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Otto Fönnekold
Otto Fonnekold
Otto Fönnekold
Born (1920-02-15)15 February 1920
Died August 31, 1944(1944-08-31) (aged 24)
Place of birth Hamburg
Place of death Ssaß-Budak, Siebenbürgen
Allegiance Flag of German Reich (1935–1945) Nazi Germany
Service/branch Balkenkreuz Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939 – 1944
Rank Hauptmann
Unit JG 52
Commands held 5./JG 52
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Otto Fönnekold (15 February 1920 – 31 August 1944) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of 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 was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Fönnekold was credited with 136 aerial victories—that is, 136 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. All but three of his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in about 600 combat missions.[2]

Fönnekold claimed three United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) P-51 Mustang's on 31 August 1944. He was bounced on his landing approach at Ssaß-Budak by P-51 Mustang's. One of the .50 caliber projectiles penetrated his heart. Nevertheless he landed his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknnummer 441931—factory number) "black 9" before succumbing to his injury.[3]

Awards[]

References[]

Citations
  1. Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. Spick 1996, p. 230.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Obermaier 1989, p. 111.
  4. Patzwall and Scherzer 2001, p. 118.
  5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 183.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 0-8041-1696-2.

External links[]



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