Werner Machold (29 July 1911 – 2 April 1968) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. On 9 June 1941, Machold received fire from a destroyer that he was attacking near Portland, his plane was forced to land and he was taken prisoner by British troops. He remained in captivity until the end of the war. He was credited with 32 aerial victories during the war, all of them against Western forces. Machold died on 2 April 1968 in Landsberg am Lech, West Germany.

Early life and career Machold was born on 29 July 1913 in Unterneubrunn in the district of Hildburghausen in Thuringia of the German Empire. In 1931, Machold joined the Reichsmarine, the German navy of the Weimar Republic, and in 1935 transferred to the newly emerging Luftwaffe. Following flight and fighter pilot training, he was posted to 1. 2. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) in 1939.

World War II World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. During the invasion, Machold flew fighter protection missions over Berlin. At the time, 1. Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Ernst-Günther Burggaller. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 2 headed by Oberstleutnant Carl Vieck. During the invasion of Poland, I. Gruppe was initially based at at Döberitz, located approximately west of Staaken. On 10 September, the Gruppe moved to Lyck in East Prussia, now Ełk in Poland, before returning to Döberitz on 13 October.

In preparation for the Battle of France, I. Gruppe had moved to Frankfurt-Rebstock Airfield. On 10 May, the first day of the campaign, the Gruppe moved to a makeshift airfield at Kirchberg, flying in support of Army Group A. The Gruppe then relocated to Bastogne on 14 May to fly over the combat area of the Meuse. That day, Machold was credited with his first aerial victories. He claimed two French Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters shot down near Sedan. On early evening of 20 May, Machold claimed a Bristol Blenheim bomber and a Hawker Hurricane fighter shot down near Péronne. This included JG 2's 100th claim to date. By the end of the French campaign, Machold had been awarded both classes of the Iron Cross ().

Battle of Britain In preparation for the Battle of Britain against the Royal Air Force, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Beaumont-le-Roger on 27 June. Initially, the Gruppe was tasked with flying fighter protection along the French coast and over the English Channel. On 11 August, I. Gruppe escorted two Gruppen of Junkers Ju 88 bombers from Kampfgeschwader 54 (KG 54—54th Bomber Wing) on their mission to the harbors at Portland and Weymouth. On this mission, Machold claimed an aerial victory which he filed as a Tomahawk, probably a Curtiss Hawk Model 75. On a morning mission flown on 13 August, also known as Adlertag, Machold claimed an aerial victory near Brighton.

On 5 September, Machold was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () for 21 aerial victories claimed. He was the third pilot of JG 2 to receive this distinction. Two days later, Machold was transferred to 9. Staffel of JG 2. The Staffel was then commanded by Oberleutnant Carl-Hans Röders and subordinated to III. Gruppe of JG 2 headed by Major Erich Mix and based at Évreux.

Squadron leader and prisoner of war In early 1941, Machold, who had been promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant), was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 7. Staffel of JG 2. He succeeded Hauptmann Armin Ettling who had already been transferred in 1940. The Staffel was based at Bernay and had started converting to a fighter bomber squadron in late 1940. The pilots received fighter bomber training with Erprobungsgruppe 210, a special-purpose unit tasked with the testing of new aircraft and weaponry under operational conditions, which was then based at Denain. On 16 April, Machold claimed a Spitfire fighter shot down over the Strait of Dover.

According to Weal, Machold claimed two Supermarine Spitfire fighters, probably belonging to the No. 234 Squadron, shot down on 19 May, his last aerial victories filed. On 9 June, Machold led a fighter bomber attack on Allied shipping off the coast at Dorset. He was possibly shot down by anti-aircraft artillery fired from . The engine of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7/Z (Werknummer 5983–factory number) overheated and made a forced landing near Swanage where he was taken prisoner of war (POW). In consequence, command of 7. Staffel was transferred to Oberleutnant Egon Mayer. Machold was sent to a POW camp in Canada where he remained for the rest of the war.

Later life Machold was released and returned to Germany in 1946. He died on 2 April 1968 at the age of in Landsberg am Lech, West Germany.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to Obermaier, Machold was credited with 32 aerial victories claimed in over 250 combat missions. Holmes lists him with 13 Spitfire fighters shot down. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 23 aerial victory claims, plus four further unconfirmed claims, all of which claimed on the Western Front.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 1 14 May 1940 20:00 M.S.406 Sedansouth of Bouillon 6 21 May 1940 19:10 M.S.406 Compiègne 2? 14 May 1940 20:05 M.S.406 Sedanvicinity of Clavy 7 21 May 1940 19:10 M.S.406 Compiègne 3 19 May 1940 12:50 Hurricane Cambrai 8 26 May 1940 17:00 Spitfire Calais 4 20 May 1940 18:35 Blenheim Péronne 9 3 June 1940 14:45 MB.150 south of Reims 5 20 May 1940 18:35 Blenheim Péronne 10? 3 June 1940 14:50 MB.150 south of Reims – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Battle of Britain — 26 June – 7 September 1940 11 11 August 1940 11:55 Curtiss Portland 17 31 August 1940 14:15 Hurricane Lydd 12 13 August 1940 07:50 Spitfire Brighton 18 2 September 1940 14:25 Spitfire New Romney 13 26 August 1940 17:30 Spitfire Portsmouth 19 2 September 1940 14:25 Spitfire New Romney 14 30 August 1940 12:40 Hurricane London 20 2 September 1940 18:20 Spitfire Sittingbourne 15 30 August 1940 18:00 Hurricane Goudhurst 21 4 September 1940 10:10 Hurricane Folkestone 16 30 August 1940 18:05 Hurricane Goudhurst – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Battle of Britain — 7 September 1940 – early 1941 22? 27 September 1940 13:05 Spitfire east of Portland 25 30 September 1940 17:45 Hurricane Yeovil 23 28 September 1940 15:55 Hurricane Selsey Bill 26 30 September 1940 17:50 Hurricane Sherborne 24 30 September 1940 17:35 Hurricane north of Portland – 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Battle of Britain — early 1941 – 9 June 1941 27? 16 April 1941 12:00 Spitfire Strait of Dover

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 September 1940 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"

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