Friedrich Geisshardt

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Friedrich Geißhardt
The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his white shirt collar.
Friedrich Geißhardt
Born(1919-01-22)22 January 1919
Sonnefeld, Oberfranken
Died6 April 1943(1943-04-06) (aged 24)
Sint-Denijs-Westrem, Ghent, German-occupied Belgium
Buried
Bourdon German war cemetery, France
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1937–43
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitLG 2, JG 77, JG 26
Commands heldIII./JG 26
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Friedrich Geißhardt[Note 1] (22 January 1919 – 6 April 1943) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award in the armed forces of Germany during World War II.

Geißhardt is credited with 102 victories in 642 combat missions, including 37 close air support missions. He achieved 63 of his victories over the Eastern Front. In his total are at least seventeen Spitfires.[2] Geißhardt was mortally wounded in combat with US bombers on 5 April 1943 and succumbed to his injuries the next day.

Early life and career[edit]

Geißhardt was born on 22 January 1919 in Sonnefeld, near Coburg in Oberfranken. He was the son of a teacher who had died early from wounds sustained during World War I. Aged fifteen, he joined the Flying Hitler Youth (Flieger-HJ) and became a glider pilot.[3] He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe in 1937 and was transferred to the 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2—2nd Squadron of the 2nd Demonstration Wing) on 1 July 1939.[2][Note 2]

World War II[edit]

During the opening phase of the German invasion of Poland, I.(Jagd)/LG 2 (1st Fighter Group of the 2nd Demonstration Wing) relocated to Lauenburg (now Lębork), near Bromberg, in support of the 4. Armee (4th Army). Unteroffizier (a non-commissioned officer) Geißhard claimed his first aerial victory, a PZL P.24 fighter, that day.[4] The following day, flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E, Geißhardt had to make an emergency landing behind Polish lines near Włocławek following combat with Polish PZL P.11 fighter aircraft. After several hours in Polish captivity, he escaped during the confusion caused by a German Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber attack. He returned to German lines after walking and riding on a stolen horse for five days.[5] He was promoted to Leutnant der Reserve (second lieutenant of the military reserve forces) on 1 December 1939.[3]

Geißhardt was transferred to the 1./LG 2 (1st Squadron of the 2nd Demonstration Wing) on 27 February 1940. By the end of 1940, he claimed six Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft shot down during the Battle of Britain, followed by six more claims in early 1941.[2] On 6 April 1941, Geißhardt shot down four Hawker Fury biplane fighter aircraft in the aerial battles against the Yugoslav Royal Air Force's 36th Fighter Group during the Balkans Campaign.[6] During the German Invasion of Crete he claimed two Hawker Hurricanes. He was posted as an adjutant of the Stab to the I.(Jagd)/LG 2 at the end of April 1941.[2]

Eastern Front[edit]

Following the Invasion of Crete, I.(Jagd)/LG 2 was again subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) on 18 June 1941 and was moved to Bucharest, Romania in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. JG 77 supported the German advance as part of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South).[7] On 21 June, the Gruppe was ordered to Roman, a forward airfield near the Siret river.[8] Geißhardt claimed his first aerial victory on the Eastern Front, his twentieth overall, over a Tupolev SB-2 bomber at 05:52 on 23 June 1941.[9]

He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 30 August 1941, after 27 aerial victories. He shot down further enemy aircraft in quick succession in the early part of 1942.[2] On 3 and 4 February 1942, Geißhardt and Oberleutnant Erwin Clausen shot down three Polikarpov R-5s or Polikarpov R-Zs of 622 LBAP (Legkii Bombardirovochnyy Aviatsionyy Polk—Light Bomber Aviation Regiment) and 672 LBAP.[10] He claimed his 40th victory on 1 March 1942 over a Yakovlev fighter aircraft in the vicinity of Sloviansk.[9] On 19 April 1942, Geißhardt took his total to 51 aerial victories when he shot down three Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3, also referred to by the Germans as I-61.[11] The next day, he became an "ace-in-a-day" when he shot down five further I-61s, earning him his second named reference in the Wehrmachtbericht propaganda bulletin.[12]

On 25 April 1942, Geißhardt became an "ace-in-a-day" for the second time which earned him his third and final named reference in the Wehrmachtbericht radio report. On three separate combat missions in the area of Sloviansk, he was credited with seven aerial victories, three I-61s, three Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-1 and one biplane of unknown type.[13] Geißhardt, who had been promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 April 1942, was appointed Staffelkapitän of the 3./JG 77 (3rd Squadron of the 77th Fighter Wing) on 26 April 1942.[3]

Geißhardt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 23 June 1942 for 79 aerial victories. The award was presented at the Führerhauptquartier at Rastenburg on 28/29 June 1942. By this date, he had claimed three more victories for an accumulated number of 82 victories.[2][14] Two other Luftwaffe officers were presented with the Oak Leaves that day by Hitler, the night-fighter pilot Hauptmann (captain) Helmut Lent and fellow JG 77 pilot Oberleutnant Heinrich Setz.[15]

Malta and North Africa[edit]

Shortly after the Oak Leaves presentation, I. Gruppe under the command of Hauptmann Heinrich Bär was ordered from the Eastern Front to the Mediterranean theatre of operations. On 29 June, I. Gruppe moved from Baherove, via Odessa, Băneasa, Sofia, Thessaloniki to Eleusis, where they arrived on 1 July.[16] The unit was then ordered to Sicily where it arrived at the Comiso airfield on 5 July 1942 and was subordinated to the command of Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik-As (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing).[17] By the end of October 1942, Geißhardt was credited with destruction of nine enemy aircraft in the aerial battles of Malta, all of them Spitfire fighter aircraft. On 11 July 1942, he claimed two Spitfires shot down, one of which was not confirmed.[18] He was credited with another Spitfire shot down in combat over Luqa on 20 July.[19] On a combat air patrol flown from 09:30 to 10:35 on 29 July, Geißhardt again claimed yet again a Spitfire shot down over Malta.[20] Geißhardt's Gruppe was then reequipped with the Bf 109 G-2, conversion completed on 1 September. Geißhardt claimed one more Spitfire on 8 September 1942,[21] I. Gruppe's 700th aerial victory on 10 October,[22] and his 89th on 10 October.[23] He claimed his last two victories over Malta on 15 October,[24] and was promoted to Hauptmann on 24 October 1942.[25]

I. Gruppe began transferring to the North African theatre on 26 October 1942. That day, Geißhardt and five other pilots from 3. Staffel flew to Tripoli, Libya.[26] There, he added nine more victories, among them his century on 10 November 1942.[2] He was the 30th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[27]

Western Front and death[edit]

His grave at the Bourdon German war cemetery.

Geißhardt arrived at Wevelgem on 11 January 1943 to take over command as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) from Major Josef Priller. Geißhardt's arrogance grated on some of the pilots, who felt that he treated his fellow pilots who had not yet earned the Knight's Cross with too much disdain.[28]

Geißhardt, who was flying Fw 190 A-4 (Werknummer 7051—factory number) in Priller's Schwarm, was severely wounded in combat with United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group flying a mission to the Erla aircraft factory at Antwerp on 5 April 1943. He had been hit by the defensive fire from the bombers. He was bleeding profusely from a wound in the abdomen but managed to make a smooth landing on the airfield at Sint-Denijs-Westrem, Belgium. He succumbed to his injuries early the next morning on 6 April 1943.[28]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Geißhardt was credited with 104 aerial victories.[29] Spick lists Geißhardt with 102 enemy aircraft shot down in 642 combat missions, of which one was claimed during the invasion of Poland, 14 during the Battle of France and Britain, 75 over the Eastern Front, nine in the Mediterranean theater and three over North Africa.[30] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 93 aerial victory claims, plus eight further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 60 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 33 over the Western Allies.[31]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 76892". 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.[32]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Geißhardt 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 Geißhardt 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 Unit Claim Date Time Type Location Unit
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 in Poland –[33]
September 1939
1 9 September 1939 16:30 PZL P.24[34] 2.(J)/LG 2
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 against England –[35]
June – November 1940
2 4 July 1940 15:40 Hurricane 1.(J)/LG 2 5 24 August 1940 12:30 Spitfire Dover[36] 1.(J)/LG 2
3 4 July 1940 20:00 Hurricane Dungeness[37] 1.(J)/LG 2 6 7 September 1940 18:00 Hurricane Maidstone[38] 1.(J)/LG 2
4 13 August 1940
—
 Blenheim[36] 1.(J)/LG 2 7 23 September 1940 10:35 Spitfire[39] 1.(J)/LG 2
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Channel Front –[40]
November 1940 – March 1941
8 2 February 1941 15:30 Spitfire 40 km (25 mi) west of Cap Gris-Nez[39] 1.(J)/LG 2
—
?[Note 3] 		25 February 1941
—
 Spitfire Deal[41] 1.(J)/LG 2
9 11 February 1941 17:22 Spitfire Cap Blanc-Nez[39] 1.(J)/LG 2 11 24 March 1941 19:45 Spitfire?[Note 4] middle of the English Channel[41] 1.(J)/LG 2
10 14 February 1941 13:13?[Note 5] Spitfire west of Dover[41] 1.(J)/LG 2 12 27 March 1941 18:15?[Note 6] Spitfire southwest of Folkstone[41] Stab I./LG 2
—
?[Note 7] 		14 February 1941
—
?[Note 8] 		Spitfire west of Dover[41] 1.(J)/LG 2
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 during the Balkan Campaign –[40]
April 1941
13 6 April 1941 06:12 Fury Kumanovo[42] Stab I./LG 2 15 6 April 1941 06:20 Fury Kumanovo[42] Stab I./LG 2
14 6 April 1941 06:15 Fury Kumanovo[42] Stab I./LG 2 16 6 April 1941
—
 Fury Kumanovo[42] Stab I./LG 2
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 in Crete –[43]
May 1941
17 16 May 1941 17:10?[Note 9] Hurricane Maleme[42] Stab I./LG 2 18 26 May 1941 15:30 Hurricane[42] Stab I./LG 2
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front –[44]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
19 23 June 1941 05:52 SB-2 Grossolowo[45] Stab I./LG 2 23 2 July 1941 12:55 I-153[45] Stab I./LG 2
20 23 June 1941 18:50 I-18 Czernowitz[45] Stab I./LG 2 24 7 July 1941 11:00 I-16 Bălți[45] Stab I./LG 2
21 27 June 1941 09:25 I-16[45] Stab I./LG 2 25 11 July 1941 10:12 MiG-3[46] Stab I./LG 2
22 2 July 1941 08:50 MiG-3 Tudora[45] Stab I./LG 2
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Geißhardt claimed his 26th aerial victory on 11 July 1941 over a Polikarpov I-16 fighter, or on 17 July 1941 over a Tupolev SB-2 bomber.[47]
27 3 August 1941 14:15 DB-3 Mamaia[46] Stab I./LG 2
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front –[48]
Winter War — December 1941 – April 1942
28 28 December 1941 15:30?[Note 10] I-16[50] Stab I./LG 2 48 8 April 1942 15:30 I-16[51] Stab I./JG 77
29 23 January 1942 15:30 I-16[52] Stab I./JG 77 49 19 April 1942 09:15 I-61[51] Stab I./JG 77
30 24 January 1942 09:35?[Note 11] I-16[52] Stab I./JG 77 50 19 April 1942 11:18 I-61[51] Stab I./JG 77
31 24 January 1942 12:05?[Note 12] I-16[52] Stab I./JG 77 51 19 April 1942 15:25 I-61[51] Stab I./JG 77
32 3 February 1942 09:45?[Note 13] R-5[52] Stab I./JG 77 52♠ 20 April 1942 08:12 I-61[51] Stab I./JG 77
33 11 February 1942 14:02?[Note 14] I-153[52] Stab I./JG 77 53♠ 20 April 1942 08:14 I-61[51] Stab I./JG 77
34 18 February 1942 12:40 DB-3[52] Stab I./JG 77 54♠ 20 April 1942 11:40 I-61[51] Stab I./JG 77
35 18 February 1942 12:45 DB-3 Stab I./JG 77 55♠ 20 April 1942 14:57 I-61[53] Stab I./JG 77
36 20 February 1942 14:30 LaGG-3 Stab I./JG 77 56♠ 20 April 1942 14:58 I-61[53] Stab I./JG 77
37 24 February 1942 13:57?[Note 15] I-16[55] Stab I./JG 77 57 21 April 1942 15:10 I-61 Stab I./JG 77
38 24 February 1942 14:00?[Note 15] I-16[55] Stab I./JG 77 58 21 April 1942 15:10 I-61 Stab I./JG 77
39 28 February 1942 16:10 LaGG-1 Stab I./JG 77 59 22 April 1942 07:00 LaGG-1 Stab I./JG 77
40 1 March 1942 16:50 Yak Stab I./JG 77 60 22 April 1942 07:00 LaGG-1 Stab I./JG 77
41 9 March 1942 14:20 LaGG-1 Stab I./JG 77 61♠ 25 April 1942 07:00 LaGG-3[53] Stab I./JG 77
42 16 March 1942 13:20?[Note 16] R-5[57] Stab I./JG 77 62♠ 25 April 1942 12:00 I-16[53] Stab I./JG 77
43 21 March 1942 14:45 DB-3 Stab I./JG 77 63♠ 25 April 1942 12:00 I-16[53] Stab I./JG 77
44 21 March 1942 17:03 I-16[57] Stab I./JG 77 64♠ 25 April 1942 12:00 I-16[53] Stab I./JG 77
45 24 March 1942 07:00 I-26 (Yak-1)[57] Stab I./JG 77 65♠ 25 April 1942 16:00 LaGG-3[53] Stab I./JG 77
46 6 April 1942 15:00 I-61 Stab I./JG 77 66♠ 25 April 1942 16:00 LaGG-3[53] Stab I./JG 77
47 6 April 1942 16:50 R-5 Stab I./JG 77 67♠ 25 April 1942 16:00 I-153[53] Stab I./JG 77
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front –[58]
Kerch, Sevastopol, Izium — May/June 1942
68 7 May 1942 14:30 R-5[59] 3./JG 77 76 20 May 1942 15:45 LaGG-3[60] 3./JG 77
69 7 May 1942 14:30 I-153[59] 3./JG 77 77 28 May 1942 16:15 Yak-1 PQ 76892[60] 3./JG 77
70 7 May 1942 16:20?[Note 17] LaGG-3[59] 3./JG 77 78 28 May 1942 16:15 Yak-1 PQ 76894[60] 3./JG 77
71 7 May 1942 16:35?[Note 17] LaGG-3[59] 3./JG 77
—
 1 June 1942 14:35 LaGG-3?[Note 18] PQ 66536[60] 3./JG 77
72 8 May 1942 12:35?[Note 19] I-15[59] 3./JG 77 79 9 June 1942 15:35?[Note 20] Il-2 Taman[60] 3./JG 77
73 15 May 1942 16:00 I-16[59] 3./JG 77 80 16 June 1942 17:00 LaGG-3 Taman[60] 3./JG 77
74 17 May 1942 05:27?[Note 21] LaGG-3[65] 3./JG 77 81 22 June 1942 18:50?[Note 22] LaGG-3 PQ 75152[67] 3./JG 77
75 18 May 1942 15:30?[Note 23] R-10[65] 3./JG 77 82 22 June 1942 18:55?[Note 22] LaGG-3 PQ 75161[67] 3./JG 77
– Claims with I. Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 77 over Sicily –[68]
July – October 1942
83 11 July 1942 17:46 Spitfire[69] 3./JG 77 87 8 September 1942
—
 Spitfire[70] 3./JG 77
—
 11 July 1942
—
 Spitfire[69] 3./JG 77 88[Note 24] 10 October 1942 08:50 Spitfire[70] 3./JG 77
84 20 July 1942 14:10 Spitfire[71] 3./JG 77 89 13 October 1942 17:18 Spitfire[70] 3./JG 77
85 26 July 1942 10:10 Spitfire[71] 3./JG 77 90[Note 25] 15 October 1942 11:00 Spitfire[73] 3./JG 77
86 29 July 1942 10:20 Spitfire[71] 3./JG 77 91[Note 26] 15 October 1942 11:05 Spitfire[73] 3./JG 77
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 in North Africa –[74]
October – November 1942
92 3 November 1942
—
 P-40[75] 3./JG 77 97 5 November 1942
—
 P-40 north of Fukah[75] 3./JG 77
93 4 November 1942
—
 P-40 west of El Dabaa[75] 3./JG 77 98 5 November 1942
—
 P-40 north of Fukah[75] 3./JG 77
94 4 November 1942
—
 P-40 west of El Dabaa[75] 3./JG 77 99 9 November 1942
—
 P-40 east of Halfaya Pass[75] 3./JG 77
95 4 November 1942
—
 P-40[75] 3./JG 77 100 10 November 1942
—
 Spitfire[75] 3./JG 77
96 4 November 1942
—
 P-40[75] 3./JG 77

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ His name, in German, is spelled with a "sharp S"; see ß.
  2. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed in Prien's 1995 book.[40]
  4. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed as a Hawker Hurricane.[40]
  5. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 13:00.[40]
  6. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 18:45.[40]
  7. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, this claim is listed as his 11th aerial victory.[40]
  8. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 13:05.[40]
  9. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 17:00.[43]
  10. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 15:10.[49]
  11. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 10:00.[49]
  12. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 14:00.[49]
  13. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 12:00.[49]
  14. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 14:15.[49]
  15. ^ a b According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 15:00.[54]
  16. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 13:25.[56]
  17. ^ a b According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 16:30.[61]
  18. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed as a Polikarpov I-16.[62]
  19. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 15:30.[61]
  20. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 16:00.[63]
  21. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 05:00.[64]
  22. ^ a b According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 18:45.[66]
  23. ^ According to Prien's 1995 book, claimed at 15:00.[64]
  24. ^ 700th victory for I. Gruppe of JG 77[22]
  25. ^ Potentially a Spitfire of No. 249 Squadron RAF flown by F/Sgt N.G. Bryden, who was wounded and baled out into the sea.[72]
  26. ^ Potentially a Spitfire of No. 249 Squadron RAF flown by P/O V.K. Moody, who crash-landed at Takali, Malta.[72]
  27. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot and adjutant in the Stab I.(Jagd)/Lehrgeschwader 2.[79]
  28. ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 77.[79]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Obermaier 1989, p. 51.
  3. ^ a b c Stockert 2012, p. 1.
  4. ^ Weal 1996, p. 10.
  5. ^ Prien 1992, pp. 84–85.
  6. ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 181.
  7. ^ Prien 1993, p. 628.
  8. ^ Prien 1993, p. 630.
  9. ^ a b Prien 1993, p. 642.
  10. ^ Bergström & Mikhailov 2001, p. 76.
  11. ^ Prien 1993, p. 966.
  12. ^ a b Prien 1993, p. 967.
  13. ^ a b Prien 1993, p. 973.
  14. ^ Weal 2007, p. 26.
  15. ^ Prien 1993, p. 1090.
  16. ^ Prien 1993, p. 1082.
  17. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1226.
  18. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1236.
  19. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1244.
  20. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1251.
  21. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1264.
  22. ^ a b Prien 1994, p. 1276.
  23. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1282.
  24. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1285.
  25. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 2.
  26. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1291.
  27. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  28. ^ a b Caldwell 1998, p. 43.
  29. ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 331.
  30. ^ Spick 1996, p. 233.
  31. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 377–379.
  32. ^ Planquadrat.
  33. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2378.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 433.
  35. ^ Prien 1995, pp. 2382–2383.
  36. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 394.
  37. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 393.
  38. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 395.
  39. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002, p. 397.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien 1995, p. 2384.
  41. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2002, p. 398.
  42. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003a, p. 311.
  43. ^ a b Prien 1995, p. 2385.
  44. ^ Prien 1995, pp. 2386–2398.
  45. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003b, p. 404.
  46. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 406.
  47. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 406, 409.
  48. ^ Prien 1995, pp. 2399–2404.
  49. ^ a b c d e Prien 1995, p. 2399.
  50. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 281.
  51. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2005, p. 285.
  52. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2005, p. 282.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2005, p. 286.
  54. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2400.
  55. ^ a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 283.
  56. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2401.
  57. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 284.
  58. ^ Prien 1995, pp. 2405–2409.
  59. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 259.
  60. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 262.
  61. ^ a b Prien 1995, p. 2405.
  62. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2407.
  63. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2408.
  64. ^ a b Prien 1995, p. 2406.
  65. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 260.
  66. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2409.
  67. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 263.
  68. ^ Prien 1995, pp. 2420–2421.
  69. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 295.
  70. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 297.
  71. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 296.
  72. ^ a b Cull & Galea 2016.
  73. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 298.
  74. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2422.
  75. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2004, p. 299.
  76. ^ a b c Thomas 1997, p. 194.
  77. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 133.
  78. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 193.
  79. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 330.
  80. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 60.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Mikhailov, Andrey (2001). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume II, Resurgence January–June 1942. California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 0-935553-51-7.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  • Caldwell, Donald L. (1998). The JG 26 War Diary Volume Two 1943–1945. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-86-2.
  • Cull, Brian; Galea, Frederick (2016). 249 at Malta: RAF's Top-Scoring Fighter Squadron. London: Fonthill Media. ISBN 978-1-78155-554-5.
  • 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.
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  • 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 (1993). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 2—1941–1942 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 2—1941–1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-22-9.
  • 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 (1995). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 4—1944–1945 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 4—1944–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-29-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
  • 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 (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.
  • 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.
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1987). Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece, and Crete, 1940–41. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-07-6.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Stockert, Peter (2012) [1997]. Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2] (in German) (4th ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-9802222-9-7.
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
  • Weal, John (1996). Bf 109D/E Aces 1939–41. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 11. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-487-9.
  • Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 76. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

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