| Gustav Denk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 24, 1915 |
| Died | February 13, 1943 (aged 28) |
| Place of birth | Soest |
| Place of death | Chernigov |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1939–1943 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit | JG 52 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Gustav Denk (24 January 1915 – 13 February 1943) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Denk claimed 67 aerial victories, 1 over the Western Front and 66 over the Eastern Front. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career[]
Gustav Denk joined the Luftwaffe at the beginning of the war and participated in the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France, but did not get his first victory until the Battle of Britain. Denk found greater success during the Russian campaign, in 1941 he had 4 victories, in 1942 he had 45 victories and in 1943 he had 17. He was killed 13 February 1943 when he attacked the Russian airfield at Chernigov. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943.
Awards[]
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 2 November 1942 as Leutnant and pilot[1]
- German Cross in Gold on 23 December 1942 as Leutnant in the II./Jagdgeschwader 52[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the II./Jagdgeschwader 52[3]
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [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]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989) (in German). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1941 – 1945]. Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001) (in German). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2]. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008) (in German). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War]. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007) (in German). 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]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
