33 Facts About Hubert Zemke

Colonel Hubert Zemke 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.

Hubert Zemke commanded the 56th Fighter Group in England, which came to be known as "Zemke's Wolf Pack".

Hubert Zemke left school in February 1936 to enter Army Flight Training.

In 1936 Hubert Zemke's friends convinced him to try out for pilot training in the United States Army Air Corps.

Hubert Zemke was accepted as an aviation cadet, gained his pilot's wings and commissions at Randolph Field, then attended the pursuit pilot course at Kelly Field, Texas, in 1937, becoming a Curtiss P-40 pilot with the 36th Pursuit Squadron at Langley Field, Virginia.

In 1940, Hubert Zemke was sent to England as a combat observer with the Royal Air Force, studying the tactics of both the RAF and the Luftwaffe, observations that he would use later when the United States entered the war.

In February 1942, after the United States' entry into World War II, Hubert Zemke desired to join a United States Army Air Forces unit and made his way back to the United States through Iran and Egypt.

Not impressed with the performance or maneuverability of the aircraft, Hubert Zemke spent much time developing tactics utilizing the Thunderbolt's tremendous dive capability that would make it a successful platform in the European Theater.

Hubert Zemke made progress by stressing flight discipline and teamwork, often implementing ideas of even the lowest ranking man.

Hubert Zemke's subordinates saw him as being stern but fair, and the 56th Fighter Group's proficiency with the P-47 and "dive, fire, and recover" tactics turned it into the leading air superiority group of VIII Fighter Command by August 1943.

On June 13,1943, while leading the 56th FG Hubert Zemke encountered and claimed two German Fw 190s flown by pilots of Jagdgeschwader 54.

On October 4,1943, Hubert Zemke scored his fifth kill, making him an ace.

Hubert Zemke obtained assurances that he would be reinstated to command of the 56th when that duty ended.

Hubert Zemke pushed other tactical innovations in aircraft markings and weapons employment that developed the P-47 into a superior aerial weapon.

Hubert Zemke was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross while commanding the 56th in 1944, for the missions of February 11 and March 6.

On 12 May 1944 Hubert Zemke was trying out the "Hubert Zemke Fan" tactic while on a bomber escort mission, when the P-47s found themselves isolated and bounced by Gunther Rall's JG 11 fighter wing on a Reichsverteidigung defensive patrol.

The ensuing dogfight saw both Hubert Zemke's wingmen shot down by Rall himself.

In yet another irony involving Schilling, Hubert Zemke nominated himself for transfer in order to fly the Mustang in combat.

Hubert Zemke achieved 2.5 kills while leading the 479th and was slated to become chief of staff of the 66th Fighter Wing.

Unfortunately on a mission on October 30,1944, while flying in unforecasted turbulence, the wing of Hubert Zemke's P-51 was torn off.

Hubert Zemke was forced to bail out over enemy territory and was captured.

Hubert Zemke became Senior Allied Officer of Stalag Luft I at Barth, on December 16,1944, in command of the 7,000 Allied prisoners of "Provisional Wing X".

Hubert Zemke established his leadership of the POWs, who numbered 9,000 by the end of the war.

Toward the end of the war, Hubert Zemke suspected the Germans might try to kill the POWs rather than allow them to be liberated by the advancing Soviet armies.

In preparation, Hubert Zemke prepared a force of commandos and stockpiled weapons, in order to resist any such attempt.

Hubert Zemke then cultivated friendly relations with the arriving Soviets, using his fluent German and some Russian language picked up during his time with the Soviet Air Force.

Ultimately, in Operation Revival, Hubert Zemke arranged for the POWs to be flown to American-held territory by USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bombers shortly after VE day.

Hubert Zemke attended Air War College in 1953 and upon graduation was assigned as Chief of Plans within the Directorate of Operations at the Pentagon.

Colonel Hubert Zemke retired in 1966 after 30 years of military service.

Colonel Hubert Zemke died August 30,1994, in Oroville, California.

On that date, Colonel Hubert Zemke attacked a German airdrome, flying into the face of persistent, heavy and accurate defensive fire.

Hubert Zemke destroyed one enemy aircraft, damaged two others, damaged two airplane hangars and other buildings in the airdrome.

Hubert Zemke was named as the class exemplar at the United States Air Force Academy of the Class of 2009.