Johannes Steinhoff
Johannes "Macky" Steinhoff (15 September 1913 – 21 February 1994) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II, German general, and NATO official. He was one of very few Luftwaffe pilots who survived to fly operationally through the whole of the war period 1939–45 until he was severely burned during a failed take-off. Steinhoff was also one of the highest-scoring pilots with 176 victories, and one of the first to fly the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter in combat as a member of the Jagdverband 44 squadron led by Adolf Galland. Steinhoff was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, and later received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and several foreign awards including the American Legion of Merit and the French Legion of Honour. He played a role in the so-called Fighter Pilots' Revolt late in the war, when several senior air force officers confronted Hermann Göring.
Johannes Steinhoff | |
|---|---|
Johannes Steinhoff in 1966. | |
| Chairman of the NATO Military Committee | |
| In office 1971–1974 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Nigel Henderson |
| Succeeded by | Sir Peter Hill-Norton |
| Inspector of the Air Force | |
| In office 1966–1970 | |
| Preceded by | Werner Panitzki |
| Succeeded by | Günther Rall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 September 1913 Bottendorf, Province of Saxony, Prussia, Germany |
| Died | 21 February 1994 (aged 80) Wachtberg-Pech, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Resting place | Cemetery in Villip, Wachtberg |
| Spouse | Ursula Steinhoff |
| Relations | Ludwig Hahn (brother-in-law) Michael Bird (son-in-law) |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic American Legion of Merit French Legion of Honour |
| Nickname | Macky |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Branch/service | Luftwaffe German Air Force |
| Years of service | 1934–45 1955–74 |
| Rank | Oberst (Wehrmacht) General (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit | JG 26, JG 52, JG 77, Kommando Nowotny, JG 7 and JV 44 |
| Commands | II./JG 52, JG 77 and JG 7 |
| Battles/wars | See battles World War II
|
Steinhoff joined the West German government's Rearmament Office as a consultant on military aviation in 1952 and became one of the principal officials tasked with rebuilding the German Air Force through the Cold War. In retirement, Steinhoff became a widely read author of books on German military aviation during the Second World War and the experiences of the German people at that time.