Martin Harlinghausen
| Martin Harlinghausen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
17 January 1902 Rheda, German Empire |
| Died | 22 March 1986 (aged 84) Gütersloh, West Germany |
| Allegiance |
 Weimar Republic Nazi Germany West Germany
|
| Service/branch |
Reichsmarine Luftwaffe German Air Force |
| Years of service | 1923–45 1957–61 |
| Rank | Generalleutnant |
| Unit | 10th Air Corps |
| Commands held |
Fliegerführer Atlantik Fliegerführer Tunesien |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Martin Harlinghausen (17 January 1902 – 22 March 1986) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.
Harlinghausen joined the Reichsmarine (German Navy) on 1 April 1923. He became a pilot in 1931 and an observer in 1934 and began working in training schools. Staying in the military, he transferred to the Luftwaffe in October 1933. In December 1937, he took Command of AS 88, an anti-shipping unit in the Condor Legion and specialized in that type of aerial warfare. Under his direction AS/88 developed ship and coastal-attack tactics. A particularly well-used approach against land targets was to fly at high altitude with engines switched off, then dive and release the bombs at 1,000 ft (300 metres). Harlinghausen remained commander until March 1939.
During World War II, he operated as a pilot. In March 1940 German aircraft attacked 57 merchant ships and 38 Trawlers. Seven of the former and one of the later were seriously damaged. Despite being the chief of staff in Fliegerkorps X, Harlinghausen flew missions and sank two merchant ships of 6,827 grt, and severely damaged the 8,441 grt passenger ship Domala. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 5 May 1940 for his service piloting Heinkel He 115s and commanding an ad-hoc group named Fliegerführer Stavanger. Harlinghausen's command made a significant operational contribution to the German victory in the Norwegian Campaign by rendering Allied sea communications insecure.
Harlinghausen developed ship-attack tactics that the Luftwaffe used over Great Britain in 1940. The bomber approached on the beam at low-level and released bombs to damage the ships below the water line. Lightships were also attacked, as were fishing boats which the Germans saw as legitimate targets. The number of ships attacked and damaged in 1940 rose to 127 in 1940 and to a peak of 164 in 1941.
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