Otto Tange

German flying ace (1915–1943) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Otto Tange (22 September 1915 – 30 July 1943) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Tange claimed 68 aerial victories, 3 over the Western Front and 65 over the Eastern Front. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Born22 September 1915

Hochdonn

Died30 July 1943 (aged 27)

Bolkhov

Causeof deathKilled in action

Allegiance

Nazi Germany

Quick facts Born, Died ...

Otto Tange
Born	22 September 1915 Hochdonn
Died	30 July 1943(1943-07-30) (aged 27) Bolkhov
Cause of death	Killed in action
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Service years	?–1943
Rank	Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)
Unit	JG 51
Conflicts	World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kursk
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career

Tange was born on 22 September 1915 in Hochdonn in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein within the German Empire.^[1]

He was a member of the Luftwaffe at the beginning of the war and participated in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. During the Battle of Britain he claimed his first three victories. Tange then participated in Operation Barbarossa, by the end of 1941 he claimed 33 more victories.

Fighting in the Battles of Rzhev against the Kalinin Front in early 1942, II. and IV. Gruppen of JG 51 had become the most successful units of VIII. Fliegerkorps (8th Air Corps). By end-February, three pilots of II. Gruppe had claimed 40 aerial victories, these were Leutnant Hans Strelow, Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Mink and Tange.^[2] On 19 March 1942, Tange was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 40 aerial victories claimed.^[3]

On 11 July 1943, Tange was posted to the Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).^{[Note 1]} On 30 July, his third mission with the Stabsstaffel, Tange was killed in action when his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 was hit by Soviet anti-aircraft artiller 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of Bolkhov.^[6]^[7] Posthumously, Tange was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).^[8]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Tange was credited with 68 aerial victories.^[9] Spick also lists him with 68 aerial victories claimed in 426 combat missions.^[10] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 63 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. This number includes one claim on the Western Front with others claimed on the Eastern Front.^[11]

More information Chronicle of aerial victories, Claim ...

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –^[12] At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 7 June 1941
1?^{[Note 2]}	10 July 1940	12:10	Spitfire	northwest of Dover^[13]	3	5 March 1941	15:14	Spitfire	Le Touquet^[14]
2?^{[Note 2]}	15 August 1940	20:05	Hurricane	south of Clacton-on-Sea^[15]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
4	25 June 1941	10:55	SB-2	northeast of Vyhanaščanskaje Lake^[16]	20	6 September 1941	09:48	I-16	10 km (6.2 mi) north of Bryansk^[17]
5	25 June 1941	10:55	SB-2	northeast of Vyhanaščanskaje Lake^[16]	21	9 September 1941	13:42	Pe-2	10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Konotop^[18]
6	25 June 1941	11:00	SB-2	northeast of Vyhanaščanskaje Lake^[16]	22	9 September 1941	16:13	Pe-2	10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Novgorod^[18]
7	30 June 1941	08:05	SB-3	50 km (31 mi) east of Sevsk^[16]	23	13 September 1941	10:03	DB-3	15 km (9.3 mi) east of Konotop^[18]
8	1 July 1941	14:17	I-16	3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of Horodok^[19]	24	13 September 1941	10:07	DB-3	20 km (12 mi) east of Konotop^[18]
9	12 July 1941	17:51	DB-3	10 km (6.2 mi) east of Shklow^[20]	25	13 September 1941	10:12	DB-3	27 km (17 mi) east of Konotop^[18]
10	12 July 1941	17:55	DB-3	24 km (15 mi) east of Shklow^[20]	26	14 September 1941	16:28	V-11 (Il-2)	35 km (22 mi) southwest of Konotop^[18]
11	13 July 1941	12:20	Pe-2	10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Gorki^[20]	27	14 September 1941	16:33	V-11 (Il-2)	35 km (22 mi) southwest of Konotop^[18]
12	15 July 1941	18:33	DB-3	20 km (12 mi) west of Mstislawl^[20]	28	27 September 1941	11:10	I-18 (MiG-1)	40 km (25 mi) east of Schatalowka^[21]
13	16 July 1941	12:45	DB-3	3 km (1.9 mi) south of Smolensk^[20]	29	4 October 1941	12:16 (MiG-1)	I-18	20 km (12 mi) east of Dmitrovsk^[21]
14	28 July 1941	16:59	V-11 (Il-2)	8 km (5.0 mi) north of Propojsk^[20]	30	4 October 1941	12:43	DB-3	25 km (16 mi) east of Kromy^[21]
15	23 August 1941	18:00	DB-3	Wysokaja^[17]	31	29 October 1941	12:50	DB-3	30 km (19 mi) east of Mtsensk^[22]
16	30 August 1941	17:19	I-61 (MiG-3)	5 km (3.1 mi) east of Stajnja^[17]	32	28 November 1941	13:05	I-18 (MiG-1)	10 km (6.2 mi) east of Venyov^[22]
17	1 September 1941	16:18	R-3	7 km (4.3 mi) east of Sechtschinskaja^[17]	33	2 December 1941	12:38	I-18 (MiG-1)	15 km (9.3 mi) west of Moscow^[22]
18	2 September 1941	09:31	R-3	8 km (5.0 mi) east of Sechtschinskaja^[17]	34	2 December 1941	15:02	I-18	25 km (16 mi) northwest of Moscow^[22]
19	2 September 1941	09:34	R-3	20 km (12 mi) southeast of Sechtschinskaja^[17]	35	4 December 1941	12:53	I-61 (MiG-3)	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Kaschira^[22]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" – Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
36	14 December 1941	13:28	Pe-2	35 km (22 mi) south of Serpukhov^[23]	43	5 April 1942	12:18	MiG-3	30 km (19 mi) northeast of Scharkowka airfield^[24]
37	13 January 1942	15:03	DB-3	40 km (25 mi) west of Kaluga^[23]	44	6 April 1942	11:25	Yak-1	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Mosalsk airfield^[24]
38	21 January 1942	12:23	Pe-2	5 km (3.1 mi) south of Terenowka^[23]	45	6 April 1942	11:28	Yak-1	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Mosalsk airfield^[24]
39	27 January 1942	13:09	R-Z	Mozhaysk airfield^[25]	46	6 April 1942	11:32	Yak-1	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Mosalsk airfield^[24]
40	27 January 1942	13:21	R-Z	5 km (3.1 mi) south of Mozhaysk airfield^[25]	47	6 April 1942	11:34	Yak-1	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Mosalsk airfield^[24]
41	31 March 1942	14:55	I-16	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Klimowo airfield^[24]	48	27 April 1942	18:03	I-16	10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Mtsensk^[24]
42	5 April 1942	09:47	Yak-1	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Mosalsk airfield^[24]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" – Eastern Front — 1 May – 7 October 1942
49	16 May 1942	18:45	Boston	5 km (3.1 mi) east of Shulie^[26]	58	27 August 1942	17:57	Il-2	15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Oryol^[27]
50	16 May 1942	18:47	Yak-1	7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of Shulie^[26]	59	29 August 1942	11:42	Il-2	18 km (11 mi) southwest of Kosalsk^[27]
51	16 May 1942	18:50	Yak-1	5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Kudinowo^[26]	60	29 August 1942	11:47	Il-2	15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Kosalsk^[27]
52	12 August 1942	12:15	MiG-3	4 km (2.5 mi) west of Belyov^[28]	61	5 September 1942	17:04	Il-2	11 km (6.8 mi) southeast of Sychyovka^[27]
53	22 August 1942	12:05	MiG-3	6 km (3.7 mi) west of Kosalsk^[28]	62	14 September 1942	09:53	Il-2	PQ 47641^[29]
54	22 August 1942	18:10	MiG-3	4 km (2.5 mi) west of Belyov^[28]	63	14 September 1942	10:02	MiG-3	PQ 47563^[29]
55	23 August 1942	06:43	Pe-2	18 km (11 mi) east of Uljanowo^[27]	64	14 September 1942	10:09	Il-2	PQ 47524^[29]
56	23 August 1942	06:48	Il-2	18 km (11 mi) east of Uljanowo^[27]	65	30 September 1942	12:08	R-5	PQ 47484^[30]
57	27 August 1942	17:49	MiG-3	13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of Oryol^[27]

Awards

Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class^[8]
Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 1 September 1941 as Feldwebel in a Jagdgeschwader^[31]
German Cross in Gold on 24 November 1941 as Feldwebel in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 51^[32]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 March 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"^[33]^[34]

Notes

[1]
In early October 1942, II. Gruppe of JG 51 had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front and sent to Jesau, near present-day Bagrationovsk, to Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo, to be reequipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A. While undergoing training on this aircraft, the Gruppe received orders on 4 November to transfer to the Mediterranean theatre flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 again. 6. Staffel had been exempt from this order, was detached from II. Gruppe, and continued its training on the Fw 190. In late November, 6. Staffel was renamed to Stabsstaffel (headquarters squadron) of JG 51.^[4] Alternatively, the Stabsstaffel was also referred to as Geschwaderstabsstaffel z.b.V., roughly translating to fighter wing squadron for special deployment'. The abbreviation z. b. V. is German and stands for zur besonderen Verwendung (for special deployment).^[5]
[2]
According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim was unconfirmed.^[12]

References

Citations

[1]
Obermaier 1989, p. 213.
[2]
Bergström & Mikhailov 2001, pp. 52, 54.
[3]
Weal 2006, p. 122.
[4]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 247.
[5]
Aders & Held 1993, p. 123.
[6]
Prien et al. 2012, pp. 413, 429.
[7]
Weal 2007, pp. 44–45.
[8]
Dixon 2023, p. 178.
[9]
Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
[10]
Spick 1996, p. 239.
[11]
Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1301–1302.
[12]
Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1301.
[13]
Prien et al. 2002, p. 61.
[14]
Prien et al. 2002, p. 66.
[15]
Prien et al. 2002, p. 65.
[16]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 280.
[17]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 284.
[18]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 285.
[19]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 281.
[20]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 282.
[21]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 286.
[22]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 287.
[23]
Prien et al. 2005, p. 93.
[24]
Prien et al. 2005, p. 96.
[25]
Prien et al. 2005, p. 94.
[26]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 295.
[27]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 304.
[28]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 303.
[29]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 305.
[30]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 306.
[31]
Patzwall 2008, p. 203.
[32]
Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 470.
[33]
Fellgiebel 2000, p. 418.
[34]
Scherzer 2007, p. 737.

Bibliography

Aders, Gebhard; Held, Werner (1993). Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente [Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle - Reports - Experiences - Documents] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-01045-1.
Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Mikhailov, Andrey (2001). Black Cross / Red Star—The Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume II, Resurgence January–June 1942. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 978-0-935553-51-2.
Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
Weal, John (2006). Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 22. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-045-1.
Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 76. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.

Aerial victory claims

Awards

Citations

Bibliography

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