Col hubert zemke book

All of us, in uniform or not, can learn much from the career of col. Hubert zemke and the 56th fighter group in september 1942, the then major zemke assumed command of the 56th fighter group. Under his command, the 56th fighter group nicknamed zemkes wolfpack became the scourge of the luftwaffes fighter defenses, with more aerial victories than any. Fervently seeking out the enemy on all occasions, colonel zemke has. His aggressive nature and competitive spirit were tempered by personal charm, good humor, and what col. Johnson in the cockpit of his fighter in may, 1944 robert s. Genealogy for alma louise zemke gordon sass 1890 1970 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives.

It was one of four fighter groups sent to england in the summer of 1942 as part of the bolero buildup. Aug 24, 2007 on 12th may while flying bf 109 g5 schwarz col hubert zemke 17 34 v. Ada weekly news newspaper archives, nov 16, 1944, p. P47c5re 416330 lmz my comrade flown by col hubert zemke of missoula mt.

Hub zemke jr, author of the foreword to this book, is the son of hubert zemke who commanded the. This book traces the lineage of each army air corps and u. Boyne, a former director of the national air and space museum at the smithsonian institution, said. His 56th fighter group, the wolfpack, was credited with 665 airtoair victories, leading all fighter groups in the european. Air force combat group that was active in world war ii.

Hubert hub zemke, commanding officer of the 56th fighter group, the wolfpack. Zemke s stalag is recommended to anyone interested in leadership, the air war in europe and the european pow experience. On 12th may while flying bf 109 g5 schwarz johnson, 78, world war ii fighter pilot. Ww2 peoples war a glider pilots story continued 26 bbc. Hubert zemke gained the nickname of hub due to his pugilistic abilities which were a lot like jimmie doolittle in my previous book report. After the war he commanded fighter squadrons in the korean war and never lost a pilot. Hubert zemke, the ranking allied officer in the camp in which some 9,000 captured american and british raf flyers were incarcerated some for as long as four years. Blakeslee would eventually be recognized as one of the two finest combat fighter commanders in the history of the united states air force, the other being col. Hub zemke was one of the preeminent world war ii fighter commanders in the european theater. Scharff showed zemke his book of files and news clippings about the 56th and 478th groups and had copies of the stars and stripes newspaper only three days. General jimmy doolittle praised zemke as his greatest fighter group commander. Zemke was born march 14th, 1914, the son of the german immigrants anna. I was with the 92 depot repair group, 8th air force.

Zemke found it was difficult to resist scharffs charm. Shot down over germany on his last mission in october 1944, colonel hub zemke zemkes wolf pack. Zemke s book is not only a pow account but an example of leadership. Letter from the author to the friend hub zemke ii, who was the son of colonel hub zemke, a prominent subject in this book to whom this. He was the best fighter pilot in the whole army, scroggins said. Washington, 19 may 1944 ap the flying firm of gentile and godfrey which has destroyed more than two score nazi planes made a report to the capital today. In addition to the p47 being a great airplane, the leadership of zemke annotators note.

Jack welch, famed ceo of general electric, took over after only 20 years with the corporation. Zemke is pictured under his p47d effectively, starting from july 1943. Stand by as p47 thunderbolts of the famous 56th fighter group are readied for action on dday. The period covered by the book is dedicated to the 56th fighter group flying p47d razorback thunderbolts operating in the european theatre of operation. May 08, 2019 checking all of these boxes is not required for combat or leadership success. What combat pilot in world war ii went through the most combat missions. He laments that the paperback edition of his book wont have pictures. Zemkes pilots were by far the most successful american fighter group in the european theatre, and zemke himself was known as a supreme tactician. Trained for combat and served as an air defense organization. Gerald walter johnson american air museum in britain.

Feb 01, 2002 he was not a born fighter pilotif there is such a thingbut a man who reached the pinnacle of his profession by determination, dedication, and intelligence. Moving quickly from army air corps flying cadet, through basic flight school, and into p47 combat fighter pilot training, he was assigned to the 56th fighter group, otherwise known as zemkes wolfpack, headed by the famous aerial combat leader col. Hubert zemke senior allied officer stalag luft i 56th fighter group commander. Cy wilson was the american officer in charge of north compound i.

He remembers colonel zemke as he was so young unlike all the much older british colonels that lived in his neighborhood. The role of the personnel system in the air force leadership. Conclusion this is a very concise and complete reference for any modeler wanting to build a 56th fighter group p47d razorback thunderbolt. He was, as most readers know, the leading us ace in the world war ii european theater and is now the top living american ace, with 34. James jabara, who became a jet ace in 1951, led the wing in. The american fighter aces association is a nonprofit 501c3, nonmilitary and nonpolitical organization committed to preserving the distinguished heritage of the american combat fighter ace and impacting future generations through education and scholarship. Colonel hubert zemke, commanding the american fighters, lost his radio communications as he reached the dutch coast, forcing him to hand. Zemkes stalag is recommended to anyone interested in leadership, the air war in europe and the european pow experience. This is the second book describing the exploits of colonel hubert zemke. American air museum memory book upl 5486 american air. The book was easily read and flowed as if zemke was telling the story over a cup of coffee. James jabara, who became a jet ace in 1951, led the wing in 1965. A new home for an old glove national air and space museum. Zemkes wolfpack took us from his formative days as fighter ace commanding fighter.

But he was awarded the distinguished service cross, the silver star and the distinguished flying cross with the 56th fighter group, the renowned zemkes wolfpack. Zemke s wolfpack took us from his formative days as fighter ace commanding fighter aces. Stalag luft i was a german world war ii prisonerofwar pow camp near barth, western pomerania, germany, for captured allied airmen. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. William momyer commanded fighter groups in world war ii after only about five years in the service. Effectively, starting from july 1943, zemke organized an expanding mutiny to 8th air force commanding general ira clarence eakers orders that usaaf. Erich hartmann wikipedia these were the best pilots the german luftwaffe had during world war ii 7 of the greatest flying aces throughout history col. That book ends with zemke s plane going down over germany due to bad weather. Colonel hubert zemke autograph letter signed 05301990 item 190284. He had gotten a hold of a droopsnoot a modified p38. During the war rankin never got a scratch on his airplane. Hubert zemke, the wolfpack boasted five of the top 10 american air aces in europe.

Hub was thought to be a better a name that hubert for a fighter and the nickname stuck. They had taken the guns out of the nose of that plane and put a plexiglass nose on it. Colonel hubert hub zemke march 14, 1914 august 30, 1994 was a career officer in the. Commander and wingman run up scores by sticking together pair of aces reports to capital gentile, godfrey on way home. In july of 1944, scroggins joined forces with the 56th fighter group and col. Col hubert a hub zemke 19141994 find a grave memorial. In october 1944 zemke was arguably americas top fighter commander in the european theater. The unit had been transferred to england in january 1943. Every purchase includes our industry recognized coa. The final days of world war ii by hubert zemke, hub zemke isbn. This book continues his tale, beginning with his capture.

Buy zemke s wolf pack by hub zemke, hubert zemke online at alibris. Wwii ace pilot zemkes wolf pack hardcover signed pilot by. He was outspoken and courageous, with unflagging personal integrity and conviction. The digital collections of the national wwii museum. Shop for colonel hubert zemke related autographs, signed photographs, historical documents and manuscripts from the worlds largest collection. A photo was taken of zemke, and me helping to strap him into his p47. Lynch was an engineering student at the university of pittsburgh and was graduated in 1940. Sep 24, 2007 a long list of distinguished commanders, including the air forces first jet ace, has led the 31st fighter wing in its 60year history. Our worst fears were realized on 18 march when the 8th air force was in the berlin area and a long air raid confinement took place.

That foray brought a bawling out from his superiors, and johnson would recall that he had a reputation as a sort of wild man. Gabby after a shaky start, he became one of the greatest fighter pilots this country has produced. Hubert zemke, who had transferred to the mustang equipped 479th fighter group, shot down what he thought was a bf 109, only to have his gun camera film reveal that it may have been an me 262. Colonel hubert zemke autograph letter signed 05301990. Hubert hub zemkes book zemkes wolf pack on the exploits of the 56th fighter group in the combined bomber offensive. The 56th was organized as a combat unit with a high turnover in personnel. Hub zemke, a prewar air corps pilot with experience as a combat observer with the raf, became group commander on september 18, 1942. Major gerald w johnson, colonel hubert zemke, lieutenant colonel david schilling and major walker m mahurin of the 56th fighter group entertain foreign correspondent lee carson, in the officers mess at halesworth. Eighth air force has 1 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The presence of the prison camp is said to have shielded the town of barth from allied bombing. After days of solitude and discomfort, he was confronted by a friendly man in a pleasant office who knew all about him and his unit. Gabby gabreski nearly failed out of his army air corps flight training, but went on to become the top american fighter ace in europe during world war ii and a jet ace in korea. Zemkes book is not only a pow account but an example of leadership. He was an extraordinary man, meeting the challenges of extraordinary times.

Lieutenant colonel hubert hub zemke had listened in helplessly to the radio chatter as his men met the enemy over germanoccupied holland for the first time. His 56th fighter group, the wolfpack, was credited with. A long list of distinguished commanders, including the air forces first jet ace, has led the 31st fighter wing in its 60year history. Looks at the most successful american fighter group in europe.

Hub zemke was one of the greatest fighter group cos of the eto, along with his counterpart at the 4th fg, don blakeslee. Johnson, an 8th air force fighter pilot who shot down 27 german planes in an 11month span during world war ii and then came home to a heros welcome from president franklin d. Colonel hubert hub zemke march 14, 1914 august 30, 1994 was a career officer in the united states air force, a fighter pilot in world war ii, and a leading united states army air forces ace. This book has 52 pages and was uploaded by ae660 on november 18, 2010. His widow, a swissvale resident, was the former rosemary fullen, of 7368 schley ave. Robert s johnson, eighth air force fighter who shot down 27 german planes in 11month span in world war ii, and then came home to a heros welcome from pres franklin d. Buy zemkes wolf pack by hub zemke, hubert zemke online at alibris. Zemkes stalag is recommended to anyone interested in leadership, the air war. Urban drew of the 365th fighter group shot down two me 262s that were taking off, while on the same day lt. Rare signed with lengthy inscription 1st edition hub zemke was one the most celebrated fighter pilots in the u. This page is dedicated to ww2 veterans and fallen servicemen. Chicago boyz blog archive how air superiority over nazi.

I did that yesterday with colonel hubert hub zemkes fighter pilot conspiracy in the combined bomber offensive that ive mentioned in a previous post here on chicagoboyz. Zemke preferred fighting and flying to all other occupations a united states fighter base, england, nov. Hubert hub zemke, commander of the 56th fighter group was the best. A photographic odyssey of the 56th fighter group during the second world war. Hubert zemke senior allied officer stalag luft i, 56th fighter group commander. Commanding officer of the 56th fighter group, senior allied officer at stalag luft i, and a great leader of men. About 9,000 airmen 7,588 american and 1,351 british and canadian were imprisoned there when it was liberated on the night of 30 april 1945 by russian troops. What combat pilot in world war ii went through the most. Checking all of these boxes is not required for combat or leadership success. Constituted as 479th fighter group on 12 oct 1943 and activated on 15 oct.