Name Horst Ademeit Years of service 1936–44 | Unit JG 54 Commands held I./JG 54 | |
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Born 8 February 1912Breslau ( 1912-02-08 ) Battles/wars World War IIBattle of BritainOperation BarbarossaEastern Front † Died August 7, 1944, Daugavpils, Latvia Battles and wars | ||
Education University of Konigsberg | ||
Horst Ademeit (Adomaitis) (8 February 1912 – 7 August 1944) was a Lithuanian descent German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: 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.
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Early life
Ademeit, the son of a Regierungsbaurat (government building officer), was born on 8 February 1912 in Breslau in the Kingdom of Prussia of the German Empire, present-day Wrocław in western Poland. He studied at the Königsberg Albertina University, a member of the Corps Masovia Königsberg. He then studied chemistry at the Technical University of Berlin and the Technical University of Braunschweig graduating as Diplom Ingenieur. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 August 1936.
On 9 December 1938, Ademeit was made an officer cadet of the reserves and received flight training.
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. On 15 January 1944, Ademeit was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 61st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. 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 — 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.