User:Andrew Davidson/Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel

Hans-Jürgen Erdmann von Cramon-Taubadel (14 November 1901 in Roschkowitz – 6 November 1985) was German Luftwaffe Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) "Pik As"

Career
Von Cramon-Taubadel served as one of the first Staffelkaptains of the newly formed Luftwaffe, based in Döbernitz in 1934 with 2./JG 70. World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 13 September, he was transferred to the newly created I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) where he was appointed its first Gruppenkommandeur (group commander). The Gruppe was based Herzogenaurach Airfield and equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 and E-3. On 1 November, Von Cramon-Taubadel was ordered to Böblingen Airfield where his Gruppe flew fighter protection during the "Phoney War" over the Upper Rhine Plain. He claimed two aerial victories over Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters on 21 December in combat 12 km east of Colmar. One claim was confirmed the second was not. Von Cramon Taubadel had lead a flight of ten Bf 109Es from I. Gruppe of JG 54 over the lines near Karlsruhe when they engaged 12 Morane-Saulnier M.S.406s from GC II/7 escorting a Potez 63.11 of GR I/55. The reconnaissance aircraft was able to return safely to base. Although Hauptmann Paulizsch was hit and wounded in both legs, bailing out north-west of Freiburg, von Cramon claimed two French aircraft shot down, of which one was confirmed. Von Cramon-Taubadel then transferred to Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) in January 1940. He replaced Generalmajor Hans Klein as Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) on 1 January 1940.

Major von Cramon-Taubadel was first married to Viola von Kaufmann-Asse (17 August 1912 – 4 November 1997) on 16 November 1933 and secondly to Ilse Wehrs (8 November 1919 – 16 June 1988) on 5 May 1948. Viola von Kaufmann-Asse was of Jewish ancestry, a fact which came to the attention of Hermann Göring during the Battle of Britain. The consequence was that Göring ordered that the entire JG 53 must remove their Ace of Spades badge (Pik As) and paint a red band around the noses of their aircraft as a mark of shame.

He flew in the Battle of Britain, and on 16 August 1940, damaged his Bf 109 E on landing. He claimed his second victory, a Hurricane near Dungeness on 27 September 1940. During August and September Göring replaced the majority of the pre-war Jagdgeschwader Kommodore with younger up-and-coming aces, and JG 53 was no exception, the II./JG 53 commander Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn taking over from von Cramon-Taubadel on 30 September 1940, and the "Pik-As" badge was reinstated. However at the same time, as a mark of protest, the pilots of JG 53 had the Swastikas painted over on their aircraft fins.

von Cramon-Taubadel commenced a series of staff positions within the Luftwaffe, including Luftkriegs Akademie Berlin-Gatow (late 1940-Feb.1941), General Kommando II.Fliegerkorps (to late 1941) Stab, Luftgau Kommando/Norway (1941–43)and Stab, Luftgau/Finland (Sept.1943-Dec. 1944)

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (15 February 1940)
 * 1st Class (18 May 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold on 1 January 1945 as Oberst im Generalstab (in the general staff) of the Kampfgruppe der deutschen Luftwaffen Finnland