Aces of the Luftwaffe - Rolf Hermichen

Rolf-Günther Hermichen
Major

Rolf-Günther Hermichen

Rolf-Günther Hermichen was born on 25 July 1918 at Wernigeroge. After finishing pilot school Leutnant Hermichen was posted to 6./ZG 1 to fly Bf 110s. He shot down his first enemy aircraft on 10 May 1940 during the French campaign. He had recorded four victories by the time of the French capitulation. With the same unit, but renamed 9./ZG 76, he took part in the Battle of Britain. Hermichen shot down his fifth victim on 12 August 1940. On 25 April 1941, 9./ZG 76 was redesignated 6./SKG 210. Hermichen took part in Operation Barbarossa with the unit undertaking numerous fighter bomber and ground attack missions. He also recorded three aerial victories during his time in Russia. Oberleutnant Hermichen joined III./JG 26 on 1 November 1941. He was assigned to 7./JG 26. In March 1942 he was Adjutant to Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 26, Hauptmann Josef Priller (101 victories, RK-S), on the Western Front. On 1 May, he became Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 26. His score stood at 13 victories. Over Dieppe on 19 August 1942 he achieved his 17th and 18th victories. On 6 December he achieved his 20th victory.

Rolf Hermichen and his Fw 190A-7

Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 11 Hptm. Hermichen climbing out of his Fw 190A-7 "black angle triangle" after combat mission. March 1944 Rotenburg/W.

After moving with I./JG 26 to the Eastern front in January 1943, he added eight Soviet fighters to his tally. I./JG 26 relocated back to the Channel front in June.
Hauptmann Hermichen was appointed temporary Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 26 on 15 June 1943. He relinquished command to Hauptmann Klaus Mietusch (75 victories, RK-EL, killed in action 17 September 1944) on 4 July 1943. He returned to 3./JG 26 as Staffelkapitän. On 16 October 1943, Major Hermichen was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 11 based at Husum. On 20 February he shot down four B-24s , on 6 March he shot down three B-17s and on 8 March again shot down four four-engined bombers in 20 minutes. He was very sucessful against Viermots... On 26 March 1944, after his 61st victory, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz. His 64th, and last, kill was over a P-51 on 24 April. He ended operational flying in May. In the dying days of the war he became Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 104. With this unit he was awarded the Eichenlaub on 19 February 1945 (Nr 748).
Rolf-Günther Hermichen flew 629 combat missions and shot down 64 enemy aircraft, 11 of them he downed flying the Bf 110. On the Western front he shot down 53 enemy aircraft, including 26 four-engined heavy bombers.

No Date Time A/c Type Unit Location Comments

1.
10.5.1940
- E/a 6./ZG 1 Battle of France

2.
1940
- E/a 6./ZG 1 Battle of France

3.
1940
- E/a 6./ZG 1 Battle of France

4.
1940
- E/a 6./ZG 1 Battle of France

5.
5.8.1940
- RAF fighter 9./ZG 76 Battle of Britain

6.
8.1940
- RAF fighter 9./ZG 76 Battle of Britain

7.
8.1940
- RAF fighter 9./ZG 76 Battle of Britain

8.
9.2.1941
- Beaufort 9./ZG 76 Off coast of Norway Blenheim?

9.
1941
- E/a 6./SKG 210 Russia

10.
1941
- E/a 6./SKG 210 Russia

11.
1941
- E/a 6./SKG 210 Russia

12.
4.4.1942
11:35 Spitfire 7./JG 26 Pas de Calais

13.
12.4.1942
13:40 Spitfire 7./JG26 3km N Cassel Spitfire of 313 Sqn, RAF

14.
9.5.1942
17:39 Spitfire 3./JG 26 10km NW Coxyde Spitfire of 72 Sqn, RAF

15.
30.7.1942
- Hurricane 3./JG 26 Wizernes airfield Hurricane of 174 Sqn, RAF

16.
18.8.1942
- Spitfire 3./JG 26 20km S Dungeness Spitfire of 602 Sqn, RAF

17.
19.8.1942
- Spitfire 3./JG 26 NE Dieppe

18.
19.8.1942
- Airacobra 3./JG 26 Near Dieppe Spitfire of 31 FG, USAAF

19.
4.12.1942
14:34 Spitfire 3./JG 26 10km NE Desvres

20.
6.12.1942
11:37 Spitfire 3./JG 26 20km N Le Tréport

21.
19.12.1942
14:14 US fighter 3./JG 26 25km ESE Deal Possibly Typhoon

22.
18.2.1943
- LaGG-3 3./JG 26 PQ 28321

23.
19.2.1943
- Il-2 3./JG 26 PQ 18293

24.
19.2.1943
- Il-2 3./JG 26 PQ 18462

25.
4.3.1943
- Pe-2 3./JG 26 PQ 18242

26.
5.3.1943
- P-40 3./JG 26 PQ 18443

27.
7.3.1943
- Pe-2 3./JG 26 PQ 18551

28.
7.3.1943
- Pe-2 3./JG 26 PQ 18254

29.
23.3.1943
- Yak 3./JG 26 PQ 00412

30.
1943
- E/a Stab III./JG 26 between 15.6. and 4.7.

31.
28.7.1943
12:17 Typhoon 3./JG 26 W Rotterdam P-47 of 4 FG, USAAF

32.
30.7.1943
10:12 B-17 3./JG 26 Nijmegen B-17 of 379 BG, USAAF

33.
30.7.1943
10:15 P-47 3./JG 26 Nr Dordrecht P-47 of 4 FG, USAAF

34.
12.8.1943
- B-17 3./JG 26 Mönchen-Gladbach

35.
15.8.1943
11:58 Spitfire 3./JG 26 Vlissingen-N Sea Spitfire of 453 Sqn, RAF

36.
VIII.-X. 1943
- Viermot 3./JG 26

37.
VIII.-X. 1943
- Viermot 3./JG 26

38.
VIII.-X. 1943
- Viermot 3./JG 26

39.
VIII.-X. 1943
- Viermot 3./JG 26

40.
VIII.-X. 1943
- Viermot 3./JG 26

41.
VIII.-X. 1943
- Viermot 3./JG 26

42.
5.11.1943
- P-47 Stab I./JG 11

43.
5.11.1943
- B-17 HSS Stab I./JG 11

44.
13.11.1943
11:30 B-24 Stab I./JG 11 Deutsche Bucht-Schleswig

45.
1.12.1943
12:20 B-24 Stab I./JG 11 Spa-Düren-Solingen

46.
1.12.1943
- B-24 HSS Stab I./JG 11 Spa-Düren-Solingen

47.
11.12.1943
12:17 B-17 Stab I./JG 11 Borkum-Emden-Zuider Zee

48.
10.2.1944
12:55 B-17 Stab I./JG 11 NW Lingen, 8000 m

49.
20.2.1944
13:27 B-24 Stab I./JG 11 Holzminden area

50.
20.2.1944
13:30 B-24 Stab I./JG 11 Holzminden area

51.
20.2.1944
13:37 B-24 Stab I./JG 11 Gotha, 6000 m

52.
20.2.1944
13:45 B-24 Stab I./JG 11 Hozkirchen, 4500 m

53.
3.3.1944
12:02 B-17 Stab I./JG 11 W Tönning, 7200 m

54.
6.3.1944
12:00 B-17 Stab I./JG 11 Haselünne, 7200 m

55.
6.3.1944
12:06 B-17 Stab I./JG 11 S Delmenhorst, 7200 m

56.
6.3.1944
12:12 B-17 Stab I./JG 11 S Delmenhorst, 7200 m

57.
8.3.1944
15:26 B-24 Stab I./JG 11 N Grossburgwedel

58.
8.3.1944
15:28 B-24 Stab I./JG 11 N Grossburgwedel

59.
8.3.1944
15:36 B-17 Stab I./JG 11 Celle 6000m

60.
8.3.1944
15:47 B-17 Stab I./JG 11

61.
23.3.1944
10:03 B-17 Stab I./JG 11 S Bremen, 7000 m

62.
15.4.1944
13:56 P-38 Stab I./JG 11 Rotenburg, tief

63.
15.4.1944
13:57 P-38 Stab I./JG 11 Rotenburg, 50 m

64.
24.4.1944
13:06 P-51 Stab I./JG 11 Mannheim, 800 m

Victories : 64
Awards : Knight`s Cros with Oak Leaves
Units : ZG 1, ZG 76, SKG 210, JG 26, JG 11, JG 104

No	Date	Time	A/c Type	Unit	Location	Comments
1.	10.5.1940	-	E/a	6./ZG 1		Battle of France
2.	1940	-	E/a	6./ZG 1		Battle of France
3.	1940	-	E/a	6./ZG 1		Battle of France
4.	1940	-	E/a	6./ZG 1		Battle of France
5.	5.8.1940	-	RAF fighter	9./ZG 76		Battle of Britain
6.	8.1940	-	RAF fighter	9./ZG 76		Battle of Britain
7.	8.1940	-	RAF fighter	9./ZG 76		Battle of Britain
8.	9.2.1941	-	Beaufort	9./ZG 76	Off coast of Norway	Blenheim?
9.	1941	-	E/a	6./SKG 210		Russia
10.	1941	-	E/a	6./SKG 210		Russia
11.	1941	-	E/a	6./SKG 210		Russia
12.	4.4.1942	11:35	Spitfire	7./JG 26	Pas de Calais
13.	12.4.1942	13:40	Spitfire	7./JG26	3km N Cassel	Spitfire of 313 Sqn, RAF
14.	9.5.1942	17:39	Spitfire	3./JG 26	10km NW Coxyde	Spitfire of 72 Sqn, RAF
15.	30.7.1942	-	Hurricane	3./JG 26	Wizernes airfield	Hurricane of 174 Sqn, RAF
16.	18.8.1942	-	Spitfire	3./JG 26	20km S Dungeness	Spitfire of 602 Sqn, RAF
17.	19.8.1942	-	Spitfire	3./JG 26	NE Dieppe
18.	19.8.1942	-	Airacobra	3./JG 26	Near Dieppe	Spitfire of 31 FG, USAAF
19.	4.12.1942	14:34	Spitfire	3./JG 26	10km NE Desvres
20.	6.12.1942	11:37	Spitfire	3./JG 26	20km N Le Tréport
21.	19.12.1942	14:14	US fighter	3./JG 26	25km ESE Deal	Possibly Typhoon
22.	18.2.1943	-	LaGG-3	3./JG 26	PQ 28321
23.	19.2.1943	-	Il-2	3./JG 26	PQ 18293
24.	19.2.1943	-	Il-2	3./JG 26	PQ 18462
25.	4.3.1943	-	Pe-2	3./JG 26	PQ 18242
26.	5.3.1943	-	P-40	3./JG 26	PQ 18443
27.	7.3.1943	-	Pe-2	3./JG 26	PQ 18551
28.	7.3.1943	-	Pe-2	3./JG 26	PQ 18254
29.	23.3.1943	-	Yak	3./JG 26	PQ 00412
30.	1943	-	E/a	Stab III./JG 26	between 15.6. and 4.7.
31.	28.7.1943	12:17	Typhoon	3./JG 26	W Rotterdam	P-47 of 4 FG, USAAF
32.	30.7.1943	10:12	B-17	3./JG 26	Nijmegen	B-17 of 379 BG, USAAF
33.	30.7.1943	10:15	P-47	3./JG 26	Nr Dordrecht	P-47 of 4 FG, USAAF
34.	12.8.1943	-	B-17	3./JG 26	Mönchen-Gladbach
35.	15.8.1943	11:58	Spitfire	3./JG 26	Vlissingen-N Sea	Spitfire of 453 Sqn, RAF
36.	VIII.-X. 1943	-	Viermot	3./JG 26
37.	VIII.-X. 1943	-	Viermot	3./JG 26
38.	VIII.-X. 1943	-	Viermot	3./JG 26
39.	VIII.-X. 1943	-	Viermot	3./JG 26
40.	VIII.-X. 1943	-	Viermot	3./JG 26
41.	VIII.-X. 1943	-	Viermot	3./JG 26
42.	5.11.1943	-	P-47	Stab I./JG 11
43.	5.11.1943	-	B-17 HSS	Stab I./JG 11
44.	13.11.1943	11:30	B-24	Stab I./JG 11	Deutsche Bucht-Schleswig
45.	1.12.1943	12:20	B-24	Stab I./JG 11	Spa-Düren-Solingen
46.	1.12.1943	-	B-24 HSS	Stab I./JG 11	Spa-Düren-Solingen
47.	11.12.1943	12:17	B-17	Stab I./JG 11	Borkum-Emden-Zuider Zee
48.	10.2.1944	12:55	B-17	Stab I./JG 11	NW Lingen, 8000 m
49.	20.2.1944	13:27	B-24	Stab I./JG 11	Holzminden area
50.	20.2.1944	13:30	B-24	Stab I./JG 11	Holzminden area
51.	20.2.1944	13:37	B-24	Stab I./JG 11	Gotha, 6000 m
52.	20.2.1944	13:45	B-24	Stab I./JG 11	Hozkirchen, 4500 m
53.	3.3.1944	12:02	B-17	Stab I./JG 11	W Tönning, 7200 m
54.	6.3.1944	12:00	B-17	Stab I./JG 11	Haselünne, 7200 m
55.	6.3.1944	12:06	B-17	Stab I./JG 11	S Delmenhorst, 7200 m
56.	6.3.1944	12:12	B-17	Stab I./JG 11	S Delmenhorst, 7200 m
57.	8.3.1944	15:26	B-24	Stab I./JG 11	N Grossburgwedel
58.	8.3.1944	15:28	B-24	Stab I./JG 11	N Grossburgwedel
59.	8.3.1944	15:36	B-17	Stab I./JG 11	Celle 6000m
60.	8.3.1944	15:47	B-17	Stab I./JG 11
61.	23.3.1944	10:03	B-17	Stab I./JG 11	S Bremen, 7000 m
62.	15.4.1944	13:56	P-38	Stab I./JG 11	Rotenburg, tief
63.	15.4.1944	13:57	P-38	Stab I./JG 11	Rotenburg, 50 m
64.	24.4.1944	13:06	P-51	Stab I./JG 11	Mannheim, 800 m