Wolfgang Falck
| Wolfgang Falck | |
|---|---|
Wolfgang Falck
|
|
| Born |
19 August 1910 Berlin |
| Died | 13 March 2007 (aged 96) St. Ulrich (Tyrol)/Austria |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe
|
| Years of service | 1932–45 |
| Rank | Oberst |
| Unit | ZG 76, ZG 1, NJG 1 |
| Commands held | NJG 1 |
| Battles/wars |
World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
World War II
Wolfgang Falck (19 August 1910 in Berlin – 13 March 2007) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. He was one of the key organisers of the German night fighter defences.
On 7 April 1931, he began his pilot training at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (German Air Transport School) at Schleißheim. The course he and 29 other trainees attended was called Kameradschaft 31, abbreviated "K 31". Among the members of K 31 were men like Hannes Trautloft and Günther Lützow. Falck graduated from the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule 19 February 1932. In February 1933 he attended the Infantry School at Dresden for officer training and made Leutnant in October 1934. In March 1935, Leutnant Falck became an instructor at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule at Schleissheim and in April 1936 promoted to Oberleutnant and transferred to JG 132 'Richthofen' based at Jüterbog-Damm, as Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel. In July 1938, Falck was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8. Staffel of the new JG 132, based at Fürstenwalde. The new unit was later redesignated I./ZG 76 and equipped with the Bf 110 Zerstörer fighter.
Falck was a friend of Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg and came under suspicion by the Gestapo after the July 20 Plot.
Falck led 2./ZG 76 during the Polish campaign from Ohlau in Silesia, gaining three victories over Polish Air Force aircraft. The unit was then relocated to Jever to protect the northern seaboard and the Kriegsmarine naval bases. On 18 December 1939 he claimed two Vickers Wellington twin-engine bombers attacking Wilhelmshaven. Falck force-landed his aircraft after return fire from the bombers damaged his engines. In February 1940 Hauptmann Falck was appointed group commander of I./Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1), based at Düsseldorf. The group was relocated to the Baltic coast in April and on 9 April, Falck led the unit during the invasion of Denmark. He recorded his seventh (and final) victory, shooting down a Danish Fokker C.V taking off from Værløse.
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