Emil Lang Explained

Emil Lang
Birth Date:14 January 1909
Birth Place:Thalheim, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Death Place:near Overhespen, German-occupied Belgium
Child:yes
Death Cause:Killed in action
Placeofburial:Lommel, Belgium
Nickname:"Bully"
Serviceyears:1938–1944
Rank:Hauptmann (captain)
Commands:5./JG 54, 9./JG 54, II./JG 26
Unit:KG 51, JG 54, JG 26
Awards:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Emil Lang (14 January 1909 – 3 September 1944), nicknamed "Bully", was a Luftwaffe flying ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. Lang was credited with 173 aerial victories—144 on the Eastern Front, 29 on the Western Front—and one Soviet MTB sunk in 403 combat missions.

Posted to a fighter wing on the Eastern Front, Lang claimed his first aerial victories in March 1943. He was credited with 72 victories in a three-week period, among them an unsurpassed total of 18 on 3 November 1943. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943 for his 119 victories to that time. By March 1944, his claims totaled 144, for which he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944. Transferred to the Western Front, he claimed his 150th victim during the Normandy Invasion on 14 June 1944. He scored his last three victories on 26 August 1944; on 3 September 1944, he was killed in action over Belgium.

Early life and career

Lang was born on 14 January 1909 at Thalheim, now part of Fraunberg in the Isar region near Freising in Bavaria, Germany. He was a well-known track-and-field athlete who ran the middle distances. Prior to World War II, he qualified as a civil pilot and flew with Deutsche Luft Hansa. Lang earned the nickname "Bully" from his 'bulldog-like' looks, characterized by his barrel-chested physique. He joined the Luftwaffe as a member of the military reserve force on 4 January 1938. From 8 May to 3 June 1939, he served with 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Kampfgeschwader 51 (KG 51—51st Bomber Wing). On 26 August 1939, he was put on active duty.

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Following the outbreak of war, Lang served as a transport pilot with the Fliegerhorst Kompanie (Airfield Company) at Gablingen, flying missions to Norway, France, Crete and North Africa. On 1 November 1941, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant).

Lang was 33 years old when he was accepted for fighter pilot training in 1942. He undertook courses at the Jagdflieger Vorschule 1 (1st Fighter Pilot Preparation School) (3 July 1942 – 14 August 1942) and Jagdfliegerschule 5 (5th Fighter Pilot School) (15 August 1942 – 5 January 1943). He was then assigned to Jagdgruppe Ost (Fighter Group East) on 6 January 1943 and then to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front on 11 February 1943.[1] Serving with 1./JG 54 (1st Squadron of the 54th Fighter Wing), Leutnant Lang was 34 and considered exceptionally old for a novice fighter pilot. His first three aerial victories were claimed in March 1943, and within a month he was transferred to 5./JG 54 (5th Squadron of the 54th Fighter Wing) of which he became Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) on 20 August 1943. Lang had already briefly served as acting Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel from July to early August before he officially succeeded Oberleutnant Max Stotz in this function after Stotz was reported missing in action on 19 August 1943.

Before the year's end, Lang's kill tally stood at over 100 victories, with a remarkable 72 scored around Kiev in just three weeks during October and November 1943. He was the 58th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. This series of multiple victories included ten on 13 October 1943 and 12 (victories 61–72) in three combat missions on 21 October 1943, which earned Lang his first of two references in the Wehrmachtbericht, a bulletin issued by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, the Wehrmacht High Command. During the Battle of Kiev, Lang set an all-time world record of 18 aerial victories claimed from four combat missions in one day on 3 November 1943, making him aviation history's leading ace-in-a-day. This achievement led to him appearing on the cover of the 13 January 1944 Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung (Berlin's Illustrated Magazine). Lang was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) after 119 aerial victories on 22 November 1943, followed three days later by the German Cross in Gold (German: Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).

On 9 April 1944, Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) Lang was appointed Staffelkapitän of the 9./JG 54 (9th Squadron of the 54th Fighter Wing) engaged in Defence of the Reich on the Western Front. He replaced Leutnant Alfred Kromer who was killed on 8 March. Kromer had only led the Staffel for two days after its former commander, Oberleutnant Gerhard Loos, had been killed on 6 March. The Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe led by Major Werner Schröer. Command of 5. Staffel was then transferred to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Schilling.

He became the 448th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 11 April 1944 after 144 aerial victories, all claimed on the Eastern Front. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Hitler's residence in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, on 5 May 1944. Also present at the ceremony were Anton Hafner, Otto Kittel, Günther Schack, Alfred Grislawski, Erich Rudorffer, Martin Möbus, Wilhelm Herget, Hans-Karl Stepp, Rudolf Schoenert, Günther Radusch, Otto Pollmann and Fritz Breithaupt, who all received the Oak Leaves on this date.

Western Front

When Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe on 6 June, III. Gruppe was immediately ordered to relocate to Villacoublay Airfield. That day, the Gruppe reached Nancy, arriving in Villacoublay the following day where it was subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps). Its primary objective was to fly fighter-bomber missions in support of the German ground forces. The Gruppe flew its first missions on 7 June to the combat area east of Caen and the Orne estuary.

In June, Lang claimed 15 aerial victories, including his 150th—a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) P-47 Thunderbolt on 14 June 1944—and four P-51 Mustang fighters shot down in four minutes on 20 June 1944, plus another four P-51s on 24 June. Hauptmann (Captain) Lang was then made Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of the II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—2nd Group of the 26th Fighter Wing) on 28 June 1944. He replaced Hauptmann Johannes Naumann who had been injured in aerial combat on 23 June. On 9 July, he claimed three Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfires (victories 160–162)—no Spitfires were shot down this day: American historian Donald Caldwell noted that his claims were exaggerated but asserted Lang's ebullience, energy and drive made him an effective combat leader. On 15 August 1944 two P-47s, and on 25 August 1944 three P-38 Lightning fighters in five minutes. The hard-hit 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group lost 8 P-38s, its worst combat performance. The 429th also lost three P-38s. Not a single Fw 190 was lost. The Bf 109-equipped III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76 (Fighter Wing 76) were also involved and claimed six P-38s. During the day it lost 21 Bf 109s, three pilots killed and 18 missing.

He claimed three Spitfires in two missions for his final victories (victories 171–173) on 26 August. His victims most likely belonged to 421 and 341 Squadron RAF. Between 24 May and 28 August 1944, Lang had claimed 29 aerial victories on the Western Front, including nine P-51 Mustangs. On 6 June 1944, his group was the first to reach 100 aerial victories over Normandy, earning him and his group a second and final reference in the Wehrmachtbericht on 30 August.

Death

On 3 September 1944, Emil Lang was killed in action when his Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 171 240—factory number) "Green 1" hit the ground and exploded in a field at Overhespen. He had experienced mechanical trouble on the runway when he and the other aircraft of his flight took off at Melsbroek at 1.20 pm. Ten minutes later, Lang was still having difficulties raising his landing gear. Flying at an altitude of 200m (700feet), his wingman, Unteroffizier Hans-Joachim Borreck, called out P-47 Thunderbolts to their rear. Lang broke upward, to the left. Leutnant Alfred Groß saw Lang's Fw 190 diving in flames, its gear extended, but he lost sight of Lang when his own craft was hit and he had to bail out. Examination of both German and American records suggests that Borreck and Groß misidentified their opponents. The P-51 Mustangs of the 55th Fighter Group's 338th Squadron intercepted a flight of three to six Focke-Wulfs. Lieutenant Darrell Cramer took a high deflection shot at the Focke-Wulf on the left, which fell upside down in a steep dive and crashed hard into the ground; this undoubtedly was Emil Lang.

On 28 September 1944, Lang's commanding officer, Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) Josef Priller, submitted a request for posthumous promotion to Major. In describing Lang's character, Priller said:

Captain Lang is a fully matured character, serious and calm in his demeanor, yet definite and energetic when strength was needed. Very good attitude as an officer. Demands of himself first. He understands how to reach the men under his command correctly. Captain Lang possesses an exemplary concept of service, has initiative and talent for improvisation to a large degree, well rooted in the National Socialist ideas.
The commander of the II. Jagdkorps (2nd Fighter Corps), Generalleutnant (Major General) Alfred Bülowius, concurred with the assessment. Despite these recommendations, Emil Lang did not receive a posthumous promotion to Major. Lang was succeeded by Hauptmann Georg-Peter Eder as commander of II. Gruppe of JG 26.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Lang was credited with 173 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 172 aerial victory claims. This number includes 141 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 31 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 00333". The Luftwaffe grid map (German: Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360sqmi. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3x in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories
ClaimClaim#DateTimeTypeLocationClaimClaim#DateTimeTypeLocation
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
1123 March 194311:10MiG-3PQ 36 Ost 00333
vicinity of Pushkin
121230 July 194308:50P-39PQ 36 Ost 10194
east of Mga
2230 May 194320:19P-40PQ 36 Ost 10151
southeast of Schlüsselburg
13131 August 194305:20P-39PQ 36 Ost 10144
south of Schlüsselburg
3330 May 194320:26P-40PQ 36 Ost 10243
25km (16miles) east-southeast of Schlüsselburg
14141 August 194305:28P-39PQ 36 Ost 10163
southeast of Schlüsselburg
4413 July 194309:05Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 63231
20km (10miles) southwest of Belyov
15151 August 194312:34P-39PQ 36 Ost 10142
south of Schlüsselburg
5513 July 194309:08Il-2 m.H.?PQ 35 Ost 63252
40km (30miles) east-southeast of Oryol
16161 August 194312:39P-40PQ 36 Ost 10172
vicinity of Mga
6613 July 194319:05La-5PQ 35 Ost 64763171713 September 194312:48Pe-2?PQ 35 Ost 26521
40km (30miles) north of Moschna
7717 July 194313:42LaGG-3PQ 35 Ost 64894
25km (16miles) southeast of Mtsensk
181814 September 194316:40Yak-7PQ 35 Ost 25693
25km (16miles) east-southeast of Shatalovo
8817 July 194313:44LaGG-3PQ 35 Ost 63221
40km (30miles) east of Oryol
191915 September 194309:10P-39PQ 35 Ost 25494
15km (09miles) west of Yelnya
9920 July 194319:05P-39PQ 35 Ost 64584
20km (10miles) west of Mtsensk
202015 September 194309:15Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 25492
15km (09miles) west of Yelnya
101020 July 194319:07P-39PQ 35 Ost 64594
10km (10miles) west of Mtsensk
212115 September 194310:45La-5PQ 35 Ost 25633
25km (16miles) southwest of Yelnya
111128 July 194311:10La-5PQ 36 Ost 10314
10km (10miles) south of Mga
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, II. Gruppe records do not list any victory claims between 18 September and 3 October 1943 although at least 26 aerial victories had been claimed. Among these missing records are Lang's aerial victories 22 to 25, including one claim on 27 September 1943.
26224 October 194316:07LaGG-3northeast of Chernobyl87♠8323 October 194315:35La-5east of Khodoriv
27235 October 194316:05Yak-9south of Gorostaipol8884♠24 October 194314:46Yak-7northeast of Khodoriv
28♠247 October 194311:17La-5northeast of Gorostaipol8985♠24 October 194314:48Yak-7northwest of Khodoriv
29♠257 October 194311:28La-5east-northeast of Stracholessje9086♠24 October 194314:49Yak-7east of Iwankow
30♠267 October 194311:31La-5northeast of Stracholessje9187♠24 October 194314:51La-5east of Khodoriv
east of Iwankow
31♠277 October 194314:03La-5northeast of Stracholessje88♠24 October 194314:56Yak-7east of Khodoriv
32♠287 October 194314:10La-5east of Gubin928925 October 194314:46La-5north-northeast of Balnowka
33298 October 194306:08LaGG-3northeast of Khodoriv939025 October 194314:47La-5northeast of Gussenzow[Gussenzy]
34308 October 194306:10La-5north of Khodoriv94♠912 November 194315:05Yak-7west of Voropayevo
35318 October 194306:13La-5northeast of Gussenoye95♠922 November 194315:06Yak-7west of Voropayevo
36329 October 194312:30La-5south of Gruschevo96♠932 November 194315:07Yak-9east of Lyutezh
37339 October 194316:08La-5north of Gruschevo97♠942 November 194315:10Yak-9north of Novosselk
38349 October 194316:10La-5Schtschutschunka98♠952 November 194315:15Yak-9northeast of Lyutezh
39359 October 194316:15LaGG-3south of Yashnyky99♠962 November 194315:17Yak-9east-southeast of Lyutezh
403610 October 194306:34LaGG-3east-northeast of Yashnyky100♠972 November 194315:18Yak-9east-southeast of Lyutezh
413710 October 194306:38LaGG-3northeast of Yashnyky101♠982 November 194315:19Yak-9west of Saimje
423810 October 194316:12La-5east of Ljutesh102♠993 November 194309:31Il-2northeast of Lyutezh
433911 October 194306:10P-40east of Stracholessje103♠1003 November 194309:32Il-2north-northeast of Lyutezh
444011 October 194316:01La-5west of Yashnyky104♠1013 November 194309:33Il-2northeast of Kastarowitschi
454111 October 194316:02La-5west of Yashnyky105♠1023 November 194309:35Yak-7northeast of Kastarowitschi
464211 October 194316:03La-5west of Yashnyky106♠1033 November 194309:36Il-2northwest of Glebovka
474312 October 194309:02Pe-2north of Gorostaipol107♠1043 November 194309:40Yak-7east-northeast of Glebovka
484412 October 194310:47Il-2east of Gruschewo108♠1053 November 194309:42Yak-7east-northeast of Glebovka
494512 October 194310:50La-5west of Grigorovka109♠1063 November 194313:00La-5east-northeast of Blistawizd
504612 October 194310:52La-5Dnieper River110♠1073 November 194314:15Il-2east of Moschtschum
51♠4713 October 194305:50La-5northwest of Tschozki111♠1083 November 194314:16Il-2north of Moschtschum
52♠4813 October 194305:52La-5south of Sarubenzojezy112♠3 November 194314:17Il-2north of Vyshgorod
53♠4913 October 194305:58La-5south of Grigorovka113♠1093 November 194314:20La-5northwest of Vyshgorod
54♠5013 October 194306:03La-5southwest of Sarubenzy114♠1103 November 194314:22La-5north of Kiev
55♠5113 October 194306:05Yak-7north of Trachhtemirow115♠1113 November 194314:23Il-2west of Valki
56♠5213 October 194306:08Yak-7north-northwest of Grigorovka116♠1123 November 194314:45Yak-9east of Gostomel
57♠5313 October 194309:31La-5west of Trachhtemirow117♠1133 November 194314:46Yak-9west of Vyshgorod
58♠5413 October 194309:35La-5southeast of Grigorovka118♠1143 November 194314:48Il-2east of Gostomel
59♠5513 October 194309:40Yak-7south of Grigorovka119♠1153 November 194314:49Il-2north of Mostischtsche
60♠5613 October 194315:55Yak-7north of Yashnyky1164 November 194314:17Il-2north of Vyshgorod
61♠5721 October 194309:32La-5southwest of Grigorovka12011728 November 194312:26Il-2east of Kotscherewo
62♠5821 October 194309:34La-5northwest of Grigorovka12111829 November 194307:29La-5west of Mestetschko
63♠5921 October 194309:37Yak-7southeast of Yashnyky12211929 November 194310:32Yak-9south of Wnysokoye
64♠6021 October 194309:38Yak-7south-southeast of Yashnyky12312029 November 194310:34Il-2northwest of Wnysokoye
65♠6121 October 194309:41Il-2northwest of Rshischtschew12412130 November 194311:48Il-2north of Nebryliza
66♠6221 October 194312:10Yak-9south of Tschernischewa12512230 November 194311:49Il-2PQ 25 Ost 91562
20km (10miles) north-northwest of Zelenogorst
67♠6321 October 194312:11Yak-9south of Grigorovka12612313 December 194311:25La-5Nebryliza
68♠6421 October 194312:13Yak-7south of Trachtemirow12712415 January 194411:55La-5PQ 25 Ost 99114
15km (09miles) east of Lake Samara
69♠6521 October 194312:13Yak-7north of Gruschewo12812515 January 194411:56La-5PQ 25 Ost 99123
25km (16miles) east of Lake Samara
70♠6621 October 194314:46Yak-7southwest of Lassurzow12912625 March 194408:04Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 78451
40km (30miles) west of Selo
71♠6721 October 194314:48Yak-7southeast of Tschernishow13012725 March 194408:05Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 78423
40km (30miles) west-northwest of Selo
72♠6821 October 194314:49Yak-9southwest of Dobriza12825 March 194408:12Yak-9Lake Peipus, 20km (10miles) northwest of Pskov
73♠6922 October 194306:20La-5south of Yashnyky13112926 March 194410:20Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 70663
10km (10miles) west-southwest of Hungerburg
74♠7022 October 194306:22La-5southwest of Yashnyky13213026 March 194413:40P-40PQ 26 Ost 70692
15km (09miles) southwest of Narva
75♠7122 October 194306:27La-5east of Gruschewo13313126 March 194413:41P-40PQ 26 Ost 70692
15km (09miles) southwest of Narva
76♠7222 October 194306:30La-5east of Jeu1341321 April 194414:20Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 88324
10km (10miles) south of Pskov
77♠7322 October 194306:34La-5south of Tschernischew1351332 April 194411:15Il-2PQ 25 Ost 88351
vicinity of Selo
78♠7422 October 194312:10Yak-9north of Yashnyky1361342 April 194413:40?Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 88551
east of Ostrov
79♠7522 October 194312:11Yak-9east of Yashnyky1371352 April 194413:45?Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 88523
15km (09miles) northwest of Ostrov
80♠7622 October 194312:16Yak-7south-southeast of Yashnyky1381363 April 194411:17?Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 88362
20km (10miles) southwest of Selo
81♠7722 October 194312:18La-5west-southwest of Yashnyky1391374 April 194411:42Il-2PQ 25 Ost 88359
vicinity of Selo
82♠7823 October 194315:12Yak-9south of Grigorovka1401384 April 194411:43Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 88356
vicinity of Selo
83♠7923 October 194315:14Yak-9east of Gruschewo1411394 April 194416:04?Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 88352
20km (10miles) southwest of Selo
84♠8023 October 194315:15Yak-9north-northeast of Yashnyky1421404 April 194416:08Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 88359
vicinity of Selo
85♠8123 October 194315:20Yak-7village edge of Romaschki1431416 April 194407:15La-5PQ 25 Ost 88355
vicinity of Selo
86♠8223 October 194315:22La-5east of Rshitschtschew
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
14414224 May 194411:42B-17PQ 15 Ost EG 6-9
Oranienburg
15315120 June 194416:20P-51PQ 04 Ost N/AC-4
west of Saint-André-de-l'Eure
14514328 May 194414:23P-38PQ 15 Ost FD 9
Tangermünde
15415220 June 194416:21P-51PQ 04 Ost N/AB-6
north of Breuteuil
1461448 June 194416:49P-51PQ 05 Ost S/UB-4
5km (03miles) northwest of Bernay
15515324 June 194407:18P-51PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8
Évreux
14714511 June 194410:53Lysandernortheast of CaenPQ 15 West S/TU-7
style="border-left: 3px solid grey;"
15615424 June 194407:19P-51PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8
Évreux
14814614 June 194407:29P-47PQ 04 Ost N/AC-3
Pacy-sur-Eure/Évreux
15715524 June 194407:21P-51PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8
Évreux
14914714 June 194407:31P-47PQ 04 Ost N/AC-6
east of Saint-André-de-l'Eure
15815624 June 194407:22P-51PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8
Évreux
15014814 June 194407:32P-47PQ 04 Ost N/AC-4
Ivry-la-Bataille/Dreux
15915726 June 194411:03SpitfirePQ 05 Ost S/UB-9/2
southeast of Bernay
15114920 June 194416:17P-51PQ 04 Ost N/AC-5
Saint-André-de-l'Eure
15830 June 194406:50unknown
15215020 June 194416:18P-51PQ 04 Ost N/AC-4
Saint-André-de-l'Eure
Claim*Claim#DateTimeTypeLocationClaim*Claim#DateTimeTypeLocation
Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 –
1601599 July 194413:19SpitfirePQ 15 West UU/PQ 05 Ost UA
Caen
16716623 August 194413:40SpitfirePQ 05 Ost UE
north of Paris
1611609 July 194413:21SpitfirePQ 15 West UU/PQ 05 Ost UA
Caen
16816725 August 194413:43P-38PQ 05 Ost TD
west of Beauvais
1621619 July 194413:24SpitfirePQ 15 West UU/PQ 05 Ost UA
Caen
16916825 August 194413:45P-38PQ 05 Ost UD
east of Vernon
16316215 August 194412:31P-47Rambouillet17016925 August 194413:48P-38PQ 05 Ost TD
west of Beauvais
16416315 August 194412:32P-47Rambouillet17117026 August 194409:17SpitfirePQ 05 Ost SD-7
east of Neufchâtel-en-Bray
16516419 August 194410:24P-47east of Vernon17217126 August 194409:19SpitfirePQ 05 Ost TC-3
Rouen
16616523 August 194413:38SpitfirePQ 05 Ost UE/UF
northeast of Paris
17317226 August 194414:28SpitfirePQ 05 Ost TD-1
east of Rouen

Awards

Dates of rank

1 November 1941: Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)
1 November 1943: Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant)
1 May 1944: Hauptmann (Captain)
posthumously: Major (Major), effective as of 1 September 1944

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.