|
~SOLD~SPATE Wolfgang
Major
Späte, Wolfgang
* 08.09.1911 Dresden/Sachsen
+ 30.04.1997 Edewecht/Oldenburg
Awarded Knights Cross: 05.10.1941
as: Oberleutnant Flugzeugführer 5./JG 54
Awarded Oakleaves as the 90th Recipient : 23.04.1942 as Oberleutnant
Staffelkapitän 5./JG 54
Signed 3 ½” x 5” postwar photo
Before World War II Späte was a well-known and award-winning glider pilot and a student of the TH Darmstadt. After serving with a squadron within Jagdgeschwader 54, flying Bf 109s, he became head of the testing program for the Messerschmitt Me 163 "Komet" and flew this advanced rocket plane on several occasions. When the Me 163 was deemed combat-ready, the testing program was disbanded and Späte transferred to a combat unit on the Eastern Front. He served in various squadrons during the hectic, last-ditch air defense of the Reich.
Serving with JG 54 on the Eastern front, Jagdgeschwader 400 and Jagdgeschwader 7 in Western Europe, he is credited with the destruction of 99 enemy aircraft shot down in over 600 combat missions. He claimed five confirmed victories with the Messerschmitt Me 262.[Notes 2]
In 1956 he rejoined the military service in the Bundeswehr. Oberstleutnant Späte retired on 30 September 1967. He died on 30 April 1997 in Edewecht.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Price: $0.00
Please contact us before ordering to confirm availability and shipping costs.
Buy now with your credit card
other ways to buy
|
