Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 26, 2026

Wilhelm Philipp

Wilhelm Philipp was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. During his career Wilhelm Philipp was credited with 81 aerial victories in 500+ missions.

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Wilhelm Philipp
Born31 January 1916
Böhla, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Died10 January 1986(1986-01-10) (aged 69)
Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch
 Luftwaffe
Service years
?–1945
Rank
Oberfeldwebel (staff sergeant)
UnitJG 26
JG 54
Conflicts
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Wilhelm Philipp (31 January 1916 – 10 January 1986) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. During his career Wilhelm Philipp was credited with 81 aerial victories in 500+ missions.

Career

Philipp was born on 31 January 1916 in Böhla, present-day part of Priestewitz, at the time in the Kingdom of Saxony, part of the German Empire.1

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 31 October 1939, Unteroffizier Philipp joined Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing), which had been named after Albert Leo Schlageter on 1 May 1939.2 On 27 May 1940 during the Battle of Dunkirk, II. Gruppe reported combat with Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire fighters over Ostend. This encounter is not matched with British records. However, the combat may have been with Hawker Hurricane fighters from No. 17 and No. 605 Squadron. That day at 17:30, Philipp claimed a Spitfire fighter shot down over Ostend.3

On 7 June 1940, Philipp was forced to bail out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 following combat with Hurricane fighters near Dieppe.4

At the Channel and over England

On 17 August 1942, his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-3 (Werknummer 5405—factory number) suffered engine fire resulting in an emergency landing at Ligescourt.5

During the Dieppe Raid on 19 August, on II. Gruppe's second combat air patrol of the day, at 08:37, Philipp was credited with the destruction of a Spitfire southwest of Dieppe, the aircraft coming from either the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 31st Fighter Group or the RAF No. 350 Squadron.6 At 17:32, a 4. Staffel Schwarm (flight) intercepted withdrawing Allied aircraft. In this encounter, Philipp claimed a Spitfire fighter west of Dieppe for his 20th aerial victory.7 For his achievements to date, Philipp was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 24 August.1

In November 1942, Philipp was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) which was fighting on the Eastern Front.8

War against the Soviet Union

Philipp claimed his first aerial victory on the Eastern Front on 15 January 1943. He had been assigned to 3. Staffel of JG 54 which at the time was commanded by Hauptmann Gerhard Koall. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe of JG 54 headed by Hauptmann Hans Philipp and was based at Krasnogvardeysk, present-day Gatchina. The Gruppe supported German forces of Army Group North fighting against the Soviet Operation Iskra which aimed to break the Wehrmacht's siege of Leningrad. On 15 January, Philipp was credited with shooting down a Lavochkin La-5 fighter.9

On 22 February, his Fw 190 A-4 suffered engine failure resulting in a forced landing at Krasnogvardeysk.10 On 7 September, Philipp was wounded in combat when his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 550501—factory number) was shot up by Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters resulting in an emergency landing.11

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Philipp was credited with 81 aerial victories.12 Spick also lists him with 81 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions. Of his 81 aerial victories, 22 were claimed during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, 55 on the Eastern Front, and four on the Western Front.13 Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that he claimed at least 79 claims. This figure includes 54 claims on the Eastern Front, and over 24 claims on the Western Front.14

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 10243". 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.15

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Caldwell, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –16
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 27 May 1940 17:30 Spitfire Ostend17 3 29 May 1940 18:45 Spitfire Dover17
2 28 May 1940 12:30 Spitfire east-southeast of Dover17
English Channel 		4 7 June 1940 19:30 Hurricane east of Dieppe18
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –16
Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 21 June 1941
5 16 August 1940 14:06?Note 1 Spitfire Dover19
west of Dover 		7 8 November 1940 17:40 Spitfire Tonbridge20
6 22 August 1940 20:05 Spitfire Dover19
north-northeast of Dover 		8 5 February 1941 14:15 Spitfire Neufchâtel20
– 2. Ergänzungsjagdgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –16
Western Front — 22 June – 31 December 1941
9 12 August 1941
—
 Blenheim21 10 12 August 1941
—
 Blenheim21
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –22
On the Western Front — 1 January – November 1942
11 9 March 1942 16:45 Spitfire Boulogne-sur-Mer23 17 31 July 1942 15:13 Spitfire west of Berck24
12 17 May 1942 11:37 Spitfire 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of Calais25 18 17 August 1942 19:06 Spitfire west of Dieppe24
13 2 June 1942 11:05 Spitfire middle of the English Channel, west of Berck25
Bay du Somme, Berck-sur-Mer 		19 19 August 1942 08:37 Spitfire southwest of Dieppe24
14 8 June 1942 13:58 Spitfire west-northwest of Dunkirk25 20 19 August 1942 17:32 Spitfire west of Dieppe24
15 13 July 1942 15:10 Spitfire middle of the English Channel25 21 24 August 1942 17:35 Spitfire northwest of Fécamp24
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Fécamp
16 26 July 1942 13:47 Spitfire off the English Coast25 22 29 August 1942 12:53 Mosquito southeast of Hastings26
15–20 km (9.3–12.4 mi) southeast of Hastings
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –27
Eastern Front — November 1942 – 3 February 1943
23 15 January 1943 09:37 La-5 PQ 1024328
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shlisselburg 		26 23 January 1943 14:10 Il-2 PQ 0023429
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Shlisselburg
24 15 January 1943 12:40 Yak-4 PQ 0028228
20 km (12 mi) west of Mga 		27 24 January 1943 09:15 MiG-3 PQ 0026429
25 23 January 1943 13:51 Il-2 PQ 1015129
southeast of Shlisselburg 		28 24 January 1943 09:40 Yak-1 PQ 1018329
east of Mga
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –27
Eastern Front — 4 February – 7 September 1943
29 10 February 1943 12:41 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 0041230
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin 		46 23 August 1943 07:39 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 4029231
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Shlisselburg
30 10 February 1943 15:14 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 0041430
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin 		47 25 August 1943 05:15 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 4169131
31 14 February 1943 15:10?Note 2 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 0025430
Pushkin-Mga 		48 26 August 1943 18:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 5174131
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Okhtyrka
32 14 February 1943 15:14 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 0028330
20 km (12 mi) west of Mga 		49 28 August 1943 11:36 Boston PQ 35 Ost 4367431
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Sevsk
33 19 February 1943 07:55 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 1041430
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Lyuban 		50 29 August 1943 06:43 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 4368131
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Sevsk
34 19 February 1943 07:58 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 1053330
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Lyuban 		51 1 September 1943 18:08 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 2545432
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Yelnya
35 21 February 1943 11:45 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 1047333
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Lyuban 		52 1 September 1943 18:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 2542432
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Yelnya
36 21 February 1943 11:47 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 1044233
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Mga 		53 1 September 1943 18:12 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 2542432
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Yelnya
37 23 February 1943 10:02?Note 3 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 1014433
south of Shlisselburg 		54 1 September 1943 18:14 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 2545232
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Yelnya
38 23 February 1943 10:05 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 1014233
south of Shlisselburg 		55 2 September 1943 17:20 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 2573232
20 km (12 mi) south of Schatalowka
39 7 March 1943 11:13?Note 4 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 1838234
45 km (28 mi) north of Kholm 		56 4 September 1943 06:40 Boston northeast of Roslavl32
40 15 March 1943 09:23 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 1973434
20 km (12 mi) north of Staraya Russa 		57 4 September 1943 10:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 2667432
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Moschna
41 15 March 1943 09:24 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 1973434
Lake Ilmen 		58 5 September 1943 11:18 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 2546332
20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya
42 15 March 1943 09:29 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 1968334
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Novgorod 		59 5 September 1943 11:20 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 3534132
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya
43?Note 5 15 March 1943 16:13 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 1825234 60 5 September 1943 11:21 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 2546232
20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya
44 20 March 1943 09:07 MiG-3 PQ 36 Ost 0044235
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Slutsk 		61 6 September 1943 14:03 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 2665332
40 km (25 mi) north of Yartsevo
45 20 March 1943 09:10 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 0027435
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Pushkin

Awards

Notes

Notes

  1. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:00.16
  2. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:11.27
  3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:03.27
  4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:03.27
  5. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.27
  6. According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54.40
References

References

Citations

  1. Obermaier 1989, p. 179.
  2. Caldwell 1996, pp. 6, 13.
  3. Caldwell 1996, pp. 30–31.
  4. Prien et al. 2001, p. 220.
  5. Prien et al. 2004, p. 378.
  6. Caldwell 1996, pp. 269–271, 278.
  7. Caldwell 1996, pp. 276, 279.
  8. Caldwell 1996, p. 301.
  9. Prien et al. 2006, pp. 77, 81, 98.
  10. Prien et al. 2012, p. 189.
  11. Prien et al. 2012, p. 193.
  12. Zabecki 2014, p. 1615.
  13. Spick 1996, p. 236.
  14. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 964–966.
  15. Planquadrat.
  16. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 964.
  17. Prien et al. 2001, p. 218.
  18. Prien et al. 2001, p. 219.
  19. Prien et al. 2002, p. 310.
  20. Prien et al. 2002, p. 312.
  21. Prien et al. 2003, p. 562.
  22. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 964–965.
  23. Prien et al. 2004, p. 371.
  24. Prien et al. 2004, p. 373.
  25. Prien et al. 2004, p. 372.
  26. Prien et al. 2004, p. 375.
  27. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 965.
  28. Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
  29. Prien et al. 2006, p. 99.
  30. Prien et al. 2012, p. 169.
  31. Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
  32. Prien et al. 2012, p. 183.
  33. Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
  34. Prien et al. 2012, p. 171.
  35. Prien et al. 2012, p. 172.
  36. Dixon 2023, p. 86.
  37. Patzwall 2008, p. 161.
  38. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 350.
  39. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 338.
  40. Scherzer 2007, p. 593.

Bibliography

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