yak-1 PQ 4912[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Gumrak
19 5 August 1942 09:36 Il-2 PQ 4971[31]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Aksal		 69 6 September 1942 13:57 LaGG-3 PQ 5992[25]
65 km (40 mi) east of Stalingrad
20 6 August 1942 08:47 R-5 PQ 3965[32]
35 km (22 mi) north of Shutow		 70 7 September 1942 05:23?[Note 8] La-5 PQ 4925[25]
25 km (16 mi) east of Grebenka
21 6 August 1942 16:40 Il-2 PQ 4958[32]
35 km (22 mi) northeast of Aksal		 71 7 September 1942 13:35?[Note 9] Il-2 PQ 4925[25]
25 km (16 mi) east of Grebenka
22 8 August 1942 06:00 Il-2 PQ 4961[32]
35 km (22 mi) south-southeast of Stalingrad		 72 7 September 1942 16:45 Il-2 PQ 49274[33]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Stalingrad
23 8 August 1942 12:01 MiG-3 PQ 3945[32]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Kalach		 73 7 September 1942 16:49 Il-2?[Note 10] PQ 4925[33]
25 km (16 mi) east of Grebenka
24 9 August 1942 18:26 Il-2 PQ 3947[34]
30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Kalach		 74 8 September 1942 10:20 Il-2 PQ 4916[33]
vicinity of Grebenka
25 12 August 1942 04:23 MiG-3 PQ 39714[34]
20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Kotelnikovo		 75 8 September 1942 10:27 Yak-1 PQ 4924[33]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Grebenka
26 12 August 1942 04:24 MiG-3 PQ 39711[34]
vicinity of Shutow		 76 9 September 1942 10:17?[Note 11] LaGG-3 PQ 4924[33]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Grebenka
27 12 August 1942 04:34 Il-2 PQ 3959[34]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Nizhny Chir		 77 9 September 1942 10:45 Yak-1 PQ 4059[33]
45 km (28 mi) east of Grebenka
28 13 August 1942 10:14 LaGG-3 PQ 49422[34]
25 km (16 mi) east of Stalingrad		 78 9 September 1942 10:48 Yak-1 PQ 4059[33]
45 km (28 mi) east of Grebenka
29 13 August 1942 16:35 LaGG-3 PQ 3942[34]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Kalach		 79 10 September 1942 06:15 Yak-1 PQ 4927[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Stalingrad
30 13 August 1942 17:55 LaGG-3 PQ 3942[34]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Kalach		 80 10 September 1942 06:19 Yak-1 PQ 4925[33]
25 km (16 mi) east of Grebenka
31?[Note 12] 14 August 1942 04:44 R-5[36] 81 10 September 1942 14:10 LaGG-3 PQ 4947[33]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad
32 14 August 1942 14:15 Il-2[36] 82 11 September 1942 11:40 LaGG-3 PQ 4079[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Grebenka
33 15 August 1942 11:43?[Note 13] LaGG-3 PQ 4943[36]
40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad		 83 11 September 1942 11:45 Yak-1 PQ 4087[37]
20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Stalingrad
34 16 August 1942 06:10 MiG-3 PQ 4921[36]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Grebenka		 84 11 September 1942 14:27?[Note 14] Yak-1 PQ 4079[37]
35 17 August 1942 15:45?[Note 15] R-5 PQ 49263[36]
35 km (22 mi) east of Stalingrad		 85 15 September 1942 14:52?[Note 16] La-5 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Stalingrad[38]
36 18 August 1942 08:05 R-5 PQ 49253[36]
25 km (16 mi) east of Stalingrad		 86 16 September 1942 12:05?[Note 17] LaGG-3 PQ 49422[38]
37 19 August 1942 15:25 Boston PQ 59173[36]
45 km (28 mi) east of Stalingrad		 87 17 September 1942 09:46 Yak-1 PQ 4075[38]
30 km (19 mi) north of Gumrak
38 19 August 1942 15:28 Il-2 PQ 59173[36]
45 km (28 mi) east of Stalingrad		 88 17 September 1942 09:48 Yak-1 PQ 4076[38]
25 km (16 mi) north of Grebenka
39 20 August 1942 04:26 LaGG-3 PQ 49533[36]
25 km (16 mi) north of Grebenka		 89 17 September 1942 09:51 Yak-1 PQ 4076[38]
25 km (16 mi) north of Grebenka
40 20 August 1942 04:49?[Note 18] Er-2 PQ 4078[36]
20 km (12 mi) north of Gumrak		 90 17 September 1942 14:48 Yak-1 PQ 40731[38]
35 km (22 mi) north of Grebenka
41 21 August 1942 13:17 Boston PQ 5077[39]
50 km (31 mi) northeast of Stalingrad		 91 19 September 1942 07:08 Yak-1 PQ 49124[40]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Gumrak
42 23 August 1942 10:14 U-2 PQ 49223[39]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Stalingrad		 92 19 September 1942 07:11 Yak-1 PQ 49122[40]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Gumrak
43 23 August 1942 10:22 R-5 PQ 4927[39]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Stalingrad		 93 20 September 1942 07:15 Yak-1 PQ 49291[41]
35 km (22 mi) east of Stalingrad
44 23 August 1942 12:50 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 4916[39]
vicinity of Grebenka		 94 20 September 1942 09:56 Yak-1 PQ 40761[41]
25 km (16 mi) north of Grebenka
45 23 August 1942 16:22 MiG-3 PQ 4924[39]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Grebenka		 95 20 September 1942 09:58 Yak-1 PQ 4076[41]
25 km (16 mi) north of Grebenka
46 24 August 1942 06:13 MiG-3 PQ 5914[23]
45 km (28 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad		 96 20 September 1942 16:10 LaGG-3 PQ 5911[41]
47 24 August 1942 06:17 MiG-3 PQ 5915[23]
60 km (37 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad		 97 21 September 1942 06:07 Pe-2 PQ 49241[41]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Stalingrad
48 26 August 1942 08:24 MiG-3 PQ 4916[23]
vicinity of Grebenka		 98 21 September 1942 17:15 Yak-1 PQ 40792[41]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Grebenka
—
[Note 19]		 27 August 1942 11:15 MiG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Stalingrad 99 21 September 1942 17:16 Yak-1 PQ 40792[41]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Grebenka
49 27 August 1942 17:35 Yak-4 PQ 4911[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Pitomnik		 100 22 September 1942 06:45 Yak-1 PQ 49132[41]
south of Achtuba
50 28 August 1942 08:12 P-40 PQ 4943[23]
40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[35]
Mediterranean Theater — 1 October – 31 December 1942
101 1 December 1942 16:34 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Cap Scaramia[42] 105 26 December 1942 13:28 B-17 Bizerte[42]
102 1 December 1942 16:38 Spitfire 25 km (16 mi) south of Cap Scaramia[42] 106 28 December 1942 14:07 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Souk El Arba[42]
103 18 December 1942 11:55 P-38 south of Tunis[42] 107 29 December 1942 14:35 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) east-northeast of Bône[42]
104 18 December 1942 11:56 P-38 south of Tunis[42]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[35]
North Africa — 1 January – May 1943
108 1 January 1943 11:15 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Bône[43] 112 7 January 1943 15:03 Spitfire PQ 03 Ost 8582[43]
109 1 January 1943 15:54 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Bône[43] 113 8 January 1943 13:45 P-38 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Béja[43]
110 4 January 1943 10:36 Boston 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest of Sbeitla[43] 114 8 January 1943 13:56 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Souk El Arba[43]
111 6 January 1943 13:15 P-40 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Cap Rosa[43]

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[6]
  2. ↑ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:32.[27]
  4. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 05:18.[27]
  5. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:35.[27]
  6. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 04:46.[28]
  7. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:23.[27]
  8. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 05:28.[27]
  9. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:27.[27]
  10. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Petlyakov Pe-2.[27]
  11. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:37.[35]
  12. ↑ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[27]
  13. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:42.[27]
  14. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:33.[35]
  15. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:48.[27]
  16. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:02.[35]
  17. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:05.[35]
  18. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 04:47.[27]
  19. ↑ This claim is by Mathews and Foreman,[27] but not by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[23]
  20. ↑ According to MacLean on 30 April 1942.[45]
  21. ↑ According to MacLean on 25 June 1942.[45]
  22. ↑ According to Obermaier on 9 September 1942.[2]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Obermaier 1989, p. 53.
  3. 1 2 3 4 MacLean 2007, p. 99.
  4. ↑ MacLean 2007, p. 98.
  5. ↑ Stockert 2012, pp. 82–83.
  6. ↑ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  7. ↑ Prien 1998, pp. 413, 432.
  8. ↑ Prien 1998, p. 416.
  9. ↑ Prien 1998, p. 419.
  10. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  11. ↑ Prien 1998, p. 429.
  12. 1 2 Stockert 2012, p. 83.
  13. ↑ Prien 1998, pp. 429–430.
  14. ↑ Prien 1998, pp. 431, 485.
  15. 1 2 MacLean 2007, p. 97.
  16. ↑ Scutts 1994, p. 56.
  17. ↑ "Chronicle" (web). Die Zeit (in German). 18 June 1989. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  18. ↑ "Ballot of 1989 EP elections - List 14" (PDF). Wiesbaden (in German). 18 June 1989. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  19. ↑ Zabecki 2019, p. 330.
  20. 1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 193–195.
  21. ↑ Planquadrat.
  22. 1 2 Prien et al. 2006, p. 21.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Prien et al. 2006, p. 31.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2006, p. 22.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Prien et al. 2006, p. 32.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prien et al. 2006, p. 23.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 194.
  28. ↑ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 193.
  29. ↑ Prien et al. 2006, p. 24.
  30. ↑ Prien et al. 2006, p. 25.
  31. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2006, p. 26.
  32. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2006, p. 27.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Prien et al. 2006, p. 33.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prien et al. 2006, p. 28.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 195.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Prien et al. 2006, p. 29.
  37. 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2006, p. 35.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Prien et al. 2006, p. 36.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2006, p. 30.
  40. 1 2 Prien et al. 2006, p. 37.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Prien et al. 2006, p. 38.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prien et al. 2004, p. 81.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prien et al. 2010, p. 469.
  44. 1 2 Thomas 1997, p. 105.
  45. 1 2 MacLean 2007, p. 96.
  46. ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 63.
  47. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 263.
  48. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 155.
  49. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 61.

Bibliography

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