Willi Reschke was born on 3 February 1922 at Mühlow in the Crossen region of Mark Brandenburg. He joined the Luftwaffe in February 1941 and began military training with the Flieger-Ausbildung-Regiment at Königsberg-Neumark. Initially, he trained as a technician but finally began flying training in late spring 1942 on gliders before progressing to powered aircraft at Flugzeugführerschule 51 at Elbing and later at Flugzeugführerschule A/B 9 at Grottkau and Niesse. On 27 June 1943, Reschke was transferred to Jagdgruppe 102, based at Zerbst to undergo his operational  training. He then underwent an instrument flying course at Blindflugschule 110 at Altenburg from 21 March 1944. On completion of his training, Reschke was posted to JG 302, based at Götzendorf near Wien, on 20 June 1944. Unteroffizier Reschke was assigned to 1./JG 302. On 2 July, he achieved his first successes when he shot down two USAAF B-24 four-engine bombers over Budapest. Reschke rammed the next B-24 he downed on 7 July at 11:55 near Malacky in Slovakia when his guns malfunctioned. He successfully baled out of his stricken aircraft. On 24 August, Reschke claimed a further B-24 near Jindrichuv Hradec at 12:40, but shortly after, during an attack on a second, his aircraft was hit by return fire. Reschke wanted to force-land with a dead engine, but USAAF P-51 fighters began pouring fire into his Bf 109 G-6 "White 10" and he had to use his parachute. On 29 August, he shot down a USAAF B-17 four-engine bomber south of Zlin at 10:50. During the attack another Bf 109 fired on his Bf 109 G-6 “White 6” and Reschke had to force-land near Uherske Hradiste. By the end of August 1944, he had 14 victories to his credit. After re-equipping with the Focke-Wulf 190 A-8, I./JG 302 was redesignated III./JG 301 on 30 September 1944. In October, the unit transfered to Stendal near Berlin. On 1 January 1945, Feldwebel Reschke downed a B-17 for his 22nd victory but was again hit by return fire and baled out of his Fw 190 A-8 "White 6" east of Gardelegen. On 13 March, he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. In March 1945, Reschke transferred to the Geschwaderstab of  JG 301. On 14 April, he flew a Ta 152 and claimed a RAF Tempest fighter shot down. On 20 April, Oberfeldwebel Reschke received the Ritterkreuz. He claimed his last two victories of the war on 24 April, when he shot down two Russian Yak-9 fighters near Berlin.
    Willi Reschke flew about 70 missions in achieving 27 victories.He recorded 25 victories over the Western front, including 20 four-engine bombers. He was shot down 8 times, baling out 4 times, and was wounded once.
 

No	Date	Time	A/c Type	Unit	Location / Comments
1	2.7.1944	10:25	B-24	1./JG 302	Budapest
2	2.7.1944	10:29	B-24	1./JG 302	Budapest
3	7.7.1944	11:55	B-24	1./JG 302	Bratislava / Rammed
4	13.7.1944	10:45	B-17	1./JG 302	Neusiedler See
5	14.7.1944	9:55	B-24	1./JG 302	Budapest
6	18.7.1944	10:53	B-24	1./JG 302	München
7	18.7.1944	11:10	P-51	1./JG 302	München
8	19.7.1944	9:57	B-17	1./JG 302	Starnberg
9	16.8.1944	10:00	B-17	1./JG 302	SE Kassel
10	20.8.1944	9:45	B-17	1./JG 302	S Budapest
11	20.8.1944	9:52	B-17 HSS	1./JG 302	S Budapest
12	22.8.1944	12:50	B-17 e.V.	1./JG 302	Balaton
13	24.8.1944	12:40	B-24	1./JG 302	Neuhaus
14	29.8.1944	10:50	B-17	1./JG 302	Brünn
15	21.11.1944	12:05	B-17	9./JG 301	Magdeburg
16	26.11.1944	12:45	B-24	9./JG 301	Hildesheim
17	17.12.1944	11:20	B-24	9./JG 301	Kassel
18	17.12.1944	11:25	P-51	9./JG 301	Kassel
19	24.12.1944	14:55	B-17	9./JG 301	Hannover
20	24.12.1944	15:03	B-17	9./JG 301	Hannover
21	31.12.1944	11:35	B-24	9./JG 301	Hamburg
22	1.1.1945	12:00	B-17	9./JG 301	Gardelegen
23	14.1.1945	12:45	P-51	9./JG 301	Mecklenburg
24	14.1.1945	12:55	P-47	9./JG 301	Kyritz
25	14.4.1945	19:20	Tempest	Stab JG 301	Ludwiglust / Tempest V (SN141) SA-U of 486 Sqn, RAF flown by W/O O Mitchell, killed
26	24.4.1945	8:45	Yak-9	Stab JG 301	Erkner area
27	24.4.1945	8:48	Yak-9	Stab JG 301	Erkner area

Victories : 27
Awards : Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (13 March 1945)
                Ritterkreuz (20 April 1945)
Units : JG 302, JG 301