Günther Josten

Günther Josten (7 November 1921 – 7 July 2004) 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. 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. He was born in Rhynern, in the city of Hamm in the Province of Westphalia.

Biography
Günther Josten was born on 7 November 1921, the second son of Protestant pastor Johannes Josten. He attended the elite boarding school Schulpforta, which was made into a National Political Institutes of Education. He joined the Luftwaffe in January 1940 and was transferred to the Jagdgruppe Drontheim on 1 November 1941. At the end of August 1942 he was reassigned to 3./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" (3./JG 51—3rd squadron of the 51st fighter wing) on the Eastern front. On 23 February 1943 he claimed his first aerial victory. On 10 July 1943 he scored multiple times for his claims 8 to 10. Three days later on 13 July he shot down 5 Il-2 Sturmoviks for victories 12 to 16. All in all he claimed 19 victories in July and 30 in August. After a successful September with 26 victories he was transferred to Luftkriegsschule Fürstenfeldbruck. He returned to his Staffel on 3 February 1944. Two days later he claimed two Bostons and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as Oberfeldwebel.

He claimed his 90th victory on 2 May 1944 and was promoted to Leutnant. On 18 September 1944 he took command of 3./JG 51 as Staffelkapitän. On 20 September he reached the century mark. His 123rd aerial victory was a Boeing B-17 on a supply mission to Warsaw. By October 26 his score had reached 139 claims. His 150th kill was claimed on 16 February 1945. On 28 March 1945 Oberleutnant Josten was awarded the 810th Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross for 161 aerial victories. He was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of IV./JG 51 on 18 April 1945. His last seven aerial victories were claimed on 25 April 1945.

Josten flew 420 combat missions, was never shot down, and was officially credited with shooting down 178 enemy aircraft. His brother, Reinhard Josten, also served in Jagdgeschwader 51 and was killed returning from a mission on 21 April 1942.

Later life
After World War II, Günther Josten rejoined the military service in the Bundeswehr and succeeded Erich Hartmann as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 71. It was under his command that Jagdgeschwader 71 reequipped the Canadair Sabre with the U.S.-made Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. Oberst Josten retired on 31 March 1981.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (4 April 1943)
 * 1st Class (12 July 1943)
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (31 August 1943)
 * German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Feldwebel in the 1./JG 51
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 5 February 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 1./JG 51 "Mölders"
 * 810th Oak Leaves (28 March 1945) as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 3./JG 51 "Mölders"