Eduard Isken

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Eduard Isken
Born15 April 1918
Hagendingen
Died7 January 1997(1997-01-07) (aged 78)
Wolfsburg
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service?–1945
RankOberfeldwebel
UnitJG 77
JGr. 200
JG 53
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Eduard Isken (15 April 1918 – 7 January 1997) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. During his career Eduard Isken was credited with 56 aerial victories.

Career[edit]

Isken was born on 15 April 1918 in Hagendingen, at the time in the district of Metz in the Bezirk Lothringen (German Lorraine) of the German Empire. Today Hagendingen is Hagondange in north-eastern France.[1] Isken was posted to the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) in mid-1940 where he was assigned to the 7. Staffel (7th squadron).[2] The Staffel had been newly formed on 9 August 1940 and was placed under the command of Oberleutnant Wolfdieter Huy.[3] On 7 September, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Neuruppin. Initially, the Gruppe was equipped with both Messerschmitt Bf 109 E aircraft as well as captured French Curtiss P-36 Hawk fighters. The Gruppe flew the P-36 until 29 October.[4]

On 6 November 1941, Isken's Bf 109 F-4 was hit in oil cooler by anti-aircraft artillery resulting in a forced landing near Belobek.[5] On 15 January 1942, he made an emergency landing in his Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 7138—factory number) at Grammatikowo located near Sovietskyi and was injured in the process.[6]

Mediterranean Theater[edit]

On 23 October 1942, the British Eighth Army launched the Second Battle of El Alamein. Preceding this attack, the Luftwaffe had already planned to replace Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing), which had been fighting in North African theater, with JG 77.[7] In preparation for this rotation, III. Gruppe of JG 77 was moved to Munich on 19 October where it was equipped with the Bf 109 G-2/trop. On 23 and 24 October, the Gruppe moved to Bari in southern Italy.[8] The Gruppe then relocated to Tobruk Airfield on 26 October.[9] The following day, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Tanyet-Harun.[10]

On 11 December, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 66th Fighter Squadron attacked an Axis forces encampment and intercepted by Luftwaffe Bf 109 fighters and Italian Macchi fighters. In the afternoon, III. Gruppe engaged in combat with Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighters from the Royal Air Force (RAF) No. 112 Squadron. That day, the RAF and USAAF lost or had damaged four P-40 fighters, one of which may have been credited to Isken.[11]

On 12 August 1944, the USAAF XII Tactical Air Command, supported by elements of the RAF, attacked German radar installations in the area of the French Riviera. Defending against this attack, Isken and Obergefreiter Horst Rippert may have shot down the Supermarine Spitfire fighter MJ442 from the No. 232 Squadron piloted by Lieutenat Geoffrey W. Dibb.[12]

On 14 January 1945, Isken was presented the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) at the airfield in Nellingen.[13]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Isken was credited with 56 aerial victories.[14] Obermaier also lists him with 56 aerial victories, 16 on the Eastern Front and 40 on Western Front, including 17 four-engined heavy bombers, claimed in 946 combat missions.[1] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for more than 44 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. This number includes more than 19 on the Western Front, including two four-engined heavy bombers, and 25 on the Eastern Front.[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 9876". 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.[16]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Isken 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
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[17]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
1 25 July 1941 19:40 I-153[18] 8?[Note 1] 26 September 1941
—
 MiG-3[19]
2 25 July 1941 19:44 I-153 PQ 9876[18] 9?[Note 1] 26 September 1941
—
 MiG-3[19]
3 29 August 1941 07:03 DB-3 PQ 3756[20] 10 30 September 1941 10:25 MiG-3 PQ 4619[19]
4 4 September 1941 05:55 DB-3[21] 11 30 September 1941 10:35 R-Z[19]?[Note 2]
5 4 September 1941 16:55 DB-3[21] 12 5 October 1941 08:10 I-61 (MiG-3)[22]
6 20 September 1941 07:45 DB-3[23] 13 15 October 1941 09:35 I-61 (MiG-3)[22]
7 23 September 1941 17:35 MiG-3[19] 14 6 November 1941 07:20 LaGG-3 PQ 3541[24]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[17]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 15 January 1942
15 4 January 1942 10:35 I-153[25] 17 6 January 1942 12:35 DB-3[26]
16?[Note 1] 5 January 1942 11:35 I-153 PQ 5678[26]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[17]
Eastern Front — 1 May – June 1942
18 12 May 1942 17:03 I-16 PQ 6025[27] 21 5 June 1942 04:15 MiG-1[28]
19 18 May 1942 05:20 I-180 (Yak-7)[28] 22 6 June 1942 12:58 Il-2 PQ 3544[28]
20 19 May 1942 15:25 U-2[28] 23 18 June 1942 15:17 LaGG-3[28]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[17]
Eastern Front — July 1942
24 5 July 1942 17:20 Yak-1 PQ 66873[28] ?[Note 3] 23 July 1942 13:45 Yak-1
?[Note 3] 5 July 1942 17:22 Yak-1 ?[Note 3] 24 July 1942 14:40 R-Z
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[30]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 26 October – 31 December 1942
25 4 November 1942 06:00 Hurricane Sanyet Quotaifiya airfield[31] 27?[Note 1] 11 December 1942
—
 P-40[31]
26 4 November 1942 06:01 Hurricane 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Sanyet Quotaifiya[31]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[30]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 1 January – May 1943
30 31 January 1943 12:44 P-38 PQ 03 Ost 94164, west of El Hama[32]
—
 19 April 1943
—
 Spitfire[32]
31 3 February 1943 16:47 P-40 PQ 03 Ost 86874, Thelepte[32]
—
 25 April 1943
—
 P-40[32]
32 4 April 1943 13:55 Spitfire PQ 13 Ost 06752, Bou Thadi[32]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[30]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — June – 25 October 1943
33 24 June 1943 09:55 P-38 PQ 04 Ost 81731, west of Tresnuraghes[33]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Lecce 		34 24 June 1943 10:02 P-38 PQ 04 Ost 8175, northwest of Oristano[33]
vicinity of Lecce
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 200 –[30]
Defense against the Invasion in Southern France — 6 June – 31 August 1944
35 15 June 1944 12:00 P-38 PQ 04 Ost S/DK-5/4, Orange[34] 41 11 August 1944 18:12 P-47 PQ 04 Ost S/DL-5[34]
35 km (22 mi) southwest of Cassis
36 12 July 1944 10:48 B-24 PQ 04 Ost S/CM-3[34]
80 km (50 mi) south of Toulon 		42 12 August 1944 10:30 Spitfire PQ 04 Ost S/DN-1/2[34]
northeast of Hyères
37 14 July 1944 09:17 B-17 PQ 04 Ost S/5678[34]
Valence 		43 12 August 1944 18:28 P-47 PQ 04 Ost S/BM-7[34]
north of Saint-Maximin
38?[Note 1] 7 August 1944
—
 B-25 PQ 04 Ost S/AK[34] 44 14 August 1944 10:23 P-51 PQ 04 Ost S/CM-6/8[34]
north of Saint-Maximin
39?[Note 1] 8 August 1944
—
 P-47 PQ 04 Ost S/BJ-2[34] 45?[Note 1] 15 August 1944 07:31 P-38 PQ 04 Ost S/BN-4, north of Toulon[34]
40?[Note 1] 8 August 1944
—
 P-47 PQ 04 Ost S/BJ/CJ[34]
– 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[30]
Defense of the Reich and on the Western Front — 21 July – 31 December 1944
46 29 October 1944 11:45 P-51 PQ 05 Ost US-7[35]
northeast of Karlsruhe
According to Prien, Balke, Stemmer and Bock, pilots of IV. Gruppe of JG 53 claimed three Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters shot down near Donaueschingen on 22 December 1944. Two of these P-47 fighters may be the two missing aerial victories claimed by Isken.[35] These claims are not documented by Mathews and Foreman.[30]
49 24 December 1944 13:00 B-26[35]
– 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[30]
Operation Bodenplatte — 1 January 1945
50 1 January 1945
—
 Auster[36]
– 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –
Claims without a location and date in 1945
According to Prien, Isken claimed five aerial victories in March 1945, among them two Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters on one day. In April 1945, Isken claimed his 56th aerial victory over a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.[36] These claims are not documented by Mathews and Foreman.[30]

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[15]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov R-5.[17]
  3. ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock but is listed by Mathews and Foreman. However, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock state that in total twelve aerial victories were claimed by unknown pilots of III. Gruppe.[29]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 139.
  2. ^ Prien 1992, p. 434.
  3. ^ Prien 1992, p. 430.
  4. ^ Prien 1992, pp. 434–435.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 378.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 325.
  7. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1293.
  8. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1296.
  9. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1298.
  10. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1301.
  11. ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, p. 472.
  12. ^ Shores et al. 2021, p. 201.
  13. ^ Prien 1991, pp. 1513–1514.
  14. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1618.
  15. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 573–574.
  16. ^ Planquadrat.
  17. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 573.
  18. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 365.
  19. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003, p. 371.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 368.
  21. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 369.
  22. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 372.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 370.
  24. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 374.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 322.
  26. ^ a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 323.
  27. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 351.
  28. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 352.
  29. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 352–353.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 574.
  31. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 331.
  32. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2011, p. 534.
  33. ^ a b Prien et al. 2011, p. 535.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2020, p. 61.
  35. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2019, p. 431.
  36. ^ a b Prien 1991, p. 1685.
  37. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 108.
  38. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 205.
  39. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 240.
  40. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 414.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish] (2007). Barbarossa - The Air Battle: July–December 1941. Hinkley: Midland Puplishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-270-2.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  • 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.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen (1991). Pik-As: Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 53 — 3 — Das Ende in Italien 1944, Rumänien, Ungarn 1944/45, Einsatz zur Verteidigung des Reiches 1943–1945 [Ace of Spades: History of the Fighter Wing 53 — 3 — The End in Italy 1944, Romania, Hungary 1944/45, Defense of the Reich 1943–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-16-8.
  • Prien, Jochen (1992). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 1—1934–1941 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 1—1934–1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-19-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1994). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 3—1942–1943 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 3—1942–1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-26-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2011). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-00-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Balke, Ulf; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2019). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/V—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/V—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-21-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried; Balke, Ulf (2020). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/VI—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/VI—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-22-2.
  • 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell (2012). A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945 Volume Two: North African Desert, February 1942 – March 1943. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-909166-12-7.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni (2016). A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945. Volume Three: Tunisia and the End in Africa, November 1942–1943. London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-1-910690-67-3.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried; Thomas, Andy (2021). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Volume Five: From the Fall of Rome to the End of the War 1944 – 1945. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-911621-97-3.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.

External links[edit]

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