Heinz Vinke (22 May 1920 – 26 February 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 54 aerial victories claimed in approximately 150 combat missions making him the eighteenth most successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare.

[1][2] All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Bomber Command.

Vinke and his crew were shot down and killed in action on 26 February 1944, while on a search and rescue mission over the English Channel.

[3] World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland.

At the time, Vinke was based at Stargard on the Fliegerhorst Klützow, present-day Kluczewo Airfield, where he received his flight training which he completed in 1940.

[Note 2] On 25 July 1941, Vinke and his radio operator Gerhard Schlein flew Messerschmitt Bf 110 C (Werknummer 2075—factory number) over the North Sea in the vicinity of Texel when they suffered engine problems.

Vinke instructed his radio operator to bail out, the parachute failed to open and Schlein fell to his death.

Vinke made a forced landing in a corn field near De Cocksdorp, Texel, injuring his back.

[7] Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight, Royal Air Force (RAF) attacks shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign.

Each sector named a Himmelbett (canopy bed) would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers.

[9] While serving with NJG 2 over Northern Europe, Vinke claimed his first air victory on 27 February 1942, an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley 22 kilometres (14 mi) north-east of Leeuwarden.

Four members of the crew, including Squadron Leader Leslie Hugh William Parkin (DFC), were killed in action and one man was taken prisoner of war.

[23] On 9 October, while under the influence of alcohol, Vinke was involved in a small arms accident which resulted in the injury of another soldier.

[6] On 9 January 1943, Vinke was again put under arrest and grounded following an unauthorized nosedive over the Leeuwarden Air Base resulting in significant damage to a parked Bf 110 F-4.

[28] His 27th victory was claimed at 02:26 on the night of 22/23 June 1943, Stirling EH889, which crashed into the Ijsselmeer approximately 8 kilometres (5 miles) east of Oosterland, killing Flight Lieutenant T.F.

[29][30] Three nights later, on 25/26 June at 02:47, he claimed his 28th victory over an Avro Lancaster bomber approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Den Helder, killing Squadron Leader Alfred Young and another six on board.

The control column was shot out from his hand and the British caused fatal damage to the Bf 110 from short range, just missing a collision.

The bomber was on a mine-laying operation; the pilot Flight Sergeant Thomas Robertson Ewen of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and his crew died on their only war mission.

Flying Officer Bruce Macpherson and his crew were all killed; the eldest was 22, the youngest, air gunner Sergeant Eric Brinton, 17 years old.

[43][44][45][46] Oberfeldwebel (Master Sergeant) Vinke was shot down and killed while flying Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (Werknummer 740136) of 11./NJG 1 on 26 February 1944, while on a search and rescue mission over the English Channel.