| Heinz Kemethmüller | |
| Birth Date: | 26 June 1914 |
| Birth Place: | Nuremberg |
| Death Place: | Bonn |
| Serviceyears: | ?–1945 |
| Rank: | Oberleutnant |
| Unit: | JG 3 |
| Battles: | World War II |
| Awards: | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Heinz Kemethmüller (26 June 1914 – 20 February 1984) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Kemethmüller was born on 26 June 1914 in Nurnberg.
He initially served as a Feldwebel on the Eastern Front with 8./Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). Both Kemethmüller and Feldwebel Siegfried Engfer from 9. Staffel of JG 3 claimed their 50th aerial victories on 18 September 1942. Consequently both pilots were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 2 October 1942.
Kemethmüller then transferred to Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing), serving with and 7., 9. & 4./JG 26. On 4 February 1943 Kemethmüller was wounded in combat with Spitfires IXs of No. 331 Squadron RAF, his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 being badly damaged.
He was shot down and badly wounded on 4 November 1944.
During his career Heinz Kemethmüller flew 463 missions, and was credited with 89 aerial victories, 71 on the Eastern Front (including 20 2-engined bombers and 26 Ilyushin Il-2 Stormovik Soviet ground attack aircraft) He also claimed 18 over the Western Front, including three USAAF heavy bombers and 7 P-47 fighters shot down.
He died 20 February 1984 in Bonn.
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Kemethmüller was credited with 89 aerial victories. Spick also lists Kemethmüller with 89 aerial victories claimed in 463 combat missions. This figure includes 70 claims on the Eastern Front and 19 over the Western Allies, including three four-engined bombers.
de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel
. 2000 . 1986 . Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile . The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches . de . Friedberg, Germany . Podzun-Pallas . 978-3-7909-0284-6.