Oberstleutnant Fritz Thiede

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="100ffcc00dvldtc.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="back"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><A HREF="id460.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RLM"><U><B>BACK</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=60 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Oberstleutnant Fritz Thiede</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=420 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#444444" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><U>SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE TO VIEW ENTIRE GROUP</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Photo from Theide's Wehrpas showing</B></div> <div> <B>him as a Leutnant Oct. 39.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Born:</B></div> <div> Fritz Theide is born on 21 January 1896 in Lichterfelde.</div> <div> <B>Units:</B></div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   2.Batterie Fuß-Art. Rgt.Nr.2</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Flieger Ersatz Abteilung 5</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Kagohl 3 Staffel 17</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Kagohl 2 Staffel 7</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Kampfstaffel 11</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Jagdstaffel 24 (Jasta 24)</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Jagdstaffel 38 (Jasta 38)</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Flieger-Ersatz-Abt.8 und ab dem 25.3.1935 :</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Fliegerschule Braunschweig</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Reichsluftfahrtministerium LA III</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Reichsluftfahrtministerium Generalstab 3. Abteilung</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Kdtr.Lw.Üb.Pl.Dramburg</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Luftnachrichten-Schule 1 Nordhausen</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Frontflieger-Sammelgruppe</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   Fliegerhorstkommandantur Memmingen</div> <bR> <div> <B>Pages 12 and 13  from Thiede's Wehrpas.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rank:</B></div> <div> 00.00.00</div> <div> 00.00.00   Leutnant</div> <div> 00.00.00</div> <div> 00.00.00   Oberstleutnant</div> <bR> <div> <B>Awards:</B></div> <div> 00.00.00   Flugzeugführerabzeichen,</div> <div> 00.00.00   Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse,</div> <div> 00.00.00   Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz,</div> <div> 00.00.00   Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse,</div> <div> 00.00.00   Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer,</div> <div> 00.00.00   Flugzeugführerabzeichen,</div> <div> 00.00.00   Dienstauszeichnung 4. Klasse,</div> <div> 00.00.00   Kriegs Verdienst Kreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern</div> <bR> <div> Leutnant Fritz Thiede (21 January 1896 – 14 June 1981) was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. He became a personal pilot for Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich in the 1930s. He served in the Luftwaffe during World War II.[1]</div> <bR> <div> <B>History:</B></div> <div> <B>1913</B></div> <div> 1 October 1913</div> <bR> <div> Fritz Thiede joins the 2nd Fusiler Artillery Regiment</div> <bR> <div> <B>1915</B></div> <div> On 1 May 1915</div> <bR> <div> Thiede is transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte to start aviation training at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 5 in Hannover, Germany.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Kampfgeschwader / Bombergeschwader</B></div> <div> <B>On December 20, 1915, the "carrier pigeon departments" were renamed to Kampfgeschwader 1 (ex-BAO) and 2 (ex-BAM). On the same date the Kampfgeschwader 3 was formed under Captain von Dewall, the later "England Squadron". All combat squadrons were divided into six squadrons (called Kampfstaffeln or Kasta for short) of six aircraft each. By April 1916 the Kampfgeschwader 4, 5 and 6 b (Ayeric) followed, in June the Kagohl 7. During this time up to four Kagohls were used in the battle of Verdun, where they bombed the French rear connections. Parts of the Kagohl 1 (a half-squadron) also took part in the operations on the Balkan Peninsula from 1916 and carried out attacks on Bucharest and on the Salonika Front.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Put on the defensive by the Battle of the Somme and Verdun in the second half of 1916, the Kagohls' C-type bombers increasingly had to be used for "air barrier" missions or as ground attack aircraft. Against this background, among other things, the 3rd OHL (Hindenburg / Ludendorff) deployed at the end of August implemented a reorganization of the air forces as part of the Hindenburg program. By A.K.O. From October 8, 1916, the position of a commanding general of the air force (Kogenluft) was created, which was occupied by Lieutenant General Ernst von Hoeppner, who was Lieth-Thomsen as Chief of Staff. Combat squadrons 3 and 5 to 7 were dissolved on December 31, 1916, and their squadrons were converted into so-called "Schutzstaffeln" (Schusta), the rest of the squadrons were renamed in April as "bomb squadrons" and reduced to three squadrons each. The only exception was the newly established "England Squadron" (Bogohl 3), which had six squadrons.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1916</B></div> <div> February 1916</div> <bR> <div> Following his training, Thiede was posted to Schutzstaffel (Protection Squadron) 5 in February 1916. This squadron was attached to "Bombengeschwader der Oberste Heeresleitung" 2; Bogohl 2 and was directly subordinate to the German Supreme Command. Schutzstaffel 5 was a defensive fighter squadron. Thiede saw action over the Battle of the Somme.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="10ddeee50.jpg" border=0 width="750" height="229" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>A Gotha G.IV assigned to Kagohl 3 at Ghent airfiled complex in Belgium during 1917.</B></div> <div> <B>1917</B></div> <div> <I><B>October 17</B></I></div> <div> Fritz Thiede is commissioned as a Leutnant in October 1917. He went to Jastaschule (Fighter School) to upgrade to single-seat fighters.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1918</B></div> <div> <I><B>21 January 18</B></I></div> <div> Thiede is transferred to a single-seat fighter squadron, Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 24 then based in Guise, France. Beginning on 26 June 1917, the squadron belonged successively to four different ad hoc Jagdgruppen established to increase combat power. It first belonged to Jagdgruppe 7 under Rudolf Berthold, along with Jasta 18, Jasta 31, and Jasta 36. Jasta 24 then switched to membership in Jagdgruppe 1 at Guise, joining Jasta 8, Jasta 17, and Jasta 48. Jastas 24 and 48 then were placed in Jagdgruppe South under Kurt Küppers. Its final parent organization was Jagdgruppe 12, where it served along with Jasta 44 and Jasta 79</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>16 March 18</B></I></div> <div> Thiede claims his first victory but it went unconfirmed 1st victory).</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>22 March 1918</B></I></div> <div> Leutnant Thiede is brought down by anti-aircraft fire west of Le Fere, but comes through uninjured.</div> <bR> <div> 21 April 1918</div> <bR> <div> Thiede finally scores his first accredited victory (<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF6600" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" >1st victory</FONT>), when he downs a SPAD over Tricot.</div> <bR> <div> Late May 1918</div> <bR> <div> Thiede receives a personal letter of appreciation from Kaiser Wilhelm II for a double victory on the night of 23 May 1918. He would continue to score throughout May and June, becoming an ace on 15 June 1918.</div> <bR> <div> 23 June 1918</div> <bR> <div> Leutnant Thiede  reassigned to Jagdstaffel 38 (Jasta 38) in Macedonia and is given command of the unit as Staffelführer. Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 38, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 38, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte. The unit would score 17 aerial victories during the war. The squadron's victories came at the expense of four losses, including one killed in action, one injured in a flying accident, and one wounded in action</div> <bR> <div> September 1918</div> <bR> <div> Thiede scores three more victories bringing his tally to eight confirmed wins.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B>1930's</B></div> <div> First Thiede would go on to become the private pilot for Reinhard Heydrich and Heinrich Himmler. In</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1938</B></div> <div> Thiede recommended a "below the tail" approach tactics for night fighters attacking enemy bombers, but it was rejected, only to be revived during the Second World War. </div> <bR> <div> Thiede served in the Luftwaffe during World War II.</div> <bR> <div> In the 1930s, Thiede was a pilot for Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich. During World War II he served in the Luftwaffe</div> <bR> <div> <B>WW1 Victory Claims:</B></div> <div> <B>1-8</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="814" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600 HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="76"><div> <B>Date</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600 WIDTH="106"><div> <B>Rank</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600 WIDTH="76"><div> <B>Unit</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600 WIDTH="76"><div> <B>Cl #</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600 WIDTH="76"><div> <B>Aircraft</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600 WIDTH="106"><div> <B>Place</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600 WIDTH="76"><div> <B>Time</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600><NOBR><div> <B>Opponent</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FF6600 WIDTH="76"><div> <B>Conf.</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 24</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> *</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> EA</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="106" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> No</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="76"><div> 21.04.18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 24</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 1</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> SPAD</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Tricot</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 11:40</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Yes</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="76"><div> 00.00.00</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 24</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 2</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Voisin</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> NE of Erchau</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 23:35</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Yes</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="76"><div> 22.05.18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 24</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 3</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Caudron</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Avrincourt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 23:45</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Yes</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="76"><div> 29.05.18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 24</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> *</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> EA</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="106" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="78" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> No</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 30 WIDTH="76"><div> 12.06.18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 24</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 4</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> SPAD</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Mechemont-Thourotte</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 21:30</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Yes</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="76"><div> 15.06.18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 24</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 5</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> SPAD</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Le Fretoy</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 21:30</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Yes</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="76"><div> 03.09.18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 38</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 6</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Bristol</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="106" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Yes</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="76"><div> 18.09.18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 38</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 7</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> A.W.F.K. 8</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="106" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> yes</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 30 WIDTH="76"><div> 19.09.18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><div> Lt</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Jasta 38</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> 8</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Sopwith Camel</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="30" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="106" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><div> ?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><div> Yes</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="106" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="106"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="106" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="78"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="78" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="76"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="76" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>*</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" ><B> Victory not confirmed</B></FONT></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>