Oberstleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, Luftwaffe Ace

Image size: 1072 x 1600 pixel. 245 KB
Date: April 1943
Place: Smolensk, Smolensk Oblast, Soviet Union
Photographer: Bildberichter Paul Fischer from Luftwaffe Kriegsberichter-Zug

Oberstleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, Kommodore of  Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51) Mölders, posed for the photographer, showing all of his prestigious medals. Nordmann (born 22 November 1915 in Gießen – died 22 July 1982 in Greenwich, Connecticut (USA)) was a German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace who claimed 78 aerial victories (69 on the Eastern front) in over 800 combat missions. At the start of the war Nordmann was serving with I./Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). By March 1940 he was an Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3./JG 77. In November 1940 Nordmann, having achieved 8 air victories, was transferred to command 12 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). In July 1941 Hauptmann Nordmann was appointed to command IV./JG 51 flying on the Eastern Front and in August was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) after a total of 31 victories. Future 'ace' Unteroffizier Franz-Josef Beerenbrock flew as Nordmann's Rottenflieger (wing man) around this time. In April 1942, now a Major, Nordmann was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 51. On 17 January 1943 Nordmann's Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was when involved in a collision with Oberleutnant Rudolf Busch, Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 51. Busch was killed and Nordmann, severely injured, did not fly operationally again. In April 1944 Oberstleutnant Nordmann was made Jagdfliegerführer Ostpreussen before in May 1944 appointed to Jagdfliegerführer 6. In February 1945 Nordmann was made Inspekteur der Tagjäger Ost until the end of the war. His last rank was Oberst.

Source:
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2008-0704-500
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-2008-0704-500,_Smolensk,_Karl_Gottfried_Nordmann.jpg