Heinz Lange

Heinz Lange (October 2, 1917 – February 26, 2006) was a German World War II Luftwaffe 70-victory flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51. He held the rank of Major.

Career
Lange was born on 2 October 1917 in Colgne, the son of a pilot with the Imperial Air Service. Lange entered the Luftwaffe in 1937, and after completing his pilot training initially joined 4 staffel, Jagdgeschwader 234, later serving with JG 132 and II./JG 26. In July 1939 Lange was posted to JG 21 based in East Prussia.

He flew his first operations during the Polish campaign of September 1939. Leutnant Lange claimed his first victory on 30 October 1939, a Bristol Blenheim RAF light bomber over Quakenbück. After the Battle of France I./JG 21 was redesignated III./JG 54 and Lange promoted to Oberleutnant in 8./JG 54 during August.

During the Balkan campaign in spring 1941 Lange flew strafing attacks and jabo mission from Arad, Rumania.

During Operation Barbarossa, III./JG 54 supported Army Group North attacking towards Leningrad. Lange claimed seven victories and made Staffelkapitän of 1 stafel, JG 54 in October 1941.Lange was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 51 in November 1942. After 500 missions Lange was promoted to Hauptmann in February 1943. On 22 August Lange claimed a La-5, a Yak-1 and two Il-2s for a total of 40 victories. In January 1944 Lange was acting Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 54 before in May becoming Gruppenkommandeur, IV./JG 51.

On 15 October Lange claimed his 70th victory and was awarded the Ritterkreuz in November. IV./JG 51 began conversion to the Fw 190 A-8 and Fw 190 D-9 in March 1945. In April 1945 Lange was appointed Kommodore of JG 51, althoughlate in April Lange returned as Gruppenkommandeur of IV./JG 51. Lange flew his last mission on 29 April.

Lange flew 628 combat missions and was credited with 70 aerial victories, all but one on the Eastern front including 24 Il-2 Sturmoviks and 12 twin engined bombers.

Shortly after the end of the war the British wanted to evaluate the performance the German Fw 190 D-13. At Flensburg, the British Disarmament Wing wanted to compare the fighter's performance gainst a Hawker Tempest. Squadron Leader Evans approached Major Lange and asked him to fly a mock combat against one of their pilots. Lange accepted, even though he had only ten flights in a D-9.

The mock dogfight was conducted at an altitude of 3,000 meters, with only enough fuel for the flight and no ammunition. The machines proved evenly matched. Major Lange assessed that the outcome of such a contest greatly depended on the skills of the individual pilot. At the time Major Lange was not aware that he was not flying a D-13, but rather a D-9.

After the war Lange attended the University of Kiel and studied law receiving a doctorate in law (Dr. jur.) degree. In August 1950 he started his career working for the Gerling Insurance Group. He retired in 1982.

Awards

 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (27 October 1942)
 * German Cross in Gold (17 May 1943)
 * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 November 1944 as Hauptmann and leader of the IV./JG 51 "Mölders"