Helmut Woltersdorf

Infobox Military Person
name=Helmut Woltersdorf
lived=birth date|1915|11|15|df=y — death date and age|1942|6|2|1915|11|15|df=y
placeofbirth=Friedberg, Germany
placeofdeath=Wadden Sea, Netherlands


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=
serviceyears=1934–1942
rank=Oberleutnant
commands=
unit=II./ZG 141, I./ZG 76, 4./NJG 1
battles=World War II
*Polish Campaign
*Norwegian Campaign
*Battle of Britain
*Defense of the Reich
awards=German Cross in Gold (18 May 1942)
laterwork=

Helmut Woltersdorf was a German Luftwaffe flying ace during World War II. Woltersdorf is credited with 24 victories, including 20 Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers. Woltersdorf flew the Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Dornier Do 215 night-fighter. [For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see "List of German World War II night fighter aces"]

Military career

Woltersdorf initially joined "II. Gruppe" "Zerstörergeschwader 141", based at Padubitz until May 1939, when it was renamed I./ZG 76.Woltersdorfs first kill came on 2 September 1939 over Poland. While escorting Dornier Do 17s he shot down a PZL P.11 fighter. He was to score his second kill against this type on 9 September.

During the Norwegian Campaign Helmut scored four kills against RAF Vickers Wellington bombers, two on the 12 April and two victories on 30 April.

During the Battle of Britain Woltersdorf destroyed two Spitfires on 15 August, his only kills of the battle. I./ZG 76 had been withdrawn from the front-line in September 1940 to re-train in the night-fighter role.

Defending Belgian and Dutch air space, Woltserdorf destroyed nine Wellington, three Handley Page, two Avro Manchester one Lockheed Ventura and a single Handley Page Halifax between 12 May 1941 and 2 June 1942 [Flypast March 2008, p. 26.] .

On the night of 6/7 July 1941 Woltersdorf, now flying the Dornier Do 215B-5 night fighter, was shot down off the Dutch coast. Woltersdorf ditched his aircraft into the Waddenzee Sea.

In October 2007 the Dornier was discovered largely intact. It remains the only known Dornier in existence, and there is a good chance of it being recovered (see the Dornier Do 215 page for more details) [Flypast, No.315, October 2007, p. 63.] .

Death

On 2 June 1942 Woltersdorf was shot down and killed by a Hawker Hurricane piloted by New Zealander Sergeant Peter Gawith of No. 3 Squadron RAF. The RAF unit had been conducting night sweeps over Europe since 11 December 1941 [Flypast March 2008, p. 25.] Gawith survived just two more months. On 28 July he was posted as missing in action over Noordwijk, Netherlands [Flypast March 2008, p. 26.] .

References

* "Flypast", October 2007, No. 315.
* "Flypast", March 2008, No. 320.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. & Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.