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Wilhelm Johnen AI simulator
(@Wilhelm Johnen_simulator)
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Wilhelm Johnen AI simulator
(@Wilhelm Johnen_simulator)
Wilhelm Johnen
Wilhelm Johnen (9 October 1921 – 7 February 2002) was a German night fighter ace in the Luftwaffe during World War II.
Born in 1921 Johnen joined the Luftwaffe in 1939. In 1941 Johnen joined the German night fighter force (Nachtjagd) and participated in the Defence of the Reich campaign. He achieved his first success on 26 March 1942. Johnen became a night fighter ace on 25 June 1943 after achieving his fifth victory. In March 1944 he was appointed as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) at the rank of Oberleutnant with his victory total at 18.
In April 1944 Johnen was briefly interned in Switzerland when he force-landed in the country. It caused an international incident but he was repatriated with his crew some days later. Wilhelm Johnen was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1944 for the destruction of 33 Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers. He ended the war with 34 aerial victories, all of these claims were made at night.
After the war Johnen studied engineering and began a construction business. He died in 2002.
Wilhelm "Wim" Johnen was born on 9 October 1921 in Homberg, near Duisburg.
Johnen joined the Luftwaffe and was accepted as a Fahnenjunker (Officer candidate). He began his training at Pardubice, Czechoslovakia, with Fliegerausbildungsregiment 32. On 1 April 1940 Johnen was promoted to Gefreiter. On 1 June he was promoted to Unteroffizier and he progressed to Fähnrich on 1 September 1940. After infantry training Johnen spent several months practising on single-engine trainers, and qualified for his license on 21 September 1940. On 1 February Johnen was promoted to Oberfähnrich He was subsequently sent to Zeltweg, where C-Schule prepared pilots for operations on multi-engine aircraft. He then received Zerstörer (Destroyer) training on the Messerschmitt Bf 110. By the time of his graduation Johnen was promoted to Leutnant on 1 April 1941. On 18 May 1941 Johnen volunteered for the night fighter arm. After six weeks of blind-flying training, Johnen was transferred to 3 staffel (squadron), Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—Night Fighter Wing 1), together with his radio/radar operator Gefreiter Albrecht Risop.
The pair flew his first operational mission on 11 July 1941 during which they intercepted a Wellington but failed to shoot it down. Johnen's first victory came on 26 March 1942. Johnen and Risop intercepted a Vickers Wellington northwest of Wesel, it was part of a force of 104 Wellingtons and 11 Short Stirlings that attacked Essen. Johnen's first victory was probably Wellington X3589, KO-F, from No. 115 Squadron RAF. Sergeant Harry Taylor and his crew were killed. On this mission, Johnen and Risop were also shot down in their Messerschmitt Bf 110D-3 (Werknummer 4224—factory number) "G9+FL", killing Risop. Johnen achieved his second victory against another Wellington at 01:00 on 17 June 1942. The victory was recorded with 2. Staffel.
Johnen remained with 2./NJG 1 but did not achieve a success for over a year. Air Marshal Arthur Harris, Air Officer Commanding (AOC) RAF Bomber Command escalated the air war in 1943 and began a concerted effort to destroy the industrial German Ruhr region. From March to July 1943 RAF Bomber Command began the campaign, dubbed the Battle of the Ruhr. On the night of the 21/22 June 1943 Johnen claimed a Handley-Page Halifax at 01:43 east of Rousendaal (the crew of W1271 http://www.419squadron.com/W1271.html) and a Wellington northwest of Haamstede at 02:33. In the early hours of the 25 June 1943 Johnen claimed another Halifax north of Rosenburg at 01:01. This was Johnen's fifth victory which qualified him as a night fighter ace. On 8 July Johnen was promoted to Oberleutnant.
Wilhelm Johnen
Wilhelm Johnen (9 October 1921 – 7 February 2002) was a German night fighter ace in the Luftwaffe during World War II.
Born in 1921 Johnen joined the Luftwaffe in 1939. In 1941 Johnen joined the German night fighter force (Nachtjagd) and participated in the Defence of the Reich campaign. He achieved his first success on 26 March 1942. Johnen became a night fighter ace on 25 June 1943 after achieving his fifth victory. In March 1944 he was appointed as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) at the rank of Oberleutnant with his victory total at 18.
In April 1944 Johnen was briefly interned in Switzerland when he force-landed in the country. It caused an international incident but he was repatriated with his crew some days later. Wilhelm Johnen was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1944 for the destruction of 33 Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers. He ended the war with 34 aerial victories, all of these claims were made at night.
After the war Johnen studied engineering and began a construction business. He died in 2002.
Wilhelm "Wim" Johnen was born on 9 October 1921 in Homberg, near Duisburg.
Johnen joined the Luftwaffe and was accepted as a Fahnenjunker (Officer candidate). He began his training at Pardubice, Czechoslovakia, with Fliegerausbildungsregiment 32. On 1 April 1940 Johnen was promoted to Gefreiter. On 1 June he was promoted to Unteroffizier and he progressed to Fähnrich on 1 September 1940. After infantry training Johnen spent several months practising on single-engine trainers, and qualified for his license on 21 September 1940. On 1 February Johnen was promoted to Oberfähnrich He was subsequently sent to Zeltweg, where C-Schule prepared pilots for operations on multi-engine aircraft. He then received Zerstörer (Destroyer) training on the Messerschmitt Bf 110. By the time of his graduation Johnen was promoted to Leutnant on 1 April 1941. On 18 May 1941 Johnen volunteered for the night fighter arm. After six weeks of blind-flying training, Johnen was transferred to 3 staffel (squadron), Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—Night Fighter Wing 1), together with his radio/radar operator Gefreiter Albrecht Risop.
The pair flew his first operational mission on 11 July 1941 during which they intercepted a Wellington but failed to shoot it down. Johnen's first victory came on 26 March 1942. Johnen and Risop intercepted a Vickers Wellington northwest of Wesel, it was part of a force of 104 Wellingtons and 11 Short Stirlings that attacked Essen. Johnen's first victory was probably Wellington X3589, KO-F, from No. 115 Squadron RAF. Sergeant Harry Taylor and his crew were killed. On this mission, Johnen and Risop were also shot down in their Messerschmitt Bf 110D-3 (Werknummer 4224—factory number) "G9+FL", killing Risop. Johnen achieved his second victory against another Wellington at 01:00 on 17 June 1942. The victory was recorded with 2. Staffel.
Johnen remained with 2./NJG 1 but did not achieve a success for over a year. Air Marshal Arthur Harris, Air Officer Commanding (AOC) RAF Bomber Command escalated the air war in 1943 and began a concerted effort to destroy the industrial German Ruhr region. From March to July 1943 RAF Bomber Command began the campaign, dubbed the Battle of the Ruhr. On the night of the 21/22 June 1943 Johnen claimed a Handley-Page Halifax at 01:43 east of Rousendaal (the crew of W1271 http://www.419squadron.com/W1271.html) and a Wellington northwest of Haamstede at 02:33. In the early hours of the 25 June 1943 Johnen claimed another Halifax north of Rosenburg at 01:01. This was Johnen's fifth victory which qualified him as a night fighter ace. On 8 July Johnen was promoted to Oberleutnant.