Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

Helmut Neumann

Helmut Neumann was a Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 62 aerial victories achieved in 162 combat missions, becoming an "ace-in-a-day" on two separate occasions. All but two of his aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.

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Helmut Neumann
Born(1921-11-21)21 November 1921
Frankfurt am Main, Weimar Republic
Died21 April 1992(1992-04-21) (aged 70)
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch
 Luftwaffe
Service years
1939–1945
Rank
Leutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 5
Commands14./JG 5
Conflicts
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Helmut Neumann (21 November 1921 – 21 April 1992) was a Luftwaffe (German air force) fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 62 aerial victories achieved in 162 combat missions, becoming an "ace-in-a-day" on two separate occasions. All but two of his aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.

Career

Neumann was born on 21 November 1921 in Frankfurt am Main, at the time in the Province of Hesse-Nassau within the Weimar Republic.1 Following completion of flight,Note 1 Neumann completed his fighter pilot training with the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe West, a supplementary training unit for fighter pilots, based in Cazaux, France. He was then posted to 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing) on 11 August 1942 based in Kirkenes.3 At the time, 7. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Hans-Curt Graf von Sponeck, son of Hans Graf von Sponeck, and subordinated to III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 5 headed by Hauptmann Günther Scholz.4 Two days later, he crash landed his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 (Werknummer 6033—factory number) at Kirkenes, nearly destroying the aircraft.5

On 4 April 1943 at 13:10, 7. and 9. Staffel were scrambled to intercept an inbound Soviet formation of Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, escorted by Bell P-39 Airacobra and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters. In this encounter, Neumann claimed one of the P-39 fighters shot down which was not confirmed.6 During this aerial engagement, his Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 8562) suffered engine failure, resulting in a forced landing at Petsamo.7 On 26 September, Neumann was wounded in combat when his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15791) was hit by anti-aircraft artillery during a search and rescue mission southeast of the Liza Bight. Nevertheless, he managed to fly back to Petsamo.8 Searching for Leutnant Friedrich Schumann, who remained missing in action, shrapnel from the anti-aircraft artillery shell had hit him in the throat. Heavily bleeding, he had to be pulled out if his aircraft. Nearly dying from the loss of blood, his speech remained impaired for the rest of his life and Neumann was hospitalized for six months.9

Squadron leader and end of war

On 4 September 1944, Finland implemented a ceasefire followed by the Soviet Union a day later, effectively ending the Continuation War. Consequently, IV. Gruppe of JG 5 was ordered to move to northern Norway. That day, 14. Staffel relocated to Trondheim-Værnes Airfield and placed under the command of Neumann, replacing Oberleutnant Horst Keim.10 On 26 September, Neumann claimed his 50th aerial victory when he shot down a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter.11

On 13 January 1945, Neumann flew his last combat mission with JG 5. He was then transferred to Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2 for conversion training to the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. With this unit, he flew the Me 262 for the first time at Lechfeld Airfield on 28 January. Command of his former 14. Staffel of JG 5 was transferred to Leutnant Hans Richter.12 Neumann was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 12 March 1945 for 62 aerial victories claimed.13

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Neumann was credited with 62 aerial victories.14 Spick also lists him with 62 aerial victories claimed in 162 combat missions.15 Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 62 aerial victories, claimed in 162 combat missions. All but two of his aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.16

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 37 Ost RC-3". 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.17

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Neumann 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 ? (exclamation mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mombeek, Mathews, and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –18
Eastern Front, eastern and northern Norway, and Finland — 1 January – 31 December 1943
1 22 July 1943 23:02 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost RC-3, 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Pummanki1920 6 23 August 1943 04:53 P-39 PQ 37 Ost SE 3, north of Eyna Guba21
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Eyna Guba22
2 25 July 1943 02:55 P-39 PQ 37 Ost QC-419
18 km (11 mi) south of Kiberg20 		7 2 September 1943 17:50 P-40 northwest of Pummanki21
8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of Pummanki22
3 25 July 1943 02:58 P-39 PQ 37 Ost QC-619
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Kiberg20 		8 14 September 1943 18:39 P-39 PQ 37 Ost RC 46, northwest of Petsamo21
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Petsamo Bight23
4 18 August 1943 12:43 P-39 southeast of Eyna Guba21
4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Eyna Guba20 		9 14 September 1943 18:53 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RC 93, south of Heinäsaari24
4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of Heinäsaari23
5 18 August 1943 14:45 P-39 southeast of Eyna Guba21
8 km (5.0 mi) southeast of Eyna Guba22
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –16
Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — May – July 1944
10 11 May 1944 07:35 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost QC-5/625
35 km (22 mi) northwest of Vayda-Guba26 		29♠ 17 June 1944 21:35 Boston PQ 37 Ost RC-4/127
34 km (21 mi) northeast of Jaarnet28
11 16 May 1944 19:15 P-39 PQ 37 Ost QC-3/825
20 km (12 mi) east of Kiberg26 		30 27 June 1944 16:41 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost SD-6/627
24 km (15 mi) southeast of Kirkenes28
12 16 May 1944 19:40 P-39 PQ 37 Ost QF-9/525
31 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Cape Lazar26 		31 27 June 1944 16:42 P-40 PQ 37 Ost SD-8/427
18 km (11 mi) south-southwest of Kirkenes28
13 25 May 1944 21:47 P-40 north-northeast of Berlevåg25
18 km (11 mi) north-northeast of Berlevåg29 		32 27 June 1944 16:46 Boston PQ 37 Ost RB-4/527
21 km (13 mi) northeast of Kirkenes28
14 25 May 1944 21:49 Boston north-northeast of Berlevåg30
29 km (18 mi) north-northeast of Berlevåg29 		33♠ 28 June 1944 00:01 Boston PQ 37 Ost SU-3/331
4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Kirkenes32
15 25 May 1944 21:51 P-39 north of Berlevåg30
16 km (9.9 mi) north of Berlevåg29 		34♠ 28 June 1944 00:03 Boston PQ 37 Ost SU-8/131
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kirkenes32
16 26 May 1944 05:01 P-40 north-northeast of Hamningberg30
19 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Hamningberg29 		35♠ 28 June 1944 00:11 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RD-9/631
13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of Ivarnet32
17 26 May 1944 05:02 P-39 north of Hamningberg30
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Hamningberg29 		36♠ 28 June 1944 03:47 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RD-7/431
6 km (3.7 mi) north-northeast of Petsamo Fjord32
18 26 May 1944 05:03 Il-2 northeast of Hamningberg30
12 km (7.5 mi) north-northeast of Hamningberg29 		37♠ 28 June 1944 03:48 P-40 PQ 37 Ost SD-2/331
13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of Petsamo Fjord32
19 26 May 1944 05:07 P-39 northeast of Hamningberg30
26 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Hamningberg29 		38♠ 28 June 1944 03:59 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RC-8/931
12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Petsamo Fjord32
20 15 June 1944 02:42 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RD-6/830
8 km (5.0 mi) north of Pumanki33 		39 4 July 1944 03:47 P-40 PQ 37 Ost NB-7/531
21 km (13 mi) northeast of Makur32
21 15 June 1944 19:28 P-40 PQ 37 Ost SD-2/3, northeast of Kirkenes30
8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Pumanki33 		40 4 July 1944 19:15 Boston PQ 37 Ost RA-2/531
22 km (14 mi) northwest of Jaarnet34
22♠ 17 June 1944 07:48 P-40 PQ 37 Ost PC-6/230
12 km (7.5 mi) west of Kiberg33 		41 4 July 1944 19:19 P-40 PQ 37 Ost SA-3/431
18 km (11 mi) east of Kirkenes34
23♠ 17 June 1944 07:49 P-40 PQ 37 Ost PC-9/330
18 km (11 mi) east-northeast of Kiberg33 		42 17 July 1944 18:54 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RA-4/135
21 km (13 mi) north of Kirkenes34
24♠ 17 June 1944 08:06 Boston PQ 37 Ost QC-2/727
20 km (12 mi) south of Kiberg28 		43 17 July 1944 18:56 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RA-5/435
19 km (12 mi) west of Kirkenes34
25♠ 17 June 1944 08:10 Il-2 PQ 37 Ost/QC-9/127
27 km (17 mi) southwest of Kiberg28 		44 17 July 1944 18:59 Boston PQ 37 Ost SB-4/935
27 km (17 mi) southeast of Kirkenes36
26♠ 17 June 1944 21:28 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RB-6/527
38 km (24 mi) northeast of Kirkenes28 		45 28 July 1944 13:15 P-39 PQ 37 Ost RU-3/735
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Vadsø37
27♠ 17 June 1944 21:29 P-39 PQ 37 Ost RB-5/327
35 km (22 mi) northeast of Kirkenes28 		46 28 July 1944 13:22 Il-2 PQ 37 Ost RA-3/635
17 km (11 mi) southeast of Ekkerøya37
28♠ 17 June 1944 21:30 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RB-7/827
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Jaarnet28 		47 28 July 1944 13:26 P-39 PQ 37 Ost RC-5/435
16 km (9.9 mi) northwest of Heinäxaret island37
– Stab of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 5 –38
Eastern Front — August 1944
48 17 August 1944 10:18 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost RB39
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Ekkerøya37 		49 23 August 1944 12:17?Note 2 Il-2 PQ 37 Ost RQ39
5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Ekkerøya40
– 14. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –38
Eastern Front — 6 September – 6 November 1944
50?Note 3 26 September 1944 16:48 Yak-941 40 km (25 mi) east of Ekkerøya38 56 8 October 1944 09:03 P-39 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Petsamo4142
51?Note 3 27 September 1944
—
 Pe-2 Ekkerøya41
23 km (14 mi) east-southeast of Ekkerøya 		57 9 October 1944 08:31 P-39 27 km (17 mi) southeast of Petsamo4142
52?Note 3 27 September 1944 11:41?Note 4 P-3941 23 km (14 mi) south of Kiberg38 58 9 October 1944 08:34 P-39 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Petsamo4142
53 27 September 1944 11:43 P-39 30 km (19 mi) south of Kiberg4140 59 9 October 1944 08:37 Boston 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Petsamo4142
54 27 September 1944 11:44 Boston 40 km (25 mi) east of Ekkerøya4140 60 9 October 1944 14:47 Boston 52 km (32 mi) southeast of Petsamo4142
55 29 September 1944 15:27 P-39 28 km (17 mi) east-southeast of Ekkerøya41
26 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Ekkerøya42

Awards

Notes

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.2
  2. According to Mombeek, Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:15.4038
  3. This claim is not lised by Mombeek.40
  4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:40.38
References

References

Citations

  1. Obermaier 1989, p. 173.
  2. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. Mombeek 2003, p. 250.
  4. Prien et al. 2006, p. 470.
  5. Prien et al. 2006, p. 484.
  6. Mombeek 2003, p. 342.
  7. Prien et al. 2012, p. 316.
  8. Prien et al. 2012, p. 318.
  9. Mombeek 2010, p. 75.
  10. Mombeek 2011, pp. 73, 296.
  11. Weal 2016, p. 101.
  12. Mombeek 2011, p. 143.
  13. Weal 2007, p. 43.
  14. Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  15. Spick 1996, p. 240.
  16. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 909–910.
  17. Planquadrat.
  18. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 909.
  19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 312.
  20. Mombeek 2011, p. 272.
  21. Prien et al. 2012, p. 313.
  22. Mombeek 2011, p. 273.
  23. Mombeek 2011, p. 274.
  24. Prien et al. 2012, p. 314.
  25. Prien et al. 2022, p. 144.
  26. Mombeek 2011, p. 283.
  27. Prien et al. 2022, p. 146.
  28. Mombeek 2011, p. 286.
  29. Mombeek 2011, p. 284.
  30. Prien et al. 2022, p. 145.
  31. Prien et al. 2022, p. 147.
  32. Mombeek 2011, p. 287.
  33. Mombeek 2011, p. 285.
  34. Mombeek 2011, p. 288.
  35. Prien et al. 2022, p. 148.
  36. Mombeek 2011, p. 289.
  37. Mombeek 2011, p. 290.
  38. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 910.
  39. Prien et al. 2022, p. 149.
  40. Mombeek 2011, p. 291.
  41. Prien et al. 2022, p. 173.
  42. Mombeek 2011, p. 292.
  43. Dixon 2023, p. 208.
  44. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 329.
  45. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 323.
  46. Scherzer 2007, p. 566.

Bibliography

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