Otto Fönnekold

Otto Fönnekold
Otto Fönnekold
Born	15 February 1920 Hamburg
Died	31 August 1944 (aged 24) Ssaß-Budak, Siebenbürgen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–44
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	JG 52
Commands held	5./JG 52
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Otto Fönnekold (15 February 1920 – 31 August 1944) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of 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] He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Fönnekold was credited with 136 aerial victories—that is, 136 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. All but three of his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in about 600 combat missions.^[2]

Career

Fönnekold was born on 15 February 1920 in Hamburg of the Weimar Republic. He claimed his first aerial victory on 1 December 1942. He often flew as wingman of Wilhelm Batz. On 19 January 1944, Fönnekold was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 62nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[3]

Fönnekold claimed three United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) P-51 Mustang's on 31 August 1944. He was bounced on his landing approach at Ssaß-Budak by P-51 Mustang's. One of the .50 caliber projectiles penetrated his heart. Nevertheless he landed his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknnummer 441931—factory number) "black 9" before succumbing to his injury.^[4]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (9 August 1943)^[4]
• German Cross in Gold on 16 August 1943 as Feldwebel in the 5./JG 52^[5]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the II./JG 52^[6][7]

References

Citations

1. Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
2. Spick 1996, p. 230.
3. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
4. Obermaier 1989, p. 111.
5. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 118.
6. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 183, 490.
7. Scherzer 2007, p. 313.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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). London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.

External links

• "Jagdgeschwader 52". Otto Fönnekold. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
• "Aerodromul Ssas Budak 1944". Otto Fönnekold.