View source for List of German World War II jet aces

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[[Image:Messerschmitt Me 262A at the National Museum of the USAF.jpg|thumb|250px|Messerschmitt Me 262A]]
{{World War II aces from Germany}}

This '''list of German World War II jet aces''' has a sortable table of notable German [[Jet aircraft|jet]] [[flying ace|ace]] pilots during [[World War II]].

==Background==
A [[flying ace]] or fighter ace is a [[military aviation|military aviator]] credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat (The Germans traditionally set the threshold at 10 victories.). During World War II, hundreds of German [[Luftwaffe]] fighter pilots achieved this feat flying contemporary [[piston engine]] fighter aircraft.{{sfn|Spick|1996|pp=2–3}} However, only 28 pilots are credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft while flying a jet-powered aircraft.

Jet aircraft first engaged in air combat on 26 July 1944, when ''[[Second Lieutenant|Leutnant]]'' [[Alfred Schreiber (officer)|Alfred Schreiber]], flying [[Messerschmitt Me 262|Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a]] ''W.Nr. 130 017'' ([[German language]]: ''Werknummer'' – factory serial  number), attacked an unarmed [[reconnaissance aircraft|photo-reconnaissance]] [[De Havilland Mosquito|De Havilland Mosquito PR Mk XVI]], of [[No. 540 Squadron RAF]], over the [[Alps]]. Some sources refer to this as the first victory in air combat by a pilot of a jet fighter,{{sfn|Radinger|Schick|1993|p=51}} although the crew of the damaged Mosquito managed to return to an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] airfield in Italy.

The first confirmed destruction of an enemy aircraft by an Me 262 pilot occurred on 8 August 1944, when ''Leutnant'' [[Joachim Weber]] shot down  a Mosquito PR XVI from No. 540 Squadron, over [[Ohlstadt]], in Bavaria.{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|pp=16–17}}

On 15 August 1944, Schreiber took off to intercept a Mosquito PR XVI (''NS520'') of [[No. 60 Squadron SAAF|60 Squadron]], [[South African Air Force]] crewed by Captain S. Pienaar and Lieutenant A. Lockhart-Ross, who were tasked with photographing airfields in the Black Forest area. Schreiber caused severe damage in his first attack and made more than 10 passes at the Mosquito before low fuel levels cause him to break off. Pienaar and Lockhart-Ross survived a crash landing at [[San Severo]] in Italy; their reconnaissance film and debriefing provided the Allies with valuable intelligence on the Me 262.

During 1944–45, the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' committed two other jet- or rocket-powered fighters to combat operations. In addition to the Me 262, the [[Messerschmitt Me 163]] ''Komet'' and the [[Heinkel He 162]] ''Volksjäger'' both become operational. Few claims were made by pilots of the Me 163 and He 162, and none achieved ace status on either of these types.{{sfn|Spick|1996|p=204}}

==German jet aces==
{{legend2|#e3d9ff|This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the pilot was either [[killed in action]] or killed in a flying accident.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br />
{{legend2|#ffdead|This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Hinchliffe, Morgan, and Weal.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br />
{{legend2|#97ffb6|This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br />
The list is initially sorted by the number of jet victories claimed.{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" 
|-
!scope="col" | Name
!scope="col" | Rank
!scope="col" style="background:#ffdead" | Claims flying jets!
!scope="col" style="background:#97ffb6" | Claims flying jets#
!scope="col" | Jet fighter unit(s)
!scope="col" | Total wartime claims
!scope="col"  class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| {{sortname|Kurt|Welter}}
| ''[[Oberleutnant]]''
| 20+{{refn|According to Hinchliffe, Kurt Welter is credited in excess of 20 aerial victories while flying the Me 262, but the exact number is disputed.{{sfn|Hinchliffe|1998|pp=210, 294}}|group="Note"}}
| 16{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[Erprobungskommando#Kommando Welter|Kdo Welter]], 10./[[NJG 11]]
| 63
| Possible all-time leading jet ace.{{sfn|Samuel|2004|p=46}}
|-
| {{sortname|Heinrich|Bär|Heinrich Bär|Bar, Heinrich}}
| ''[[Oberstleutnant]]''
| 16
| 18{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[EJG 2]], [[Jagdverband 44|JV 44]]
| 220
| Started jet combat in 1945; flew the only Me 262 A-1a/U5 with 6-30mm [[MK108]]'s
|-
| style="background:#e3d9ff;" | {{sortname|Franz|Schall}}*
| ''[[Hauptmann]]''
| 14
| 16{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| {{nowrap|[[Kommando Nowotny|Kdo Nowotny]]}}, [[JG 7]]
| 137
| Killed in flying accident 10 April 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| {{sortname|Hermann|Buchner|Hermann Buchner (pilot)}}
| ''[[Oberfeldwebel]]''
| 12
| 12{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[Kommando Nowotny|Kdo Nowotny]]<br />[[JG 7]]
| 58
|
|-
| {{sortname|Georg-Peter|Eder}}
| ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]''
| 12
|
| [[Kommando Nowotny|Kdo Nowotny]]<br />[[JG 7]]
| 78
| Wounded 16 February 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| {{sortname|Erich|Rudorffer}}
| ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]''
| 12
| 12{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 222
|
|-
| {{sortname|Karl|Schnörrer}}
| ''[[Leutnant]]''
| 11
| 11{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[Erprobungskommando#Erprobungskommando 262|EKdo 262]]<br />[[Kommando Nowotny|Kdo Nowotny]]<br />[[JG 7]]
| 46
| Wounded 30 March 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| style="background:#e3d9ff;" | {{sortname|Erich|Büttner|Erich Büttner (pilot)}}*
| ''[[Oberfeldwebel]]''
| 8
| 7{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[Erprobungskommando#Erprobungskommando 262|EKdo 262]]<br />[[Kommando Nowotny|Kdo Nowotny]]<br />[[JG 7]]
| 8
| [[Killed in action]] 20 March 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| {{sortname|Helmut|Lennartz}}
| ''[[Feldwebel]]''
| 8
| 7+{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[Erprobungskommando#Erprobungskommando 262|EKdo 262]]<br />[[Kommando Nowotny|Kdo Nowotny]]<br />[[JG 7]]
| 13
| First aerial victory over a [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] by a jet fighter on 15 August 1944.{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=17}}
|-
| {{sortname|Rudolf|Rademacher}}
| ''[[Second Lieutenant|Leutnant]]''
| 8
| 16{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 126 ||
|-
| {{sortname|Walter|Schuck}}
| ''[[Oberleutnant]]''
| 8
| 8{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 206
|
|-
| {{sortname|Günther|Wegmann}}
| ''[[Oberleutnant]]''
| 8
| 8{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[Erprobungskommando#Erprobungskommando 262|EKdo 262]]<br />[[JG 7]]
| 14
| Wounded 18 March 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| {{sortname|Hans-Dieter|Weihs}}
| ''[[Leutnant]]''
| 8
|
| [[JG 7]]
| 8
| Midair collision with [[Hans Waldmann (fighter pilot)|Hans Waldmann]] on 18 March 1945, killing Waldmann.{{sfn|Weal|2003|p=92}}
|-
| {{nowrap|{{sortname|Theodor|Weissenberger}}}}
| ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]''
| 8
| 8{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 208
|
|-
| {{sortname|Alfred|Ambs}}
| ''[[Second Lieutenant|Leutnant]]''
| 7
| 7{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 7
|
|-
| style="background:#e3d9ff;" | {{sortname|Heinz|Arnold}}*
| ''[[Oberfeldwebel]]''
| 7
| 7{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 49
| [[Killed in action]] 17 April 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}<br />Arnold's [[Messerschmitt Me 262|Me 262 A-1a]] ''W.Nr.500491'' "Yellow 7" of II./JG 7 bearing his personal victory marks is now on display at the [[Smithsonian Institution]], [[Washington, DC]].{{sfn|Radinger|Schick|1993|p=60}}
|-
| {{sortname|Karl-Heinz|Becker|Karl-Heinz Becker (pilot)}}
| ''[[Feldwebel]]''
| 7
| 7{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| 10./[[NJG 11]]
| 7
|
|-
| {{sortname|Adolf|Galland}}
| ''[[Generalleutnant]]''
| 7
| 6{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JV 44]]
| 104
| Assigned to create JV44 in March 1945. Wounded 26 April 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| {{sortname|Franz|Köster}}
| ''[[Unteroffizier]]''
| 7
|
| [[EJG 2]]<br />[[JG 7]]<br />[[JV 44]]
| 7
|
|-
| {{sortname|Fritz|Müller|Fritz Müller (pilot)|Muller, Fritz}}
| ''[[Leutnant]]''
| 6
| 7{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 22
|
|-
| {{sortname|Johannes|Steinhoff}}
| ''[[Oberst]]''
| 6
| 6{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]<br />[[JV 44]]
| 176
| Wounded 18 April 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| style="background:#e3d9ff;" | {{sortname|Helmut|Baudach}}*
| ''[[Oberfeldwebel]]''
| 5
| 7{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[Kommando Nowotny|Kdo Nowotny]]<br />[[JG 7]]
| 20
| [[Killed in action]] 22 February 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| style="background:#e3d9ff;" | {{sortname|Heinrich|Ehrler}}*
| ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]''
| 5
| 8{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 206
| [[Killed in action]] 4 April 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| {{sortname|Hans|Grünberg}}
| ''[[Oberleutnant]]''
| 5
| 5{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]<br />[[JV 44]]
| 82
|
|-
| style="background:#e3d9ff;" | {{sortname|Joseph|Heim}}*
| ''[[Gefreiter]]''
| 5
| 5{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| [[JG 7]]
| 5
| [[Killed in action]] 10 April 1945{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| {{sortname|Klaus|Neumann|Klaus Neumann (officer)}}
| ''[[Leutnant]]''
| 5
|
| [[JG 7]]<br />[[JV 44]]
| 37
|
|-
| style="background:#e3d9ff;" | {{sortname|Alfred|Schreiber|Alfred Schreiber (officer)}}*
| ''[[Leutnant]]''
| 5
|
| [[Kommando Nowotny|Kdo Nowotny]]<br />[[JG 7]]
| 5
| First jet ace in [[aerial warfare|aviation history]]{{sfn|Foreman|Harvey|1995|p=81}}<br />Killed in flying accident 26 November 1944{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=88}}
|-
| {{sortname|Wolfgang|Späte}}
| ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]''
| 5
| 5{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1541}}
| ([[JG 400]])<br />[[JV 44]]
| 99
|
|}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Boehme
  | first=Manfred
  | title=JG 7 The World's First Jet Fighter Unit 1944/1945
  | place=Atglen, PA
  | publisher=[[Schiffer Publishing]]
  | year=1992
  | isbn=978-0-88740-395-8
  | ref=none
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Boyne
  | first=Walter J.
  | authorlink=Walter J. Boyne
  | title=Messerschmitt Me 262 Arrow to the Future
  | place=Washington, DC
  | publisher=Smithsonian Institution
  | year=1980
  | isbn=978-0-87474-275-6
  | ref=none
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Foreman
  | first=John
  | last2=Harvey
  | first2=S.E.
  | title=Messerschmitt Combat Diary Me.262
  | publisher=Crecy Publishing Ltd
  | year=1995
  | isbn=978-1-871187-30-4
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Hinchliffe
  | first=Peter
  | title=Luftkrieg bei Nacht 1939–1945
  | trans-title=Air War at Night
  | publisher=Motorbuch Verlag
  | year=1998
  | isbn=978-3-613-01861-7
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last1=Mathews
  | first1=Andrew Johannes
  | last2=Foreman
  | first2=John
  | year=2015
  | title=Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z
  | location=Walton on Thames
  | publisher=Red Kite
  | isbn=978-1-906592-21-9
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Morgan
  | first=Hugh
  | last2=Weal
  | first2=John
  | title=German Jet Aces of World War II
  | series=Osprey Aircraft of the Aces
  | volume=17
  | place=London
  | publisher=Osprey Publishing Limited
  | year=1998
  | isbn=978-1-85532-634-7
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Radinger
  | first=Willy
  | last2=Schick
  | first2=Walther
  | title=Messerschmitt Me 262 Development Testing Production
  | publisher=Schiffer Publishing
  | year=1993
  | isbn=978-0-88740-516-7
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Samuel
  | first=Wolfgang W.E.
  | year=2004
  | title=American Raiders – The Race to Capture the Luftwaffe's Secrets
  | location=Jackson
  | publisher=University Press of Mississippi
  | isbn=978-1-57806-649-0
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Spick
  | first=Mike
  | title=Luftwaffe Fighter Aces
  | place=New York
  | publisher=[[Ivy Books]]
  | year=1996
  | isbn=978-0-8041-1696-1
  | url-access=registration
  | url=https://archive.org/details/luftwaffefighter00mike
}}
* {{Cite book
  | last=Weal
  | first=John
  | title=Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front
  | series=Aircraft of the Aces
  | volume=37
  | publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]
  | place=Oxford
  | year=2003
  | isbn=978-1-84176-084-1
}}
{{refend}}

{{Lists of flying aces}}
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[[Category:Lists of World War II flying aces|Germany jet aces]]
[[Category:Lists of German military personnel|Fly]]
[[Category:German technology-related lists|World War II jet]]
[[Category:German World War II flying aces|*]]
[[Category:Germany in World War II-related lists|Jet aces]]