Karl Rammelt

In May 1942, II. Gruppe was based at Bryansk but periodically also operated from airfields at Oryol and Dugino.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|pp=280, 293}} On 3 September 1942, Rammelt's Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 12808–factory number) ran out of fuel, resulting in an emergency landing at Dugino.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=311}}

II. Gruppe had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front in early October 1942 and sent to Jesau in East Prussia, present day Yushny, Bagrationovsky District, for conversion to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Conversion training began on 7 October and on 4 November, the unit received the order to convert back to the Bf 109 and to transfer to the Mediterranean theatre. Via various stopovers, II. Gruppe moved to Sidi Ahmed airfield, arriving on 14 November. There, the unit was subordinated to Fliegerführer Tunis (Flying Leader Tunis).{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2004|p=1}}

On 17 March 1943, Rammelt was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel of JG 51, succeeding Oberleutnant Georg Seelmann.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2010|p=359}} On 18 April, II. Gruppe received orders to exchange their newer Bf 109 G-4 and G-6 aircraft with older Bf 109 G-2 trop aircraft of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) and retreat from Africa to Bari, Italy.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2010|p=338}} On 7 June, Rammelt was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 51. Rammelt had unofficially led the Gruppe since his predecessor, Hauptmann Hartmann Grasser, had left in April.{{sfn|Weal|2006|p=98}} In consequence, command of 4. Staffel was given to Oberleutnant Horst Walther.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2010|p=359}}

On 28 December, Rammelt claimed a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber of the Fifteenth Air Force shot down south of Padua.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=31}} Hit by the defensive fire, he was then wounded when he bailed out of his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 160717) south of Rovigo.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2010|p=370}} During his convalescence until March 1944, Rammelt was replaced by Hauptmann Günther Rübell.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|Balke|2021|p=145}} On 24 October 1944, Rammelt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) for 40 aerial victories claimed.{{sfn|Weal|2006|pp=114, 123}} On 23 December, Rammelt was again wounded when he bailed out of his Bf 109 G-14 (Werknummer 780887) in a location {{convert|20|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} north of Esztergom. Dur to his injuries sustained, command of II. Gruppe was passed to Oberleutnant Otto Schultz.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Balke|Bock|2022|pp=344, 348}}

Following World War II, Rammelt applied for service in the West German Air Force, at the time referred to as the Bundesluftwaffe of the Bundeswehr. On 1 June 1956, he was appointed the first commander of a training squadron of Flugzeugführerschule "S" (FFS "S"—Pilot Training School) based at Memmingen Air Base. On 1 June 1958, Rammelt was succeeded by Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Batz{{sfn|Ahrens|2019b|p=497}} In July 1965, Rammelt served in the Hubschrauber -Lehr, Versuchs- und Transportstaffel (HLVsuTrspStff—Helicopter Demonstration, Trial and Tranport Squadron) at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base. There he formulated his ideas for the creation of heavy helicopter transportation squadrons. Although preparations for the creation of Helicopter Transport Wing 64 were already in progress, Rammelt believed in decentralizing helicopter units, resulting in a less effective leadership of such units.{{sfn|Ahrens|2019a|pp=22–23}}

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 41 aerial victory claims, plus 16 further unconfirmed claims. Of his 41 confirmed aerial victories, 19 were claimed on the Eastern Front and 22 on the Western Front, including eight heavy bombers.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=1008–1009}}

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 04 Ost 90761". 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}}

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (25 June 1943){{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=183}}
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold on 16 January 1944 as Hauptmann in the II./Jagdgeschwader 51{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=365}}
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 October 1944 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=349}}{{Refn|According to Scherzer on 24 October 1944.{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=612}}|group="Note"}}

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Ahrens

|first=Hans-Werner

|year=2019a

|title=Die Rettungsflieger der Luftwaffe 1956–1971: Konzeption — Aufbau — Einsatz

|trans-title=The Air Force Rescue Pilots 1956–1971: Concept — Creation — Deployment

|language=de

|place=Norderstedt, Germany

|publisher=Carola Hartmann Miles-Verlag

|isbn=978-3-945861-93-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Ahrens

|first=Hans-Werner

|title=Die Transportflieger der Luftwaffe 1956 bis 1971. Konzeption – Aufbau – Einsatz

|trans-title=Transport Aviation of the Air Force from 1956 to 1971. Concept – Creation – Deployment

|language=de

|place=Norderstedt, Germany

|publisher=Carola Hartmann Miles-Verlag

|year=2019b

|isbn=978-3-9458-6185-1

}}

• {{Cite web

|last=Bergström

|first=Christer

|author-link=:sv:Christer Bergström

|work=Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat

|title=Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website

|url=http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm

|access-date=19 March 2025

|ref={{sfnRef|Planquadrat}}

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222042030/http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm

|archive-date=22 December 2018

|url-status=dead

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Fellgiebel

|first=Walther-Peer

|author-link=:de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

|year=2000

|orig-date=1986

|title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile

|trans-title=The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches

|language=de

|location=Friedberg, Germany

|publisher=Podzun-Pallas

|isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Forsyth

|first=Robert

|year=2011

|title=Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942–45

|series=Aircraft of the Aces

|volume=101

|location=Oxford, UK

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=978-1-84908-438-3

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Mathews

|first1=Andrew Johannes

|last2=Foreman

|first2=John

|year=2015

|title=Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims – Volume 3 M–R

|location=Walton-on-Thames, UK

|publisher=Red Kite

|isbn=978-1-906592-20-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Obermaier

|first=Ernst

|year=1989

|title=Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945

|trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945

|language=de

|location=Mainz, Germany

|publisher=Verlag Dieter Hoffmann

|isbn=978-3-87341-065-7

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Patzwall

|first1=Klaus D.

|last2=Scherzer

|first2=Veit

|year=2001

|title=Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II

|trans-title=The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2

|language=de

|location=Norderstedt, Germany

|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall

|isbn=978-3-931533-45-8

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2004

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-74-8

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2006

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-77-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2009

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/III—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/III—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-89-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2010

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-95-3

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Bock

|first3=Winfried

|last4=Balke

|first4=Ulf

|year=2021

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 14—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 15.9.1944

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 14—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 15 September 1944

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-942943-24-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Balke

|first3=Ulf

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2022

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/I—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/I—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Buchverlag Rogge

|isbn=978-3-942943-26-0

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Scherzer

|first=Veit

|year=2007

|title=Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives

|trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives

|language=de

|location=Jena, Germany

|publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag

|isbn=978-3-938845-17-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Weal

|first=John

|year=2006

|title=Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"

|series=Aviation Elite Units

|volume=22

|location=Oxford, UK

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=978-1-84603-045-1

}}

{{refend}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{succession box|

before=Hauptmann Hartmann Grasser|

after=Oberleutnant Otto Schultz|

title= Commander of II./Jagdgeschwader 51|

years=6 June 1943 – 24 December 1944

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 51}}

{{Subject bar

| portal1=Aviation

| portal2=Biography

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rammelt, Karl}}

Category:1914 births

Category:2009 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:People from Burgenlandkreis

Category:People from the Province of Saxony