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Julius Meimberg - Pilot Profile - Julius Meimberg

Julius Meimberg

Victories : 53
-----------------------------
Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis
Died : 17th January 2012


Awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
Knights
Cross

Julius Meimberg joined JG2 Richthofen in December 1939 and during the Battle of France flew as wingman to Assi Hahn. An Ace during the Battle of Britain, Meimberg flew with Wick on the day that he was fatally shot down over the Isle of Wight. In 1944 Meimburg was appointed Gruppenkommandeur II./JG53. He was awarded the Knight's Cross and achieved 53 victories in 600 combat missions.

Memories from Julius Meimberg of the day that Helmut Wick was shot down :

Late in the afternoon of 28th November 1940, we took off for southern England from Beaumont le Roger for our second mission of the day. Climbing towards the Isle of Wight in bright sunshine, I was leading the 4th Staffel and directly ahead of us was the Staff Schwarm of JG2 Richthofen led by Kommodore Major Helmut Wick, at that time the leading fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe. With him were his wingman Oberleutnant Rudi Pflanz, Oberleutnant Leie and Oberfeldwebel Rudorffer. At about 23,000 ft, we were almost above the Isle of Wight when we spotted vapour trails caused by Spitfires above us at a much greater height.

Major Wick led his Staff Schwarm towards them at full throttle, with the result that the Schwarm aircraft pulled apart from each other. Climbing with my Staffel to one side, we were soon drawn into the main battle and the Staffel separated. A single Spitfire turned in front of me and disappeared behing my engine cowling as I fired off my weapons. Apparently undamaged, the aircraft went into a spin and I followed it down, expecting the aircraft to pull out at any time, but it never did. The red glow in the cockpit indicated a possible oxygen tank hit.

When we landed, Rudi Pflanz reported that Major Wick had shot down a Spitfire, was then in turn shot down by a second Spitfire, which in turn had been shot down by Pflanz. We were all told that no-one had seen what had happened to Wicks aircraft, which left us hoping for the safety of our Kommodore. We returned later next day, and again the following day, but there was no sign of him. What we had not been told was that Rudorffer had witnessed him go down, a large bullet hole passing through the starboard wing trailing edge, straight through the cockpit and engine block. He felt that Wick was already dead as his aircraft corkscrewed downwards, finally plunging into the sea. After the war, I learned that his conqueror had been Flight Lieutenant John Dundas DFC, himself only seconds later shot down by Pflanz and killed.

Click here for artwork signed by this Ace!


Latest Axis Aviation Artwork !
 In early May 1941, in conditions of strict secrecy because the United States was not yet at war, seventeen pilots of the US Navy had arrived in Britain and been attached to Catalina squadrons of Coastal Command.  These experienced PBY pilots were there to assist the Royal Air Force to become familiar with the Catalina, and also to gain operational experience for the US Navy.  On 26th May 1941 Catalina Z of No.209 Sqn, commanded by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs RAF, with Ensign Leonard B Smith USN as co-pilot, joined the search for the Bismarck.  At 1015 the aircraft was being flown in poor visibility at an altitude of 500ft when Ensign Smith sighted the Bismarck at a range of eight miles.  The Catalina was flown towards the contact so that a positive identification could be made and emerged from the cloud only 500 yards from the German ship.  The aircraft met a hail of anti-aircraft fire but was able to make its escape.  As a result of the sighting report from Catalina Z the Bismarck was again engaged by ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and was sunk at 1040 on 27th May 1941.  Leonard Smith can be considered therefore, the first American to be directly involved in action in World War Two.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (American) for his actions.

The Aircraft That Found the Bismarck by Ivan Berryman.
 One of the all time great fighter aces, Adolf Galland is depicted flying Bf 109E-4/N of Stab/JG26 in September 1940.  Galland flew 705 combat missions during World War Two and was credited with a final tally of 104 aerial victories. He survived the war and died peacefully in February 1996.

Tribute to Generalleutnant Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman.
 Walter Briegleb is shown in his Ju88 G.7 4R+BR as he stalks his prey - on this occasion a Lancaster.  Flying below their target, his crew would aim upward firing cannon at the inner wing of the bomber, igniting the fuel tanks.  For the bomber crews, they were very much defenceless against this type of attack, and often had no idea of the presence of an enemy aircraft in the dark.

Tribute to Walter Briegleb by Ivan Berryman.
 The attack by Leutnant Walter Briegleb and his crew on Lancaster Mk.III ND960 DX-I of No.57 Sqn early on 22nd May 1944.  Flying Me110 with codes D5+BV with his crew of Feldwebel Walter Bräunlich and Bordfunker Feldwebel Brandt, Briegleb flew undetected beneath the bomber and used the deadly 'Schräge Musik' - upward firing cannon - to hit the fuel tanks in the port wing between the fuselage and inner engine.  Pulling away, he watched the aircraft burn and could see both gunners in their turrets but no return fire came.  He wondered why none of the crew escaped by parachute with the bomber doomed - it disintegrated in the air over the coast of the island of Fyn, Denmark, impacting near Emtekær at 00:44hrs.<br><br><center>All of the crew were killed :<br>Flight Lieutenant Arthur Richards (Pilot)<br>Flying Officer William Woodall (Navigator)<br>Pilot Officer Athur Bugden (Flight Engineer)<br>Sergeant Thomas Edwards (Wireless Operator)<br>Flying Officer George Ferguson (Air Bomber)<br>Sergeant Harold Griffiths (Air Gunner)<br>Sergeant Cyril Woodmass (Air Gunner)

The Hunted and the Hunter by Ivan Berryman.

Julius Meimberg

Squadrons for : Julius Meimberg
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Julius Meimberg. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

JG2


Country : Germany
Founded : 1st May 1939
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG2
JG2

Jagdgeschwader 2 was formed from parts of Jagdgeschwader 131 Richthofen on 1 May 1939 in Döberitz and its first commander was Oberst Robert Ritter von Greim. At the outbreak of the war JG 2 was tasked with defence of the Reich and based in the Berlin area under Luftgaukommando III. Stab and II. Gruppe were equipped with the Bf 109E and were located at Döberitz with 10.(N) staffel flying the Bf 109D in Straussberg.

10.(N) Staffel was one of the first night fighter units formed in the Luftwaffe. Later this staffel was expanded into IV.(N) Gruppe. This Gruppe gained the Luftwaffe’s first night kill over the RAF Bomber Command on the night of 25/26 on April 1940 when Ofw Förster shot down a Handley Page Hampden.

The unit saw little combat until the Western offensive against France and the Low Countries from 10 May 1940 onwards. During the campaign against France, JG 2 was tasked with escorting raids and defending German airspace to the south of Heinz Guderian's Panzer forces which were encircling the French and the British Expeditionary Force further north. Leutnant Helmut Wick, who later became part of a trio of outstanding aces (including Adolf Galland from Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) and Werner Mölders from Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51)) in the Battle of Britain, attained his first and the Geschwader's second kill on 22 November 1939, a French Curtiss Hawk Model 75. The first victory for the JG 2 was scored by Oberfeldwebel Kley (3. Staffel) at the same day.

JG 2 took part in the Battle of Britain, operating Bf 109Es over the South Coast of England and the English Channel from bases in Cherbourg and Normandy. Major Helmut Wick emerged as one of the Battle’s top Luftwaffe aces, claiming 31 kills for a personal total of 56, before being killed (MIA) in action versus Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron in November 1940. Wick was seen to bail out successfully but was not found by German Air/Sea Rescue attempts. The Spitfire who dispatched him was immediately shot down by Oberleutnant Rudolf Pflanz. Ofw. Schnell, Ofw. Machold and Olt. Hans Assi Hahn also claimed heavily during this period, with 16 kills each. Some 42 JG 2 pilots were killed or made POW during the battle.

JG53


Country : Germany
Founded : 1937
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG53
JG53

Pik-As was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean. Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the Pik As (Ace of Spades) Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937. JG53 flew the various models of Bf-109 throughout the second world war.

Known Victory Claims - Julius Meimberg

DATE

PILOT

UNIT

JG

CLAIMED

LOCATION

TIME

FRONT

19/05/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2HurricaneTournai12.2Western Front
03/06/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2CurtissEpernay14.5Western Front
04/09/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2Spitfire-14.05Western Front
06/09/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2SpitfireAshford10Western Front
06/09/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2SpitfireAshford10.15Western Front
10/10/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2Hurricane-13.5Western Front
07/11/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2HurricaneS. Insel Wight15.3Western Front
28/11/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2SpitfireSW Insel Wight17.2Western Front
29/11/1940Ltn. Julius Meimberg4JG 2BlenheimKanal16.35Western Front
03/07/1941Ltn. Julius Meimberg3JG 2Spitfire-15.39Western Front
17/07/1941Ltn. Julius Meimberg3JG 2SpitfireN. Etaples16.17Western Front
24/07/1941Ltn. Julius Meimberg3JG 2WellingtonBrest15Western Front
24/07/1941Ltn. Julius Meimberg3JG 2Hampden-14.45Western Front
24/07/1941Ltn. Julius Meimberg3JG 2HampdenWSW Ploudalengau: 3000m14.24Western Front
17/05/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg3JG 2Spitfire30km NW Dieppe: 4500m10.27Western Front
19/05/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg3JG 2SpitfireMD Calais-Ramsgate: 200m15.22Western Front
31/05/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg3JG 2Spitfire-19.29Western Front
19/06/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg3JG 2SpitfireSelsey Bill: 800m21.01Western Front
19/06/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg3JG 2SpitfireSelsey Bill20.58Western Front
11/07/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg1JG 2Spitfire-18.25Western Front
28/07/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg3JG 2Spitfire15km SW Brighton: 20m [SW Selsey Bill]21.15Western Front
20/08/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2Spitfire30km NNW Dieppe13.59Western Front
05/09/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2Spitfire--Western Front
04/12/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2BlehheimE. Mateur-Western Front
04/12/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2BlehheimSW Mateur-Western Front
04/12/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2BlehheimSE Mateur-Western Front
05/12/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2Spitfire1km E. Mateur: 100m9.08Western Front
05/12/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2Spitfire2km SE Mateur: 300m9.12Western Front
05/12/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2Spitfire10km S. Mateur: 5m11.03Western Front
06/12/1942Oblt. Julius Meimberg11JG 2Spitfire20km S. Tebourba: 500m10.15Western Front
31/01/1943Oblt. Julius Meimberg6JG 53P-3820km W. Djedeida: 500m13.14Western Front
01/02/1943Oblt. Julius Meimberg6JG 53B-1710km NW Pont du Fahs: 6000m13.25Western Front
09/12/1943Hptm. Julius MeimbergStabJG 53MustangNW Valmontone: 5m11.27Western Front
08/05/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53B-24GA-36: [15km N. Braunschweig]10.05Western Front
29/05/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53B-17Wittenberge: 7000m12.15Western Front
30/05/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53B-17-11.15Western Front
17/06/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-38TR-9: 6500m [La Haye-du-Puits]19.31Western Front
05/07/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-4704 Ost N/BD: 4000m [Rambouillet]10.49Western Front
05/07/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-4704 Ost N/AC-8: 1500m [Nonancourt]10.53Western Front
24/09/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53C-47SR-7: 1800m [Kusel]12.4Western Front
29/09/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47--Western Front
08/10/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47--Western Front
13/10/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47--Western Front
20/10/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47CP-6: 3000m [SW Strasbourg]10.48Western Front
28/10/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47UR-1: 5000m [Landau]11.05Western Front
17/11/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-51UR-4: 1000m [Linkenheim]15.3Western Front
16/12/1944Hptm. Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47UR-5: 1500m [Herxheim Krs. Karlsrühe]11.39Western Front
26/12/1944Major Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47--Western Front
26/12/1944Major Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47--Western Front
26/12/1944Major Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47--Western Front
16/03/1945Major Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-51 *--Western Front
10/04/1945Major Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53P-47-9Western Front
13/04/1945Major Julius MeimbergStab II.JG 53Spitfire-18.06Western Front

Known Claims : 53

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