Siegfried Schnell

Siegfried Schnell

Siegfried Schnell
Nickname(s) Wumm
Born (1916-01-23)23 January 1916
Zielenzig, Brandenburg, German Empire
Died 25 February 1944(1944-02-25) (aged 28)
near Narva, Estonia
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1936–44
Rank Major (posthumous)
Unit JG 2, JG 54
Battles/wars
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Major Siegfried Schnell (born 23 January 1916 in Zielenzig, Province of Brandenburg, German Empire – killed in action 25 February 1944 near Narva, Estonia) was German World War II Luftwaffe 93 victories Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership - for the fighter pilots, it was a quantifiable measure of skill and combat success. At the time of his presentation, it was Germany's highest military decoration.[Note 1]

Siegfried Schnell was killed in action on 25 February 1944 against the Soviet Narva offensive shot down by an opposing fighter.

Wartime career

A keen glider-pilot, he joined the Luftwaffe in 1936, and by the start of the war in 1939, he was a Feldwebel serving with 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen", named after the World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen.[Note 2] Stationed on the western border, he saw very little action until the campaign in France started in May 1940. He got his first victory, a French Bloch 152 fighter on 14 May. He was particularly successful in the Battle of Britain and on 7 November off the Isle of Wight, as operations were slowing down and recently commissioned as a Leutnant (on 1 November), he scored his 20th victory. For this feat he was awarded the Knight's Cross, on 9 November.[1]

The focus of the airwar shifted in the next year to the Eastern Front, however Schnell stayed with JG 2 defending the West. On 24 June 1941, only 2 days after the opening of Operation Barbarossa, he was appointed as Staffelkapitän (Squadron leader) of 9./JG 2. Soon after, he shot down nine Supermarine Spitfires in just two days (8 – 9 July) to reach his 44th victory and was immediately awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, at the time being one of the top pilots in Jagdgeschwader 2.[2] He continued to score consistently as the Royal Air Force (RAF) mounted heavier strikes into France, and temporarily held command of III Gruppe from 9 December 1941 to the following 28 January while Kommandeur Hans "Assi" Hahn was on leave. He scored his 52nd (?) victory on 12 February while his unit provided cover for the Kriegsmarine battlecruisers making their 'Channel Dash' back to their ports in Germany.[3] Over the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942, he shot down five Spitfires to reach his 71st victory.[4]

After that his scoring rate slowed down as he focussed more on administration and command, and he led his unit in the changeover onto the new Focke Wulf Fw 190—a very rugged dogfighter. In a misguided idea by High Command to rotate the fighter Gruppen between Western and Eastern Fronts, III./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) was transferred from Russia back to Germany for Defence of the Reich. Hauptmann Schnell, now with 80 victories, was given command of the unit on 1 May 1943 to train and lead the pilots in high-altitude interception rather than the low-level brawling they were used to on the Eastern Front. On 11 January 1944 he shot down 3 B-17 bombers to reach 90 victories.

On 1 February 1944 he was given command of IV./JG 54, based near Leningrad, and he arrived on 11 February. As mentioned above, command transfers between fronts were rare, given the markedly different combat conditions, and unfortunately Schnell was not lucky to be able to adapt quickly enough. After less than a month and only 3 further victories, he was shot down and killed in his Messerschmitt Me 109 G-6 (Werknummer 411675—factory number) over the Russian offensive for Narva on 25 February 1944.[5][6]

Posthumously promoted to Major, Siegfried Schnell flew over 500 combat missions and ended with 93 confirmed victories, including 12 4-engined bombers. His tally of 90 on the Western Front made him the 11th most successful pilot over the Western Allies.

Awards

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Wednesday, 9 July 1941 Bei den siegreichen Luftkämpfen des gestrigen Tages am Kanal erreichte das Jagdgeschwader Richthofen seinen 644. Luftsieg und damit jene Zahl von Abschüssen, die das Traditionsgeschwader bis zum Ende des Weltkrieges erziehlt hat. Hierbei errang Leutnant Schnell seinen 38., 39. und 40. Luftsieg.[12] In yesterday's victorious air battles on the Channel, the Richthofen fighter wing reached its 644th aerial victory and thus the same number its original wing had achieved in the World War. In these combats Second Lieutenant Schnell achieved his 38th, 39th and 40th aerial victory.

Victories

No Date Time Unit & Airfield Gruppe Kommandeur[13] Location / Planquad Claimed Aircraft Source / Comments[5]
1 14-May-40 - 4./JG 2 - Peer Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann ? Bloch 152 OKL; Prien/Bock
2 3-Jun-40 - 4./JG 2 - Manessecourt Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann Épernay French fighter OKL; Prien/Bock
3 29-Jul-40 13.20 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann NW of Le Havre Blenheim OKL; Prien/Bock
4 30-Jul-40 - 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann Blenheim OKL; Prien/Bock
5 28-Aug-40 18.30 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann ? Hurricane
6 30-Aug-40 17.50 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann ? Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
7 31-Aug-40 17.05 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann near Dover Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
8 2-Sep-40 18.00 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert ? Hurricane OKL; Prien/Bock
9 4-Sep-40 18.00 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert near Ashford Hurricane
10 7-Sep-40 17.38 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert ? Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
11 8-Sep-40 13.15 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert ? Hurricane OKL; Prien/Bock
12 11-Sep-40 17.05 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert ? Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
13 11-Sep-40 17.12 4./JG 2 - Mardyck Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert ? Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
14 30-Sep-40 17.55 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert N of Portland Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
15 30-Sep-40 18.00 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert N of Portland Hurricane OKL; Prien/Bock
16 7-Oct-40 17.55 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert ? Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
17 15-Oct-40 13.39 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Southampton Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
18 15-Oct-40 13.42 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Southampton Spitfire OKL; Prien/Bock
19 6-Nov-40 13.40 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert E of Southampton Hurricane OKL; Prien/Bock
20 7-Nov-40 15.30 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert S of Isle of Wight Hurricane OKL; Prien/Bock
? 17-Jun-41 - 4./JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert ? Blenheim
21 21-Jun-41 16.48 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert W of Le Touquet Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.53; 11 Grp Circus 17
22 21-Jun-41 16.49 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert W of Le Touquet Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.54; 11 Grp Circus 17
22 22-Jun-41 16.20 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert St Omer Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.58; 11 Grp Circus 18
23 23-Jun-41 20.19 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Pas de Calais Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.65; 11 Grp Circus 20
24 23-Jun-41 20.20 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Pas de Calais Blenheim C.2036/II AnerkNr.66; 11 Grp Circus 20
25 23-Jun-41 20.22 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Pas de Calais Blenheim C.2036/II AnerkNr.67; 11 Grp Circus 20
26 24-Jun-41 20.44 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert from Gravelines-Ramsgate Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.68; 11 Grp Circus 21
27 25-Jun-41 16.32 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Boulogne Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.70; 11 Grp Circus 23
28 25-Jun-41 16.40 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Boulogne Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.72; 11 Grp Circus 23
29 26-Jun-41 11.42 4./JG 2 - Abbeville Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert from Hazebrouck-Gravelines Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.73; 11 Grp Circus 24
30 27-Jun-41 21.30 Stab/JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Maj Wilhelm Balthasar near Lille Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.75; 11 Grp Circus 25
31 27-Jun-41 21.32 Stab/JG 2 - Beaumont-le-Roger Maj Wilhelm Balthasar near Lille Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.76; 11 Grp Circus 25
33 3-Jul-41 15.40 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn Dunkirk Spitfire C.2033/I; 2 Grp Circus 31
34 4-Jul-41 15.05 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn Lens Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.13; 2 Grp Circus 30
35 4-Jul-41 15.07 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn Lens Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.13; 2 Grp Circus 30
36 4-Jul-41 15.15 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn Lens Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.16; 2 Grp Circus 30
? 4-Jul-41 16.43 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.17; 2 Grp Circus 30
? 6-Jul-41 14.40 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.15; of No.11 Grp, RAF
37 8-Jul-41 6.45 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn SW of Bergues: 4000m Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.21; of No.11 Grp, RAF
38 8-Jul-41 15.45 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire Prien/Bock; 11 Grp Circus 40
39 8-Jul-41 15.46 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire 11 Grp Circus 40
40 8-Jul-41 15.47 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire 11 Grp Circus 40
41 9-Jul-41 13.57 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 23; of No.11 Grp, RAF
42 9-Jul-41 13.59 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 24; of No.11 Grp, RAF
43 9-Jul-41 14.05 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 25; of No.11 Grp, RAF
44 9-Jul-41 16.10 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 26
45 9-Jul-41 16.20 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 27
46 9-Jul-41 16.22 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 28
47 1-Sep-41 19.22 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn Cherbourg [PlQd 21594] Blenheim Prien/Bock
48 4-Sep-41 16.03 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn Cherbourg: 200m Whirlwind C.2036/II Abschuss 30
49 4-Sep-41 16.05 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn N of Cherbourg: 200m Whirlwind C.2036/II Abschuss 32
50 4-Sep-41 16.07 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn N of Cherbourg: 200m Hurricane C.2036/II Abschuss 33
51 18-Sep-41 17.37 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn near Rouen Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 34
52 18-Sep-41 17.40 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn near Rouen Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 35
53 12-Oct-41 17.10 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn off Cap de la Hague Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 36
54 12-Oct-41 17.15 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn off Cap de la Hague Spitfire C.2036/II Abschuss 37
55 8-Nov-41 15.32 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.74
56 8-Nov-41 15.35 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.75
57 8-Nov-41 15.37 9./JG 2 - St Pol-Brias Hptm Hans Hahn ? Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.76
? 12-Feb-42 - 9./JG 2 - Coxyde Hptm Hans Hahn off Dutch coast Hampden
? May-42 - 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn ? ?
? May-42 - 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn ? ?
? May-42 - 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn ? ?
? May-42 - 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn ? ?
? May-42 - 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn ? ?
? May-42 - 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn ? ?
58 3-Jun-42 15.27 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn off Cherbourg Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.54; Circus 6
59 3-Jun-42 15.29 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn off Cherbourg Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.55; Circus 6
60 3-Jun-42 15.34 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn off Cherbourg Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.57; Circus 6
61 3-Jun-42 15.36 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn off Cherbourg Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.60; Circus 6
? 4-Jun-42 12.48 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn off Cap Lévy Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr. 62; Ramrod 21
? 4-Jun-42 12.58 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn off Cap Lévy Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr. 65 ;Ramrod 21
? 6-Jun-42 17.14 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn near Cherbourg Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.66; Ramrod 21
? 6-Jun-42 17.16 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn near Cherbourg Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.69; Ramrod 21
? 26-Jun-42 14.48 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn Fécamp-Étretat Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.73
66 19-Aug-42 11.38 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn W of Le Tréport Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.81
67 19-Aug-42 12.06 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn NE of Socqueville Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.87
68 19-Aug-42 15.32 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn 15 km NW of Dieppe Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.88
69 19-Aug-42 15.34 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn 10 km NW of Dieppe Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.89
70 19-Aug-42 15.42 9./JG 2 - Théville Hptm Hans Hahn 20 km NW of Dieppe Spitfire C.2036/II AnerkNr.90
71 8-Nov-42 12.13 9./JG 2 - Poix Hptm Egon Mayer [05Ost 1176]: 6500m Spitfire C.2035/II AnerkNr.108
72 23-Nov-42 13.46 9./JG 2 - Vannes Hptm Egon Mayer SE of Belle Île, St Nazaire: 3000m B-17 C.2027/I AnerkNr.110
73 30-Dec-42 11.52 9./JG 2 - Vannes Hptm Egon Mayer SW of Île de Groix, Lorient: 5000m B-17 C.2027/I AnerkNr.118
74 3-Jan-43 11.42 9./JG 2 - Vannes Hptm Egon Mayer 10 km SW of St. Nazaire: 6000m B-17 C.2031/II AnerkNr.111
75 3-Jan-43 11.47 9./JG 2 - Vannes Hptm Egon Mayer 14West N/3877: 4000m B-17 C.2031/II AnerkNr.114
? 18-Feb-43 - 9./JG 2 - Vannes Hptm Egon Mayer ? ?
80 4-Apr-43 - 9./JG 2 - Vannes Hptm Egon Mayer ? ?
? 21-May-43 12.30 III./JG 54 - Oldenburg Obstlt Hannes Traultloft 7 km SE of Jever: 7000m B-17 C.2031/II
? 21-May-43 12.50 III./JG 54 - Oldenburg Obstlt Hannes Traultloft 7572/05 Ost: 6000m B-17 C.2031/II
? 13-Jun-43 9.30 III./JG 54 - Oldenburg Obstlt Hannes Traultloft SE of Kiel: 7000m B-17 C.2027/I
? 25-Jul-43 15.04 III./JG 54 - Amsterdam Maj Hubertus von Bonin 500m N. Broek: 3000m [SE of Gouda] Spitfire C.2027/I
? 25-Jul-43 15.07 III./JG 54 - Amsterdam Maj Hubertus von Bonin NW of IJmuiden [05Ost S/FJ-5]: 2000m Typhoon C.2027/I
? 25-Jul-43 20.12 III./JG 54 - Amsterdam Maj Hubertus von Bonin off Zandvoort [05Ost S/GJ-4]: 2500m Typhoon C.2027/I
? 25-Jul-43 20.12 III./JG 54 - Amsterdam Maj Hubertus von Bonin off Zandvoort [05Ost S/GJ-6]: 2500m Spitfire C.2027/I
? 27-Jul-43 20.22 III./JG 54 - Amsterdam Maj Hubertus von Bonin W of Haarlem [05Ost S/GF-3]: 3000m Typhoon C.2027/I; of No.2 Grp, RAF
? 30-Jul-43 10.18 III./JG 54 - Amsterdam Maj Hubertus von Bonin W of Haarlem [05Ost S/HM-9]: 8000m B-17 [HSS] C.2027/I
? 30-Jul-43 10.37 III./JG 54 - Amsterdam Maj Hubertus von Bonin SW of Dordrecht [05Ost S/JK-7]: 7000m P-47 C.2027/I
? 30-Aug-43 10.37 III./JG 54 - Schwerin Maj Hubertus von Bonin SW of Dordrecht [05Ost S/JK-7]: 7000m P-47 C.2031/II
? 9-Oct-43 14.27 III./JG 54 - Schwerin Maj Hubertus von Bonin Rønne Island [PF-1]: 5000m B-17 C.2031/II
88 11-Jan-44 - III./JG 54 - Ludwigslust Maj Anton Mader ? B-17
89 11-Jan-44 - III./JG 54 - Ludwigslust Maj Anton Mader ? B-17
90 11-Jan-44 - III./JG 54 - Ludwigslust Maj Anton Mader ? B-17
91 Feb-44 - IV./JG 54 - Pskov Maj Anton Mader Estonian border ?
92 Feb-44 - IV./JG 54 - Pskov Maj Anton Mader Estonian border ?
93 Feb-44 - IV./JG 54 - Pskov Maj Anton Mader Estonian border ?
† 25-Feb-44 - IV./JG 54 - Pskov Maj Anton Mader Narva

Notes

  1. ↑ Until late September 1941, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves was second only to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), which was awarded only to senior commanders for winning a major battle or campaign, in the military order of the Third Reich. Its place as the highest military order was officially surpassed on 28 September 1941 by the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern), however the first presentation of the Swords to Adolf Galland had been made prior to this date on 21 June 1941.
  2. ↑ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. ↑ According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[10]
  4. ↑ According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[10]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Weal 2000, p. 68.
  2. ↑ Weal 2000, p. 76.
  3. ↑ Weal 2000, p. 83.
  4. ↑ Weal 2000, p. 90.
  5. 1 2 Aces of the Luftwaffe website.
  6. ↑ Weal 2001, pp. 107–108.
  7. 1 2 Thomas 1998, p. 277.
  8. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 419.
  9. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 385.
  10. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 678.
  11. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 54.
  12. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 612.
  13. ↑ Luftwaffe Air Units: Single–Engined Fighters website.

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. 
  • Sundin, Claes & Bergström. Christer (1997). Luftwaffe Fighter Aircraft in Profile. Altglen, PA: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 0-7643-0291-4 including colour profiles of aircraft (#27 & #32)
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. 
  • Weal, John (1996). Bf109D/E Aces 1939-41. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-85532-487-3.
  • Weal, John (1999). Bf 109F/G/K Aces of the Western Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-905-8. 
  • Weal, John (1996). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-595-1. 
  • Weal, John (2000). Jagdgeschwader 2 'Richthofen'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-046-9. 
  • Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9. 
  • Weal, John (2006). Bf109 Defence of the Reich Aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-84176-879-0.
  • 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. 

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Oblt Carl-Hans Röders		 Squadron Leader of 9./JG 2
24 June 1941 – ? April, 1943 		Succeeded by
Ltn Josef Wurmheller
Preceded by
Hptm Reinhard Seiler		 Group Commander of III./JG 54
May, 1943 – 1 February 1944 		Succeeded by
Hptm Rudolf Sinner
Preceded by
Hptm Rudolf Sinner		 Group Commander of IV./JG 54
11 February 1944 – 25 February 1944 		Succeeded by
Hptm Gerhard Koall
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