Emil Lang (fighter ace)

Infobox Military Person
name=Emil Lang
lived=birth date|1909|1|14|df=y — death date and age|1944|9|3|1909|1|14|df=y
placeofbirth=Talheim, Germany
placeofdeath=Melsbroek, Belgium


caption=Emil Lang
nickname="Bully"
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1939 - 1944
rank=Hauptmann
commands=9./JG 54, II./JG 26
unit=JG 54, JG 26
battles=World War II
*Eastern Front Campaign
*Defense of the Reich Campaign
awards=Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
laterwork= Emil "Bully" Lang ( 14 January, 1909 - 3 September, 1944) was one of the most respected Luftwaffe "Experten" during World War II. He was credited with 173 aerial victories (144 on the Eastern Front, 29 on the Western Front) in over 400 sorties, before his death in combat over Belgium.

On 3 November 1943 Lang recorded 18 kills in a single day against Soviet aircraft (an all-time record). Of the 29 victories claimed against the Western Allies, all but one occurred over the Normandy Invasion Front, making him the highest scoring German Ace of the Campaign.

Emil Lang flew the Focke-Wulf Fw 190.

Early life

Emil “Bully” Lang was born on 14 January 1909 at Talheim in the Neckar region of Württemberg. He led an eventful life prior to his Luftwaffe career. Lang was reportedly a track-and-field athlete as well as a qualified civilian pilot, flying with Lufthansa during the 1920s and early 1930s. He earned the nickname “Bully” from his 'bulldog-like' looks.

Career in the Luftwaffe

A professional pilot in civilian life, Emil Lang joined the Luftwaffe as a cargo pilot in 1942. He wasn't admitted to fighter school until 1943, overcoming considerable skepticism on account of his advanced age (34 years old, probably the oldest fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe). He was assigned to JG 54 and immediately involved in heavy fighting on the Eastern Front.Lang's first kills came in March, and within a month he was transferred to 5./JG 54 of which he became Staffelkapitän.

In spite of a late start, he proved to be talented and a fast learner. Before the year's end his kill tally stood at over 100 victories, with a remarkable 71 victories in just 3 weeks of October 1943.

In 9 April 1944, Oberleutnant Lang was appointed Staffelkapitän 9./JG 54 engaged in Reich Defence. He was awarded the Eichenlaub in April 1944.

In June, Lang claimed 15 victories, including his 150th on 14 June and four P-51 fighters claimed on 20 June. Hauptmann Lang was then made Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26 in late June 1944. On 9 July 1944 Lang shot down three RAF Spitfires, on 15 August two P-47 and on 25 August three P-38 fighters. On 26 August, he claimed three Spitfires for his final victories.

Death

Lang was killed on 3 September 1944 when his Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 171 240) "Green 1" hit the ground and exploded near St Trond. Lang experienced mechanical trouble with his aircraft and had difficulties raising his landing gear when ten minutes into the flight Lang's schwarm was intercepted by Spitfire XIVs of 41 Squadron, RAF. He was shot down and killed by Flight Lieutenant Terry Spencer. [ Fighter Command War Diaries. John Foreman, details supplied by S/L T.Spencer DFC ]

Achievements

* 4 USAAF P-51 Mustang fighters shot down in a day (20 June 1944)
* 3 RAF Spitfire fighters shot down in five minutes (9 July 1944)
* 3 USAAF P-38 Lightning fighters shot down in five minutes (26 August, 1944)
* 2 USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt fighters shot down in one minute (15 August, 1944)

Awards

* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (27 October 1943)
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
* German Cross in Gold (25 November 1943)
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (22 November 1943)
** 448. Oak Leaves (11 April 1944)

References

*cite web | title=Aces of the Luftwaffe| work=Emil Lang| url=http://www.luftwaffe.cz/lang.html| accessdate=7 May| accessyear=2007
*cite web | title=The Jagdgeschwader 54 HomePage
work=Emil Lang| url=http://www.jg54greenhearts.com/Lang.htm| accessdate=7 May| accessyear=2007
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
* Schaulen, Fritjof. "Eichenlaubträger 1940-1940 Band II Ihlefel-Primozic". Pour le Mérite, 2005. ISBN 3-932381-21-1.
* Weal, John. "Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Russian Front". Osprey, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-518-7.