Col hubert zemke book

Hub zemke was one of the preeminent world war ii fighter commanders in the european theater. He had gotten a hold of a droopsnoot a modified p38. Zemkes book is not only a pow account but an example of leadership. 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. His 56th fighter group, the wolfpack, was credited with 665 airtoair victories, leading all fighter groups in the european. Chicago boyz blog archive how air superiority over nazi. 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. 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. Hubert zemke gained the nickname of hub due to his pugilistic abilities which were a lot like jimmie doolittle in my previous book report. Zemke s wolfpack took us from his formative days as fighter ace commanding fighter aces. 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. The 56th was organized as a combat unit with a high turnover in personnel.

Stand by as p47 thunderbolts of the famous 56th fighter group are readied for action on dday. That book ends with zemke s plane going down over germany due to bad weather. James jabara, who became a jet ace in 1951, led the wing in. They had taken the guns out of the nose of that plane and put a plexiglass nose on it. Fervently seeking out the enemy on all occasions, colonel zemke has. This is the second book describing the exploits of colonel hubert zemke.

Hubert zemke senior allied officer stalag luft i 56th fighter group commander. The final days of world war ii by hubert zemke, hub zemke isbn. Hubert zemke, the wolfpack boasted five of the top 10 american air aces in europe. 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. Ww2 peoples war a glider pilots story continued 26 bbc. Genealogy for alma louise zemke gordon sass 1890 1970 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Rare signed with lengthy inscription 1st edition hub zemke was one the most celebrated fighter pilots in the u. William momyer commanded fighter groups in world war ii after only about five years in the service. This book has 52 pages and was uploaded by ae660 on november 18, 2010. In october 1944 zemke was arguably americas top fighter commander in the european theater.

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. It was one of four fighter groups sent to england in the summer of 1942 as part of the bolero buildup. 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. Wwii ace pilot zemkes wolf pack hardcover signed pilot by. P47c5re 416330 lmz my comrade flown by col hubert zemke of missoula mt. Hubert zemke and the 56th fighter group in september 1942, the then major zemke assumed command of the 56th fighter group. In addition to the p47 being a great airplane, the leadership of zemke annotators note. He was the best fighter pilot in the whole army, scroggins said. His aggressive nature and competitive spirit were tempered by personal charm, good humor, and what col. Hub zemke was one of the greatest fighter group cos of the eto, along with his counterpart at the 4th fg, don blakeslee.

Trained for combat and served as an air defense organization. Hub zemke jr, author of the foreword to this book, is the son of hubert zemke who commanded the. Gerald walter johnson american air museum in britain. Zemkes wolfpack took us from his formative days as fighter ace commanding fighter. General jimmy doolittle praised zemke as his greatest fighter group commander. Aug 24, 2007 on 12th may while flying bf 109 g5 schwarz col hubert zemke 17 34 v. He laments that the paperback edition of his book wont have pictures. American air museum memory book upl 5486 american air. Air force combat group that was active in world war ii. Constituted as 479th fighter group on 12 oct 1943 and activated on 15 oct. Shop for colonel hubert zemke related autographs, signed photographs, historical documents and manuscripts from the worlds largest collection. What combat pilot in world war ii went through the most combat missions.

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. Ada weekly news newspaper archives, nov 16, 1944, p. In july of 1944, scroggins joined forces with the 56th fighter group and col. Hub zemke, a prewar air corps pilot with experience as a combat observer with the raf, became group commander on september 18, 1942. The period covered by the book is dedicated to the 56th fighter group flying p47d razorback thunderbolts operating in the european theatre of operation.

Stalag luft i was a german world war ii prisonerofwar pow camp near barth, western pomerania, germany, for captured allied airmen. Boyne, a former director of the national air and space museum at the smithsonian institution, said. Zemkes pilots were by far the most successful american fighter group in the european theatre, and zemke himself was known as a supreme tactician. Hubert zemke senior allied officer stalag luft i, 56th fighter group commander. 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. Buy zemke s wolf pack by hub zemke, hubert zemke online at alibris. That foray brought a bawling out from his superiors, and johnson would recall that he had a reputation as a sort of wild man. May 08, 2019 checking all of these boxes is not required for combat or leadership success. 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. Urban drew of the 365th fighter group shot down two me 262s that were taking off, while on the same day lt. All of us, in uniform or not, can learn much from the career of col.

Hub was thought to be a better a name that hubert for a fighter and the nickname stuck. On 12th may while flying bf 109 g5 schwarz johnson, 78, world war ii fighter pilot. Zemkes stalag is recommended to anyone interested in leadership, the air war in europe and the european pow experience. 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. 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. Shot down over germany on his last mission in october 1944, colonel hub zemke zemkes wolf pack. The role of the personnel system in the air force leadership.

Colonel hubert hub zemke march 14, 1914 august 30, 1994 was a career officer in the. The presence of the prison camp is said to have shielded the town of barth from allied bombing. Hubert hub zemkes book zemkes wolf pack on the exploits of the 56th fighter group in the combined bomber offensive. Buy zemkes wolf pack by hub zemke, hubert zemke online at alibris. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Every purchase includes our industry recognized coa. Zemkes stalag is recommended to anyone interested in leadership, the air war. 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. 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. Hubert hub zemke, commanding officer of the 56th fighter group, the wolfpack. Johnson in the cockpit of his fighter in may, 1944 robert s. Eighth air force has 1 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace.

Colonel hubert zemke autograph letter signed 05301990 item 190284. Zemke found it was difficult to resist scharffs charm. A photographic odyssey of the 56th fighter group during the second world war. What combat pilot in world war ii went through the most. This book continues his tale, beginning with his capture. 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. 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. Under his command, the 56th fighter group nicknamed zemkes wolfpack became the scourge of the luftwaffes fighter defenses, with more aerial victories than any. The digital collections of the national wwii museum. Checking all of these boxes is not required for combat or leadership success.

Zemke s stalag is recommended to anyone interested in leadership, the air war in europe and the european pow experience. He remembers colonel zemke as he was so young unlike all the much older british colonels that lived in his neighborhood. Zemke was born march 14th, 1914, the son of the german immigrants anna. 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. Cy wilson was the american officer in charge of north compound i. 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. Lynch was an engineering student at the university of pittsburgh and was graduated in 1940.

He was outspoken and courageous, with unflagging personal integrity and conviction. 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. The unit had been transferred to england in january 1943. 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. Colonel hubert zemke autograph letter signed 05301990.

Colonel hubert zemke, commanding the american fighters, lost his radio communications as he reached the dutch coast, forcing him to hand. Conclusion this is a very concise and complete reference for any modeler wanting to build a 56th fighter group p47d razorback thunderbolt. Jack welch, famed ceo of general electric, took over after only 20 years with the corporation. Commanding officer of the 56th fighter group, senior allied officer at stalag luft i, and a great leader of men. The book was easily read and flowed as if zemke was telling the story over a cup of coffee. Gabby after a shaky start, he became one of the greatest fighter pilots this country has produced. Hubert hub zemke, commander of the 56th fighter group was the best. Zemke s book is not only a pow account but an example of leadership.

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. His widow, a swissvale resident, was the former rosemary fullen, of 7368 schley ave. I was with the 92 depot repair group, 8th air force. Effectively, starting from july 1943, zemke organized an expanding mutiny to 8th air force commanding general ira clarence eakers orders that usaaf. Looks at the most successful american fighter group in europe.

His 56th fighter group, the wolfpack, was credited with. This book traces the lineage of each army air corps and u. 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. 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. During the war rankin never got a scratch on his airplane. Zemkes wolf pack by hub zemke, hubert zemke alibris. Col hubert a hub zemke 19141994 find a grave memorial. Zemke is pictured under his p47d effectively, starting from july 1943.

He was an extraordinary man, meeting the challenges of extraordinary times. A long list of distinguished commanders, including the air forces first jet ace, has led the 31st fighter wing in its 60year history. Commander and wingman run up scores by sticking together pair of aces reports to capital gentile, godfrey on way home. A photo was taken of zemke, and me helping to strap him into his p47. This page is dedicated to ww2 veterans and fallen servicemen. 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. After the war he commanded fighter squadrons in the korean war and never lost a pilot. Zemke preferred fighting and flying to all other occupations a united states fighter base, england, nov. 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.