Horst Ademeit German pilot, Luftwaffe ace Date of Birth: 08.02.1912 Country: Latvia

1. Biography of Horst Ademayt
2. Early Life and Education
3. Service in World War II
4. Disappearance and Legacy
5. Awards and Honors

Biography of Horst Ademayt

Horst Ademayt was a German fighter pilot and an ace of the Luftwaffe, who died during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on March 2, 1944.

Early Life and Education

Horst Ademayt was born on February 8, 1912, in Breslau, Schlesien, Poland. He studied at the Königsberg Albertina University, the oldest university in Prussia, founded in 1544. Before the war, he learned to fly and later received training as a military pilot while serving as a reservist.

Service in World War II

In the spring of 1940, Unteroffizier Ademayt was transferred to the 3rd Group of Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz' (JG 54), also known as the 'Green Heart', and participated in the Battle of Britain. On September 18, 1940, he scored his first victory against the enemy but soon after, his aircraft was shot down over the English Channel. Ademayt parachuted safely and was rescued by the German search and rescue service at sea. On October 4, he shot down a Royal Air Force Spitfire.

In June 1941, following Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, Horst Ademayt was deployed to the Eastern Front with the 1st Group of JG 54. He quickly achieved several victories in aerial combat, receiving awards and promotions for his service. In early August 1944, the 32-year-old Ademayt assumed the role of acting commander (Kommodore) of JG 54.

Disappearance and Legacy

On August 7, 1944, while piloting a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5, Ademayt pursued a Soviet Il-2 Sturmovik near Daugavpils. He did not return from this mission and was considered missing in action. It is likely that Horst Ademayt died on August 7, 1944, during a forced landing under enemy fire.

Horst Ademayt was credited with 166 enemy aircraft kills and over 600 combat missions, with 164 of the kills occurring on the Eastern Front. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major.

Awards and Honors

Among Ademayt's awards are the Honorary Cup of the Luftwaffe, received on December 8, 1941; the War Order of the German Cross in Gold, received on February 25, 1942, while serving as a Lieutenant in the 1st Group of JG 54; and the Iron Cross, awarded in 1939. He was promoted to Second Class in September 1940 and to First Class in September 1941.