Theo Osterkamp
| Theo Osterkamp | |
|---|---|
Theo Osterkamp
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| Nickname(s) | Onkel (Uncle) |
| Born |
15 April 1892 Düren, Rhine Province, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 2 February 1975 (aged 82) Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany |
| Allegiance |
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| Service/branch |
 Kaiserliche Marine Luftwaffe
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| Years of service | 1914–44 |
| Rank | Generalmajor |
| Unit | JG 51 |
| Commands held | JG 51 |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | |
Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp (15 April 1892 – 2 January 1975)was a World War I and World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He achieved 32 victories in World War I. In World War II, he led Jagdgeschwader 51 through the Battle of Britain and claimed a further 6 victories, in the process becoming one of only a few men to score victories in both world wars.
Osterkamp was born in Aschersleben, modern day Saxony-Anhalt. When the First World War started he was studying forestry but decided to enlist in the German Army. He was rejected for service due to his "slight build" and he instead enlisted in the Marinefliegerkorps in August 1914. He then flew with the 2. Marine-Fliegerabteilung in Flanders. During 1915–1916, he served as an air observer, and became the first German pilot to fly a land-based aircraft to England on a reconnaissance-mission. Osterkamp claimed his first (but unconfirmed) kill on 6 September 1916 as an observer to pilot Leutnant zur See Wilhelm Mattheus in a LVG C.II two-seater aircraft. In March 1917, he joined the Kampffliegerschule (Combat pilot school) in Putzig and then joined the Marine Feld Jagdstaffel 1 on the 14th of April 1917 On 21 March 1917, Leutnant Osterkamp took command over Marine Feld Jagdstaffel 2 He scored a total of 32 victories during the war, and was awarded the Prussian military order Pour le Mérite on 2 September 1918, and was the last individual to receive it.
Osterkamp joined the new Luftwaffe on August 1, 1933 with the rank of Hauptmann. He also participated in the second, third and fourth FAI International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930 (11th place), Challenge 1932 (12th place) and Challenge 1934 (5th place). By the time the war broke out in September 1939 he was a Oberstleutnant in command of the Jagdfliegerschule 1 (JF1).
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