Theo Osterkamp

Theo Osterkamp 15 April 1892(1892-04-15) — 2 February 1975(aged 82)
Theo Osterkamp Nickname Onkel (Uncle) Place of birth Düren, Rhine ProvincePlace of death Baden-BadenAllegiance German Empire(to 1918)
Weimar Republic(to 1933)
Nazi GermanyService/branch LuftwaffeYears of service 1914-1944 Rank GeneralleutnantUnit JG 51Commands held JG 51Battles/wars World War I
World War II

Awards House Order of Hohenzollern
Pour le Mérite
Ritterkreuz

Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp (15 April 1892 - 2 January 1975) was a World War I and World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He flew alongside Oswald Boelcke and was a friend of Manfred von Richthofen during the first World War, scoring 32 victories. In World War II he led Jagdgeschwader 51 through the Battle of Britain and claimed a further 6 victories, in the process becoming one of only a few men to score victories in both World Wars.

1 World War I
2 Interwar years
3 World War II
4 Notes
5 References

World War I

Osterkamp flew as a naval pilot operating over the Western Front. On 14 August 1914 he joined the Marinefliegerkorps. He then flew with the 2. Marine-Fliegerabteilung in Flanders. During 1915-1916 he served as an air observer, and became the first German pilot to fly a land-based aircraft to England on a reconnaissance-mission. In 1917 he joined the Kampffliegerschule (Combat pilot school) in Putzig and then joined the Marine-Jagdstaffel 1. On 15 October 1917 Leutnant Osterkamp took command over Marine-Jagdstaffel 2. He scored a total of 32 victories during the war, and was awarded the Pour le Mérite on 2 September 1918.

Interwar years

Between the two World Wars Osterkamp was involved in the formation of the new Luftwaffe, amongst other things by setting up Jagdfliegerschule 1. He also participated in the second, third and fourth FAI International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930 (11th place), Challenge 1932 (12th place) and Challenge 1934 (5th place).

World War II

On 19 September 1939 Oberst Osterkamp was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 51. During the Battle of France he claimed four victories, the first on 12 May 1940. During the Kanalkampf period of the Battle of Britain he claimed a further two victories, bringing his total to six. He was replaced as commander of JG 51 by Werner Mölders on 23 July. Promoted to Generalmajor, Osterkamp was awarded his Ritterkreuz on 22 August 1940. Following his replacement from JG 51 Oberkamp was appointed Jagdfliegerführer 2, the commander of fighter aircraft in Luftflotte 2.[1]

On 1 August 1942 he was transferred to Luftsgaustab z.b.V. Afrika. On 5 April 1943 he was appointed Jagdfliegerführer Sizilien and served until replaced on 15 July by Adolf Galland. He then served in a number of Staff positions until being appointed Inspekteur der Luftwaffen-Boden-organisation (Inspector of Luftwaffe ground organisation) in 1944. After criticism from High Command he was dismissed from the service on 21 December 1944.

Notes

^ See Luftwaffe Organization

References

Aces of the Luftwaffe Osterkamp bio
Short Osterkamp bio (German)

Military offices Preceded by
none Commander of Jagdgeschwader 51Mölders
November 25, 1939– July 23, 1940Succeeded by
Major Werner MöldersPreceded by
unknown Commander of Jagdfliegerführer 1
July 22, 1940– January 1, 1941Succeeded by
unknown Preceded by
Generalmajor Kurt-Bertram von DöringCommander of Jagdfliegerführer 2
December 1, 1940– August 1, 1941Succeeded by
Oberst Joachim-Friedrich Huth Preceded by
General Stefan Fröhlich Acting Commander of Fliegerführer Afrika
April, 1942– April 12, 1942Succeeded by
General Otto Hoffmann von Waldau Preceded by
none Commander of Jagdfliegerführer Sizilien
April 5, 1943– June 15, 1943Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Adolf Galland