Heinrich Höfemeier

Heinrich Höfemeier

Heinrich Höfemeier was born on 21 August 1913 at Langenholzhausen in Lippe. He joined the clandestine Luftwaffe on 1 May 1933 and trained as a Bordmechaniker (flight engineer). Höfemeier participated in the Spanish Civil War as a member of the ground staff of the Condor Legion. He served under the command of Oberleutnant Werner Mölders (115 victories, RK-Br, killed in flying accident 22 November 1941), the highest scoring German ace of the conflict.

On his return to Germany, Höfemeier was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Silber mit Schwertern in July 1939 and two months later underwent flying training. Oberfeldwebel Höfemeier was assigned to 1./JG 51 on 22 March 1941. On 22 June, Höfemeier claimed four Russian SB-2 twin-engined bombers shot down for his first victories. He claimed his 10th victory on 6 July. On 13 October, Höfemeier claimed three Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft shot down to record his 20th through 22nd victories.

On 25 September 1941, Höfemeier received the Ehrenpokal and by the end of 1941 had 25 victories to his credit. He was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz on 19 March 1942 for 30 victories and the Ritterkreuz on 5 April 1942 for 41 aerial victories and 12 aircraft destroyed on the ground. By January 1943, Höfemeier had 70 victories to his credit and had been promoted to the rank of Leutnant. On 20 March 1943, Höfemeier was transferred to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost to undertake a spell of instructing.

 Höfemeier returned to frontline duty as Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 51 on 2 May 1943. On 10 June he claimed three Il-2 Sturmoviks shot down (71-73). Höfemeier recorded 14 victories in July, including his 80th on 13 July. Höfemeier was shot down and killed in Fw 190 A-4 “Brown 5” (W.Nr. 145 667) by Russian Flak over Karatschew on 7 August 1943.

Heinrich Höfemeier was credited with 96 victories in 490 missions. All his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, including at least 27 Il-2 Sturmoviks and at least 16 twin-engined bombers. Additionally he destroyed 12 Russian aircraft on the ground.  

No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / Comments
1
22.6.1941
9:40
 SB-2 1./JG 51 -
2
22.6.1941
9:42
 SB-2 1./JG 51 -
3
22.6.1941
9:43
 SB-2 1./JG 51 Kossow-Siedlce at 1.200m
4
22.6.1941
9:45
 SB-2 1./JG 51 Kossow-Siedlce at 1.000m
5
30.6.1941
15:20
 E/a 1./JG 51 -
6
30.6.1941
15:30
 Seversky 1./JG 51 20 km E Bobruisk
7
2.7.1941
8:25
 SB-2 1./JG 51 -
8
2.7.1941
8:28
 SB-2 1./JG 51 -
9
3.7.1941
17:45
 Il-2 1./JG 51 -
10
6.7.1941
-
 Il-2 1./JG 51 -
11
12.7.1941
18:55
 DB-3 1./JG 51 -
12
22.7.1941
14:40
 Pe-2 1./JG 51 30 km E Loswiza
13
12.8.1941
11:15
 Il-2 1./JG 51 10 km SE Chmanitschi
14
18.8.1941
16:20
 I-16 1./JG 51 -
15
26.8.1941
-
 I-61 1./JG 51 -
16
3.10.1941
9:56
 I-61 1./JG 51 -
17
6.10.1941
12:45
 Pe-2 1./JG 51 -
18
8.10.1941
8:30
 I-15 1./JG 51 -
19
11.10.1941
10:40
 I-61 1./JG 51 -
20
13.10.1941
13:20
 Il-2 1./JG 51 -
21
13.10.1941
13:21
 Il-2 1./JG 51 -
22
13.10.1941
13:22
 Il-2 1./JG 51 -
23
15.10.1941
7:25
 E/a 1./JG 51 -
24
21.10.1941
16:05
 I-16 1./JG 51 -
25
29.10.1941
8:20
 I-61 1./JG 51 -
?
2.8.1942
18:30
 Il-2 3./JG 51 54 789 at 200m
?
2.8.1942
18:32
 Il-2 3./JG 51 54 756
62
15.11.1942
8:21
 P-40 1./JG 51 55 854 at 1.800m
63
14.12.1942
12:38
 Il-2 1./JG 51 -
64
16.12.1942
9:52
 Il-2 1./JG 51 20km NE Syberplowka
65
16.12.1942
12:13
 Pe-2 1./JG 51 25km NE Syberplowka 1.800m
66
16.12.1942
12:15
 Pe-2 1./JG 51 35km NE Syberplowka
67
17.12.1942
13:32
 Il-2 1./JG 51 19km NE Syberplowka
68
17.12.1942
14:04
 MiG-3 1./JG 51 46 161 at 1.800m
69
8.1.1943
8:10
 Il-2 1./JG 51 7 673
70
8.1.1943
8:11
 Il-2 1./JG 51 7 673
71
10.6.1943
19:20
 Il-2 3./JG 51 44 591
72
10.6.1943
19:22
 Il-2 3./JG 51 44 533
73
10.6.1943
19:29
 Il-2 3./JG 51 44 391
74
26.6.1943
19:31
 MiG-3 3./JG 51 54 181 at 2.000m
75
5.7.1943
8:57
 LaGG-5 3./JG 51 63 614 at 3.000m
76
6.7.1943
13:50
 Il-2 3./JG 51 63 584
77
8.7.1943
3:57
 Il-2 3./JG 51 63 712 at 400m
78
8.7.1943
9:28
 Il-2 3./JG 51 63 574 at 400m
79
11.7.1943
12:28
 LaGG-5 3./JG 51 63 443 at 100m
80
13.7.1943
12:59
 DB-3 3./JG 51 63 229 at 600m
81
13.7.1943
13:01
 DB-3 3./JG 51 63 264 at 700m
82
13.7.1943
13:05
 MiG-3 3./JG 51 73 148 at 1.000m
83
17.7.1943
16:47
 Il-2 3./JG 51 54 865 at 200m
84
24.7.1943
4:07
 LaGG-5 3./JG 51 63 413 at 2.200m
85
25.7.1943
18:14
 Il-2 3./JG 51 53 624 at 80m
86
26.7.1943
11:10
 Il-2 3./JG 51 63 182 at 200m
87
31.7.1943
9:57
 LaGG-5 3./JG 51 64 543
88
31.7.1943
10:12
 LaGG-3 3./JG 51 54 832 at 300m
89
1.8.1943
17:11
 Il-2 3./JG 51 54 732 at 500m
90
2.8.1943
11:47
 Boston III 3./JG 51 53 452 at 500m
91
2.8.1943
18:30
 Il-2 3./JG 51 54 789 at 200m
92
2.8.1943
18:32
 Il-2 3./JG 51 54 756
93
2.8.1943
18:35
 Il-2 3./JG 51 54 725
94
3.8.1943
11:45
 Il-2 3./JG 51 54 553 at 600m
95
3.8.1943
12:30
 Boston III 3./JG 51 53 312 at 1.000m
96
5.8.1943
4:45
 Pe-2 3./JG 51 53 185 at 3.000m

Victories : 96
Awards : Ehrenpokal (25 September 1941)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (19 March 1942)
                Ritterkreuz (5 April 1942)
Units : JG 51