Emil Omert

Omert was born on 15 January 1918 in Ginolfs, present-day part of Oberelsbach, at the time in the Kingdom of Bavaria within the German Empire. Following flight training,{{refn|Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.{{sfn|Bergström|Antipov|Sundin|2003|p=17}}|group="Note"}} he was posted to the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) on 1 February 1940. He was then transferred to the 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing).{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=176}}

On 23 March 1940, Omert was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant). Two days later, he was posted to II. Gruppe of Jagdggruppe 186 (II./186—186th Fighter Group).{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=157}} This group, also known as the Trägerjagdgruppe (Carrier Fighter Group), was destined to be stationed on the aircraft carrier {{ship|German aircraft carrier|Graf Zeppelin||2}} which was never completed. II./186 (T) initially consisted of two squadrons, 4./186 (T) equipped with the Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber,{{refn|The suffix 'T' denotes Träger (carrier) in German use.|group="Note"}} and 6./186 (T).{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=48}}

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Following the decision by Adolf Hitler to halt work on the aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin,{{sfn|Whitley|1985|p=30}} II./186 (T) was redesignated and became the III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing).{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=242}} In consequence, Omert's Staffel 6./186 (T) became the 9. Staffel of JG 77 which was headed by Oberleutnant Lorenz Weber.{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2376}} A week later, III. Gruppe was withdrawn from this theater of operations and relocated to Döberitz where it was tasked with fighter protection of Berlin.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=246}} In November, JG 77 was ordered to the English Channel to continue fighting the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the aftermath of the Battle of Britain.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=437}} 8. Staffel moved to an airfield at Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on 30 November.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=446}}

In preparation for Operation Marita, the German invasion of Greece, III. Gruppe of JG 77 was moved to Deta in western Romania on 4 April 1941.{{sfn|Prien|1992|pp=482–483, 487}} Two days later, German forces launched the invasion of Yugoslavia. That day, Omert claimed his first aerial victory on a mission to Belgrad.{{sfn|Prien|1992|pp=488–494}}

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, III. Gruppe was moved to Bucharest and was located in the sector of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South). III. Gruppe arrived in Bucharest on 16 June.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=628}} Four days later, III. Gruppe moved to Roman.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=630}} On 22 June, German forces launched operation Barbarossa, two days later Omert claimed his first aerial victory on the Eastern Front. On the sixth mission of the day, III. Gruppe flew a combat air patrol along the Prut river near Iași when they encountered nine Tupolev SB bombers, claiming four SB-2 bombers shot down, including one by Omert.{{sfn|Prien|1993|pp=645–646}}

On 9 December 1941, Omert claimed three Polikarpov I-15 fighters over the Mius-Front, aerial victories 36 to 38.{{sfn|Bergström|Mikhailov|2001|p=23}} By end-1941, Omert had increased his total number of aerial victories to 40 claims.{{sfn|Page|2020|p=70}} On 10 February 1942, Omert was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8. Staffel of JG 77, replacing Leutnant Wilhelm Schopper in this capacity.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=317}} On 19 March, III. Gruppe flew its last combat missions before it was replaced by II. Gruppe of JG 77 and withdrawn for a brief period of rest and replenishment.{{sfn|Prien|1993|pp=939–945}}{{sfn|Bergström|Mikhailov|2001|p=131}} That day, Omert was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{Lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}).{{sfn|Dixon|2023|pp=174–175}}

On 23 October 1942, the British Eighth Army launched the Second Battle of El Alamein. Preceding this attack, the Luftwaffe had already planned to replace Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing), which had been fighting in North African theater, with JG 77.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1293}} In preparation for this rotation, III. Gruppe of JG 77 was moved to Munich on 19 October where it was equipped with the Bf 109 G-2/trop. On 23 and 24 October, the Gruppe moved to Bari in southern Italy.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1296}} The Gruppe then relocated to Tobruk Airfield on 26 October.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1298}} The following day, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Tanyet-Harun.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1301}}

On 31 January 1943, Omert claimed two Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters near Kebili and El Hamma.{{sfn|Shores|Massimello|Guest|Olynyk|2016|pp=289–291}} On 17 February, Omert was awarded the German Cross in Gold ({{Lang|de|Deutsches Kreuz in Gold}}).{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=939}} On 4 April, Omert claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} northwest of Skhira.{{sfn|Shores|Massimello|Guest|Olynyk|2016|p=437}} On 13 July, Omert was shot down and wounded in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 18447—factory number) in aerial combat with Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters resulting in an emergency landing north-northeast of Enna.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2011|p=540}} During his convalescence, he was temporarily replaced by Oberleutnant Helmut Hänsel.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2011|p=529}}

When on 10 March 1944, Major Kurt Ubben, the commander of III. Gruppe of JG 77 was transferred, Omert was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe. At the time, Omert at the time was still with II. Gruppe of JG 77 and in consequence, III. Gruppe was briefly led by Hauptmann Karl Bresoschek.{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2035}}{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|Balke|2021|p=430}} Omert was killed in action on 24 April 1944 after attacking USAAF four engine bombers over Finta Mare, Romania. He bailed out of his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 160826) and was then shot and killed by marauding US fighter aircraft while hanging in his parachute.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|Balke|2021|p=430}} Command of III. Gruppe was then again given to Bresoschek, and later to Oberleutnant Erhard Niese, before Major Armin Köhler took command on 1 August 1944.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|Balke|2021|p=430}}

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Omert was credited with 70 aerial victories.{{sfn|Zabecki|2014|p=1616}} Spick also lists him with 70 aerial victories, 50 on the Eastern Front, 3 in the Mediterranean theater and 17 on the Western Front, claimed in approximately 700 combat missions.{{sfn|Spick|1996|p=238}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 55 aerial victory claims, plus ten further unconfirmed claims. This number includes 42 claims on the Eastern Front and 13 on the Western Front, including two four-engined bombers.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=939–940}}

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 3744". The Luftwaffe grid map ({{lang|de|Jägermeldenetz}}) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about {{Convert|360|sqmi|sqkm}}. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area {{Convert|3|x|4|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}} in size.{{sfn|Planquadrat}}

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=175}}
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 25 January 1942 as Leutnant and pilot{{sfn|Patzwall|2008|p=157}}
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 March 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 77{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=329}}{{Refn|According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 77.{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=577}}|group="Note"}}
• German Cross in Gold on 17 February 1943 as Oberleutnant in the I./Jagdgeschwader 77{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=338}}

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

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{{refend}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{succession box|

before=Major Siegfried Freytag|

after=Major Armin Köhler|

title=Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 77|

years=29 January 1944 - 3 April 1944

}}

{{succession box|

before=Hauptmann Karl Bresoschek|

after=Hauptmann Karl Bresoschek|

title=Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 77|

years=3 April 1944 - 24 April 1944

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 77}}

{{Subject bar

| portal1=Aviation

| portal2=Biography

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omert, Emil}}

Category:1918 births

Category:1944 deaths

Category:Luftwaffe pilots

Category:German World War II flying aces

Category:Recipients of the Gold German Cross

Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Category:Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II

Category:Aviators killed by being shot down

Category:People from Rhön-Grabfeld

Category:Military personnel from Bavaria