Born February 26, 1916, in Hambach, Josef-Emil Klade began flying gliders in 1931 and joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. He was with JG 1 at the outbreak of World War II, participating in the invasion of Belgium and Holland with the same unit. His first victories came on May 11, 1940, downing a Belgian ‘Gládiator’ in the morning and a French LeO 451 in the evening. He achieved two more victories during the French campaign.
Early Career and Combat Debut
On July 6, 1940, 1./JG 1 became 7./JG 27. In March 1941, Feldwebel Klade was assigned as an instructor to Ergänzungsgruppe/JG 27. By June 1942, he was deployed to the Mediterranean theater of operations, flying from bases in North Africa. He scored his 10th victory on July 5, shooting down a ‘Spitfire’ near El Daba.
Three months later, his tally reached 18 victories. However, on October 5, he was shot down and forced to parachute from his disintegrating Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 170 05). Klade achieved his 20th victory on November 13, this time a British ‘Beaufighter’.
Mediterranean Campaigns and Later Engagements
On December 20, an American B-17 (his 22nd victory) was added to his tally. A few days later, he was transferred to 2./Jagdgruppe Süd, based in France. He was severely wounded on February 16, 1944, during an attack by French partisans, remaining hospitalized until November 1944. Klade was then assigned to 7./JG 27.
On November 26, 1944, he again had to use his parachute, but on December 25 and 26, Klade managed to add two P-47s to his score. He surrendered to the Americans, with no further information about his fate being available.