Heinz-Günter Amelung

Heinz-Günter Amelung (9 April 1917 – 26 December 1964) was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II and an Oberstleutnant in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Heinz-Günter Amelung died on 26 December 1964, while serving in the Bundeswehr.

Career
Heinz-Günter Amelung was born on 9 April 1917 in Magdeburg. He joined the Naval Academy at Mürwik in 1935 and transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1936.

Amelung participated in the Invasion of Poland and in the Battle of Belgium as a pilot in the 6./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (6./StG 77−6 squadron of the 77th Ground Attack Wing). He was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 5./StG 77 in August 1940, at the time holding the rank of Oberleutnant. With this Staffel he fought in the Balkans Campaign and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, until July 1942. In this timeframe he was credited with the destruction of six bridges, 27 tanks, 16 field guns and 12 anti-aircraft gun batteries as well as several freighters, supply ships, monitors and patrol boats.

Amelung was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 February 1942. He served as StG 77 Ia (operations officer) from 5 July 1942 before he was appointed Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen's escort officer in the IV. Fliegerkorps. By the end of the war he logged 320 combat missions, all on the Junkers Ju 87. After the war he joined the military service of the Bundeswehr in 1956. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant in 1959 and died of myocardial infarction on 26 December 1964.

Awards and decorations

 * Flugzeugführerabzeichen
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * German Cross in Gold on 24 November 1941 as 'Oberleutnant' in the II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 July 1942 as Hauptmann and 'Staffelkapitän' of the 5./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77