Rudolf Miethig (17 October 1921 – 10 June 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 101 aerial victories—that is, 101 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. All of his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in an unknown number of combat missions.

Rudolf Miethig
Miethig as a Leutnant
Born(1921-10-17)17 October 1921
Zwickau
Died10 June 1943(1943-06-10) (aged 21)
near Krymskaja
Cause of deathKilled in action
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–1943
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 52
Commands3./JG 52
Battles / wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Born in Zwickau, Miethig was trained as a fighter pilot and posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing) in early 1941. Fighting on the Eastern Front, he claimed his first aerial victory on 14 November 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. In July 1942, Miethig was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 52. Three months later, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1942. On 8 June 1943, Miethig was credited with his 100th aerial victory. Two days later, he was killed in action following a mid-air collision with an enemy aircraft over the Kuban bridgehead.

Career

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Miethig, who was born on 17 October 1921 in Zwickau, volunteered for service in the Luftwaffe in 1939. Following flight training,[Note 1] he was transferred to the 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in the spring of 1941.[2] At the time the Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Helmut Kühle who was replaced by Oberleutnant Helmut Bennemann on 27 April.[3] I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 52 to which 3. Staffel was subordinated was headed by Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald at the time.[4] Until 21 February, the entire I. Gruppe was based at an airfield at Katwijk aan Zee in the Netherlands 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.[5]

On 25 May, I. Gruppe was placed under the command of Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Leesmann.[4] On 23 September, I. Gruppe was withdrawn from the Western Front and was sent to the Eastern Front where it would be based at an airfield at Ponyatovka, located approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Roslavl.[6]

War against the Soviet Union

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I./JG 52 insignia

On 22 June, German forces had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Prior to its deployment on the Eastern Front, I. Gruppe was fully equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2. The Gruppe reached Orsha on 27 September before heading to Ponyatovka on 2 October. There, the Gruppe was initially subordinated to the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing) and supported German forces fighting in the Battle of Vyazma as part of Operation Typhoon, the code name of the German offensive on Moscow.[7][8] On 20 October, the Gruppe moved to an airfield named Kalinin-Southwest, present-day Tver, and located on the Volga, and to Staritsa on 31 October and then to Ruza located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Moscow on 3 November.[9] Here, Miethig claimed his first aerial victory, a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1, on 14 November 1941 and his second victory, an I-61 fighter, an early German designation for the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3, on 27 November.[10] The failed assault on Moscow forced I. Gruppe to retreat to an airfield at Dugino, present-day Novodugino, on 15 December where they stayed until 31 January 1942.[11] Here, Miethig claimed a Polikarpov R-5 reconnaissance bomber on 28 January.[12]

On 1 February. I Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations and was moved to Smolensk and then further west to Orsha. From 8 to 12 February the Gruppe took a train to Jesau near Königsberg, present-day Kaliningrad in Russia, for a period of recuperation and replenishment where they received new Bf 109 F-4 aircraft. The Gruppe was ordered to Olmütz, present-day Olomouc in Czech Republic on 11 April. On 17 May, I. Gruppe relocated to Artyomovsk, present-day Bakhmut.[13] From Artyomovsk, JG 52 supported the German forces fighting in the Second Battle of Kharkov. On 24 May, the Gruppe was ordered to relocate to Barvinkove located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Sloviansk.[14] Here, Miethig claimed four further aerial victories by the end of May, including a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber on 26 May, a MiG-1 fighter and an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft on 29 May, and another Il-2 ground-attack aircraft on 31 May.[15]

On 1 June, the Gruppe then moved to an airfield at Grakowo, located approximately halfway between Kharkov and Kupiansk.[16] On 13 June, Miethig claimed two Yakovlev Yak-1 fighters shot down.[17] The next day, Bennemann replaced Leesmann, who was transferred, as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 52. In consequence, command of 3. Staffel was passed on to Leutnant Karl Rüttger.[18] Miethig claimed a Soviet flown Hawker Hurricane fighter on 23 June followed by a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter the next day.[19] Two days later, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Bilyi Kolodyaz, approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) southeast of Vovchansk.[20] On 28 June, German forces had launched Case Blue, the strategic summer offensive in southern Russia.[21] The next day, he claimed another Hurricane fighter followed by a LaGG-3 fighter on 30 June.[19] On 1 July, I. Gruppe flew missions from Shchigry located 50 kilometers (31 miles) east-northeast from Kursk.[22]

Squadron leader

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On 2 July, Miethig was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 3. Staffel of JG 52.[20] He replaced Rüttger who had become a prisoner of war after he made a forced landing behind enemy lines near Kruty the day before.[23] On 3 July, the Gruppe moved to a forward airfield near the village Novy Grinev located approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) south-southwest from Novy Oskol and to Artyomovsk on 9 July.[24] During this period, Miethig had claimed a Hurricane fighter on 4 July and a R-5 reconnaissance bomber on 8 July. On 10 July, Miethig claimed a MiG-1 fighter.[25] According to Obermaier, Miethig had been awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 6 July.[26] Patzwall however dates the presentation of Honor Goblet on 19 October.[27] On 2 August, I. Gruppe was ordered to Kerch on the Kerch Peninsula. At the time, the Gruppe was moved around as a kind of fire brigade, deployed in areas where the Soviet Air Forces was particular active.[28] The Gruppe then moved to Oryol on 15 August.[29] There, Miethig claimed an I-180 fighter, a designation for the Yakovlev Yak-7, on 18 August and two Pe-2 bombers on 23 August.[30]

The following day, I. Gruppe moved to Dedjurewo near Rzhev in the central sector of the Eastern Front where the Gruppe was subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing), fighting in the Battle of Rzhev.[29] On 29 October 1942, Miethig and Leutnant Walter Krupinski from 6. Staffel were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes).[31][32] On 8 June 1943, Miethig was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 41st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[33]

Miethig was killed in a crash following combat with Yak-1 fighters on 10 June 1943 roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-east of Krymskaya, over the Kuban bridgehead. Miethig, flying Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 14 602—factory number), had shot down one of the Yak-1 fighters and collided with his crashing opponent.[34][35] Miethig was posthumously awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) as well as posthumously promoted to Hauptmann (captain).[26][31] Leutnant Johann-Hermann Meier temporarily was given command of 3. Staffel until Hauptmann Erich Schreiber was officially appointed Staffelkapitän on 15 July.[36][Note 2]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Miethig was credited with 101 aerial victories.[38] Schreier and Spick also list Miethig with 101 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions.[39][32] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Miethig was credited with 100 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[40]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47852". 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.[41]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  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
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[2]
Operation Barbarossa — 2 October – 5 December 1941
1 14 November 1941 15:08 I-18 (MiG-1)[42] 2 27 November 1941 12:58 I-61 (MiG-3)[43]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[2]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
3 28 January 1942 09:38 R-5[12]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[44]
19 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
4 26 May 1942 16:16 Pe-2[45] 30 11 September 1942 16:16 P-39 PQ 47852[46]
5 29 May 1942 10:48 MiG-1[45] 31 14 September 1942 17:10 LaGG-3 PQ 47732[46]
6 29 May 1942 11:03 Il-2[45] 32 14 September 1942 17:21 Il-2 PQ 47594[46]
7 31 May 1942 14:40 Il-2 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Wodjany Airfield[17] 33 16 September 1942 09:52 R-5 PQ 47361[46]
8 13 June 1942 11:38 Yak-1[17] 34 26 September 1942 06:10 P-39?[Note 3] PQ 30124[48]
9 13 June 1942 11:40 Yak-1[17] 35 27 September 1942 11:00?[Note 4] Yak-1 PQ 40391[48]
10 23 June 1942 17:32 Hurricane[19] 36 30 September 1942 14:12 Il-2 PQ 49433[48]
vicinity of Srednyaya Akhtuba
11 24 June 1942 06:42 LaGG-3[19] 37 2 October 1942 13:40 I-153 PQ 49293[48]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
12 29 June 1942 18:36 Hurricane PQ 71481[19] 38 2 October 1942 13:43 I-153 PQ 49293[48]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
13 30 June 1942 08:53?[Note 5] LaGG-3[Note 5] PQ 71622[19] 39 2 October 1942 13:46 I-16 PQ 49421[48]
vicinity of Srednyaya Akhtuba
14 4 July 1942 18:27 Hurricane[25] 40 2 October 1942 13:47 I-16 PQ 49431[48]
vicinity of Srednyaya Akhtuba
15 8 July 1942 11:56 R-5[25] 41 3 October 1942 13:46 Yak-1?[Note 6] PQ 50743[48]
16 10 July 1942 09:50 MiG-1[25] 42 4 October 1942 14:58 Il-2 PQ 59321[48]
17 18 August 1942 17:01 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 54161[49]
vicinity of Duminichi
43 4 October 1942 14:59 Il-2 PQ 59321[48]
18 23 August 1942 06:44?[Note 7] Pe-2 PQ 54294[50]
northwest of Bolkhov
44 9 October 1942 14:24 SB-2 PQ 49264[48]
35–40 km (22–25 mi) east of Stalingrad
19 23 August 1942 06:46 Pe-2 PQ 54461[50]
vicinity of Uljanowo
45 12 October 1942 13:07 Yak-1 PQ 58544[51]
20 31 August 1942 11:06 LaGG-3 PQ 47813[50] 46 16 October 1942 13:03 Yak-1 PQ 49291[51]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
21 31 August 1942 11:09 LaGG-3 PQ 47811[50] 47 16 October 1942 13:04 Yak-1 PQ 49291[51]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
22 2 September 1942 16:36 LaGG-3 PQ 56414, Garetewo[50] 48 16 October 1942 13:12 Yak-1 PQ 49263[51]
35–40 km (22–25 mi) east of Stalingrad
23 3 September 1942 14:34 LaGG-3 PQ 4424[50] 49 16 October 1942 13:18 Yak-1 PQ 49283[51]
20–30 km (12–19 mi) east of Stalingrad
24 5 September 1942 15:42 Il-2 PQ 46812[46] 50 24 October 1942 13:44 Yak-1 PQ 49231[51]
20–30 km (12–19 mi) east of Stalingrad
25 5 September 1942 15:43 Il-2 PQ 46812[46] 51 25 October 1942 14:43 Yak-1 PQ 49273[51]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Stalingrad
26 6 September 1942 15:15 LaGG-3 PQ 4327[46] 52 31 October 1942 13:10 LaGG-3 PQ 49424[51]
25 km (16 mi) east of Stalingrad
27?[Note 8] 9 September 1942 12:12 tethered balloon PQ 4782[46] 53 1 November 1942 12:59 LaGG-3 PQ 49293[51]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
28 10 September 1942 10:21 Yak-1 PQ 47674[46] 54 1 November 1942 13:04 LaGG-3 PQ 59141[51]
29 11 September 1942 16:13 I-153?[Note 9] PQ 47882[46]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[52]
4 February 1943 – 10 June 1943
55 12 February 1943 15:43 U-2 PQ 35 Ost 61554[53]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Zolochiv
79 7 May 1943 18:32 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 70112, 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Martowaja[54]
56 28 February 1943 09:17 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 40454[53] 80 14 May 1943 17:47 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 61251[55]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Prokhorovka
57 28 February 1943 09:18 Il-2 m.H.[Note 10] PQ 35 Ost 40454[53] 81 16 May 1943 15:13 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86586[55]
east of Slavyansk-na-Kubani
58 5 March 1943 14:18 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 50251[53]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Olshany
82 25 May 1943 05:50 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85514[55]
Black Sea, south of Gelendzhik
59 5 March 1943 14:19 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 50242[53]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Olshany
83 26 May 1943 10:55?[Note 11] Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75234[55]
vicinity of Krymsk
60 20 March 1943 10:45?[Note 12] Il-2 m.H.[Note 10] PQ 35 Ost 71852[53]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Valuyki
84 27 May 1943 08:12 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 76892[55]
vicinity of Kijewskoje
61 26 March 1943 09:12?[Note 13] MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 71794[53]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Kolodez
85 27 May 1943 08:50?[Note 14] Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 76863[55]
north of Kecskemét
62 29 March 1943 17:04 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61453[53]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Belgorod
86 27 May 1943 17:47 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76864[55]
north of Kecskemét
63 9 April 1943 07:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85114, east of Krymskaya[54]
Black Sea, south of Gelendzhik
87 28 May 1943 10:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76863[55]
north of Kecskemét
64 11 April 1943 11:55 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85711,
6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Krymskaya[54]
88 28 May 1943 10:53 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76892[55]
vicinity of Kijewskoje
65 16 April 1943 11:22 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86713[54]
southwest of Tamanj
89 28 May 1943 17:12 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76861[55]
north of Kecskemét
66 17 April 1943 09:13 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75452[54]
8 km (5.0 mi) south of Novorossiysk
90 29 May 1943 12:50 Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 76221[55]
southeast of Varenikovskaya
67 18 April 1943 16:25?[Note 15] LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75461[54]
Black Sea, 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Kabardinka
91 29 May 1943 17:22 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 76231[55]
vicinity of Krymsk
68 20 April 1943 08:22 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85312, east of Novorossiysk[54]
vicinity of Schapssugskaja
92 30 May 1943 16:12 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 75232[55]
north of Krymsk
69 20 April 1943 08:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75431[54]
8 km (5.0 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk
93 30 May 1943 16:29 Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 76833[55]
vicinity of Anastasiewskaja
70 24 April 1943 16:42 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 75452, Novorossiysk[54]
8 km (5.0 mi) south of Novorossiysk
94 31 May 1943 17:47 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76832[55]
vicinity of Anastasiewskaja
71 24 April 1943 16:45 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85341, 9 km (5.6 mi) northwest of Gelendzhik[54]
vicinity of Tscheshskij
95 3 June 1943 16:46 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76865, 7 km (4.3 mi) southeast of Anastasiewskaja[57]
north of Kecskemét
72 27 April 1943 17:18 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 86783[54]
east of Bondarenka
96 5 June 1943 17:55 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86771[57]
vicinity of Bondarenka
73 28 April 1943 09:25 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85161[54]
vicinity of Nowenjkij
97 5 June 1943 17:55 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86771[57]
vicinity of Bondarenka
74 6 May 1943 04:04 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 71622[54]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Volchansk
98 5 June 1943 17:58?[Note 16] Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75234, 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Moldawanskoje[57]
vicinity of Krymsk
75 6 May 1943 04:05 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 71541[54]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Volchansk
99 7 June 1943 07:56 Boston PQ 44 Ost 05651[57]
76 6 May 1943 04:10 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 71522[54]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Volchansk
100 8 June 1943 17:25 Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 76821[57]
vicinity of Kalabatka
77 7 May 1943 18:23 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 70183[54]
vicinity of Shipovatoje
101 10 June 1943 18:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85112, Krymskaja[57]
north of Mertschanskaja
78 7 May 1943 18:25 LaGG-3?[Note 17] PQ 35 Ost 70184, vicinity of Chuhuiv[54]
vicinity of Shipovatoje

Awards

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Notes

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  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.[1]
  2. ^ According to Schreier, command of 3. Staffel was given to Oberleutnant Franz Woidich.[37]
  3. ^ Mathews and Foreman claimed over a Hawker Hurricane.[47]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:03.[47]
  5. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:10 over an Ilyushin Il-2.[2]
  6. ^ Mathews and Foreman claimed over a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3.[47]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:34.[2]
  8. ^ Mathews and Foreman do not list this claim over a tethered balloon.[47]
  9. ^ Mathews and Foreman claimed over a Yakovlev Yak-7.[47]
  10. ^ a b The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  11. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:56.[56]
  12. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:45.[47]
  13. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:13.[47]
  14. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:05.[56]
  15. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:28.[47]
  16. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:53.[56]
  17. ^ Mathews and Foreman claimed over a Lavochkin La-5.[47]
  18. ^ According to Obermaier on 6 July 1942.[26]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 851.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 63.
  4. ^ a b Schreier 1990, p. 186.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 60.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 61.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 12.
  8. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 59.
  9. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 63.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, pp. 20–21.
  11. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 69.
  12. ^ a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 133.
  13. ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 70, 75.
  14. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 76.
  15. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 428–429.
  16. ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 76, 78.
  17. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 429.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 423.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 430.
  20. ^ a b Schreier 1990, p. 79.
  21. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 80.
  22. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 82.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 423, 440.
  24. ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 82–83.
  25. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 431.
  26. ^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 169.
  27. ^ a b Patzwall 2008, p. 208.
  28. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 84.
  29. ^ a b Schreier 1990, p. 85.
  30. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 433–434.
  31. ^ a b Weal 2001, p. 67.
  32. ^ a b Schreier 1990, p. 178.
  33. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 296.
  35. ^ Weal 2004, p. 93.
  36. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 278.
  37. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 105.
  38. ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 331.
  39. ^ Spick 1996, p. 233.
  40. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 851–853.
  41. ^ Planquadrat.
  42. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 20.
  43. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 21.
  44. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 851–852.
  45. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 428.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 435.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 852.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2006, p. 436.
  49. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 433.
  50. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 434.
  51. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 437.
  52. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 852–853.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  54. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prien et al. 2012, p. 283.
  55. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al. 2012, p. 284.
  56. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 853.
  57. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 285.
  58. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 281.
  59. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 311, 498.
  60. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 544.
  61. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 311.

Bibliography

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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 20 May 2020.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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