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Johnen, Wilhelm "Wim"

    Date of birth:
    October 9th, 1921 (Homberg/Rhine Province, Germany)
    Date of death:
    February 7th, 2002 (Überlingen/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
    Nationality:
    German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

    Biography

    Wilhelm Johnen served with Nachtjagdgeschwader (Nightfighter squadron)1, 5 and 6. In 267 operational flights by night and 39 by day he scored 34 victories.
    In the night of April 28th, 1944 the aircraft, Messerschmidt Me 110 CE EN, flown by Johnen inadvertently passed into Swiss airspace and was forced by the Swiss to land on Militärflugplatz (Military Airbase) Dübendorf. The aircraft was equipped with the new Liechtenstein SN-2 radar. The Germans desperately wanted to have the aircraft returned so the new technique would not fall into enemy hands. It was proposed to deliver to the Swiss 12 Messerschmidt Bf 109 fighters as compensation. The Swiss did not accept the proposal and subsequently it was agreed upon, in addition to the delivery of the 12 Bf 109's to destroy the Me 110 at Dübendorf under German supervision. The crew was allowed to return to Germany.

    Promotions:
    April 1st, 1940: Gefreiter;
    June 1st, 1940: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier;
    September 1st, 1940: Fähnrich;
    February 1st, 1941: Oberfähnrich;
    April 1st, 1941: Leutnant;
    July 1943: Oberleutnant;
    October 1st, 1944: Hauptmann (retroactive).

    Career:
    June 1941: Flugzeugführer 3. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1;
    October 1942: Flugzeugführer 1. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 5;
    December 1942: Flugzeugführer 5. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 5;
    March 1944: Staffelkapitän 6. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 5;
    May 1944: Staffelkapitän 8. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 6;
    Autumn 1944: Gruppenkommandeur III. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 6.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Leutnant (Pilot Officer)
    Unit:
    Flugzeugführer 3. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
    Awarded on:
    October 1st, 1941
    Frontflugspange für Jäger in Bronze
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Leutnant (Pilot Officer)
    Unit:
    Flugzeugführer 3. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
    Awarded on:
    March 26th, 1942
    Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Leutnant (Pilot Officer)
    Unit:
    Flugzeugführer 3. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
    Awarded on:
    July 26th, 1942
    Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
    Unit:
    Flugzeugführer 5. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
    Awarded on:
    July 8th, 1943
    Frontflugspange für Fern-Nachtjäger in Silber
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
    Unit:
    Flugzeugführer 5. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
    Awarded on:
    August 29th, 1943
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
    Unit:
    Flugzeugführer 5. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
    Awarded on:
    January 26th, 1944
    Frontflugspange für Fern-Nachtjäger in Gold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
    Unit:
    Flugzeugführer 5. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
    Awarded on:
    March 20th, 1944

    Published in the Ehrenliste der Deutschen Luftwaffe on April 24th, 1944.
    Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
    Unit:
    Staffelkapitän, 8. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Nachtjagdgeschwader 6, Luftwaffe
    Awarded on:
    July 23rd, 1944
    Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
    Unit:
    Staffelkapitän 8. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 6
    Awarded on:
    October 18th, 1944
    Honor Pilot Badge
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
    Unit:
    Staffelkapitän, 8. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Nachtjagdgeschwader 6, Luftwaffe
    Awarded on:
    October 29th, 1944
    Awarded after 33 night victories.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

    Sources

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