Major Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld Egmont zur Lippe Weissenfeld was born on 14th July, 1918 at Salzburg in Austria. Like many Austrian men of royal blood, zur Lippe opted for a military career, joining the Austrian Army at the age of eighteen in 1936. He served first in the Infantry, but wishing to follow in the footsteps of the great flying aces of the First World War, he soon applied for pilot training with a view to joining the German Luftwaffe, which he did the following year. He began his Luftwaffe career as an Army Recce pilot, serving first with II/ZG76. He was transferred to NJG1 on August 4, 1940. It was from this point on that zur Lippe-Weissenfeld was to become one of the premier night fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe. However, it wasn't until the night of 16-17 November, 1940 that he achieved his first victory, shooting down an RAF bomber. In March 1941 he was wounded for the first time in an action with enemy bombers and on June 30, 1941 he crashed into the Zuider Zee, following a mid-air collision with an aircraft he was stalking. By July, 1941 Lippe's score stood at 10 and later in the year, on November 1, he was transferred to NJG2 as a Staffelcaptain. By the end of the year his score was 15. During the night of 26-27 March 1942 he shot down four RAF bombers, bringing his score to 21. It was for this action he was awarded the Knights Cross. His success continued with three victories on both the nights of June 20-21 and July 2-3 bring his total to 37 and becoming one of the recognized elite in the night fighter squadrons. On October 1, 1942 [now] Major Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld was transferred to command I/NJG3, and during his time there he posted three more victories. On May 31 he was transferred again, this time to command III/NJG1. A month later his score stood at 45 and as a result of this outstanding record he was awarded the Oak Leaves for his Knights Cross. During the night of December 16-17, 1943 he achieved his final two victories bringing his score to 51. After a month's sick leave during January, 1944, zur Lippe was again transferred, this time to command NJG5, effective February 20, 1944. On March 12 he filed a flight plan from Deelen to Laon-Athies to visit his former squadron in Northern Belgium. While crossing the Ardennes in poor weather aboard his new Bf110G-4 C9+CD (WrkN. 720010) his aircraft crashed into unseen high ground. 25 year old Major Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld was killed along with his crew, Ofw. Renette and Uffz. Rober.
Heinrich Alexander Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein Born in Kopenhagen in 14.8.1916. He entered in the Wehrmacht in 1936. Bomber pilot in KG 1, KG 51 until 1941 when he changes to Night-fighter role. He was known as a perfectionist a strong individualist highly representative of the German young noble class. His major ambition as a soldier was to be the top scoring night fighter pilot. For this purpose he felt himself in direct competition with Lent and Streib. In the begining of 1942 becomes Staffelkapitän 9./NJG 2. At the end of the same year, after the Russian bombing attack in East Prussia, Hauptmann Wittgenstein was called to form part of IV./NJG 5 then based at Insterburg. From the end of 1942 to 15.8.43 he is Kommandeur IV./NJG 5, I./NJG 100. From 15.8 till 30.11 1943 is Kommandeur of I./NJG 3. In december 1943 he becomes Kommandeur II./NJG 2 and, finally Kommodore of NJG 2. Between 16.04.42 and 02.05.43 he shots down four DB3 and one B-25. After that time he is trasferred to Holland from where he shoots down further five RAF bombers, of which four in a single night. In June '43 IV./NJG 5 is transferred to Orel where it has to acomplish the fight of the avancing Russian night intruding offensives. In this field the Prince flies two Ju 88 C-6, C9+AE -the first Ju 88 with schraege Musik slanting cannons- and C9+DE. The latter was used as "Expreßjäger", without its FuG 212 Lichtenstein aerials removed, in full-moon nights; this was the favourite mount of Wittgenstein during the Kursk offensive in 1943 where he obtain 28 air victories. This was also his mount the night between 24/25 July 1943 when he shot down six bombers. This plane was also fitted with MG 151/20 in its nose cone instead of the usual MG FF. Even when the official camouflage for night fighters in 76 light gray scheme was prescribed in July of 1943, Wittgenstein used to have the lower surfaces of his planes in black 22 and upper surfaces in two tone motteled grays, 74 and 75, up to January 1944. He scored his first kill 2.3.42. It was a RAF Blenheim. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz 2.10.42 after his 20th victory in sole 40 missions; after his 64th victory he was awarded in 31.8.43 with the Eichenlaub; from these 64 victories 33 were Russian airplanes in the eastern front over East Prussia and Kusk. Wittgenstein died 21.1.44 over Schoenhausen/Elbe after shooting down five British bombers, his 80 to 84 score, by a Mosquito surprise attack while trying his sixth victory in the same night. He was awarded with the postume Schwerter the 23.1.44. Chronology of Prince of Sayn's Career. 1936 enters Wehrmacht 1941 bomber Pilot in KG 1 and KG 51 2.3.42 First Kill, a British Blenheim 1942 Kommandeur of IV./NJG 5 15.8.42 to 15.8.43 Kommandeur I./NJG 100. 2.10.42 Awarded Ritterkreuz after 20 kills. 15.8.43 to 30.11.43 Kommandeur I./NJG 3. 12.43 Kommandeur II./NJG 2. Kommodore NJG 2. 31.8.43 Awarded Eichenlaub. 21.1.44 KIA over Schoenhausen/Elbe by a British Mosquito. 23.1.44 Awarded with postume Schwerter. http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7404/promis2.htm#Prince%20of http://www.bendorf-geschichte.de/bdf-0073.htm The circumstances surrounding his death are still a mystery. They Ju-88 in which he was piloting was about to open fire on a RAF Lancaster when the Ju-88 was hit by fire in the left wing. The plane began to burn and fall. Of the three occupants of the doomed fighter, only Wittgenstein's Bordfunker Freidrich Ostheimer and the Flight Engineer Kurt Matzuleit survived. Wittgenstein's body was found the next day. His parachute was unopened, and it is speculated that he hit the rudder of the aircraft when bailing out. The cause of the crash is still unknown. The rear gunner of the Lancaster did not report hitting another aircraft with fire, and a British Mosquito Intruder did not shoot down a German Night Fighter in the reported area that evening. Wittgenstein shot down five RAF bombers on his last mission. At the time of his death at age 27, he was the highest scoring night fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe. Both Ostheimer and Matzuleit survived the war. http://www.luftwaffe-experten.com/pilots_night/H_Wittgenstein.html
well there is a copy in my data base of the downed Lancasters memories on the night of the Prinz's death, and they do claim his downing....... now to find it.... ? hmmmmmmmm, the Prinz was a funny chap for sure and would not allow any photos to be taken on NJG 3's base and this little tidbit coming from a couple of NJG 3 vets. There is specualtion as always as to what a/c the Prinz was flying on the fateful night and the camo that was painted on it. If it is ever truly found out with photographic proof some-one is going to make a barrel of dollars ! ~E
