Hauptmann
Erich Woitke was born on 29 January 1912 at Mülheim
near Duisberg. A gifted athlete, he participated in the decathlon event
at the 1936 Olympic Games at Berlin. Woitke received his combat initiation
during the Spanish Civil War serving with 1./J 88 of the Condor Legion.
Leutnant Woitke recorded his first victory in Spain on 27 September 1939
when he claimed a Republican I-16 “Rata” shot down. He claimed a further
three victories, all I-16 “Ratas”, before returning to Germany. On 1 February
1940, Oberleutnant Woitke was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 3. He led
the unit during the French campaign. On 31 May 1940, Woitke participated
in the escort of Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers attacking French troop concentrations
near Huppy on the west bank of the Somme River. The formation encountered
two British twin-engine bombers, a Wellington and a Blenheim, and quickly
shot down both. Woitke was credited with the destruction of the Blenheim
for his first victory of World War 2. He claimed one further victory during
the aerial fighting over France, when he shot down a French Morane fighter
near Compigne on 3 June. During the Battle of Britain,
Woitke claimed seven victories with 6./JG 3, including two RAF Spitfire
fighters shot down over Staplehurst on 9 September to record his ninth
and 10th victories. On 1 October 1940, Woitke was appointed acting Gruppenkommandeur
of II./JG 3, replacing Hauptmann Erich von Selle (9 victories), who was
taking up a staff position with Nachtjagddivison. He relinquished command
of the Gruppe to Hauptmann Lothar Keller (23
victories, RK, killed in action 26 June 1941) on 23 November. On 3 November
1940, Hauptmann Woitke was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 52, although
he did not take up the role until 24 November. He replaced Hauptmann Wilhelm
Ensslen (18 victories), who had been reported missing in action on 2 November
(he is buried in Hawkinge Cemetery, his grave was identified in September
2004). Woitke recorded his first victory with his new unit on 14 February
1941, when he shot down a Spitfire over Maidstone for his 14th victory.
Woitke led II./JG 52 during the invasion of Russia. He claimed two victories
on the opening day of Operation Barbarossa, 22 June 1941, when he shot
down two Russian aircraft for his 16th and 17th victories. He recorded
his 20th victory on 25 August, when he shot down a Russian I-18 fighter.
During January 1942, serviceability of II./JG 52’s Bf 109s was in such
a parlous state due to the severity of the Russian winter that the pilots
and groundstaff were ordered to the trenches to assist the German army
coming under pressure in the Rzhev sector. On the night of 20 January,
Woitke was warned of a Russian breakthrough and advised to man the defensive
positions. He chose to ignore the advice and several pilots and groundcrew
were killed and wounded. Wounded in the incident was Oberleutnant Carl
Hartmann (18 victories) who had to be abandoned during the retreat and
was later found dead. Woitke was court-martialled which resulted in a demotion
and a conditional sentence. By October 1942, Woitke was serving in North
Africa with 5./JG 27. He had 22 victories to his credit at this time. Woitke
recorded a USAAF P-39 fighter shot down on 9 October near El Daba as his
23rd victory. Woitke was serving with the Stabsstaffel of JG 77 in January
1943, based in Tunisia. He claimed an Allied P-40 fighter shot down on
14 January as his 24th victory. By October 1943, Woitke was serving with
2./JG 11 on Reichsverteidigung duties. He claimed a USAAF B-17 four-engine
bomber shot down on 9 October as his 25th victory. Woitke was serving with
II./JG 300 by February 1944. He claimed a USAAF B-24 four-engine bomber
on 21 February. In May 1944, Woitke was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of
III./JG 1, replacing Hauptmann Hartmann Grasser
(103 victories, RK-EL). On 6 June, Woitke led III./JG 1 to Beauvais in
France, from where they participated in the aerial battles over the Allied
landings in Normandy. On 18 June, Woitke was shot down in aerial combat
with P-38 near Pont Laverne. He baled out of his stricken Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr.
440 564), but dislocated both shoulders putting him out of action. On 10
October 1944, Woitke returned to combat duty as Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG
1 based at Anklam. He replaced Hauptmann Heinz Knoke (33 victories, RK),
who had been badly injured in a motor vehicle accident on 9 October. On
24 December 1944, Woitke led III./JG 1 off from Anklam. Shortly afterwards,
he was shot down and killed in aerial combat near Aachen with RAF Spitfires
in Bf 109 G-10/AS (W.Nr. 490 723) “Grey 20”. Woitke was considered a “character”.
Besides his prowess as an athlete and a fighter pilot, the 1.85 metre tall
Woitke had been demoted several times for his disregard for authority.
He is reputed to have received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold from Göring
personally only to throw the award on the ground while making disparaging
remarks! Only his courage and experience in combat ensured his advancement
after each incident.
Erich Woitke was credited with 30 victories. His
victory total includes four victories claimed in the Spanish
Civil War.
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27.9.1937
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I-16 | 1./J 88 | Spain |
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30.9.1937
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I-16 | 1./J 88 | Spain |
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18.1.1938
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I-16 | 1./J 88 | Spain |
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21.2.1938
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I-16 | 1./J 88 | Spain |
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31.5.1940
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Blenheim | 6./JG 3 | Aumale |
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3.6.1940
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Morane | 6./JG 3 | SW Compiegne |
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26.8.1940
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Spitfire | 6./JG 3 | - |
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5.9.1940
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Spitfire | 6./JG 3 | - |
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9.9.1940
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Spitfire | 6./JG 3 | Staplehurst |
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9.9.1940
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Spitfire | 6./JG 3 | Staplehurst |
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15.9.1940
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Spitfire | 6./JG 3 | S London |
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18.9.1940
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Spitfire | 6./JG 3 | - |
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27.9.1940
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Curtiss | 6./JG 3 | - |
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14.2.1941
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Spitfire | Stab II./JG 52 | Maidstone |
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23.2.1941
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Spitfire | Stab II./JG 52 | 5km S Calais |
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22.6.1941
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I-15 | Stab II./JG 52 | S Varena |
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22.6.1941
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DB-3 | Stab II./JG 52 | S Marknie |
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9.7.1941
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DB-3 | Stab II./JG 52 | - |
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21.7.1941
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DB-3 | Stab II./JG 52 | - |
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25.8.1941
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I-18 | Stab II./JG 52 | - |
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6.9.1941
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I-18 | Stab II./JG 52 | Kjarbusstje |
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6.9.1941
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I-18 | Stab II./JG 52 | - |
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5.10.1941
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I-18 | Stab II./JG 52 | - |
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9.10.1942
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P-39 | Stab II./JG 27 | SE El-Daba |
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14.1.1943
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P-40 | Stab JG 77 | - |
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9.10.1943
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B-17 | 2./JG 11 | TB-5.5 |
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21.2.1944
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B-24 | Stab II./JG 300 | NNE Achmer airfield |
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14.7.1944
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P-47 | Stab III./JG 1 | N Caen |
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18.7.1944
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P-38 | Stab III./JG 1 | Louviers |
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23.12.1944
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B-17 HSS | Stab III./JG 1 | - |
Victories : 30
Awards :
Units : J 88, JG 3, JG 52, JG 77, JG 27, JG 11, JG 300, JG 1
