Horst Ademeit

Horst Ademeit (8 February 1912 – 7 August 1944) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.

Early life
Ademeit studied at the Königsberg Albertina University. He then studied chemistry at the Technical University of Berlin and the Technical University of Braunschweig graduating as Diplom Ingenieur. Ademeit learned to fly before the war and, as a reservist, was trained as a fighter pilot.

World War II
In the spring of 1940, Unteroffizier Ademeit was transferred to 3./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) and participated in the Battle of Britain. He claimed his first victory on 18 September 1940 shortly afterwards he was shot down over the Channel. He bailed out and was rescued by the Seenotdienst unharmed.

In June 1941, after the attack on the Soviet Union, he accompanied I./JG 54 to the Eastern Front. In quick succession he achieved aerial victories, promotions and awards. In the beginning of August 1944, Ademeit was appointed acting Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 54.

On 7 August 1944, Ademeit, flying a Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-5 (Werksnummer 5960 &mdash; factory number) pursued a Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft eastwards over Russian lines near Dünaburg, however he failed to return from this mission and is considered Missing in action since.

Horst Ademeit was credited with 166 victories in over 600 missions. He recorded 164 of his victories over the Eastern front. He was posthumously promoted to Major.

Awards

 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (8 December 1941)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold and Penant
 * German Cross in Gold on 25 February 1942 as Leutnant in the 1./JG 54
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (7 September 1940)
 * 1st Class (5 September 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 16 April 1943 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the I./JG 54
 * 414th Oak Leaves on 2 March 1944 as Hauptmann (war officer) and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./JG 54