Wolfgang Späte
Wolfgang Späte | |
|---|---|
Wolfgang Späte | |
| Born | 8 September 1911 Dresden, German Empire |
| Died | 30 April 1997 (aged 85) Edewecht, Germany |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany West Germany |
| Branch | German Army Luftwaffe German Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–45 1956–67 |
| Rank | Major (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit | JG 54, JG 400, JG 7 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
| Other work | Bundeswehr |
Wolfgang Späte (8 September 1911 – 30 April 1997) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II, with 99 victories claimed. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. For fighter pilots it was a quantifiable measure of skill and combat success. He is attributed by some, for an early, 1938 version of the speed to fly theory, usually attributed to Paul MacCready. Already a talented glider pilot before the war, he went on to become one of the Luftwaffe's foremost test pilots.