Anton Resch

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Anton Resch
Born(1921-11-26)26 November 1921
Stolberg, Germany
Died16 July 1975(1975-07-16) (aged 53)
Stolberg, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–45
RankOberleutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 52
Commands held3./JG 52
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Anton Resch (26 November 1921 – 16 July 1975) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Resch was credited with 91 victories, becoming an "ace-in-a-day" on three separate occasions.

Career[edit]

Resch was born 26 November 1921 in Stolberg, at the time in the Rhine Province the westernmost province of the Free State of Prussia, which at the time was in the British occupied territory of the Rhineland.[1] In mid-1943, Resch who had previously served as transport aviator, was posted to 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). This Staffel was part of I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 52 headed by Hauptmann Helmut Bennemann and then by Major Johannes Wiese.[2]

On the Eastern Front[edit]

On 11 October 1943, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Nove Zaporizhzhya located approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west of Zaporizhzhia on the western bank of the Dnieper. The Gruppe supported the 1st Panzer Army fighting in the Battle of the Dnieper on the Eastern Front.[3] Resch claimed his first aerial victory on 21 October over an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. That day the Gruppe operated over the left wing of the 1st Panzer Army up to Dnipropetrovsk and on the right wing to Bolschoj Tokmak.[4]

On 27 January 1944, Resch and his wingman Leutnant Franz Schall flew a combat air patrol in the area of Kerch. On this mission, they engaged in aerial combat with six Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters and Resch was shot down in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 20581—factory number).[5] Severely wounded, he did not return until May 1944.[1][6] Following his return to combat, Resch claimed two P-39s from 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (16 GvIAP—Gvardeyskiy Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk) on 31 May.[7] 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.[8] On 24 June, the Gruppe transferred to Galați and again to Peloniczna.[9] 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.[10]

On 26 August, Resch became an "ace-in-a-day" for the second time when he claimed seven aerial victories, taking his total to 44.[11] On 31 August, he again claimed seven aerial victories, his third "ace-in-a-day" achievement.[12] On 10 September 1944, he was again wounded when he was shot down in his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 166490) by anti-aircraft artillery 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Altsohl, present-day Zvolen.[13]

With the headquarters unit of JG 52[edit]

In late 1944, Resch and Oberleutnant Heinrich Füllgrabe were transferred to the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) of JG 52. The request was made by Oberst Hermann Graf who had been appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 52 in September 1944. At the time, the Geschwaderstab was based at Krakau, present-day Kraków.[14] Here on 1 January 1945, Resch was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).[15] On 6 February 1945, the Geschwaderstab moved to an airfield at Weidengut, present-day Wierzbie. Here Resch claimed four aircraft of unknown type taking his total to 72.[16] On 7 April, Resch was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 91 aerial victories.[17][18]

On 1 May, the Geschwaderstab deployed to Deutsch Brod, present-day Havlíčkův Brod, approximately halfway between Brno and Prague, where they were united with I. and III. Gruppe. Resch and other soldiers of JG 52 surrendered to the 90th US Infantry Division near Písek on 8 May 1945 and became a prisoner of war (POW). The soldiers were initially interned at a POW camp at Strakonice. On 16 May, Resch and most of the JG 52 personnel were handed over by the American forces to the Soviet Union.[19]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Resch was credited with 91 aerial victories.[20] Spick also lists him with 91 aerial victories claimed in 210 combat missions.[21] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and also state that he was credited with 91 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[22]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 58739". 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.[23]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Resch 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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[15]
Eastern Front — October – 31 December 1943
1 21 October 1943 12:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 58739[24]
20 km (12 mi) west of Bolschoj Tokmak 		6 28 October 1943 07:43 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 47161[25]
25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Ivanovka
2 23 October 1943 07:19 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58382[24]
25 km (16 mi) south of Zaporozhye 		7 9 November 1943 11:15 U-2 PQ 34 Ost 47771[25]
south of Gromovka
3 23 October 1943 07:24 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58564, south of Kalinowka[24]
vicinity of Kaltinowka 		8 9 November 1943 11:17 U-2 PQ 34 Ost 47771[25]
south of Gromovka
4 24 October 1943 10:25 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 57182[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Melitopol 		9 29 November 1943 12:17 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 2929[26]
5 27 October 1943 10:35 Boston PQ 34 Ost 57346[25]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Melitopol 		10 29 November 1943 12:45 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 39181[26]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Alexandrija
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[22]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 10 September 1944
11 26 January 1944 07:54?[Note 2] Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 66563[27]
vicinity of Grammatikowo 		38♠ 26 August 1944 11:05 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 11285[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
12 31 May 1944 11:25 P-39 PQ 24 Ost 78642[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora 		39♠ 26 August 1944 11:14 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 11418[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
13 31 May 1944 11:36 P-39 PQ 24 Ost 78474[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Tudora 		40♠ 26 August 1944 13:05 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11276[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Opatów
14 1 June 1944 11:40 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 24 Ost 78543[29]
45 km (28 mi) west-northwest of Iași 		41♠ 26 August 1944 13:10 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11285[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
15 4 June 1944 15:55 P-39 PQ 24 Ost 78568[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora 		42♠ 26 August 1944 13:25 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 11196[28]
vicinity of Opatów
16 26 June 1944 15:15 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 50733[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Borystow 		43♠ 26 August 1944 17:13 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 11323[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów
17 14 July 1944 10:27 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 41626[30]
55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk 		44♠ 26 August 1944 17:16 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 11356[28]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Opatów
18 16 July 1944 15:36 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 41683[30]
30 km (19 mi) northwest of Brody 		45 27 August 1944 12:17 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11249[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Opatów
19 20 July 1944 13:19 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 40113[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Lviv 		46 27 August 1944 12:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11367[28]
20 km (12 mi) south of Opatów
20 22 July 1944 17:30 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 40392[31]
40 km (25 mi) west-northwest of Berezhany 		47 27 August 1944 12:24 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11367[28]
20 km (12 mi) south of Opatów
21 22 July 1944 17:35?[Note 3] Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 40444[31]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Zolochiv 		48 27 August 1944 15:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11321[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów
22 23 July 1944 18:15 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 40351[31]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Lviv 		49 28 August 1944 12:29 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11323[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów
23 24 July 1944 18:36 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 30637[31]
20 km (12 mi) north of Stryi 		50 28 August 1944 12:31 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11332[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Opatów
24 4 August 1944 14:54 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11594[31]
vicinity of Mielec 		51 28 August 1944 12:35 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11321[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów
25 4 August 1944 14:55 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11594[31]
vicinity of Mielec 		52♠ 31 August 1944 12:55 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 11184[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów
26 12 August 1944 13:53 Yak-11 PQ 25 Ost 11385[31]
25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Mielic 		53♠ 31 August 1944 14:13 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11158[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Opatów
27 12 August 1944 14:02 Yak-11 PQ 25 Ost 01463[31] 54♠ 31 August 1944 14:14 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11181[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów
28 12 August 1944 17:00 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 11442[31]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Opatów 		55♠ 31 August 1944 14:21 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11148[28]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Opatów
29 23 August 1944 18:51 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 11423[31]
vicinity of Sandomierz 		56♠ 31 August 1944 16:04 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11185[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów
30 24 August 1944 11:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11442[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Sandomierz 		57♠ 31 August 1944 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 11197[28]
vicinity of Opatów
31 24 August 1944 14:26 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11753[31]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Mielec 		58♠ 31 August 1944 16:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11323[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów
32 24 August 1944 14:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11723[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Mielec 		59 1 September 1944 10:02 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11413[32]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
33♠ 25 August 1944 09:11 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11335[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Opatów 		60 1 September 1944 10:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11416[32]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
34♠ 25 August 1944 09:11 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 11335[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Opatów 		61 2 September 1944 09:59 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 11182[32]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów
35♠ 25 August 1944 16:08 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 11388[28]
25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Mielec 		62 2 September 1944 10:01 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11185[32]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów
36♠ 25 August 1944 16:10 U-2 PQ 25 Ost 11521[28]
20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Mielec 		63 2 September 1944 10:04 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11322[32]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów
37♠ 25 August 1944 16:18 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 11514[28]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Mielec
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[33]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 8 May 1945
69 20 February 1945
—
 unknown[34] 71 20 February 1945
—
 unknown[34]
70 20 February 1945
—
 unknown[34] 72 20 February 1945
—
 unknown[34]
According to Barbas, his aerial victories 73 through 75 were not documented.[34] Mathews and Foreman list the four aerial victories claimed on 20 February 1945 without a specific number.[33]
76?[Note 4] 5 March 1945
—
 Yak-9 79 6 March 1945
—
 Yak-9 PQ 71192[34]
77 6 March 1945
—
 Yak-9 PQ 71193[34] 80 11 March 1945 12:02 Il-2 east of Jauer[34]
78 6 March 1945
—
 Pe-2 PQ 71198[34] 81 11 March 1945 12:06 Il-2 east of Jauer[35]
According to Barbas, Mathews and Foreman, his aerial victories 82 through 84 were not documented.[35][33]
85 23 March 1945
—
 Yak-9 PQ 71614[35] 89 25 March 1945
—
 unknown[35]
86 24 March 1945
—
 Il-2 PQ 71166[35] 90 25 March 1945
—
 unknown[35]
87 24 March 1945
—
 La-5 PQ 71172[35] 91?[Note 5] 25 March 1945
—
 unknown
88 25 March 1945
—
 unknown[35]

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:53.[15]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:33.[15]
  4. ^ This claim is not listed by Barbas.[34] According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is listed as his 76th aerial victory.[33]
  5. ^ This claim is not listed by Barbas.[35] According to Mathews and Foreman, Resch claimed four aerial victories on 25 March 1945.[33]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 185.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 278.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 266.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 266, 291.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 82.
  6. ^ Page 2020, p. 89.
  7. ^ Bergström 2008, p. 56.
  8. ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 137–138.
  9. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 141.
  10. ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 142, 144.
  11. ^ Page 2020, p. 94.
  12. ^ Bergström 2008, p. 82.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 85.
  14. ^ Barbas 2016, p. 49.
  15. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1030.
  16. ^ Barbas 2016, pp. 49, 75.
  17. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 173.
  18. ^ Weal 2004, p. 118.
  19. ^ Barbas 2016, pp. 49, 52.
  20. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  21. ^ Spick 1996, p. 234.
  22. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1030–1031.
  23. ^ Planquadrat.
  24. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 291.
  25. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 292.
  26. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 293.
  27. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 71.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Prien et al. 2022, p. 78.
  29. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 75.
  30. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 76.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Prien et al. 2022, p. 77.
  32. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 79.
  33. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1031.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barbas 2016, p. 75.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barbas 2016, p. 76.
  36. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 374.
  37. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 624.
  38. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 355.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Barbas, Bernd (2016). Die Geschichte des Stabes, der 13. und 15. Staffel und der Ersatzeinheit des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of Headerquarters Unit, the 13th and 15th Squadrons and the Replacement Unit of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). ISBN 978-3-86619-128-0.
  • 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.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 16 May 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 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • 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.
  • Page, Neil (2020). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943–45. Philadelphia, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61200-879-0.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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.
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