Otto Tange

Otto Tange (22 September 1915 – 30 July 1943) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Tange claimed 68 aerial victories, 3 over the Western Front and 65 over the Eastern Front. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Tange was born on 22 September 1915 in Hochdonn in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein within the German Empire.

He was a member of the Luftwaffe at the beginning of the war and participated in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. During the Battle of Britain he claimed his first three victories. Tange then participated in Operation Barbarossa, by the end of 1941 he claimed 33 more victories. On 19 March 1942 Otto Tange was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for having 40 victories.

On 11 July 1943, Tange was posted to the Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). On 30 July, his third mission with the Stabsstaffel, Tange was killed in action when his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 was hit by Soviet anti-aircraft artiller 35 km southwest of Bolkhov. Posthumously, Tange was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).

Aerial victory claims
According to Spick, Tange was credited with 68 aerial victories claimed in 426 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 63 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. This number includes one claim on the Western Front with others claimed on the Eastern Front.

Awards

 * Flugzeugführerabzeichen
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
 * Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 1 September 1941 as Feldwebel in a Jagdgeschwader
 * German Cross in Gold on 24 November 1941 as Feldwebel in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 51
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 March 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"