Helmut Bennemann

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Helmut Bennemann
Helmut Bennemann
Born(1915-03-16)16 March 1915
Wanne-Eickel
Died17 November 2007(2007-11-17) (aged 92)
Bad Sassendorf
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
RankOberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel)
UnitJG 52, JG 53
Commands heldI./JG 52, JG 53
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other workdentist

Helmut Bennemann (16 March 1915 – 17 November 2007) was an Oberstleutnant of Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe in World War II. Bennemann claimed 93 aerial victories in over 400 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. His commands included Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 53 fighter wing.

Career[edit]

Bennemann was born on 16 March 1915 in Wanne-Eickel in the Ruhrgebiet of Province of Westphalia within the German Empire.[1] He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe in 1936 and was trained as an aerial reconnaissance pilot.[Note 1] When Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939 starting World War II, Bennemann flew reconnaissance missions.[3]

In June 1940, Bennemann was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) where he served as an adjutant.[3] At the time, I. Gruppe was based at Zerbst and subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) and tasked with protecting Dessau and the Leuna works from aerial attacks. On 18 July, I. Gruppe was ordered to Neuruppin, augmenting the aerial defenses of Berlin during the session of the Reichstag following the Battle of France. The Gruppe then relocated to Bayreuth-Bindlach Airfield where it was tasked with protecting the Bayreuth Festival before returning to Zerbst on 24 July. Five days later, I. Gruppe moved to Bönninghardt located west of Wesel.[4]

Battle of Britain[edit]

In preparation for Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of the United Kingdom, and the Battle of Britain, I. Gruppe was ordered to Coquelles located approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) southwest of Calais. Here on 26 August, Bennemann claimed his first aerial victory on 26 August, when he shot down a Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire fighter near Dover on a mission escorting bombers to RAF Lympne.[5] On 31 August, Bennemann claimed his second aerial victory, a Hawker Hurricane fighter shot down near London on a mission escorting Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters from Erprobungsgruppe 210 (ErpGr. 210—210th Testing Group) attacking RAF Kenley. The following day, I. Gruppe escorted Heinkel He 111 bombers attacking the Port of Tilbury on the River Thames. On this mission, Bennemann claimed a Spitfire shot down near Sittingbourne.[6]

On 2 September, I. Gruppe again escorted Bf 110 heavy fighters from ErpGr. 210, this time attacking RAF Eastchurch. That day, Bennemann claimed a Spitfire fighter shot down near Canterbury.[6] Five days later, the Luftwaffe targeted the Beckton Gas Works in London. Escorting He 111 bombers to the target area, Bennemann claimed a Hurricane fighter shot down.[7] On 15 September, Bennemann claimed three Hurricane fighters shot down over the Thames Estuary, recording aerial victories six to eight. That day, I. Gruppe had escorted Junkers Ju 88 bombers to London.[8] On 24 September, I. Gruppe flew a combat air patrol over the English Channel, claiming seven aerial victories, two of which by Bennemann against two Spitfire fighters off of Dover.[9] Bennemann was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 5 October 1940.[10] The Gruppe was withdrawn from the English Channel on 31 October and relocated to Krefeld Airfield for a period of rest and replenishment. With eleven aerial victories to his credit, at the time Bennemann was the second most successful fighter pilot of the Gruppe.[11]

On 27 December, the Gruppe moved to Katwijk aan Zee in the Netherlands. In early 1941, the Gruppe received new orders and began preparations for relocation to Sicily which were later revoked.[12] Consequently, the entire I. Gruppe remained at Katwijk aan Zee where it was tasked with patrolling the Dutch coast area and German Bight, the three Staffeln were then deployed at various airfields on the Dutch, German and Danish North Sea coast.[13] On 27 April, Bennemann was appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 52. He replaced Oberleutnant Helmut Kühle who was transferred.[14]

War against the Soviet Union[edit]

I./JG 52 insignia

On 22 June, German forces had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. On 21 September 1941, I. Gruppe of JG 52 was ordered to relocate to the Eastern Front. With stopovers at Dortmund, Magdeburg, and Warsaw, the Gruppe arrived in Orsha on 29 September. In support for Operation Typhoon, also known as the Battle of Moscow, the Gruppe moved to an airfield named Ponyatovka, located approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Roslavl, on 2 October. The following day, Bennemann claimed his first aerial victory on the Eastern Front when he shot down a Polikarpov I-16 fighter.[15]

On 14 June 1942, Bennemann was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 52. He succeeded Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Leesmann who was transferred.[16] A Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber shot down by Bennemann on 23 August was I. Gruppe's 600 aerial victory to date.[17] His 62nd aerial victory claimed over a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter on 2 November was the 800th aerial victory of I. Gruppe.[18] By the End of 1942 his score stood at 72 victories.

On 10 May 1943, Benemann was severely wounded by the explosion of an incendiary bomb at Charkow-Woitschenko Airfield.[19] During his convalescence, he was replaced by Hauptmann Johannes Wiese and Hauptmann Gerhard Barkhorn as commander of I. Gruppe. Command of the Gruppe officially passed to Wiese on 5 October.[20]

Wing commander[edit]

Bennemann was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) on 9 November 1943. He took over command from Oberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn who had been transferred on 4 October. Intermittently, the Geschwader had been led by both Major Friedrich-Karl Müller and Major Kurt Ubben.[21] On 25 April 1944, he shot down a USAAF B-24 over Bologna to claim his 90th victory. However, his Bf 109G-6 (Werknummer 163 314—factory number) "Black < 3" was hit by defensive fire and Bennemann was again wounded, baling out successfully.[22] In June 1944, Bennemann led the Geschwaderstab of JG 53 on a short return to the Eastern Front, to direct the supply missions for the city of Vilna. The unit departed the Soviet Union for Wunstorf near Hannover in Germany on 22 July. From August 1944, Bennemann led JG 53 on Reichsverteidigung missions, initially from bases in France, then from bases in Germany. He claimed his last three victories in October 1944 to bring his final score to 93. Among his 93 victories are at least 10 Il-2 Sturmoviks claimed over the Eastern Front.

In early 1945, Bennemann joined other high-ranking pilots in the "Fighter Pilots' Revolt incident" which escalated in a meeting with Hermann Göring on 22 January 1945. This was an attempt to reinstate Adolf Galland who had been dismissed for outspokenness regarding the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe high command), and had been replaced by Gordon Gollob as General der Jagdflieger. The meeting was held at the Haus der Flieger in Berlin and was attended by a number of high-ranking fighter pilot leaders which included Bennemann, Lützow, Hermann Graf, Gerhard Michalski, Hannes Trautloft, Kurt Bühligen, Erich Leie and Herbert Ihlefeld, and their antagonist Göring supported by his staff Bernd von Brauchitsch and Karl Koller. The fighter pilots, with Lützow taking the lead as spokesman, criticized Göring and made him personally responsible for the decisions taken which contributed to the lost air war over Europe.[23]

Later life[edit]

Following World War II, Bennemann attended university attaining a Doctor of Medical Dentistry, abbreviated as Dr. med. dent. (Doctor medicinae dentariae). He then worked as a dentist in his own practice. Bennemann died on 17 November 2007 at the age of 92 in Bad Sassendorf.[24]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bennemann was credited with 93 aerial victories.[25] Obermaier also list Bennemann with 93 aerial victories claimed in over 400 combat missions. This figure includes 77 claims on the Eastern Front and 16 over the Western Allies, including one four-engine bomber.[1] Spick lists him with 92 aerial victories with 70 on the Eastern Front and 22 on the Western Front.[26] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 89 aerial victory claims, plus four further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 76 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 14 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber.[27]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 6083". 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.[28]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Bennemann 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 Bennemann did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[29]
Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 3 August – 30 October 1940
1 26 August 1940 12:50 Spitfire Dover[30] 8 15 September 1940 15:40 Hurricane Thames Estuary[31]
2 31 August 1940 13:50 Hurricane southern edge of London[30] 9 24 September 1940 14:35 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) off Dover[32]
3 1 September 1940 11:45 Spitfire Sittingbourne[30] 10 24 September 1940 14:40 Spitfire off Dover[32]
4 2 September 1940 14:00 Spitfire Canterbury[31]
—
?[Note 2] 		27 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[33]
5 7 September 1940 17:55 Hurricane London[31] 11 12 October 1940 17:25 Spitfire southeast of London[32]
6 15 September 1940 15:30 Hurricane Thames Estuary[31]
—
?[Note 2] 		28 October 1940
—
 Hurricane[33]
7?[Note 3] 15 September 1940 15:30 Hurricane Thames Estuary[31]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[33]
On the Western Front — 27 December 1940 – 23 September 1941
?[Note 4] 14 April 1941 12:27 Blenheim vicinity of Breskens[33]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[33]
Operation Barbarossa — 2 October – 5 December 1941
12 3 October 1941 15:10 I-16[36] 16 27 November 1941 09:55 DB-3[37]
13 28 October 1941 14:15 I-153[36] 17 16 November 1941 09:53 Pe-2[36]
14 28 October 1941 14:25 Il-2[36] 18 2 December 1941 14:20 I-61 (MiG-3)[37]
15 29 October 1941 08:17 I-18 (MiG-1)[36]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[33]
On the Eastern Front — 19 May – 13 June 1942
19 24 May 1942 18:50 Yak-1[38] 24 1 June 1942 06:52 Il-2[39]
20 26 May 1942 15:43 Pe-2[40] 25 1 June 1942 18:44 Yak-1[39]
21 27 May 1942 16:05 Il-2 PQ 6083[40] 26 2 June 1942 05:30 Pe-2[39]
22 27 May 1942 19:20 Il-2 PQ 7071[40] 27 12 June 1942 17:20 LaGG-3 PQ 70221[39]
23 31 May 1942 16:45 I-153 PQ 60864[39]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Petrovskaja
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[41]
On the Eastern Front — 14 June 1942 – 3 February 1943
28 22 June 1942 07:35 LaGG-3[39] 46 23 August 1942 06:42 Pe-2 PQ 54452[42]
west of Zubkovo
29 22 June 1942 07:55 LaGG-3[39] 47 23 August 1942 06:43?[Note 5] Il-2 PQ 54452[42]
west of Zubkovo
30 24 June 1942 08:25 LaGG-3[43] 48 27 August 1942 14:24?[Note 6] Il-2 PQ 46362[42]
31 24 June 1942 11:10 LaGG-3[43] 49 3 September 1942 06:40 LaGG-3 PQ 57752[42]
Sea of Azov
32 25 June 1942 14:20 Hurricane[43] 50 3 September 1942 14:35 Il-2 PQ 46253[42]
33 26 June 1942 10:19 LaGG-3[43] 51 4 September 1942 05:52?[Note 7] Pe-2 PQ 46412[42]
34 26 June 1942 10:35 Hurricane[43] 52 23 September 1942 11:50 LaGG-3 PQ 40843[44]
30 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Grebenka
35 4 July 1942 08:55 LaGG-3[45] 53 24 September 1942 16:35?[Note 8] LaGG-3 PQ 4915[44]
36 31 July 1942 10:00?[Note 9] Yak-1 PQ 07181[46] 54 16 October 1942 09:55 MiG-3 PQ 49432[47]
vicinity of Srednyaya Akhtuba
37 1 August 1942 14:45 Yak-1 PQ 07853[46] 55 17 October 1942 10:10 MiG-3 PQ 49273[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Stalingrad
38 4 August 1942 05:13 Il-2 PQ 66453[46]
Sea of Asov, 35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Kerch 		56 24 October 1942 11:45?[Note 10] Yak-1 PQ 49131[47]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Grebenka
39 5 August 1942 10:12 I-153 PQ 6523[46] 57 24 October 1942 14:20 La-5 PQ 49272[47]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Stalingrad
40 5 August 1942 10:13 I-153 PQ 6523[46] 58 24 October 1942 14:31?[Note 11] Pe-2 PQ 49471[47]
30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Stalingrad
41 10 August 1942 15:50 MBR-2 PQ 8552[46]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Novocherkassk 		59 25 October 1942 16:05 Yak-1 PQ 49462[47]
45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad
42 13 August 1942 08:18 LaGG-3 PQ 06771[46]
vicinity of Bondarenka 		60 29 October 1942 15:30 MiG-3 PQ 49294[47]
30 km (19 mi) east of Stalingrad
43 21 August 1942 08:40 U-2 PQ 55763[46]
Black Sea 		61 1 November 1942 11:45 MiG-3 PQ 49452[47]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
44 22 August 1942 08:15?[Note 12] LaGG-3 PQ 54433[42]
northwest of Bolkhov 		62 2 November 1942 09:50 MiG-3 PQ 59143[47]
45 22 August 1942 13:15 LaGG-3 PQ 64173[42]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Bennemann claimed his 63rd aerial victory between 6 November and 31 December 1942.[48] This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[49]
64 26 December 1942 10:30 La-5 PQ 01762[50] 69♠ 28 December 1942 07:25?[Note 13] Il-2 PQ 01863[50]
65 26 December 1942 10:50 MiG-1 PQ 01572[50] 70♠ 28 December 1942 07:33?[Note 14] Il-2 PQ 01763[50]
66 27 December 1942 11:29 Pe-2 PQ 01731[50] 71♠ 28 December 1942 10:00 Pe-2 PQ 01783[50]
67♠ 28 December 1942 07:20?[Note 15] Il-2 PQ 01864[50] 72♠ 28 December 1942 10:03 Pe-2 PQ 01763[50]
68♠ 28 December 1942 07:23?[Note 16] Il-2 PQ 01843[50]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[49]
On the Eastern Front — 4 February – 10 May 1943
73 17 March 1943 12:45 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61664[51]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Volchansk 		81 17 April 1943 11:16 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75492, vicinity of Novorossiysk[52]
Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Gelendzhik
74 18 March 1943 16:10 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61891[51]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Bely Kolodez 		82 17 April 1943 11:23 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75424, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Novorossiysk[52]
4 km (2.5 mi) east of Novorossiysk
75 19 March 1943 10:13 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60211[51]
25 km (16 mi) east of Kharkiv 		83 17 April 1943 15:07 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 75431, vicinity of Novorossiysk[52]
3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk
76 19 March 1943 10:18 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60212[51] 84 17 April 1943 15:09 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 75433, vicinity of Novorossiysk[52]
southeast of Novorossiysk
77 19 March 1943 13:47 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 61851[51]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Bely Kolodez 		85 21 April 1943 09:25 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75432[52]
northeast of Novorossiysk
78 19 March 1943 13:48 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 61851[51]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Bely Kolodez 		86 27 April 1943 14:02?[Note 17] Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 85133[52]
east of Chablj
79 26 March 1943 09:15 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 71794[51]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Bely Kolodez 		87 9 May 1943 10:03 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 9884[53]
80 29 March 1943 12:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 18] PQ 35 Ost 61451[51]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Belograd 		88 9 May 1943 10:06 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 9874[53]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[49]
On the Italian Front — 9 November 1943 – June 1944
89 15 December 1943 11:15 B-26[54] southwest of Ceccano[55] 90 25 April 1944 11:33 B-24[54] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Forlì
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[49]
In Defense of the Reich — September – December 1944
91?[Note 19] 8 October 1944
—
 P-47[56] 93 29 October 1944 11:45 P-51[56] vicinity of Jöhlingen
92?[Note 19] October 1944
—
 P-47[57]

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ 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.[2]
  2. ^ a b This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[32]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim is unconfirmed.[34]
  4. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[35]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:42.[33]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:27.[33]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 05:58.[33]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:30.[33]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:40.[33]
  10. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:05.[33]
  11. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:35.[33]
  12. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:35.[33]
  13. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:23.[49]
  14. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:30.[49]
  15. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:20.[49]
  16. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:22.[49]
  17. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:52.[49]
  18. ^ The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  19. ^ a b This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[49]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 87.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b c Dixon 2023, p. 265.
  4. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 93–95.
  5. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 93, 101, 387.
  6. ^ a b Barbas 2006, pp. 102, 387.
  7. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 104, 387.
  8. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 106, 387.
  9. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 108, 388.
  10. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 110–111.
  11. ^ Barbas 2006, p. 114.
  12. ^ Barbas 2006, p. 140.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 60.
  14. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 63.
  15. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 143–144, 390.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 423.
  17. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 85.
  18. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 87.
  19. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 295.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 278.
  21. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1653.
  22. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1156.
  23. ^ Braatz 2005, p. 348–351.
  24. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 266.
  25. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  26. ^ Spick 1996, p. 234.
  27. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 84–86.
  28. ^ Planquadrat.
  29. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 84–85.
  30. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002, p. 133.
  31. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2002, p. 135.
  32. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2002, p. 138.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 85.
  34. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 84.
  35. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 68.
  36. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003b, p. 20.
  37. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 21.
  38. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 427.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 429.
  40. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 428.
  41. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 85–86.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 434.
  43. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 430.
  44. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 435.
  45. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 431.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 433.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2006, p. 437.
  48. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 439.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 86.
  50. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2006, p. 438.
  51. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  52. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 283.
  53. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 284.
  54. ^ a b Prien 1991, p. 1681.
  55. ^ Prien et al. 2010, p. 393.
  56. ^ a b Prien 1991, p. 1684.
  57. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1685.
  58. ^ Barbas 2006, p. 350.
  59. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 35.
  60. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 129.
  61. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 214.

Bibliography[edit]

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  • 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]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  • Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow [God or an Airplane – Life and Death of Fighter Pilot Günther Lützow] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-6-8.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
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  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
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  • 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; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). 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 (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—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/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 15. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik As
9 November 1943 – 27 April 1945 		Succeeded by
none
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