Ostermann, Max-Helmuth (Jagdgeschwader 54)

Date of birth:: December 11th, 1917 (Hamburg/Lower Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:: August 9th, 1942 (Amossowo/Ilmensee, Eastern front)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Oberleutnant Ostermann, Staffelkapitän, 7. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54 achieved 102 victories in over 300 operational sorties - downed 5 times.

00.03.1937: joined the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker
01.08.1939: promoted to Leutnant
00.09.1939: Lt., 1. Staffel, ZG-1
00.03.1940: transferred to the 1. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 21
00.04.1940: 1./ JG-21, located in Guines, France
20.05.1940: 1./ JG-21, 1st known victory, a Morane 406 West of Peronne
00.08.1940: 1./ JG-21 renamed 7./ JG-54
12.08.1940: Lt., 7./ JG-54, 2nd victory, a Spitfire
30.08.1940: Lt., 7./ JG-54, with Bf 109E-4 coded "White 2", downed his 4th, a Spitfire
01.09.1940: Lt., 7./ JG-54, shot down with Bf 109 E-4 coded 'White 11 +' by a Spitfire over the Boulogne Canal - force landed near St.Inglevert airfield
09.09.1940: 5th, a Hurricane over England
00.10.1940: felw Bf 109E-4 coded "White 5"
00.04.1941: flew Bf 109E-4 coded "White 3" in Romania
23.06.1941: Lt., 7./ JG 54, first known Soviet victories, both SB-2s
26.06.1941: Lt., 7./JG 54, unhurt when Bf 109 F-2 coded 'White 2' force-landed near Dünaburg due damaged caused by malfunctioning 20mm cannon
00.07.1941: Lt., Staka, 7./ JG 54
01.08.1941: Lt., 7./ JG 54 most likely in an F-2 (or F-4) coded "White 2" downed JG-54s 1000th victory
04.09.1941: promoted to Oberleutnant - RDA 01.09.1941
25.10.1941: Olt., Staka, 7./ JG 54, 1 victory with Bf 109F-2 coded "White 2"
05.11.1941: Olt., appointed Staka, 3./ JG 54
13.11.1941: Olt., Staka, 3./ JG 54, 1 victory
30.11.1941: Olt., Staka, 3./ JG 54, 1 victory
01.01.1942: Olt., Staka, 3./ JG 54, 1 victory
12.03.1942: Olt., appointed Staka, 8./ JG 54
17.03.1942: Olt., Staka, 8./ JG 54, 1 victory
10.05.1942: Olt., Staka, 8./ JG 54, unhurt when Bf 109 F4 coded 'Black 1' force-landed South East of Leningrad due to anti-aircraft damage
12.05.1942: 2nd JG-54 pilot to achieve 100 victories in Bf 109F-4 Werknummer 13.114 coded "Black 1" then severely WIA by shell fragments in the thigh and fore arm when shot down in Bf 109F-4/Z Werknummer 13.125 coded "Black 1" - force-landed successfully near Poselok, near Ljuban airfield, Pl.Qu. 10413
01.08.1942: Olt., re-appointed Staka, 8. Staffel, JG-54
09.08.1942: Olt., Staka, 8. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54, KIA in Bf 109G-2 Werknummer 10.438 coded "Black 1 + I" by 9 Russian P-40 fighters near Amossovo, north of Velikiye Luki, Russia - died after taking canopy hits - crash-landed near Detjurewo airfiled

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Flugzeugführerabzeichen

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: May 31st, 1940

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1940

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (Pilot Officer)
Unit:: Flugzeugführer, 7. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54
Awarded on:: September 4th, 1941

Awarded after 29 aerial victories.

315th Award.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:: Staffelkapitän, 7. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54
Awarded on:: March 10th, 1942

Awarded after 62 aerial victories.

81st Award.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:: 8. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54
Awarded on:: April 24th, 1942

Oberleutnant Ostermann achieved his 83rd to 85th aerial victory yesterday.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:: 7. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54
Awarded on:: May 7th, 1942

Oberleutnant Ostermann achieved his 95th and 96th aerial victory yesterday.

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:: Staka, 8. Staffel, JG 54
Awarded on:: May 12th, 1942

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:: 7. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54
Awarded on:: May 14th, 1942

Oberleutnant Ostermann, squadron leader in a fighter wing, achieved his 100th aerial victory yesterday.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:: Staffelkapitän, 7. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54
Awarded on:: May 17th, 1942

Awarded after 100 aerial victories.

10th Award

Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Gemeinsames Flugzeugfuhrer-Beobachter Abzeichen (ohne brillianten)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold mit Anhänger und einzatszahl

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1942

with pennant '300'

Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold mit Anhänger und einzatszahl

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Awarded on:: August 14th, 1942

The recipient of the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Oberleutnant Ostermann, squadron leader in the fighter wing Trautloft, did not return from the flight against the enemy after his 102nd aerial victory. With this courageous officer the Luftwaffe loses one of their most daring and successful fighter pilots.

Sources

Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
Photo 2:
Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection, the Netherlands
- OBERMAIER, E., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Hoffmann, 1989.
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
- Kurowski F., Oberleutnant Otto Kittel, Der erfolgreichste Jagdflieger des Jagdgeschwaders 54, Flechsig Verlag, Würzburg, 2007
- History Shop