Joachim Müncheberg | |
---|---|
Joachim Müncheberg | |
Born | 31 December 1918 |
Died | 23 March 1943 | (aged 24)
Place of birth | Friedrichsdorf, Dramburg, Province of Pomerania |
Place of death | Meknassy, Tunisia |
Buried at | German Military Cemetery at Bordj-Cedria |
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/branch |
Heer (1936 – 1938) Luftwaffe (1938 – 1943) |
Years of service | 1936 – 1943 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | JG 26, JG 51, JG 77 |
Commands held | 7./JG 26, II./JG 26 , JG 77 |
Battles/wars | |
Awards |
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Medaglia d'oro al Valore Militare |
Joachim Müncheberg (31 December 1918 – 23 March 1943) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] He is credited with 135 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 500 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Western front with 33 claims over the Eastern Front. Of his 102 aerial victories achieved over the Western Allies are 46 Supermarine Spitfire fighters.
Born in Friedrichsdorf, Müncheberg volunteered for military service in the Wehrmacht of the Third Reich in 1936. Initially serving in the Heer (Army), he transferred to the Luftwaffe (Air Force) in 1938. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 234 (JG 234—234th Fighter Wing) in October 1938. He was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) a year later and was appointed Adjutant of the III. Gruppe (3rd Group). He fought in the Battle of France and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) following his 20th aerial victory in total and during the Battle of Britain. Serving as a Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) he fought in the aerial battles during the siege of Malta and Balkans Campaign. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) and Italian Gold Medal of Military Valor (Italian language: Medaglia d'oro al Valore Militare ) after 43 aerial victories.
Müncheberg then briefly served in North Africa in support of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps before transferring to France. He was given command of JG 26's II. Gruppe (2nd Group) in September 1941 and was then posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing), operating on the Eastern Front, in July 1942. Serving as a Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) in training to JG 51 wing commander Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, he claimed his 100th aerial victory on 5 September 1942 for which he was awarded the Swords (Schwerter) to his Knight's Cross on 9 September, his score now at 103 aerial victories. On 1 October 1942 Müncheberg was given command of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing), operating in the Mediterranean Theatre. He was killed in action in a mid-air collision following combat with his opponent on 23 March 1943 near Meknassy, Tunisia.
Childhood, education and early career[]
Müncheberg was born on 31 December 1918 in Friedrichsdorf near Dramburg in the Province of Pomerania, at the time a province of the Free State of Prussia. Today it is Darskowo in the administrative district of Gmina Złocieniec, within Drawsko County, Poland. He was the second child of Paul Müncheberg, a farmer, and his wife Erika, née Ulrich. His sister Eva-Brigitte was one and a half years older than him.[2] His father had served as a cavalry officer of the reserves during World War I. The hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic forced his father to sell their farm Friedrichshof in 1923. The family was forced to move and resettled to Königsberg where Müncheberg stated his elementary schooling (Grundschule). His father was able to repurchase their old farm in 1927 and the family moved back to Friedrichshof. Müncheberg completed his elementary school in Falkenburg, Pomerania. A distance to school of 24 kilometres (15 mi) back and forth which he had to walk or ride on a horse-drawn wagon. In 1928 he transferred to the Realgymnasium (a type of secondary school) in Dramburg and graduated with his Abitur (diploma) in 1936.[2]
Müncheberg, who was very much talented in sports and athletics, played football for the youth team of T.V. Falkenburg since the early 1930ties. He attended the SA-sports school in Hammerstein for a few weeks in 1934 and in 1935 spent his summer vacation in Bulgaria where he, among other places, stayed at the Rila Monastery. In early 1936 he attended a National Socialism course in Lauenburg, Pomerania. He completed his compulsory labour service (Reichsarbeitsdienst) in October 1936 with Abteilung (department) 5/50 in Lüttmannshagen, district of Cammin. As an athlete, he especially excelled in the decathlon; almost daily he practiced the ten different disciplines. Aged 17, he attended a summer camp held on behalf of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.[2]
In his youth he was very much interested in flying and other technical things.[3] He started his recruit training on 4 December 1934 in the Heer of the Wehrmacht. Prior to this he had already volunteered for service in the then newly emerging Luftwaffe. Müncheberg spent his 1936/37 winter vacation in Altenberg in the Erzgebirge.[2] He then attended the III. Lehrgang (3rd training course) in the 4. Schülerkompanie (4th student company) at the Luftkriegsschule 1 (1st Air War School) in Dresden as a Fahnenjunker (Officer Applicant) from 1 April to 30 June 1937.[4] A year later he completed his flight training here and was promoted to Fähnrich (Officer Cadet) on 16 December 1937.[5][Note 1] He transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1938 and attended the Jagdfliegerschule (Fighter Pilot School) in Werneuchen, under the command of Oberst (Colonel) Theodor Osterkamp. He was then posted to the I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 234 (JG 234—234th Fighter Wing) stationed a Köln.[6][7][Note 2] Here he was promoted to Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) on 8 November 1938.[8]
World War II[]
In October 1939, Müncheberg joined III Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing). He claimed his first victory on 7 November 1939, a Royal Air Force Bristol Blenheim Mk. I bomber L1325 of No. 57 Squadron RAF, piloted by P/O HR Bewlay. During the invasion of France, Müncheberg claimed eight Allied aircraft shot down, with 4 claimed on one day, 31 May 1940.
For the early part of the Battle of Britain Müncheberg flew as wingman to Major Adolf Galland, Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III./JG 26. In late August he was promoted to Staffelkapitän of 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of JG 26, and on 14 September 1940 was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) the same day he achieved his 20th aerial victory. This achievement earned Müncheberg a reference in the Wehrmachtbericht (his first of five in total), an information bulletin issued by the headquarters of the Wehrmacht. He claimed 14 victories in total during the Battle of Britain.
Malta Operations[]
From February 1941, Müncheberg's staffel became the first Bf-109 unit to operate in the Mediterranean theatre, and from bases in Sicily the staffel was to achieve success out of all proportion to its size, with some 52 victories claimed without losing a single pilot. Müncheberg claimed almost half of these victories. Flying missions over Yugoslavia in support of the German invasion of the Balkans, he also claimed a Yugoslav 'Hawker Fury biplane' on 6 April 1941 of Ind. Fighter Esk, 81 (Bomber) Grupa, JKRV (Porucnik Milenko Milivojevic was killed). He claimed another destroyed on the ground (Both victories were in fact Avia BH-33 biplanes). On 16 February Müncheberg claimed the No. 261 Squadron Hurricane of ace F/L. James MacLachlan, who baled out severely wounded, losing his arm, but returning to combat in 1943. He shot down and killed 261 Squadron's 7-kill Malta ace F/O FF Taylor on 26 February.
In May 1941, Müncheberg was awarded the Oak Leaves and the Italian Medaglia d'Oro and by this time had 43 victories. Hitler sent him a teleprinter message on 7 May 1942 congratulating him on his 40th aerial victory.[9] A 2-month spell in Libya in mid-1941 to support the Afrika Korps saw a further 5 victories claimed.
In August 1941, 7./JG 26 returned to France. Müncheberg was to claim a further 35 victories (including 34 Spitfires) by June 1942. On 19 September, Müncheberg was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and became Gruppenkommandeur of II/JG 26. On 29 April 1942 Müncheberg probably shot down and killed the Northolt Wing Leader and Polish ace Wing Commander Marian Pisarek.
Russia 1942[]
Following his 83rd aerial victory, Müncheberg was summoned to his commanding officer, Geschwaderkommodore Gerhard Schöpfel. Schöpfel had to informed him of his transfer to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front. Müncheberg was destined to become a Geschwaderkommodore but prior to receiving his own command he would have to serve as a Kommodore in training. He went on a three weeks home leave, staying at his parents home, before he received his orders to head east on 21 July 1942.[10] On 5 September, he claimed his 100th kill. On 9 September, he was awarded the 'Swords' following his 103rd victory. Müncheberg shot down 33 victories over Russian aircraft while being shot down twice himself.
North Africa[]
On 1 October 1942, Major Müncheberg was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77, operating over North Africa and Tunisia. He scored over a No. 92 Squadron Spitfire on 9 November, the first of 24 further victories in the theatre. He force-landed unhurt in his Bf 109-G2 after combat with Kittyhawks flown by F/Lt. HC Shaver & F/Lt. RR Smith of No. 112 Squadron on 10 December 1942. In the spring of 1943 Müncheberg became the second German fighter pilot to achieve 100 aerial victories over Anglo-American adversaries.[11]
Müncheberg was killed on 23 March 1943 over Tunisia when his 135th victim, a USAAF 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire exploded in front of him after a close burst of cannon fire. The Spitfire was piloted by Captain Theodore Sweetman.[12][13] Müncheberg managed to bail out and landed severely wounded in his parachute. Although the search team quickly recovered him, Müncheberg died on the way to a field hospital.[11] He was buried El Aouina before his remains were moved to the Heroes Cemetery at Tunis and reinterred again in the 1950s to the German Military Cemetery at Bordj-Cedria.[14]
Aerial victory credits[]
Joachim Müncheberg was credited with 135 aerial victories, claimed in more than 500 combat missions, 102 on the Western Front and 33 on the Eastern Front. His tally includes at least 46 Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft shot down.
This and the — (dash) indicates unwitnessed aerial victory claims for which Müncheberg did not receive credit.
Chronicle of aerial victories[15] | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victory | Date | Time | Location | Type | Victory | Date | Time | Location | Type |
– Stab III. Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 26 – | |||||||||
1 | 7 November 1939 | 13:43 | SW Opladen | Blenheim | 8 | 31 May 1940 | 15:45 | NE Dunkirk | Hurricane |
2 | 11 May 1940 | 17:45 | NW Antwerp | Curtiss | 9 | 31 May 1940 | 20:10 | Dunkirk (channel) | Spitfire |
3 | 14 May 1940 | 18:45 | E Ath | Hurricane | 10 | 28 July 1940 | 15:15 | 15 km (9.3 mi) NE Dover | Hurricane |
4 | 15 May 1940 | 13:00 | near Overijse | Hurricane | 11 | 8 August 1940 | 12:55 | NE Margate | Spitfire |
5 | 29 May 1940 | 18:10 | W Dunkirk | Spitfire | 12 | 14 August 1940 | 13:29 | Folkstone-Dover | Hurricane |
6 | 31 May 1940 | 15:35 | Veurne-Dunkirk | Lysander | 13 | 15 August 1940 | 16:01 | SE Dover | Spitfire |
7 | 31 May 1940 | 15:40 | SW Dunkirk | Hurricane | |||||
– 7. Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 26 – | |||||||||
14 | 24 August 1940 | 12:22 | Ashford | Hurricane | 36 | 11 April 1941 | 11:53 | SE St. Paul's Bay | Hurricane |
15 | 31 August 1940 | 10:00 | NW Braintree | Hurricane | 37 | 23 April 1941 | 18:07 | SE Ħal Far, Malta | Hurricane |
16 | 1 September 1940 | 14:52 | W Goudhurst | Hurricane | —
|
27 April 1941 | Kalafrana Bay, Malta | Sunderland | |
17 | 6 September 1940 | 10:28 | Dungeness | Hurricane | 38 | 29 April 1941 | 18:47 | St. Paul's Bay | Hurricane |
18 | 7 September 1940 | 18:45 | SE London | Spitfire | 39 | 1 May 1941 | 7:53 | SE St. Paul's Bay | Hurricane |
19 | 11 September 1940 | 19:25 | E Ashford | Spitfire | 40 | 1 May 1941 | 7:54 | 3 km (1.9 mi) S Valetta | Hurricane |
20 | 14 September 1940 | 17:05 | S Maidstone | Spitfire | 41 | 1 May 1941 | 17:15 | SW Luqa, Malta | Hurricane |
21 | 17 October 1940 | 14:55 | S Faversham | Bloch 151 | 42 | 6 May 1941 | 12:22 | NE St. Paul's Bay | Hurricane |
22 | 25 October 1940 | 14:40 | Marden | Spitfire | 43 | 6 May 1941 | 12:26 | 1 km (0.62 mi) SW Hal Far | Hurricane |
23 | 14 November 1940 | 15:32 | SE Dover | Spitfire | —
|
25 May 1941 | 15:00 | Ta' Qali, Malta | Hurricane |
24 | 12 February 1941 | 16:41 | S Siġġiewi, Malta | Hurricane | —
|
25 May 1941 | 15:00 | Ta' Qali, Malta | Hurricane |
25 | 16 February 1941 | 10:38 | SW Malta | Hurricane | 44 | 20 June 1941 | 7:55 | 20 km (12 mi) SE Buq Buq | Hurricane |
26 | 16 February 1941 | 10:45 | E Ta Venezia, Malta | Hurricane | 45 | 24 June 1941 | 8:00 | Lavyet Ungheila | Hurricane |
27 | 25 February 1941 | 16:45 | E St. Paul's Bay | Hurricane | 46 | 15 July 1941 | 18:40 | SW Ras el Milh | Hurricane |
28 | 26 February 1941 | 14:06 | S Krendi, Malta | Hurricane | 47 | 29 July 1941 | 17:48 | 50 km (31 mi) E Bardia | P-40 |
29 | 26 February 1941 | 14:10 | 10 km (6.2 mi) S Malta | Hurricane | 48 | 29 July 1941 | 17:52 | 40 km (25 mi) E Bardia | P-40 |
30 | 2 March 1941 | 10:45 | 2 km (1.2 mi) from Marsaxlokk | Hurricane | 49 | 28 August 1941 | 17:52 | 2 km (1.2 mi) N Gravelines | Spitfire |
31 | 5 March 1941 | 17:32 | S Hal Far, Malta | Hurricane | 50 | 29 August 1941 | 8:40 | 10 km (6.2 mi) NE Dunkirk | Spitfire |
32 | 15 March 1941 | 7:50 | 10 km (6.2 mi) NW Gozo | Wellington | 51 | 4 September 1941 | 17:26 | Vollezele | Spitfire |
33 | 28 March 1941 | 17:32 | 10 km (6.2 mi) S Gozo | Hurricane | 52 | 4 September 1941 | 17:29 | Zeggers | Spitfire |
34 | 6 April 1941 | 12:05 | NE Podgorica | Fury | 53 | 7 September 1941 | 17:22 | NW Montreuil | Spitfire |
—
|
6 April 1941 | Podgorica | Fury | 54 | 16 September 1941 | 19:22 | E Boulogne | Spitfire | |
—
|
6 April 1941 | Podgorica | Breguet 19 | 55 | 16 September 1941 | 16:06 | Yvetot | Hurricane | |
35 | 11 April 1941 | 11:31 | SE Malta | Hurricane | 56 | 18 September 1941 | 16:15 | Saint Helene | Spitfire |
– Stab II. Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 26 – | |||||||||
57 | 13 October 1941 | 14:33 | Samer | Spitfire | 73 | 27 April 1942 | 16:06 | N Mardyck | Spitfire |
58 | 8 November 1941 | 13:07 | Loon-Plage | Spitfire | 74 | 29 April 1942 | 16:04 | Le Touquet | Spitfire |
59 | 8 November 1941 | 13:15 | NE Dunkirk | Spitfire | 75 | 30 April 1942 | 19:36 | W Somme Estuary | Spitfire |
60 | 8 December 1941 | 14:17 | W Boulogne | Spitfire | 76 | 1 May 1942 | 19:31 | SW Calais | Spitfire |
61 | 16 December 1941 | 16:01 | NW Dunkirk | Spitfire | —
|
1 May 1942 | 19:40 | 5 km (3.1 mi) N Calais | Spitfire |
62 | 16 December 1941 | 16:04 | N Gravelines | Spitfire | 77 | 6 May 1942 | 18:53 | NW Cap Gris Nez | Spitfire |
63 | 13 March 1942 | 16:17 | Wierre-Effroy | Spitfire | —
|
9 May 1942 | 13:43 | 15 km (9.3 mi) S Gravelines | Spitfire |
64 | 24 March 1942 | 16:30 | NW Rue-Cambron | Spitfire | —
|
9 May 1942 | 13:44 | 15 km (9.3 mi) S Gravelines | Spitfire |
65 | 24 March 1942 | 16:35 | Cambron | Spitfire | —
|
17 May 1942 | 17:35 | Guînes-Saint-Omer | Spitfire |
66 | 4 April 1942 | 11:46 | W Calais | Spitfire | 78 | 31 May 1942 | 19:37 | S Crécy (forest area) | Spitfire |
67 | 10 April 1942 | 17:50 | NW Étaples | Spitfire | 79 | 31 May 1942 | 19:41 | Quend Plage les Pins | Spitfire |
68 | 25 April 1942 | 16:40 | SW Crécy | Spitfire | 80 | 2 June 1942 | 11:01 | SW Abbeville | Spitfire |
69 | 25 April 1942 | 16:43 | SW Rue | Spitfire | 81 | 2 June 1942 | 11:07 | 15 km (9.3 mi) W Étaples | Spitfire |
70 | 26 April 1942 | 18:05 | WNW Calais | Spitfire | 82 | 20 June 1942 | 15:44 | S Ardres | Spitfire |
71 | 26 April 1942 | 18:06 | 15 km (9.3 mi) W Cap Gris Nez | Spitfire | 83 | 20 June 1942 | 15:47 | E Boulogne | Spitfire |
72 | 27 April 1942 | 14:47 | NE Dunkirk | Spitfire | |||||
– Stab/Jagdgeschwader 51 – | |||||||||
84 | 3 August 1942 | 10:32 | NNE Rzhev | Pe-2 | 101 | 5 September 1942 | 17:57 | Sector 46380 | P-39 |
85 | 3 August 1942 | 10:36 | NNW Rzhev | Pe-2 | 102 | 9 September 1942 | 17:08 | SE Rzhev | Il-2 |
86 | 4 August 1942 | 10:38 | 6 km (3.7 mi) ENE Zubtsov | Il-2 | 103 | 9 September 1942 | 17:12 | Sector 47762 | Il-2 |
87 | 5 August 1942 | 18:48 | Sector 47880 | LaGG-3 | 104 | 10 September 1942 | 07:09 | Sector 47843 | Pe-2 |
88 | 9 August 1942 | 14:30 | S Zubtsov | MiG-3 | 105 | 10 September 1942 | 07:13 | SE Zubtsov | Il-2 |
89 | 10 August 1942 | 18:40 | N Rzhev | Yak-1 | 106 | 10 September 1942 | 10:35 | NW Zubtsov | LaGG-3 |
90 | 22 August 1942 | 10:25 | SSE Rzhev | Il-2 | 107 | 13 September 1942 | 06:07 | 8 km (5.0 mi) SE Rzhev | Pe-2 |
91 | 24 August 1942 | 06:20 | SE Rzhev | Il-2 | 108 | 14 September 1942 | 07:25 | SE Rzhev | Il-2 |
92 | 24 August 1942 | 6:21 | S Rzhev | Il-2 | 109 | 14 September 1942 | 17:01 | near Rzhev | Il-2 |
93 | 25 August 1942 | 17:11 | N Rzhev | Pe-2 | 110 | 14 September 1942 | 17:13 | 1 km (0.62 mi) N Rzhev | Pe-2 |
94 | 2 September 1942 | 8:23 | SW Karmanovo | LaGG-3 | 111 | 22 September 1942 | 9:25 | 1 km (0.62 mi) N Klimovo | MiG-3 |
95 | 2 September 1942 | 10:52 | SW Gshatsk | Il-2 | 112 | 22 September 1942 | 9:31 | 1 km (0.62 mi) N Klimovo | R-5 |
96 | 2 September 1942 | 10:55 | SW Gshatsk | Il-2 | 113 | 26 September 1942 | 12:23 | 20 km (12 mi) N Rzhev | LaGG-3 |
97 | 2 September 1942 | 10:55 | SW Gshatsk | Il-2 | 114 | 26 September 1942 | 16:08 | 12 km (7.5 mi) SW Rzhev | LaGG-3 |
98 | 3 September 1942 | 14:32 | Sector 46192 | Il-2 | 115 | 27 September 1942 | 6:59 | 15 km (9.3 mi) NE Rzhev | LaGG-3 |
99 | 4 September 1942 | 17:35 | S Zubtsov | Pe-2 | 116 | 27 September 1942 | 7:03 | near Klimovo | LaGG-3 |
100 | 5 September 1942 | 17:53 | Kubinka | P-39 | |||||
– Stab/Jagdgeschwader 77 – | |||||||||
117 | 9 November 1942 | 15:07 | E Buq Buq | Spitfire | 126 | 14 January 1943 | 11:23 | NE Bir Dufan | P-40 |
—
|
9 November 1942 | Spitfire | 127 | 18 January 1943 | 16:40 | SE Tarhuna | P-40 | ||
118 | 27 November 1942 | 7:32 | 4 km (2.5 mi) E Bir el Gin | Spitfire | 128 | 22 January 1943 | 12:55 | SE Zuara | P-40 |
119 | 10 December 1942 | 15:05 | 12 km (7.5 mi) NW El Agheila | P-40 | 129 | 22 January 1943 | 13:05 | S Sorman | P-40 |
120 | 14 December 1942 | 15:08 | 15 km (9.3 mi) SW El Agheila | P-40 | 130 | 10 March 1943 | 16:33 | N Ksar Rhilane | P-40 |
121 | 14 December 1942 | 15:25 | 20 km (12 mi) SW El Agheila | P-40 | 131 | 10 March 1943 | 16:48 | N Ksar Rhilane | P-40 |
122 | 15 December 1942 | 10:58 | Ras el Aali | P-40 | 132 | 13 March 1943 | 15:04 | near Gabes | P-40 |
123 | 13 January 1943 | 8:45 | NE Bir Dufan | Baltimore | 133 | 13 March 1943 | 17:51 | W La Fauconnerie | P-39 |
124 | 14 January 1943 | 11:17 | NE Bir Dufan | P-40 | 134 | 22 March 1943 | 14:27 | 75 km (47 mi) SSW Gabes | P-40 |
125 | 14 January 1943 | 11:21 | NE Bir Dufan | P-40 | 135 | 23 March 1943 | 9:50 | 45 km (28 mi) ESE Gafsa | Spitfire |
Awards and honors[]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- German Cross in Gold on 5 June 1942 as Hauptmann in the II./JG 26[17]
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Gold with Pennant "400"[3]
- Combined Pilots-Observation Badge[3]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight's Cross on 14 September 1940 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./JG 26 "Schlageter"[18][19][Note 3]
- 12th Oak Leaves on 7 May 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./JG 26 "Schlageter"[20][21][22]
- 19th Swords on 9 September 1942 as Hauptmann and deputy Geschwaderkommodore of JG 51 "Mölders"[20][23][24]
- Mentioned five times in the Wehrmachtbericht
- Medaglia d'oro al Valore Militare (7 May 1941)[8]
On 30 November 1962 an honorary one-time pension of 1,500 DM was paid to the relatives of Müncheberg (and relatives of Hans-Joachim Marseille) by the Italian Minister of Defence Giulio Andreotti.[25]
Wehrmachtbericht references[]
Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
---|---|---|
Sunday, 15 September 1940 | Oberleutnant Müncheberg errang seinen 20. Luftsieg.[26] | Oberleutnant Müncheberg achieved his 20th aerial victory. |
Thursday, 1 May 1940 | Oberleutnant Müncheberg errang bei Luftkämpfen über der Insel Malta seinen 39. und 40. Luftsieg.[27] | Oberleutnant Müncheberg achieved his 39th and 40th aerial victory in aerial combat over the island Malta. |
Thursday, 11 December 1940 | Hauptmann Müncheberg errang seinen 60. Luftsieg.[28] | Hauptmann Müncheberg achieved his 60th aerial victory. |
Thursday, 4 June 1942 | Hauptmann Müncheberg errang am 2. Juni seinen 80., Oberleutnant Marseille am 3. Juni in Nordafrika seinen 70. bis 75. Luftsieg.[29] | Hauptmann Müncheberg recorded on 2 June, his 80th, Oberleutnant Marseille on 3 June in North Africa his 70th to 75th aerial victory. |
25 March 1943 | Major Müncheberg, ausgezeichnet mit dem Eichenlaub und Schwertern zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, fand nach seinem 135. Luftsieg den Heldentod.[30] | Major Müncheberg, recipient of the Oak Leaves and Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, found a heroes death after his 135th aerial victory. |
Notes[]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
- ↑ According to Scherzer as adjutant in the III./JG 26 "Schlageter".[20]
References[]
- Citations
- ↑ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Röll 2010, p. 59.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Berger 2000, p. 236.
- ↑ Röll 2010, pp. 59–60.
- ↑ Röll 2010, pp. 60, 154.
- ↑ Williamson 2005, p. 59.
- ↑ Röll 2010, p. 60.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Röll 2010, p. 154.
- ↑ Bruppacher 2013, p. 273.
- ↑ Röll 2010, p. 112.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Berger 2000, p. 237.
- ↑ Scutts 1994, p. 88.
- ↑ Molesworth 2011, p. 50.
- ↑ Röll 2010, p. 148.
- ↑ Röll 2010, pp. 150–153.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Thomas 1998, p. 107.
- ↑ Patzwall and Scherzer 2001, p. 323.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 319.
- ↑ Von Seemen 1976, p. 248.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 559.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 54.
- ↑ Von Seemen 1976, p. 25.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 40.
- ↑ Von Seemen 1976, p. 14.
- ↑ Wübbe 2001, p. 66.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 304.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 516.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 744.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, pp. 150, 151.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, p. 469.
- Bibliography
- Berger, Florian (1999) (in German). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War]. Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
- Bruppacher, Bruppacher (2013) (in German). Adolf Hitler und die Geschichte der NSDAP Teil 2: 1938 bis 1945. Norderstedt, Germany: BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 978-3-8423-8627-3.
- 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.
- Hagen, Hans-Peter (1998) (in German). Husaren des Himmels—Berühmte deutsche Jagdflieger und die Geschichte ihrer Waffe [Hussars of the Sky—Famous German Fighter Pilots and the History of their Fighter-Force]. Rastatt, Germany: Moewig. ISBN 978-3-8118-1456-1.
- Molesworth, Carl (2011). P-40 Warhawk vs Bf 109, MTO 1942–44. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-469-7.
- 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.
- Röll, Hans-Joachim (2010) (in German). Major Joachim Müncheberg: Vom König der Malta-Jäger zum legendären Jäger-Ass von Tunis [Major Joachim Müncheberg: From the King of the Malta-Fighter to the Legendary Fighter-Ace of Tunis]. Würzburg, Germany: Flechsig. ISBN 978-3-8035-0014-4.
- 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.
- Scutts, Jerry (1994). Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean. London, UK: Osprey Aerospace. ISBN 978-1-85532-448-0.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976) (in German). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
- Thomas, Franz (1998) (in German). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z]. Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
- Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2005). Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves Recipients 1941-45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-642-3.
- Wübbe, Walter (2001) (in German). Hauptmann Hans Joachim Marseille— Ein Jagdfliegerschicksal in Daten, Bildern und Dokumenten [Captain Hans Joachim Marseille— A Fighter Pilots Fate in Data, Images and Documents]. Schnellbach, Germany: Verlag Siegfried Bublies. ISBN 978-3-926584-78-6.
- (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941]. München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
- (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943]. München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
External links[]
- Joachim Müncheberg in the German National Library catalogue
- "Aces of the Luftwaffe". Joachim Müncheberg. http://www.luftwaffe.cz/muncheberg.html. Retrieved 16 April 2007.
- "Lexikon der Wehrmacht" (in German). Joachim Müncheberg. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/MuenchebergJ.htm. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- Dariusz Tyminski. "WW II Ace Stories". Joachim Müncheberg. http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/munche/munche.htm. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
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The original article can be found at Joachim Müncheberg and the edit history here.