Franz Schall
Franz Schall | |
---|---|
![]() Schall as a Leutnant | |
Born | Graz, Austria-Hungary | 1 June 1918
Died | 10 April 1945 Parchim, Nazi Germany | (aged 26)
Cause of death | Killed in action |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ‹See Tfd›![]() |
Rank | Hauptmann (captain) |
Unit | JG 52, Kommando Nowotny, JG 7 |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Franz Schall (1 June 1918 – 10 April 1945) was a German military aviator who served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he flew approximately 550 combat missions and claimed 137 aerial victories—that is, 137 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.
He was killed on 10 April 1945, when his aircraft rolled into a bomb crater and exploded during an attempted emergency landing at Parchim.
Career
[edit]Schall was born on 1 June 1918 in Graz in Austria-Hungary. He began his military service with the anti-aircraft artillery before in September 1941 he was trained as a fighter pilot.[Note 1] Holding the rank of Leutnant (second lieutenant), Schall was posted to the 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on 18 February 1943.[2] At the time, this Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Rudolf Miethig and was part of I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 52 headed by Hauptmann Helmut Bennemann.[3]
War against the Soviet Union
[edit]World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Germany had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. In February 1943, I. Gruppe was based at Poltava on the Eastern Front and was subordinated to Luftwaffenkommando Don which supported the fighting in the Third Battle of Kharkov.[4] Schall claimed his first aerial victory on 6 May when he shot down a Lavochkin La-5 fighter near Belgorod.[5]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/I-JG52-ins.svg/130px-I-JG52-ins.svg.png)
In preparation for Operation Citadel, I. Gruppe was moved to Bessonovka, a makeshift airfield located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) on 4 July.[6] On 13 July during the Battle of Kursk, Schall, accompanied by his wingman Oberfeldwebel Franz Woidich, claimed an Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft shot down.[7] On 14 July, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) and the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 24 August.[8] On 11 November 1943, Schall was shot down and wounded by anti-aircraft artillery in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 410131—factory number) resulting in a forced landing 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) south of Kerch.[9] In December 1943, Schall was temporarily put in command of 3. Staffel of JG 52. He replaced Leutnant Karl-Heinz Plücker who was transferred.[3]
Schall was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 20 March 1944.[10] On 11 May, then Oberleutnant Franz Woidich succeeded Schall as commander of 3. Staffel.[11] On 10 June 1944, I. Gruppe was ordered to an airfield named Peloniczna near Lviv. Seven days later, they were moved to Serpneve.[12] On 22 June, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, attacking Army Group Centre in Byelorussia, with the objective of encircling and destroying its main component armies.[13] On 24 June, the Gruppe transferred to Galați and again to Peloniczna.[14] The Gruppe reached Grabowiec in eastern Poland on 27 July and Kraków on 1 August. On 12 August they were again relocated and moved to Mzurowa.[15] The day before, Schall was officially appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron leader) of 3. Staffel after Woidich was transferred.[11]
Fighting across Poland, it led to his most prolific period in the war with a number of multiple victories in a day: three on 12 August (74–76), three more on the 24th (79–81).[16] On 26 August, Schall became a "double ace-in-a-day" for the first time, claiming eleven aerial victories which included six Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. On 31 August, he surpassed this figure, claiming thirteen aerial victories, including his 100th claim, which took his total to 109 victories.[17] He was the 81st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[18] In September 1944, Schall left JG 52 and transferred to a jet fighter unit.[19] Command of 3. Staffel was transferred to Leutnant Leonhard Färber on 25 September.[11] Schall was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 10 October 1944 for 117 aerial victories claimed.[8]
Flying the Messerschmitt Me 262
[edit]On 25 September 1944, Schall was posted to a specialist unit dubbed Kommando Nowotny, named after Walter Nowotny, for testing and establishing tactics for the newly developed Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.[Note 2] General der Jagdflieger (General of the Fighter Force) Adolf Galland had hoped that the Me 262 would compensate for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) numerical superiority. There, following the death of Hauptmann Alfred Teumer on 4 October, Schall was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2. Staffel on 16 October.[20][21] On 7 October, Schall and Feldwebel Helmut Lennartz were scrambled at 13:45 from Hesepe airfield to intercept a heavy bomber formation. In this encounter, both Schall and Lennartz each claimed a USAAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber shot down, the first aerial victories of Kommando Nowotny.[21] Schall claimed a North American P-51 Mustang fighter destroyed on 28 October and a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter on 6 November.[22] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 10 October 1944.[10]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Bundesarchiv_Bild_141-2497%2C_Flugzeug_Me_262A_auf_Flugplatz.jpg/220px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_141-2497%2C_Flugzeug_Me_262A_auf_Flugplatz.jpg)
Generals Alfred Keller and Galland had scheduled an inspection of Kommando Nowotny for the afternoon of 7 November 1944. Galland had already visited Kommando Nowotny several times and was deeply concerned over the high attrition rate and meager success achieved by the Me 262. After inspecting the two airfields at Achmer and Hesepe, he stayed in the Penterknapp barracks discussing the problems of the past few weeks. Several pilots openly expressed their doubts as to the readiness of the Me 262 for combat operations.[23] When the Generals arrived again at Nowotny's command post the next morning a large bomber formation was reported. Two Rotten of Me 262 were prepared for take-off, Erich Büttner and Schall at Hesepe, and Nowotny and Günther Wegmann at Achmer. At first only Schall and Wegmann managed to take off because Büttner had a punctured tire during taxiing and Nowotny's turbines initially refused to start. Schall and Wegmann both made contact with the Americans, claiming a P-51 and P-47 respectively.[24][25] By the time the Americans returned from their bomb run, Nowotny, his aircraft now serviceable, and Schall took off alone and made contact with the bomber force at an altitude of 10,000 meters (33,000 feet). Schall shot down two P-51s before suffering engine failure. Attempting to glide his aircraft to Hesepe, Schall was shot down by Lieutenant James W. Kenney of the 357th Fighter Group. While Schall managed to bail out safely, Nowotny was killed in action.[26][27]
Following Nowotny's death, the pilots of Kommando Nowotny were moved to Lechfeld were they were joined by 20–25 pilots from III. Gruppe of Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2, also known as Erprobungskommando Lechfeld, a replacement training unit which had also trained on the Me 262.[28] On 19 November, Kommando Nowotny became the III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7 - 7th Fighter Wing), the world's first operational jet fighter wing, and was moved to Brandenburg-Briest.[29][30] JG 7 had been formed in August 1944 and placed under the command of Oberst Johannes Steinhoff.[31] At the time of its creation, III./JG 7 was commanded by Major Erich Hohagen and command of 10. Staffel was handed to Schall.[32]
On 18 March 1945, the USAAF Eighth Air Force attacked Berlin with 1,329 bombers, escorted by 733 fighter aircraft. A number of Me 262s intercepted the bomber formation and its escorts in vicinity of Nauen-Rathenow-Brandenburg-Potsdam. At approximately 11:15, Schall claimed a P-51 shot down.[33][34] The next day, 374 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from the 3d Air Division attacked Carl Zeiss AG, a manufacturer of optical systems, in Jena, and the motor vehicle factories at Zwickau and Plauen. In defense of this attack, Schall claimed a B-17 shot down north of Chemnitz.[35][36][37] On 21 March 1945, the USAAF Eighth Air Force attacked various Luftwaffe airfields in Germany with approximately 1,300 heavy bombers, escorted by 750 fighter aircraft.[38] That day, Schall claimed another aerial victory over a P-51.[39] The next, the Eighth Air Force again targeted various military installations and airfields in Germany.[40] Yet again Schall claimed a P-51 shot down, that day in the Cottbus-Bautzen-Dresden area.[41] On 24 March, 1,714 bombers, escorted by approximately 1,300 fighter aircraft, targeted 18 Luftwaffe airfields.[42] Schall led 10. Staffel at about 12:00 from Parchim airfield and engaged the bombers south of Berlin. Approximately 15 Me 262s, the majority of them armed with R4M air-to-air rockets, claimed a number of bombers destroyed, including a B-17 by Schall.[43] On 31 March 1945, the Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command targeted Wilhelmshaven, Bremen and Hamburg. The attack force from No. 219, No. 429, No. 431, No. 434, No. 408, No. 415 and No. 425 Squadron had made their target approach by night. In morning hours, the British and Canadians were intercepted by 20 Me 262s from I. Gruppe and seven Me 262s from III. Gruppe who claimed 19 four-engined bombers, two fighters and probable destruction of another bomber. Schall claimed two victories in this engagement.[44]
On 4 April, Schall claimed a P-51 shot down.[45] That day, RAF Bomber Command had targeted Nordhausen with 243 Avro Lancaster bombers while the USAAF Eighth Air Force sent 950 B-17s and B-24s to Luftwaffe airfields at Kaltenkirchen, Parchim, Perleberg, Wesendorf, Faßberg, Hoya, Dedelstorf and Eggebek, as well as the U-boat yards at Finkenwerder and shipyards at Kiel. This bomber force was protected by 800 escort fighters.[46] On 9 April, the RAF targeted the German ships Admiral Scheer, Admiral Hipper and Emden moored at Kiel and other targets in northern Germany. That afternoon, Schall claimed a Lancaster shot down.[47] On 10 April 1945, Schall claimed a P-51 shot down. He was then killed when his aircraft rolled into a bomb crater, flipped, and exploded during an attempted emergency landing at Parchim Airfield.[48][49] That day, the Luftwaffe lost a number of Me 262 pilots, including Oberleutnant Walther Wever. The Americans dubbed this day the "great jet massacre".[50]
Summary of career
[edit]Aerial victory claims
[edit]According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Schall was credited with 133 aerial victories.[51] Forsyth also lists Schall with 133 aerial victories claimed in 530 combat missions. This figure includes 17 claims flying the Me 262 jet fighter, including six four-engined heavy bombers and eleven P-51 fighters.[8] Spick however lists him with 137 aerial victories claimed in approximately 550 combat missions.[52] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 133 aerial victory claims, plus four further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 117 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 16 on the Western Front flying the Me 262 jet fighter, including five four-engined bombers.[53]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 61184". 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 km2). 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.[54]
Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Schall an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Schall did not receive credit.
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
| |||||||||
Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[10] Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 | |||||||||
1 | 6 May 1943 | 13:14 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 61184, vicinity of Belgorod[5] 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Belgorod |
13 | 27 September 1943 | 14:35 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 34 Ost 66865[55] vicinity of Wennlowka |
—
|
13 May 1943 | 04:15 | La-5[56] | 14 | 27 September 1943 | 14:43 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 34 Ost 76772[55] vicinity of Blagoweschtschenskaja | |
2 | 30 May 1943 | 16:12 | La-5 | PQ 34 Ost 75232[56] north of Krymsk |
15 | 20 October 1943 | 12:07 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 58143[57] northwest of Zaporizhia |
3 | 11 June 1943 | 10:25 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 76823[58] vicinity of Kalabatka |
16 | 21 October 1943 | 12:05 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 4] | PQ 34 Ost 58738[57] |
4 | 5 July 1943 | 18:45 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 61652, north of Pukroska[59] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Vovchansk |
17 | 22 October 1943 | 13:15 | Yak-7?[Note 5] | PQ 34 Ost 39652[57] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Pjatichatki |
5 | 12 July 1943 | 14:47 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 61132[59] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Prokhorovka |
18 | 23 October 1943 | 09:07 | P-39?[Note 6] | PQ 34 Ost 58561[60] vicinity of Kalinowka |
6 | 13 July 1943 | 08:57 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 35 Ost 61293[59] 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Prokhorovka |
19 | 24 October 1943 | 10:32 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 34 Ost 58172[60] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Melitopol |
7 | 15 July 1943 | 13:10 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 35 Ost 62883, 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Prokhorovka[61] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Prokhorovka |
20 | 24 October 1943 | 13:50 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 7] | PQ 34 Ost 57171[60] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Melitopol |
8 | 18 July 1943 | 06:50 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 34 Ost 88431[61] vicinity of Marienheim (Perekrestovo) |
21 | 28 October 1943 | 14:15 | La-5?[Note 8] | PQ 34 Ost 48512[60] 25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Nikopol |
9 | 26 July 1943 | 18:12 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 88267, south of Julizwechino[61] vicinity of Jalisawehino |
22 | 7 November 1943 | 15:05 | U-2 | PQ 34 Ost 47771[60] vicinity of Gromovka |
10 | 1 August 1943 | 10:38 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 34 Ost 88283[63] 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino |
23 | 7 November 1943 | 15:06 | U-2 | PQ 34 Ost 47771[60] vicinity of Gromovka |
—
|
4 August 1943 | 15:30 | Il-2?[63][Note 7] | 24 | 7 November 1943 | 15:07 | U-2 | PQ 34 Ost 47771[60] vicinity of Gromovka | |
11 | 7 August 1943 | 15:55?[Note 9] | La-5?[Note 9] | PQ 35 Ost 61595, north of Leskij[63] 30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Belgorod |
25 | 9 November 1943 | 14:25 | U-2 | PQ 34 Ost 47771[64] vicinity of Gromovka |
12 | 25 September 1943 | 08:03 | LaGG-3?[Note 6] | PQ 34 Ost 76533[55] southwest of Kurtschanskaja |
26 | 9 November 1943 | 14:25 | U-2?[Note 10] | PQ 34 Ost 47771[64] vicinity of Gromovka |
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[53] Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944 | |||||||||
27 | 7 January 1944 | 14:16 | Yak-9?[Note 5] | PQ 34 Ost 29392[65] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kropyvnytskyi |
72 | 16 July 1944 | 15:36 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 41682[66] 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Brody |
28 | 9 January 1944 | 14:05 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 29382[65] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Alekandrovka |
73 | 16 July 1944 | 15:40 | Yak-9?[Note 11] | PQ 25 Ost 41688[66] 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Brody |
29 | 12 January 1944 | 11:06 | P-39?[Note 12] | PQ 34 Ost 29492[65] 25 km (16 mi) west of Kropyvnytskyi |
74 | 12 August 1944 | 14:10 | Yak-11?[Note 7] | PQ 25 Ost 11379[68] 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Mielec |
30 | 16 January 1944 | 09:34 | Yak-9?[Note 5] | PQ 34 Ost 19462[65] 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Kropyvnytskyi |
75 | 12 August 1944 | 16:57 | La-5?[Note 6] | PQ 25 Ost 11358[68] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
31 | 16 January 1944 | 11:51 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 29371[65] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kropyvnytskyi |
76 | 12 August 1944 | 17:02 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11388[68] 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Mielec |
32 | 16 January 1944 | 11:55 | P-39?[Note 13] | PQ 34 Ost 29381[65] vicinity of Kropyvnytskyi |
77 | 22 August 1944 | 18:45 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11415[68] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz |
33 | 16 January 1944 | 12:03?[Note 14] | La-5?[Note 14] | PQ 34 Ost 29523[65] vicinity of Alekandrovka |
78 | 22 August 1944 | 18:50 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 10] | PQ 25 Ost 11335[68] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Opatów |
34 | 17 January 1944 | 11:52 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 29383[65] vicinity of Kropyvnytskyi |
79 | 24 August 1944 | 11:12 | Yak-9?[Note 6] | PQ 25 Ost 11418[68] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz |
35 | 26 January 1944 | 07:52 | P-39?[Note 15] | PQ 34 Ost 66641[65] east of Bulganak |
80 | 24 August 1944 | 14:25 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11755[68] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Mielec |
36 | 28 January 1944 | 15:00 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 8] | PQ 34 Ost 66641[69] east of Bulganak |
81 | 24 August 1944 | 14:27 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11764[68] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Mielec |
37 | 22 February 1944 | 11:35 | U-2 | PQ 34 Ost 38664[69] 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Apostolove |
82 | 25 August 1944 | 09:12 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 16] | PQ 25 Ost 11334[68] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Opatów |
38 | 24 February 1944 | 08:35 | U-2?[Note 17] | PQ 34 Ost 38564[69] 20 km (12 mi) east of Apostolove |
83♠ | 26 August 1944 | 11:08 | Pe-2 | PQ 25 Ost 11292[70] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Sandomierz |
39 | 28 March 1944 | 14:45 | R-5?[Note 5] | PQ 24 Ost 98174[69] 40 km (25 mi) west-southwest of Balta |
84♠ | 26 August 1944 | 11:12 | Pe-2?[Note 5] | PQ 25 Ost 11323[70] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
40 | 19 April 1944 | 13:48 | P-39?[Note 18] | PQ 24 Ost 78674[71] 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași |
85♠ | 26 August 1944 | 15:07 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 11189[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
41 | 24 April 1944 | 18:00 | Boston?[Note 6] | PQ 24 Ost 97343[71] 30 km (19 mi) north of Leipzig |
86♠ | 26 August 1944 | 15:15 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 11331[70] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Opatów |
42 | 24 April 1944 | 18:20 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 24 Ost 87634[71] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Leipzig |
87♠ | 26 August 1944 | 17:15 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 11324[70] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
43 | 24 April 1944 | 18:26 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 5] | PQ 24 Ost 87632[71] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Leipzig |
88♠ | 26 August 1944 | 17:17 | Il-2?[Note 5] | PQ 25 Ost 11357[70] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
44 | 28 April 1944 | 11:00 | P-39 | PQ 24 Ost 78674[71] 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași |
89♠ | 26 August 1944 | 17:18 | P-39?[Note 6] | PQ 25 Ost 11379[70] 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Mielec |
45 | 2 May 1944 | 10:35 | P-39 | PQ 24 Ost 68682[71] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Târgu Frumos |
90♠ | 26 August 1944 | 18:50 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 11183[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
46 | 2 May 1944 | 15:13 | P-39 | PQ 24 Ost 78741[71] 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Roman |
91♠ | 26 August 1944 | 18:51 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 11186[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
47 | 2 May 1944 | 17:30 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 5] | PQ 24 Ost 68833, southwest of Târgu Frumos[71] north of Târgu Frumos |
92♠ | 26 August 1944 | 18:52 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11189[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
48 | 15 May 1944 | 18:15 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 7] | PQ 24 Ost 97131[72] 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Tiraspol |
93♠ | 26 August 1944 | 18:54 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11185[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
49 | 15 May 1944 | 18:20 | La-5?[Note 6] | PQ 24 Ost 97132[72] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Grigoriopol |
94 | 28 August 1944 | 12:30 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11322[70] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
50 | 17 May 1944 | 18:25 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 5] | PQ 24 Ost 97233[72] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grigoriopol |
95 | 28 August 1944 | 12:31 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11327[70] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
51 | 30 May 1944 | 04:30 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 6] | PQ 24 Ost 78675[72] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași |
96 | 28 August 1944 | 12:32 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11185[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
52 | 30 May 1944 | 16:00 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 7] | PQ 24 Ost 78614[73] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Țuțora |
97♠ | 31 August 1944 | 12:54 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 5] | PQ 25 Ost 11185[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
53 | 30 May 1944 | 16:05 | La-5?[Note 6] | PQ 24 Ost 78684[73] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași |
98♠ | 31 August 1944 | 14:10 | P-39?[Note 6] | PQ 25 Ost 11183[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
54 | 31 May 1944 | 06:05 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 24 Ost 78685[73] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Țuțora |
99♠ | 31 August 1944 | 14:11 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11185[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
55 | 31 May 1944 | 11:36 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 10] | PQ 24 Ost 78821[73] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași |
100♠ | 31 August 1944 | 14:12 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11189[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
56 | 1 June 1944 | 12:35 | Yak-9 | PQ 24 Ost 78679[73] 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Silistra |
101♠ | 31 August 1944 | 14:20 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11177[70] 20 km (12 mi) west of Opatów |
57 | 3 June 1944 | 11:50 | Yak-9?[Note 6] | PQ 24 Ost 78674, north of Iași[73] 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași |
102♠ | 31 August 1944 | 16:02 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11185[70] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
58 | 3 June 1944 | 12:05 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 24 Ost 78592[73] | 103♠ | 31 August 1944 | 16:03 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11322[70] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
59 | 4 June 1944 | 16:14 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 10] | PQ 24 Ost 78231[73] | 104♠ | 31 August 1944 | 16:04 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11327[70] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
60 | 4 June 1944 | 16:22 | P-39?[Note 10] | PQ 24 Ost 78231[73] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași |
105♠ | 31 August 1944 | 16:08?[Note 19] | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11353[70] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
61 | 6 June 1944 | 09:05?[Note 20] | Yak-9?[Note 20] | PQ 24 Ost 78649[73] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora |
106♠ | 31 August 1944 | 17:50 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11327[74] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
62 | 26 June 1944 | 15:30 | P-39 | PQ 24 Ost 49655[73] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kolomea |
107♠ | 31 August 1944 | 17:52 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11353[74] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
63 | 26 June 1944 | 15:33 | P-39?[Note 21] | PQ 24 Ost 49663[73] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Kolomea |
108♠ | 31 August 1944 | 17:54 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 5] | PQ 25 Ost 11362[74] 20 km (12 mi) south of Opatów |
64 | 7 July 1944 | 16:55 | B-25?[Note 6] | PQ 24 Ost 50598[66] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Kovel |
109♠ | 31 August 1944 | 19:01 | P-39?[Note 6] | PQ 25 Ost 11185[74] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
65 | 14 July 1944 | 12:00 | P-39?[Note 6] | PQ 24 Ost 41822[66] 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Brody |
110♠ | 1 September 1944 | 10:00 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11411[74] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz |
66 | 14 July 1944 | 12:05 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 24 Ost 51741[66] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Zolkiew |
111♠ | 1 September 1944 | 10:01 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11415[74] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz |
67 | 14 July 1944 | 12:08 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 5] | PQ 24 Ost 51751[66] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Brody |
112♠ | 1 September 1944 | 10:04 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11418[74] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz |
—
|
14 July 1944 | 14:00~ | P-39?[66][Note 6] | 113♠ | 1 September 1944 | 14:04 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11181[74] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów | |
68 | 15 July 1944 | 16:40 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 10] | PQ 25 Ost 41681[66] 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Brody |
114♠ | 1 September 1944 | 14:06 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 5] | PQ 25 Ost 11321[74] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów |
69 | 15 July 1944 | 16:44 | Yak-9?[Note 6] | PQ 25 Ost 41656[66] 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Brody |
115 | 2 September 1944 | 10:00 | P-39?[Note 6] | PQ 25 Ost 11181[74] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów |
70 | 16 July 1944 | 11:02 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 41617[66] 60 km (37 mi) north of Busk |
116 | 2 September 1944 | 10:03 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] | PQ 25 Ost 11316[74] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Opatów |
71 | 16 July 1944 | 11:03 | Il-2 m.H.?[Note 3][Note 10] | PQ 25 Ost 41655[66] 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Brody |
117?[Note 22] | 2 September 1944 | 10:06 | P-51[16] | |
– 2. Staffel of Kommando "Nowotny" –[16] Defense of the Reich — October – November 1944 | |||||||||
—
|
7 October 1944 | —
|
B-24[75] | Magdeburg/Rothensee | 120 | 8 November 1944 | 10:36 | P-51[76] | Bielefeld |
118 | 28 October 1944 | 12:04 | P-51[75] | Coesfeld[77] | 121 | 8 November 1944 | 10:37 | P-51[76] | Osnabrück |
119 | 6 November 1944 | 10:57 | P-47[76] | Schorlingborsteler Beeke[77] Lake Dümmer |
122 | 8 November 1944 | 10:40 | P-51[76] | vicinity of Südmerzen |
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 7 –[16] Defense of the Reich — March – 10 April 1945 | |||||||||
123 | 18 March 1945 | 11:15 | P-51[78] | Nauen-Rathenow-Brandenburg-Potsdam | 129 | 31 March 1945 | 08:37–09:32 | Lancaster[79] | Hamburg |
124 | 19 March 1945 | 14:00+ | B-17[78] | vicinity of Chemnitz | 130 | 31 March 1945 | 08:37–09:32 | P-51 | Hamburg |
125 | 21 March 1945 | 09:15~ | P-51[80] | northwest of Dresden | 131 | 4 April 1945 | 09:00+ | P-51[81] | south of Bremen |
126 | 22 March 1945 | 12:45~ | P-51[80] | Cottbus-Bautzen-Dresden | 132 | 9 April 1945 | —
|
Lancaster | Hamburg |
127 | 24 March 1945 | 11:36–12:28 | B-17 | vicinity of Wittenberg | 133 | 10 April 1945 | —
|
P-51 | |
128 | 25 March 1945 | 10:10 | P-51[82] |
Awards
[edit]- Iron Cross (1939)
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold (27 July 1943)[8]
- Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 20 March 1944 as Leutnant and pilot[83][Note 23]
- German Cross in Gold on 20 March 1944 as Leutnant in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52[84]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 October 1944 as Leutnant and Staffelführer in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52[85][Note 24]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[1]
- ^ For a list of Luftwaffe Jet aces see List of German World War II jet aces
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-1.[10]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Bell P-39 Airacobra.[53]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin Il-2.[53]
- ^ a b c d e According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[62]
- ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov Po-2, referred to as U-2.[62]
- ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 at 17:55.[10]
- ^ a b c d e f g According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-9.[62]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-11.[67]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-9.[10]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[67]
- ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Bell P-39 Airacobra at 12:05.[67]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin Il-2.[67]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Petlyakov Pe-2.[67]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Polikarpov R-5.[67]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Douglas A-20 Havoc, also known as "Boston".[67]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:09.[16]
- ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Bell P-39 Airacobra at 09:00.[67]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a North American B-25 Mitchell.[67]
- ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock.[74]
- ^ According to Obermaier on 22 February 1944.[2]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelführer of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 52[86]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
- ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 192.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 278.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 209.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 283.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 237.
- ^ Bergström 2007, p. 96.
- ^ a b c d e f Forsyth 2019, p. 54.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 300.
- ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1102.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2022, p. 67.
- ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 140–141.
- ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 137–138.
- ^ Schreier 1990, p. 141.
- ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 142, 144.
- ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1104.
- ^ Bergström 2008, p. 82.
- ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
- ^ Schreier 1990, p. 146.
- ^ Prien et al. 2019, p. 11.
- ^ a b Boehme 1992, p. 57.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 61.
- ^ Boehme 1992, pp. 61–62.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 62.
- ^ Morgan & Weal 1998, p. 27.
- ^ Boehme 1992, pp. 62–63.
- ^ Scutts 1987, p. 118.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 63.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 71.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 17.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 72.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 18–19.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 111.
- ^ Smith & Creek 2000, p. 616.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 69–70.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 119.
- ^ Smith & Creek 2000, p. 618.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 70.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 124.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 73.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 127.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 76.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 130.
- ^ Boehme 1992, pp. 137–139.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 148.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 88.
- ^ Boehme 1992, p. 158.
- ^ Boehme 1992, pp. 160–161.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 100.
- ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 100–101.
- ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 229.
- ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1102–1104.
- ^ Planquadrat.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 290.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 284.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 291.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 285.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 286.
- ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 292.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 287.
- ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1102–1103.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 288.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 293.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2022, p. 71.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2022, p. 76.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1103.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2022, p. 77.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 72.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Prien et al. 2022, p. 78.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2022, p. 73.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 74.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2022, p. 75.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2022, p. 79.
- ^ a b Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 266.
- ^ a b c d Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 267.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2019, p. 13.
- ^ a b Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 270.
- ^ Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 273.
- ^ a b Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 271.
- ^ Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 274.
- ^ Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 272.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 177.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 399.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 374.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 656.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish] (2007). Kursk—The Final Air Battle: July 1943. Hersham, Surrey: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-903223-88-8.
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish] (2008). Bagration to Berlin – The Final Air Battles in the East: 1944–1945. Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-903223-91-8.
- Boehme, Manfred (1992). JG 7 The World's First Jet Fighter Unit 1944/1945. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 0-88740-395-6.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Forsyth, Robert (2008). Jagdgeschwader 7 'Nowotny'. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 29. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-320-9.
- Forsyth, Robert (2019). Me 262 vs P-51 Mustang: Europe 1944–45. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-2956-6.
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- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
- Morgan, Hugh; Weal, John (1998). German Jet Aces of World War 2. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 17. London; New York: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-634-7.
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- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/II—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/II—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-28-4.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
- Scutts, Jerry (1987). Lion in the Sky: US 8th Air Force Fighter Operations 1942–45. Somerset, UK: Patrick Stephens. ISBN 978-0-85059-788-2.
- Smith, J. Richard; Creek, Edward J. (2000). Me 262. Vol. Three. Burgess Hill: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-903223-00-0.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces: The Jadgflieger and their Combat Tactics and Techniques. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.