Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel

Hans-Jürgen Erdmann von Cramon-Taubadel (14 November 1901 in Roschkowitz – 6 November 1985) was German Luftwaffe Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) "Pik As"

He served as one of the firsst Staffelkaptains of the newly formed Luftwaffe, based in Döbernitz in 1934 with 2./JG 70 prior to going to II./JG 54. On 21 December 1939 von Cramon Taubadel was leading a flight of ten Bf 109Es from I./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) Stab over the lines near Karlsruhe when they engaged 12 Morane-Saulnier M.S.406s from GC II/7 escorting a Potez 63.11 of GR I/55. The reconnaissance aircraft was able to return safely to base. Although Hauptmann Paulizsch was hit and wounded in both legs, baling out north-west of Freiburg, von Cramon claimed 3 French aircraft shot down, of which one was confirmed. von Cramon-Taubadel then transferred to JG 53 in January 1940.

Major von Cramon-Taubadel was first married to Viola von Kaufmann-Asse (17 Aug 1912 – 4 November 1997) on 16 November 1933 and secondly to Ilse Wehrs (8 November 1919 – 16 June 1988) on 5 May 1948. Viola von Kaufmann-Asse was of Jewish ancestry, a fact which came to the attention of Hermann Göring during the Battle of France. The consequence was that Göring ordered that the entire JG 53 must remove their Ace of Spades badge (Pik As) and paint a red band around the noses of their aircraft as a mark of shame.

He flew in the Battle of Britain, and on 16 August 1940, damaged his Bf 109 E on landing.He claimed his second victory, a Hurricane near Dungeness on 27 September 1940. During August and September Göring replaced the majority of the pre-war Jagdgeschwader Kommodore with younger up-and-coming aces, and JG 53 was no exception, the II./JG 53 commander Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn taking over from von Cramon-Taubadel on 30 September 1940, and the "Pik-As" badge was reinstated. However at the same time, as a mark of protest, the pilots of JG 53 had the Swastikas painted over on their aircraft fins.

von Cramon-Taubadel commenced a series of staff positions within the Luftwaffe, including Luftkriegs Akademie Berlin-Gatow (late 1940-Feb.1941), General Kommando II.Fliegerkorps (to late 1941) Stab, Luftgau Kommando/Norway (1941–43)and Stab, Luftgau/Finland (Sept.1943-Dec. 1944)

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (15 February 1940)
 * 1st Class (18 May 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold (14 April 1942) as Major and commander Luftwaffen-Gefechts-Abteilung Barg