Hubertus von Bonin

Hubertus von Bonin (born 3 August 1911, Potsdam – killed in action 15 December 1943) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe until his death on 15 December 1943. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He is credited with shooting down 77 enemy aircraft. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern front. He also claimed 4 victories in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. His commands included Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing).

Military career
Bonin transferred to the Legion Condor in the fall of 1938 where he replaced Werner Mölders as Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of the 3./Jagdgruppe 88 on 5 December 1938. During the course of the Spanish Civil War he claimed 4 republican fighter aircraft shot down, for which he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. After his return from Spain, he took command of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) and was made Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). He claimed his first aerial victory of World War II on 11 May 1940. By mid September 1940 he had claimed 8 British fighter aircraft and bombers. For three months starting on 1 July 1941 he served with Jagdfliegerschule 4 (fighter pilot training school Nr. 4). He then took command of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) on the Eastern front. He claimed his 30th aerial victory on 17 November 1942 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) after 51 aerial victories. He was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) of JG 54 on 6 July 1943.

Bonin was killed in action on 15 December 1943 near Vitebsk, in a fight with Soviet P-39 Airacobras. His father, Luftwaffe Oberst Bogislaw von Bonin, was taken prisoner of war in March 1945 and has been declared missing since. Von Bonin's brother, Jürgen-Oskar von Bonin, was killed in action as an observer in a transport Geschwader. Another brother, Major Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient) was a 37 kill night fighter ace who survived the war.

Awards

 * Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords
 * German Cross in Gold on 27 October 1942 as Major in the III./JG 52
 * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 December 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 52