Johannes Steinhoff

Johannes Steinhoff "Mäcki"

°15.09.13 – †21-Feb-94

1932/34 : studied philology at Univerität Jena but had to give up this study after two years due to lack of money.

Apr-34 : joined the Reichsmarine as an Offizieranwärter.

01-Apr-36 : promotion to Leutnant.

1936 : transfer from the Kriegsmarine to the Luftwaffe.

1938 : promotion to Oberleutnant, appointed Staffelkapitän 1./Lehrgeschwader1 (LG 1).

Late 1938 : appointed Staffelkapitän Nachtjagdstaffel (NJ)/LG 1.

May/Jun.39 : appointed Staffelkapitän 11.(NJ)/Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2).

01.09.39 : appointed Staffelkapitän 10.(NJ)/Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26).

Nov-39 : appointed Staffelkapitän 10.(NJ)/JG 26.

Jan-40 : Jever, Germany

01-Feb-40 : appointed Staffelkapitän 4.(Staffel)/Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52).

Aug-40 : France

14-Feb-41 : promotion to Hauptman

31-Jul-41 : -- unhurt - lost Bf 109 F-2 (White 1 + -) hit obstruction at Andreyevo, Russia.

18.08.1941 : awarded the Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg. (Trophy of honor for special achievements in air warfare)

30.08.1941 : awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, appointed Staffelkapitän 4./JG 52. (the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross)

Dec-41 : Dugino, Rostov, Russia.

01-Mar-42 : appointed Kommandeur II.(Gruppe)/JG 52 (until 24-Mar-43).

17-May-42 : Stab II./JG 52.

28.08.1942 : -- unhurt? - Bf 109 G-2 emergency landing due to engine trouble following combat in area of Werchne, Ukraine.

02.09.1942 : awarded the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Oak Leaves for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross)

28.09.1942: -- unhurt? - Bf 109 G-2 engine fire after take-off forced-landing vicinity Maikop, Russia.

11.12.1942 : -- unhurt? - Bf 109 G-2 shot up by AA, crashed vicinity Kasmensk airfield, Russia.

04-Jan-43 : -- unhurt? - Fi 156 (FC+LQ) at Gigant airfield, Russia due to motor damage - then Go 145 (DK+KD) forced down vicinity Alamann rail station, Russia by fuel shortage.

12-Feb-43 : -- unhurt - Bf 109 G-2 (Black < 3 + -) emergency landing at Krimskaya, Russia, due to motor damage.

30-Mar-43 : Kommandeur II./JG 52, ordered to Luftflottenkommando 2 for temporary duty.

01-Apr-43 : promotion to Major and appointed Kommodore Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77) (until 11.1944).

05-Apr-43 : -- unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 trop belly-landed vicinity La Fouconnerie, France after combat with a Spitfire.

Jul-43 :

25-Aug-43 :

Aug-43 :

01-Oct-43 : promotion to Oberstleutnant.

10-May-44 : -- unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 belly-landed at Zagreb-Pleso, Kroatia after combat with a P-38.

14-Jul-44 : -- unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 damaged in a combat with Spitfire and B-25 at an unknown location.

28-Jul-44 : awarded the Eichenlaub mit Schwertern zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, Kommodore JG 77. (Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross),

01-Oct-44 : promotion to Oberst

18-Oct-44 : appointed Kommodore JG 77

19.11.44 : Oberst, appointed Kommodore Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7) (until 26.12.44).

Dec-44 : re-appointed Kommodore JG 7 (until 01.1945 when he was fired by Göring)

Apr-45 : volunteered for Jagdverband 44 (JV 44) at Munich-Riem, Germany.

Apr-45 : Einsatzchef, and Offizier zur besonderen Verwendung (Offz.z.b.V.) of JV 44.

18-Apr-45 : -- badly wounded in action with extensive burns - during take-off from München-Riem in an Me 262 A-1 (White 6) which suffered a blow out. “We were to fly formation and engage an American bomber formation. Our airfield had suffered some damage over the last several days due to Allied bombing and strafing attacks, and as my jet was picking up speed, the left undercarriage struck a poorly patched crater. I lost the wheel, and the plane jumped perhaps a meter into the air, so I tried to raise the remaining right wheel. I was too low to abort takeoff, and my speed had not increased enough to facilitate takeoff. I knew as I came toward the end of the runway that I was going to crash. The 262 hit with a great thump, then a fire broke out in the cockpit as it skidded to a stop. I tried to unfasten my belts when an explosion rocked the plane, and I felt an intense heat. My twenty-four R4M rockets had exploded, and the fuel was burning me alive. I remember popping the canopy and jumping out, flames all around me, and I fell down and began to roll. The explosions continued, and the concussion was deafening, knocking me down as I tried to get up and run away. I cannot describe the pain.”

(n.d.) : spent two years in hospital recovering from his burns after the war.

(n.d.) : first civilian job : painting ceramics.

(n.d.) : employee of a Munich advertising agency (until 1952).

1955 : joined the Bundeswehr as a Oberst and was appointed Leiter der Abteilung VI (Personnel management for reservists - Preparing operations/staff for civilian operations) in Bonn (until 1960).

1956 : competed in Gruppe 1 of the Deutschen Luftberatungsdienst Wiesbaden in a Cessna 172, placing first, winning the Goldene Plakette of the Deutschen Aeroclubs and the Ehrenpreis of the Bundesverkehrsministeriums.

01-Oct-58 : promotion to Brigadegeneral.

1960 : appointed acting Stabschef der Bundesluftwaffe.

(n.d.): sent to the U.S.A. for familiarization with American aircraft and earned a US military pilot’s badge.

1960 : appointed German military representative to the NATO committee in Washington (until 1963).

01-Feb-61 : promotion to Generalmajor.

Nov-63 : returned to Germany and appointed Kommandeur 4. Luftwaffendivision.

15-May-65 : promotion to Generalleutnant.

1965 : appointed Chief of Staff Allied Air Forces in Central Europe.

1965 : awarded the US trophy “Pilot of the Year”.

1966 : appointed Inspekteur der Luftwaffe im Bundesministerium.

02-Jan-71 : promotion to (4 star) General.

1971 : appointed Chairman of the military committee of NATO.

31-Mar-74 : retired.

18-Sep-1997 : In his memory Jagdgeschwader 73 was bestowed the honor name "Steinhoff".

Awards

Luftwaffe :

Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen

Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung, 4te Klasse

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938

Medal Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42

Frontflugspange für Jagdflieger in Gold mit Anhänger Einsatzzahl „900“

Verwundetenabzeichen (1939) in Gold

Krimschild

Eisernes Kreuz (1939) II. Klasse

Eisernes Kreuz (1939) I. Klasse

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Eichenlaub mit Schwertern zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Bundeswehr :

Tätigkeitsabzeichen Militärluftfahrzeugführer in gold (DE)

Command Pilot (US)

Grande Ufficiale dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (IT) 1967

Commander of the Legion of Merit Medal (US) 1970

Großes Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland mit Stern und Schulterband (DE) 1972

Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur (FR) 1972

Aerial victories :

Credited with 174 confirmed (and 4 unconfirmed) aerial victories in 993 combat missions, including 105 fighter-bomber missions. Besides these he is also credited with 35 trucks, 1 reconnaissance vehicle, 1 speedboat and 1 motorboat destroyed.

10(NJ)./JG 26 11(NJ)./JG 2 4./JG 52 II./JG 52 Stab/JG 77 Stab/JG 7 JV 44

No Unit Date
Aircraft

Type
Air Force

1. 10(NJ)./JG 26 18.12.1939 Vickers Wellington Bomber

2. 10(NJ)./JG 26 18.12.1939 Vickers Wellington Bomber

3. 11(NJ)./JG 2 10.05.1940 Bristol Blenheim Bomber

4. 11(NJ)./JG 2 10.05.1940 Bristol Blenheim Bomber

5. 4./JG 52 30.09.1940 Supermarine Spitfire Fighter

6. 4./JG 52 14.02.1941 Supermarine Spitfire Fighter

7. 4./JG 52 19.05.1941 Supermarine Spitfire Fighter

8. 4./JG 52 19.05.1941 Supermarine Spitfire Fighter

9. 4./JG 52 22.06.1941 Polikarpov I-15 Fighter

10. 4./JG 52 26.06.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

11. 4./JG 52 01.07.1941 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

12. 4./JG 52 02.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

13. 4./JG 52 02.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

14. 4./JG 52 02.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

15. 4./JG 52 03.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

16. 4./JG 52 03.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

17. 4./JG 52 04.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

18. 4./JG 52 05.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

19. 4./JG 52 06.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

20. 4./JG 52 07.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

21. 4./JG 52 09.07.1941 Petlyakov Pe-2 Bomber

22. 4./JG 52 22.07.1941 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

23. 4./JG 52 26.07.1941 V-11 (was a Ilyushin Il-2) Ground-attack

24. 4./JG 52 27.07.1941 I-18 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

25. 4./JG 52 28.07.1941 I-18 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

26. 4./JG 52 29.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

27. 4./JG 52 29.07.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

28. 4./JG 52 10.08.1941 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

29. 4./JG 52 25.08.1941 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

30. 4./JG 52 26.08.1941 I-17 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

31. 4./JG 52 26.08.1941 I-17 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

32. 4./JG 52 26.08.1941 I-17 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

33. 4./JG 52 27.08.1941 Polikarpov R-5 Reconnaissance/Bomber

34. 4./JG 52 27.08.1941 Polikarpov R-5 Reconnaissance/Bomber

35. 4./JG 52 29.08.1941 Polikarpov I-15 Fighter

36. 4./JG 52 01.09.1941 Ilyushin DB-3 Bomber

37. 4./JG 52 06.09.1941 I-18 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

38. 4./JG 52 06.09.1941 I-18 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

39. 4./JG 52 26.09.1941 I-18 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

40. 4./JG 52 03.10.1941 Polikarpov I-15 Fighter

41. 4./JG 52 05.10.1941 I-18 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

42. 4./JG 52 06.10.1941 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

43. 4./JG 52 18.10.1941 Petlyakov Pe-2 Bomber

44. 4./JG 52 18.10.1941 Petlyakov Pe-2 Bomber

45. 4./JG 52 24.10.1941 Petlyakov Pe-2 Bomber

46. 4./JG 52 14.11.1941 I-18 (was a MiG-1) Fighter

47. 4./JG 52 26.11.1941 I-26 (was Yakovlev Yak-1) Fighter

48. 4./JG 52 28.11.1941 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

49. 4./JG 52 28.11.1941 BB-22(Seversky) (was a Yakovlev Yak-2) Bomber

50. 4./JG 52 02.12.1941 BB-22(Seversky) (was a Yakovlev Yak-2) Bomber

51. 4./JG 52 02.12.1941 BB-22(Seversky) (was a Yakovlev Yak-2) Bomber

52. II./JG 52 09.05.1942 Polikarpov I-15 Fighter

53. II./JG 52 09.05.1942 Polikarpov I-15 Fighter

54. II./JG 52 15.05.1942 MiG-1 Fighter

55. II./JG 52 17.05.1942 MiG-1 Fighter

56. II./JG 52 19.05.1942 MiG-1 Fighter

57. II./JG 52 19.05.1942 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

58. II./JG 52 23.05.1942 MiG-1 Fighter

59. II./JG 52 23.05.1942 V-11 (was a Ilyushin Il-2) Ground-attack

60. II./JG 52 26.05.1942 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

61. II./JG 52 26.05.1942 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

62. II./JG 52 02.06.1942 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

63. II./JG 52 04.06.1942 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

64. II./JG 52 14.06.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

65. II./JG 52 22.06.1942 Hawker Hurricane Fighter

66. II./JG 52 23.06.1942 Sukhoi Su-2 Reconnaissance/Bomber

67. II./JG 52 01.07.1942 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

68. II./JG 52 01.07.1942 Douglas A-20 Bomber

69. II./JG 52 03.07.1942 Hawker Hurricane Fighter

70. II./JG 52 04.07.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

71. II./JG 52 10.07.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

72. II./JG 52 17.07.1942 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

73. II./JG 52 19.07.1942 Polikarpov I-15 Fighter

74. II./JG 52 20.07.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

75. II./JG 52 23.07.1942 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

76. II./JG 52 24.07.1942 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

77. II./JG 52 25.07.1942 Polikarpov I-15 Fighter

78. II./JG 52 21.08.1942 I-180 (was a Yak-7) Fighter

79. II./JG 52 22.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

80. II./JG 52 22.08.1942 Hawker Hurricane Fighter

81. II./JG 52 23.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

82. II./JG 52 23.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

83. II./JG 52 23.08.1942 Polikarpov I-15 Fighter

84. II./JG 52 23.08.1942 I-180 (was a Yak-7) Fighter

85. II./JG 52 23.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

86. II./JG 52 24.08.1942 I-180 (was a Yak-7) Fighter

87. II./JG 52 25.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

88. II./JG 52 25.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

89. II./JG 52 25.08.1942 I-180 (was a Yak-7) Fighter

90. II./JG 52 25.08.1942 I-180 (was a Yak-7) Fighter

91. II./JG 52 27.08.1942 I-180 (was a Yak-7) Fighter

92. II./JG 52 27.08.1942 I-180 (was a Yak-7) Fighter

93. II./JG 52 28.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

94. II./JG 52 28.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

95. II./JG 52 30.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

96. II./JG 52 30.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

97. II./JG 52 30.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

98. II./JG 52 30.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

99. II./JG 52 30.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

100. II./JG 52 31.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

101. II./JG 52 31.08.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

102. II./JG 52 08.09.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

103. II./JG 52 08.09.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

104. II./JG 52 10.09.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

105. II./JG 52 16.09.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

106. II./JG 52 17.09.1942 Sukhoi Su-2 Reconnaissance/Bomber

107. II./JG 52 17.09.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

108. II./JG 52 20.09.1942 Polikarpov I-16 Fighter

109. II./JG 52 26.09.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

110. II./JG 52 26.09.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

111. II./JG 52 11.11.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

112. II./JG 52 11.11.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

113. II./JG 52 28.11.1942 Curtiss P-40 Fighter

114. II./JG 52 28.11.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

115. II./JG 52 30.11.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

116. II./JG 52 30.11.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

117. II./JG 52 30.11.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

118. II./JG 52 30.11.1942 Curtiss P-40 Fighter

119. II./JG 52 01.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

120. II./JG 52 02.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

121. II./JG 52 07.12.1942 Curtiss P-40 Fighter

122. II./JG 52 08.12.1942 Douglas A-20 Bomber

123. II./JG 52 08.12.1942 Douglas A-20 Bomber

124. II./JG 52 08.12.1942 MiG-1 Fighter

125. II./JG 52 08.12.1942 MiG-1 Fighter

126. II./JG 52 10.12.1942 Lavochkin LaGG-3 Fighter

127. II./JG 52 11.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

128. II./JG 52 11.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

129. II./JG 52 12.12.1942 Petlyakov Pe-2 Bomber

130. II./JG 52 13.12.1942 Petlyakov Pe-2 Bomber

131. II./JG 52 13.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

132. II./JG 52 17.12.1942 Curtiss P-40 Fighter

133. II./JG 52 17.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

134. II./JG 52 18.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

135. II./JG 52 20.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

136. II./JG 52 25.12.1942 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

137. II./JG 52 25.12.1942 Petlyakov Pe-2 Bomber

138. II./JG 52 28.12.1942 Lavochkin La-5 Fighter

139. II./JG 52 28.12.1942 Lavochkin La-5 Fighter

140. II./JG 52 9.01. 1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

141. II./JG 52 09.01.1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

142. II./JG 52 14.01.1943 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

143. II./JG 52 14.01.1943 Lavochkin La-5 Fighter

144. II./JG 52 14.01.1943 Lavochkin La-5 Fighter

145. II./JG 52 25.01.1943 Lavochkin La-5 Fighter

146. II./JG 52 26.01.1943 Douglas A-20 Bomber

147. II./JG 52 31.01.1943 Douglas A-20 Bomber

148. II./JG 52 01.02.1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

149. II./JG 52 02.02.1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

150. II./JG 52 02.02.1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

151. II./JG 52 12.02.1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

152. II./JG 52 23.02.1943 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

153. II./JG 52 23.02.1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

154. II./JG 52 23.02.1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

155. II./JG 52 25.02.1943 Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighter

156. Stab/JG 77 04.04.1943 Supermarine Spitfire Fighter

157. Stab/JG 77 25.06.1943 Boeing B-17 Bomber

158. Stab/JG 77 07.07.1943 Grumman F4F Martlet Fighter

159. Stab/JG 77 08.07.1943 Curtiss P-40 Fighter

160. Stab/JG 77 25.08.1943 Lockheed P-38 Fighter

161. Stab/JG 77 25.08.1943 Lockheed P-38 Fighter

162. Stab/JG 77 25.08.1943 Lockheed P-38 Fighter

163. Stab/JG 77 25.08.1943 Lockheed P-38 Fighter

164. Stab/JG 77 01.12.1943 De Haviland Mosquito Multirole

165. Stab/JG 77 25.02.1944 Boeing B-17 Bomber

166. Stab/JG 77 10.05.1944 Lockheed P-38 Fighter

167. Stab/JG 77 09.06.1944 Consolidated B-24 Bomber

168. Stab/JG 77 14.07.1944 North American B-25 Bomber

Stab/JG 77 24.09.1944 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

Stab/JG 77 24.09.1944 Yak-9 Fighter

Stab/JG 77 24.09.1944 Yak-9 Fighter

Stab/JG 77 25.09.1944 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Fighter

169. Stab/JG 77 27.02.1945 Yak-9 Fighter

170. Stab/JG 77 27.02.1945 Yak-9 Fighter

171. Stab/JG 77 20.03.1945 Ilyushin Il-2 Ground-attack

172. JV 44 03.04.1945 Boeing B-17 Bomber

173. JV 44 05.04.1945 North American P-51 Fighter

174. JV 44 09.04.1945 North American P-51 Fighter

This indicates those aerial victories which made Steinhoff an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.

This indicates unwitnessed aerial victory claims for which Steinhoff did not receive credit.

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