# List of aerial victories claimed by Herbert Ihlefeld

Herbert Ihlefeld (1 June 1914 – 8 August 1995) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace listed with 130 enemy aircraft shot down in over 1,000 combat missions. Depending on source, he claimed seven to nine aerial victories in the Spanish Civil War, and during World War II, 67 on the Eastern Front and 56 on the Western Front, including 15 four-engined bombers and 26 Supermarine Spitfires. He survived being shot down eight times during his 1,000 combat missions.

## List of aerial victories claimed

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Ihlefeld was credited with 123 World War II aerial victories. Spick lists him with 130 aerial victories, including seven claims in Spain, claimed in over 1,000 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 122 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims. This number includes nine claims during the Spanish Civil War, 48 on the Western Front, including three four-engined bombers, and 65 on the Eastern Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost S/ET-1". The Luftwaffe grid map (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 360 square miles (930 km$^2$). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.
| Claim! | Claim# | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim! | Claim# | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – 2. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 – Spanish Civil War ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 21 February 1938 | — | I-16 | | — | 6 | 25 June 1938 | — | I-16 | |
| 2 | 2 | 13 March 1938 | — | I-15 | | 5 | 7 | 12 July 1938 | — | I-15 | |
| 3 | 3 | 11 May 1938 | — | I-16 | | 6 | 8 | 15 July 1938 | — | I-15 | |
| — | 4 | 18 May 1938 | — | I-16 | | 7 | 9 | 15 July 1938 | — | I-15 | |
| 4 | 5 | 2 June 1938 | — | SB-2 | | | | | | | |
| – Stab I.(Jagd) Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 – Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 ||||||||||||
| 8 | 10 | 29 May 1940 | 20:12? | MS.406 | Chauny vicinity of Saint-Quentin | | | | | | |
| – Stab I.(Jagd) Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 – At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 30 March 1941 ||||||||||||
| 9 | 11 | 30 June 1940 | 15:25 | Blenheim | east of Aire vicinity of Abbeville | 11 | 13 | 9 July 1940 | 17:04? | Spitfire | Thames Estuary |
| 10 | 12 | 30 June 1940 | 15:30 | Spitfire | west of Abbeville | | | | | | |
| – 2.(Jagd) Staffel of Lehrgeschwader 2 – At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 30 March 1941 ||||||||||||
| 12 | 14 | 13 August 1940 | 17:10 | Blenheim? | Barham | 21 | 24 | 5 September 1940 | 11:10 | Spitfire | London near Biggin Hill |
| 13 | 15 | 22 August 1940 | 15:30? | Spitfire | Dover | 22 | 25 | 5 September 1940 | —? | Spitfire | London vicinity of Hythe |
| | 16 | 22 August 1940 | 13:55 | Blenheim | | 23 | 27 | 6 September 1940 | 10:10? | Spitfire | London |
| 14 | 17 | 22 August 1940 | 15:35? | Spitfire | Dover | 24 | 26 | 6 September 1940 | 17:55 | Spitfire | Ashford |
| 15 | 18 | 24 August 1940 | 12:40 | Spitfire | Dover vicinity of London | 25 | 28 | 7 September 1940 | 18:20? | Spitfire | Rochester |
| 16 | 19 | 24 August 1940 | 16:55 | Spitfire | London | 26 | 29 | 7 September 1940 | 18:30? | Spitfire | Maidstone |
| 17 | 20 | 30 August 1940 | 19:25 | Spitfire | Biggin Hill | | 30 | 11 September 1940 | 16:50 | Spitfire | vicinity of London |
| 18 | 21 | 31 August 1940 | 14:00 | Spitfire | Kenley | | 31 | 11 September 1940 | 17:15 | Spitfire | vicinity of London |
| 19 | 22 | 2 September 1940 | 14:25 | Spitfire | Dungeness | 27 | 32 | 15 September 1940 | 15:30? | Spitfire | London |
| 20 | 23 | 2 September 1940 | 18:20 | Spitfire | Sheerness | | | | | | |
| – Stab I.(Jagd) Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 – At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 30 March 1941 ||||||||||||
| 28 | 33 | 24 September 1940 | 10:25 | Spitfire | London | 35 | 39 | 26 February 1941 | 14:15 | Spitfire | 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Calais-Marck |
| 29 | 34 | 27 September 1940 | 10:10 | Spitfire | London | 36 | 40 | 1 March 1941 | 17:15 | Spitfire | 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Calais |
| 30 | — | 27 September 1940 | 10:50 | Spitfire | London | 37 | 41 | 13 March 1941 | 13:55 | Spitfire | in the middle of the English Channel |
| 31 | 35 | 17 January 1941 | 16:00 | Spitfire | northeast of Boulogne-sur-Mer | 38 | 42 | 19 March 1941 | 19:08 | Spitfire | 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Hastings |
| 32 | 36 | 10 February 1941 | 13:24 | Spitfire | east of Dover | 39 | 43 | 19 March 1941 | 19:10 | Spitfire | 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Hastings |
| 33 | 37 | 14 February 1941 | 13:40 | Spitfire | west of Dover | 40 | 44 | 26 March 1941 | 12:30 | Spitfire | Dungeness |
| 34 | 38 | 14 February 1941 | 13:48 | Spitfire | west of Dover | | | | | | |
| – Stab I.(Jagd) Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 – Crete — 1 April – 1 June 1941 ||||||||||||
| 41 | 45 | 16 May 1941 | 16:50 | Hurricane | Maleme | | | | | | |
| – Stab I.(Jagd) Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 – Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941 ||||||||||||
| 42 | 46 | 22 June 1941 | 04:30 | I-16 | | 48 | 52 | 4 July 1941 | 17:48 | I-15 | |
| 43 | 47 | 23 June 1941 | 05:50 | SB-2 | | 49 | 53 | 6 July 1941 | 18:50 | I-16 | |
| 44 | 48 | 26 June 1941 | 09:10 | I-16 | | 50 | 54 | 9 July 1941 | 09:35 | I-153 | |
| 45 | 49 | 26 June 1941 | 09:20 | SB-2 | | 51 | 55 | 10 July 1941 | 13:17 | I-15 | |
| 46 | 50 | 27 June 1941 | 09:20 | I-16 | | 52 | 56 | 12 July 1941 | 11:20? | MiG-3 | |
| 47 | 51 | 2 July 1941 | 16:07 | I-16 | | 53 | 57 | 15 October 1941 | 17:42 | MiG-3 | |
| – Stab I.(Jagd) Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 – Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 28 April 1942 ||||||||||||
| 54 | 58 | 8 December 1941 | 14:02 | I-16 | | 59 | 63 | 22 December 1941 | 13:25 | I-15 | |
| 55 | 59 | 9 December 1941 | 13:00 | I-16 | | 60 | 64 | 27 December 1941 | 14:00 | I-16 | |
| 56 | 60 | 11 December 1941 | 10:12 | I-16 | | — | — | 28 December 1941 | — | MiG-3 | |
| 57 | 61 | 11 December 1941 | 10:15 | SB-3 | | 61 | 65 | 5 January 1942 | 15:00 | I-26 | |
| 58 | 62 | 22 December 1941 | 10:05 | MiG-3 | | | | | | | |
| – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 – Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 28 April 1942 ||||||||||||
| 62 | 66 | 19 January 1942 | 15:15 | I-16 | | 85♠ | 89 | 30 March 1942 | 11:48 | R-10 (Seversky) | |
| 63 | 67 | 24 January 1942 | 12:10 | I-16 | | 86♠ | 90 | 30 March 1942 | 11:50 | I-16 | |
| 64 | 68 | 24 January 1942 | 12:12 | I-16? | | 87♠ | 91 | 30 March 1942 | 11:53 | I-61 (MiG-3)? | |
| 65 | 69 | 25 January 1942 | 12:35 | R-10 (Seversky) | | 88 | 92 | 6 April 1942 | 15:16 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 66 | 70 | 4 February 1942 | 12:30 | I-16? | | 89 | 93 | 8 April 1942 | 15:40 | I-16? | |
| 67 | 71 | 4 February 1942 | 15:50 | I-16? | | 90 | 94 | 19 April 1942 | 09:00+ | I-61 (MiG-3)? | |
| 68 | 72 | 11 February 1942 | 14:00 | I-16 | | 91 | 95 | 19 April 1942 | 11:45 | I-61 (MiG-3)? | |
| 69 | 73 | 17 March 1942 | 09:00 | I-26 (Yak-1) | | 92 | 96 | 19 April 1942 | 11:15? | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 70 | 74 | 20 March 1942 | 13:25? | R-5? | | 93 | 97 | 19 April 1942 | 15:20 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| | 75 | 20 March 1942 | 16:50 | I-16 | | 94♠ | 98 | 20 April 1942 | 08:10 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 71 | 76 | 21 March 1942 | 12:55 | I-26 (Yak-1) | | 95♠ | 99 | 20 April 1942 | 08:11 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 72 | | 21 March 1942 | 15:00 | R-5 | | 96♠ | 100 | 20 April 1942 | 08:12 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 73 | 77 | 21 March 1942 | 17:05 | I-16 | | 97♠ | 101 | 20 April 1942 | 11:30? | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 74 | 78 | 21 March 1942 | 17:10 | I-16 | | 98♠ | 102 | 20 April 1942 | 14:55 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 75♠ | 79 | 24 March 1942 | 07:00 | I-26 (Yak-1) | | 99♠ | 103 | 20 April 1942 | 14:56 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 76♠ | 80 | 24 March 1942 | 07:10? | I-16? | | 100♠ | 104 | 20 April 1942 | 14:57 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 77♠ | 81 | 24 March 1942 | 13:30? | I-301 (LaGG-3)? | | 101 | 105 | 21 April 1942 | 17:10 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 78♠ | 82 | 24 March 1942 | 13:35? | I-301 (LaGG-3)? | | 102 | 106 | 21 April 1942 | 17:13 | I-61 (MiG-3) | |
| 79♠ | 83 | 24 March 1942 | 13:37? | I-301 (LaGG-3) | | 103 | 107 | 22 April 1942 | 10:30 | I-301 (LaGG-3) | |
| 80 | 84 | 27 March 1942 | 17:00? | I-61 (MiG-3)? | | 104 | 108 | 22 April 1942 | 10:31? | I-301 (LaGG-3) | |
| 81♠ | 85 | 30 March 1942 | 09:45 | I-301 (LaGG-3) | | 105 | 109 | 22 April 1942 | 17:15? | I-301 (LaGG-3) | |
| 82♠ | 86 | 30 March 1942 | 09:45 | I-61 (MiG-3)? | | 106 | 110 | 22 April 1942 | 17:30 | I-301 (LaGG-3) | |
| 83♠ | 87 | 30 March 1942 | 11:40 | I-61 (MiG-3) | | 107 | | 25 April 1942 | 16:25 | I-15 | |
| 84♠ | 88 | 30 March 1942 | 11:42 | R-10 (Seversky) | | | | | | | |
| – Stab of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 28 April 1942 ||||||||||||
| 108 | — | 1 July 1942 | 16:00+ | MiG-1 | | 110 | — | 9 July 1942 | 09:00+ | I-16 | |
| 109 | — | 4 July 1942 | 15:00+ | Hurricane | | 111 | | July 1942 | — | unknown | |
| – Stab of Jagdgruppe 25 – Defense of the Reich — November 1943 ||||||||||||
| 112 | 111 | 13 November 1943 | 11:45? | P-38 | PQ 05 Ost S/TS-1 south of Quakenbrück | | | | | | |
| – Stab of Jagdgeschwader 1 – Invasion of Normandy — June – August 1944 ||||||||||||
| 113 | 112 | 8 May 1944 | 09:56 | B-17 | PQ 05 Ost S/ET-1, vicinity of Verden | 119 | 118 | 14 July 1944 | 19:19 | Spitfire | PQ 15 West UU-1 PQ 95 Ost S/UU-1, south of Caen |
| 114 | 113 | 8 May 1944 | 12:00? | B-17 | PQ 05 Ost S/ET-2, vicinity of Verden northwest of Celle | 120 | 119 | 18 July 1944 | 09:55 | P-38 | PQ 05 Ost S/UG-1/5, northwest of Paris |
| 115 | 114 | 12 July 1944 | 19:03 | Spitfire | PQ 15 West TT-9 PQ 95 Ost S/UU-9, vicinity of Caen | 121 | 120 | 25 July 1944 | 19:23 | Lancaster | PQ 05 Ost S/TC-3, vicinity of Rouen |
| 116 | 115 | 12 July 1944 | 19:05? | Spitfire | PQ 95 Ost S/UU-8, vicinity of Caen | 122 | 121 | 25 July 1944 | 19:30 | Spitfire | PQ 05 Ost S/TC-3, vicinity of Rouen |
| 117 | 116 | 12 July 1944 | 19:07? | Spitfire | PQ 95 Ost S/UU-8, vicinity of Caen | 123 | 122 | 27 July 1944 | 07:27 | P-51 | PQ 95 Ost S/UU, vicinity of Caen |
| 118 | 117 | 14 July 1944 | 19:17 | P-51 | PQ 15 West UU-1 PQ 95 Ost S/UU-1, south of Caen | 124 | | 1 August 1944 | — | P-51 | PQ 04 Ost N/AA, south of Lisieux |
| – Stab of Jagdgeschwader 1 – Defense of the Reich — November 1944 ||||||||||||
| 125 | | 26 November 1944 | — | B-17 | | | | | | | |