fbpx
Wikipedia

Gerhard Michalski

December 01, 2023

Gerhard Michalski (25 June 1917 – 22 February 1946) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 73 aerial victories in 652 missions, of which 59 victories were achieved over the Western Front including 13 four-engine bombers, and 14 over the Eastern Front. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Gerhard Michalski
Born(1917-06-25)25 June 1917
Augsdorf
Died22 February 1946(1946-02-22) (aged 28)
Kaltenkirchen
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
RankOberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel)
UnitJG 53, JG z.b.V., JG 4, JG 11
Commands heldJG 4
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Early life and career edit

Michalski was born on 25 June 1917 in Augsdorf in the Province of Saxony of the German Empire. In 1936, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe and was promoted to Leutnant in 1938. Michalski received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) on 28 September 1939.[1]

World War II edit

Michalski joined 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) in 1940. He claimed his first victory on 31 March 1940 during the "Phoney War", when he downed a French Morane Saulnier MS 406 fighter over the French border near Püttlingen.[2] Flying through the Battle of Britain, he gained eight more victories. In October 1940, Michalski was appointed Adjutant in II./JG 53.

JG 53 flew its last mission on the Channel Front on 4 June 1941.[3] Four days later, II. Gruppe was ordered to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield.[4]

Operation Barbarossa edit

In preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the aircraft were given a maintenance overhaul at Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield.[5] On 12 June, II. Gruppe relocated to Sobolewo. On 21 June, the commanding officers were ordered to Suwałki where they were briefed by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring.[6]

With JG 53 participating in the invasion of Russia from June 1941 onward, Michalski claimed 13 further victories by the end of August 1941 for a total of 22.

On 5 October 1941, II. Gruppe of JG 53 was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and ordered to Insterburg, present-day Chernyakhovsk.[7] The Gruppe was then sent to Leeuwarden Airfield in the Netherlands where they arrived on 12. October.[8] Prior to the relocation, Michalski was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel of JG 53,[9] relacing Oberleutnant Kurt Liedtke in this capacity.[10]

Mediterranean theater edit

In November 1941, II. Gruppe of JG 53 were relocated to Sicily for operations against Malta. Michalski was to become the most successful German fighter pilot in the Siege of Malta, claiming 26 victories against the island's defenders.[11] Michalski was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 53 in August 1942. He succeeded Hauptmann Walter Spies who was transferred. Command of 4. Staffel was then passed to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Hobirk.[12] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 41 victories in September. On 1 October, Michalski was promoted to Hauptmann (captain).[1]

 
Bf 109s of JG 53 in southern Italy, similar to those flown by Michalski.

On 15 October, Michalski was shot down in his Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 10484—factory number). He bailed out over sea, climbed into his life raft before he was picked by a Dornier Do 24 flying boat of Seenotstaffel 6, the 6th Squadron of the German air-sea rescue service.[13] His victors were No. 126 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire fighters, flown by F/L. Jones and F/Sgt Varey, who shot him down off Marsaxlokk Bay.[14]

In November 1942, II./JG 53 were sent to Tunisia. On 27 November, Michalski claimed Spitfire fighter shot down 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) south of Majaz al Bab. That day, the RAF lost two Spitfires in aerial combat, one from No. 72 Squadron and another from No. 152 Squadron, plus one another Spitfire damaged in combat. While Luftwaffe pilots claimed ten Spitfires shot down.[15]

Following the fall of Tunisia, II./JG 53 relocated to bases in Sicily in May 1943. By June 1943, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 53, Oberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, had fallen ill and could no longer lead JG 53 during combat missions. In consequence, Michalski was tasked with leading the air elements of JG 53.[16] On 13 June, Michalski claimed a Supermarin Spitfire fighter shot down near Syracuse. His opponent may have been Wing Commander John Ellis who bailed out and was taken prisoner of war.[17]

On 18 June 1943, II. Gruppe engaged in combat with eight Spitfire fighters over southeast Sicily. In this encounter, Michalski was shot down in his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 16362) near Donnafugata Castle. Forced to bail out, he was injured and taken to hospital in Ragusa.[18][19] His victor was Flying Officer George Noel Keith Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), flying a Spitfire of No. 72 Squadron.[20][21] He bailed out wounded in the leg and with a broken ankle, landing in the sea, from where he was rescued by the German air-sea rescue service. Hospitalised, he returned to JG 53 in August 1943.

On 1 October, Michalski was promoted to Major (major).[22] In November 1943, II./JG 53 was relocated to airfields in Austria, operating on Reichsverteidigung (Defense of the Reich) duties. Michalski claimed his 60th victory on 2 November.

Wing commander edit

On 24 April 1944, Michalski was made Geschwaderkommodore of the newly formed Jagdgeschwader z.b.V. (JG z.b.V.—fighter wing for special deployement), a special purpose unit which was tasked with defending the southern German airspace under control of 7. Jagd-Division (7th Fighter Division). Initially, the unit was based at Kassel and equipped with the Bf 109 G-6.[23] On 29 April, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force headed for Berlin. Michalski led the Stab and II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing) on the intercept mission. Near Schandelah, present-day part of Cremlingen, he shot down a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.[24] On 1 May, the Eighth Air Force attacked German railroad infrastructure in southern Germany. Defending against this attack, Michalski was shot down by USAAF escorting fighters in his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 440232) near Saarbrücken. Due to his injuries, he was taken off duty. The position of Geschwaderkommodore was left vacant until on 21 May Major Walther Dahl was given command of JG z.b.V.[25]

Following his recovery, Michalski was transferred to the Verbandsführerschule of the General der Jagdflieger on 20 May 1944. On 21 July, he joined the Stabsstaffel, I./Jagdgeschwader 11.

On 15 June, JG z.b.V. had been renamed and became Jagdgeschwader 4 (JG 4—4th Fighter Wing) and Dahl was replaced by Major Gerhard Schöpfel as commander of JG 4. When on 6 August Schöpfel was wounded in combat, Michalski was transferred and became Geschwaderkommodore of JG 4.[26] Michalski was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 25 November for 72 victories. On 1 January 1945, Michalski was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel).[22] He gained his 73rd and final victory on 8 March 1945, over the Eastern Front.

As Geschwaderkommodore, Michalski was ordered to Berlin on 22 January 1945 and attended the meeting with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring which was later dubbed the Fighter Pilots' Mutiny. This was an attempt to reinstate Generalleutnant Adolf Galland as General der Jagdflieger who had been dismissed for outspokenness regarding the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe high command), and had been replaced by Oberst Gordon Gollob. The meeting was held at the Haus der Flieger in Berlin and was attended by a number of high-ranking fighter pilot leaders which included Michalski, Günther Lützow, Hannes Trautloft, Hermann Graf, Erich Leie, Helmut Bennemann, Kurt Bühligen and Herbert Ihlefeld, and their antagonist Göring supported by his staff Bernd von Brauchitsch and Karl Koller. The fighter pilots, with Lützow taking the lead as spokesman, criticized Göring and made him personally responsible for the decisions taken which effectively had led to the lost air war over Europe.[27]

Michalski was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 22 February 1946 and died in a hospital in Kaltenkirchen.[22] His brother Werner was killed in action as a Leutnant on 10 April 1942 serving with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter".[28]

Summary of career edit

Aerial victory claims edit

According to Spick, Michalski was credited with 73 aerial victories in 652 missions, of which 59 victories were achieved over the Western Front including 13 four-engine bombers and 29 Spitfire fighters.[29] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 68 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This number includes 14 on the Eastern Front and 54 on the Western Front, including 11 four-engined bombers.[30]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 03 Ost 9848". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[31]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Michalski did not receive credit.
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
  This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.
  This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[32]
"Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940
1 31 March 1940 16:00 M.S.406 southwest of Sarreguemines[33]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[32]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June – August 1940
2 1 15 August 1940 18:50 Hurricane southwest of Portland[34]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[32]
At the Channel and over England — August 1940 – 8 June 1941
3 2 10 October 1940 11:40?[Note 1] Spitfire Folkestone[35]
Thames Estuary 		7 24 November 1940 16:50 Hurricane Gravesend[36]
4 3 11 October 1940 08:55 Spitfire[35] 8 6 30 November 1940 15:26 Hurricane Ashford[36]
5 4 28 October 1940 17:28 Hurricane 20 km (12 mi) south of London[36] 9 7 25 April 1941 15:47 Spitfire[37]
6 5 1 November 1940 15:40 Spitfire[36]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[32]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 8 October 1941
10 8 1 July 1941 13:52 I-153[38] 17 15 29 August 1941 15:57 I-16[39]?[Note 2]
11 9 4 July 1941 16:45 SB-2[38] 18 16 11 September 1941 09:02 I-18 (MiG-1)[39]
12 10 4 July 1941 16:49 SB-3[38] 19 17 21 September 1941 16:05 I-18 (MiG-1)[40]
13 11 5 July 1941 09:26 SB-3 southeast of Smitten[38] 20 18 23 September 1941 17:05 I-18 (MiG-1)[40]
14 12 14 July 1941 19:24 DB-3[41] 21 19 28 September 1941 08:03 I-18 (MiG-1)[40]
15 13 19 July 1941 17:25 R-5[41] 22 20 4 October 1941 09:43?[Note 3] I-18 (MiG-1)[42]
16 14 27 August 1941 17:10 R-5[41]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[32]
Mediterranean Theater — 15 December 1941 – August 1942
23?[Note 4] 21 20 December 1941 16:40 Hurricane[45] 35 30 29 June 1942 08:45 Spitfire[46]
24 29 December 1941 10:40 Hurricane[47] 36 31 2 July 1942 08:07 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Malta[46]
5–8 km (3.1–5.0 mi) north of Ta' Vnezja
25 22 3 January 1942 09:18?[Note 5] Hurricane[47] 37 32 2 July 1942 13:30 Spitfire 7–8 km (4.3–5.0 mi) east of La Valletta[46]
26 23 20 January 1942 14:18 Hurricane[47] 38 33 8 July 1942 06:48 Spitfire[48]
27
—
 24 January 1942 14:25 Hurricane[47] 39 34 8 July 1942 11:35 Spitfire[48]
28 24 17 March 1942 08:08 Spitfire Malta[49] 40 35 30 July 1942 08:25 Spitfire[48]
29
—
 2 April 1942 10:42 Spitfire[49] 41 36 31 July 1942 14:58 Spitfire[48]
30 25 8 May 1942 09:40 P-40 Ta' Vnezja[50] 42 37 31 July 1942 15:00 Spitfire[48]
26 14 May 1942 11:43 Spitfire 38 2 August 1942 14:30 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Venezia
31 15 May 1942 11:31 Spitfire[50] 43 39 2 August 1942 16:23 Spitfire[48]
32 27 3 June 1942 11:13 Spitfire 60 km (37 mi) southeast of Pantelleria[46] 44 40 10 August 1942 12:21 Spitfire[48]
33 28 8 June 1942 11:25 Spitfire[46] 45?[Note 4] 12 August 1942
—
 Spitfire[51]
34 29 15 June 1942 10:40 Beaufighter 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Pantelleria[46] 46 41 14 August 1942 18:48 Spitfire[52]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[32]
Mediterranean Theater — August – 31 December 1942
47 42 13 October 1942?[Note 6] 14:10?[Note 7] Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) north of La Valletta[52] 49 44 27 November 1942 14:56 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Majaz al Bab[53]
48 43 14 October 1942 08:20 Spitfire[52] vicinity of Malta
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[30]
Mediterranean Theater — 1 January – 15 October 1943
50?[Note 4]
—
 1 January 1943 11:56 Spitfire[54] 56 50 19 April 1943 16:08 Spitfire 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Menzel Temime[55]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Zembra
51 45 25 February 1943 12:16 P-38 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tebourba[55] 57 51 2 May 1943 14:54 P-40 southwest of Béja[55]
52?[Note 8] 2 March 1943 11:50 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Sfax[55] 58 52 8 June 1943 08:52 Spitfire 40 km (25 mi) south-southwest of Pozzallo[55]
46 2 March 1943 11:50 B-17* 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Béja 59 53 9 June 1943 14:00 P-38 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Pantelleria[55]
53?[Note 8] 47 22 March 1943 14:10 P-38 PQ 03 Ost 9848[55] 60 54 13 June 1943 12:12 Spitfire Syracuse[55]
54 48 18 April 1943 19:05 P-40 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of the Gulf of Tunis[55] 61?[Note 4] 55 8 September 1943 17:00 P-38[56] 50 km (31 mi) southwest of Capri
55 49 19 April 1943 15:56 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Zembra[55]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[57]
Defense of the Reich — 16 October – 31 December 1943
62 56 2 November 1943 12:40?[Note 9] B-24* Kaindorf[58]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[57]
Defense of the Reich — 1 January – April 1944
63 57 7 January 1944 11:28 P-38[59] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Kalsdorf 67 8 April 1944
—
 B-24[59]
64 58 24 February 1944 12:56 B-17[59] vicinity of Friedburg 68 11 April 1944
—
 B-24[59]
65 59 25 February 1944 11:56 B-24[59] Radlersberg-Fridau 69 61 13 April 1944 15:54 B-17[59] Königsdorf
66 60 23 March 1944 10:28 B-17[59] southwest of Braundes 70 62 19 April 1944 10:35 B-17[59] south of Hann. Münden, east of Kassel
– Stab of Jagdgruppe z.b.V. –[57]
Defense of the Reich — April 1944
71 63 29 April 1944 11:03 B-17 Schandelah,[60] east of Braunschweig
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 4 –[57]
Defense of the Reich — September 1944 – 8 May 1945
72 64 21 September 1944 15:25 Lancaster northwest of Nijmegen[60] 75 67 2 November 1944 12:56?[Note 10] B-17 PQ 15 Ost JD-JE[60]
73 65 27 September 1944 18:15 Typhoon southwest of Goch[60] 76 68 8 March 1945 10:27 Yak-9 Eastern Front
74 66 2 November 1944 12:55 B-17 PQ 15 Ost JE-JD[60]

Awards edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:45.[32]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1.[32]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:45.[32]
  4. ^ a b c d This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[43][44]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:18.[32]
  6. ^ According to Prien, this claim was dated 12 October 1942.[51]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:16.[32]
  8. ^ a b This claim is not listed by Prien.[54]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:48.[57]
  10. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:56.[57]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Stockert 2011, p. 170.
  2. ^ Prien 1997, p. 76.
  3. ^ Prien 1997, p. 242.
  4. ^ Prien 1997, p. 244.
  5. ^ Prien 1997, p. 252.
  6. ^ Prien 1997, p. 253.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 127.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 104.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 105.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 129.
  11. ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1991, p. 652.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 134.
  13. ^ Prien 1998, pp. 489, 495.
  14. ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1991, pp. 607–608.
  15. ^ Shores & Massimello 2016, pp. 145–147.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2010, pp. 379, 389.
  17. ^ Cull, Malizia & Galea 2000, pp. 76–77.
  18. ^ Prien 1998, pp. 628, 654.
  19. ^ Prien et al. 2010, p. 394.
  20. ^ Cull, Malizia & Galea 2000, pp. 95–99.
  21. ^ Shores et al. 2018, pp. 96, 98.
  22. ^ a b c Stockert 2011, p. 171.
  23. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 397.
  24. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, pp. 397, 404.
  25. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, pp. 397, 400, 404.
  26. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, pp. 397–398, 400.
  27. ^ Braatz 2005, p. 348–351.
  28. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 71.
  29. ^ Spick 1996, p. 237.
  30. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 849–850.
  31. ^ Planquadrat.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 849.
  33. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 386.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 226.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 228.
  36. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2002, p. 230.
  37. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 231.
  38. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003b, p. 131.
  39. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 134.
  40. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 135.
  41. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 133.
  42. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 137.
  43. ^ Prien et al. 2004, pp. 142, 148.
  44. ^ Prien et al. 2011, pp. 122–123.
  45. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1669.
  46. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2004, p. 146.
  47. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2004, p. 142.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2004, p. 148.
  49. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 143.
  50. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 144.
  51. ^ a b Prien 1991, p. 1677.
  52. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 149.
  53. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 150.
  54. ^ a b Prien 1991, p. 1678.
  55. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2011, p. 123.
  56. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1680.
  57. ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 850.
  58. ^ Prien et al. 2009, p. 244.
  59. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien 1991, p. 1683.
  60. ^ a b c d e Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 404.
  61. ^ a b Thomas 1998, p. 80.
  62. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 543.
  63. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 311.
  64. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 93.

Bibliography edit

  • Bergström, Christer. . Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  • Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow [God or an Airplane – Life and Death of Fighter Pilot Günther Lützow] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-6-8.
  • Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola; Galea, Frederick (2000). Spitfires Over Sicily – The crucial role of the Malta Spitfires in the Battle of Scily, January – August 1943. Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-902304-32-8.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [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] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Prien, Jochen (1991). Pik-As: Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 53 — 3 — Das Ende in Italien 1944, Rumänien, Ungarn 1944/45, Einsatz zur Verteidigung des Reiches 1943–1945 [Ace of Spades: History of the Fighter Wing 53 — 3 — The End in Italy 1944, Romania, Hungary 1944/45, Defense of the Reich 1943–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-16-8.
  • Prien, Jochen (1997). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader March 1937 – May 1942. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0175-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1998). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader May 1942 – January 1944. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0292-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26 June 1940 bis 21 June 1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2009). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/III—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/III—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-89-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2011). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1 bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-00-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2018). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/IV—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/IV—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-19-2.
  • 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 [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] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1991). Malta: The Spitfire Year. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-16-8.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni (2016). A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945. Volume Three: Tunisia and the End in Africa, November 1942–1943. London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-1-910690-67-3.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried; Thomas, Andy (2018). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Volume Four: Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome: 14 May, 1943 – 5 June 1944. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-911621-10-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Stockert, Peter (2011). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 7 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 7] (in German). Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
Military offices
Preceded by
none
 Commander of Jagdgeschwader z.b.V.
20 April 1944 – 20 May 1944 		Succeeded by
Hauptmann Walther Dahl
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 4
7 August 1944 – 8 May 1945 		Succeeded by
none

December 01, 2023
gerhard, michalski, june, 1917, february, 1946, german, luftwaffe, military, aviator, wing, commander, during, world, fighter, credited, with, aerial, victories, missions, which, victories, were, achieved, over, western, front, including, four, engine, bombers. Gerhard Michalski 25 June 1917 22 February 1946 was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II As a fighter ace he is credited with 73 aerial victories in 652 missions of which 59 victories were achieved over the Western Front including 13 four engine bombers and 14 over the Eastern Front He was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II Gerhard MichalskiBorn 1917 06 25 25 June 1917AugsdorfDied22 February 1946 1946 02 22 aged 28 KaltenkirchenAllegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branch LuftwaffeRankOberstleutnant lieutenant colonel UnitJG 53 JG z b V JG 4 JG 11Commands heldJG 4Battles warsSee battlesWorld War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Eastern Front Battle of Malta Defense of the ReichAwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Contents 1 Early life and career 2 World War II 2 1 Operation Barbarossa 2 2 Mediterranean theater 2 3 Wing commander 3 Summary of career 3 1 Aerial victory claims 3 2 Awards 4 Notes 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 BibliographyEarly life and career editMichalski was born on 25 June 1917 in Augsdorf in the Province of Saxony of the German Empire In 1936 he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe and was promoted to Leutnant in 1938 Michalski received the Iron Cross 2nd Class Eisernes Kreuz 2 Klasse on 28 September 1939 1 World War II editMichalski joined 6 Staffel 6th squadron of Jagdgeschwader 53 JG 53 53rd Fighter Wing in 1940 He claimed his first victory on 31 March 1940 during the Phoney War when he downed a French Morane Saulnier MS 406 fighter over the French border near Puttlingen 2 Flying through the Battle of Britain he gained eight more victories In October 1940 Michalski was appointed Adjutant in II JG 53 JG 53 flew its last mission on the Channel Front on 4 June 1941 3 Four days later II Gruppe was ordered to Mannheim Sandhofen Airfield 4 Operation Barbarossa edit In preparation of Operation Barbarossa the German invasion of the Soviet Union the aircraft were given a maintenance overhaul at Mannheim Sandhofen Airfield 5 On 12 June II Gruppe relocated to Sobolewo On 21 June the commanding officers were ordered to Suwalki where they were briefed by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring 6 With JG 53 participating in the invasion of Russia from June 1941 onward Michalski claimed 13 further victories by the end of August 1941 for a total of 22 On 5 October 1941 II Gruppe of JG 53 was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and ordered to Insterburg present day Chernyakhovsk 7 The Gruppe was then sent to Leeuwarden Airfield in the Netherlands where they arrived on 12 October 8 Prior to the relocation Michalski was appointed Staffelkapitan squadron leader of 4 Staffel of JG 53 9 relacing Oberleutnant Kurt Liedtke in this capacity 10 Mediterranean theater edit In November 1941 II Gruppe of JG 53 were relocated to Sicily for operations against Malta Michalski was to become the most successful German fighter pilot in the Siege of Malta claiming 26 victories against the island s defenders 11 Michalski was appointed Gruppenkommandeur group commander of II Gruppe of JG 53 in August 1942 He succeeded Hauptmann Walter Spies who was transferred Command of 4 Staffel was then passed to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Hobirk 12 He was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for 41 victories in September On 1 October Michalski was promoted to Hauptmann captain 1 nbsp Bf 109s of JG 53 in southern Italy similar to those flown by Michalski On 15 October Michalski was shot down in his Bf 109 G 2 Werknummer 10484 factory number He bailed out over sea climbed into his life raft before he was picked by a Dornier Do 24 flying boat of Seenotstaffel 6 the 6th Squadron of the German air sea rescue service 13 His victors were No 126 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire fighters flown by F L Jones and F Sgt Varey who shot him down off Marsaxlokk Bay 14 In November 1942 II JG 53 were sent to Tunisia On 27 November Michalski claimed Spitfire fighter shot down 15 kilometers 9 3 miles south of Majaz al Bab That day the RAF lost two Spitfires in aerial combat one from No 72 Squadron and another from No 152 Squadron plus one another Spitfire damaged in combat While Luftwaffe pilots claimed ten Spitfires shot down 15 Following the fall of Tunisia II JG 53 relocated to bases in Sicily in May 1943 By June 1943 the Geschwaderkommodore wing commander of JG 53 Oberst Gunther Freiherr von Maltzahn had fallen ill and could no longer lead JG 53 during combat missions In consequence Michalski was tasked with leading the air elements of JG 53 16 On 13 June Michalski claimed a Supermarin Spitfire fighter shot down near Syracuse His opponent may have been Wing Commander John Ellis who bailed out and was taken prisoner of war 17 On 18 June 1943 II Gruppe engaged in combat with eight Spitfire fighters over southeast Sicily In this encounter Michalski was shot down in his Bf 109 G 6 Werknummer 16362 near Donnafugata Castle Forced to bail out he was injured and taken to hospital in Ragusa 18 19 His victor was Flying Officer George Noel Keith Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF flying a Spitfire of No 72 Squadron 20 21 He bailed out wounded in the leg and with a broken ankle landing in the sea from where he was rescued by the German air sea rescue service Hospitalised he returned to JG 53 in August 1943 On 1 October Michalski was promoted to Major major 22 In November 1943 II JG 53 was relocated to airfields in Austria operating on Reichsverteidigung Defense of the Reich duties Michalski claimed his 60th victory on 2 November Wing commander edit On 24 April 1944 Michalski was made Geschwaderkommodore of the newly formed Jagdgeschwader z b V JG z b V fighter wing for special deployement a special purpose unit which was tasked with defending the southern German airspace under control of 7 Jagd Division 7th Fighter Division Initially the unit was based at Kassel and equipped with the Bf 109 G 6 23 On 29 April the United States Army Air Forces USAAF Eighth Air Force headed for Berlin Michalski led the Stab and II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 JG 27 27th Fighter Wing on the intercept mission Near Schandelah present day part of Cremlingen he shot down a Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress bomber 24 On 1 May the Eighth Air Force attacked German railroad infrastructure in southern Germany Defending against this attack Michalski was shot down by USAAF escorting fighters in his Bf 109 G 6 Werknummer 440232 near Saarbrucken Due to his injuries he was taken off duty The position of Geschwaderkommodore was left vacant until on 21 May Major Walther Dahl was given command of JG z b V 25 Following his recovery Michalski was transferred to the Verbandsfuhrerschule of the General der Jagdflieger on 20 May 1944 On 21 July he joined the Stabsstaffel I Jagdgeschwader 11 On 15 June JG z b V had been renamed and became Jagdgeschwader 4 JG 4 4th Fighter Wing and Dahl was replaced by Major Gerhard Schopfel as commander of JG 4 When on 6 August Schopfel was wounded in combat Michalski was transferred and became Geschwaderkommodore of JG 4 26 Michalski was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub on 25 November for 72 victories On 1 January 1945 Michalski was promoted to Oberstleutnant lieutenant colonel 22 He gained his 73rd and final victory on 8 March 1945 over the Eastern Front As Geschwaderkommodore Michalski was ordered to Berlin on 22 January 1945 and attended the meeting with Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring which was later dubbed the Fighter Pilots Mutiny This was an attempt to reinstate Generalleutnant Adolf Galland as General der Jagdflieger who had been dismissed for outspokenness regarding the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe Luftwaffe high command and had been replaced by Oberst Gordon Gollob The meeting was held at the Haus der Flieger in Berlin and was attended by a number of high ranking fighter pilot leaders which included Michalski Gunther Lutzow Hannes Trautloft Hermann Graf Erich Leie Helmut Bennemann Kurt Buhligen and Herbert Ihlefeld and their antagonist Goring supported by his staff Bernd von Brauchitsch and Karl Koller The fighter pilots with Lutzow taking the lead as spokesman criticized Goring and made him personally responsible for the decisions taken which effectively had led to the lost air war over Europe 27 Michalski was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 22 February 1946 and died in a hospital in Kaltenkirchen 22 His brother Werner was killed in action as a Leutnant on 10 April 1942 serving with Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter 28 Summary of career editAerial victory claims edit According to Spick Michalski was credited with 73 aerial victories in 652 missions of which 59 victories were achieved over the Western Front including 13 four engine bombers and 29 Spitfire fighters 29 Mathews and Foreman authors of Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 68 aerial victory claims plus three further unconfirmed claims This number includes 14 on the Eastern Front and 54 on the Western Front including 11 four engined bombers 30 Victory claims were logged to a map reference PQ Planquadrat for example PQ 03 Ost 9848 The Luftwaffe grid map Jagermeldenetz covered all of Europe western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude an area of about 360 square miles 930 km2 These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km 4 km 1 9 mi 2 5 mi in size 31 Chronicle of aerial victories This and the dash indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Michalski did not receive credit This along with the asterisk indicates an Herausschuss separation shot a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory This and the exclamation mark indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock This and the hash mark indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman This and the question mark indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien Stemmer Rodeike Bock Mathews and Foreman Claim Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Claim Date Time Type Location Stab II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 32 Phoney War 1 September 1939 9 May 19401 31 March 1940 16 00 M S 406 southwest of Sarreguemines 33 6 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 32 At the Channel and over England 26 June August 19402 1 15 August 1940 18 50 Hurricane southwest of Portland 34 Stab II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 32 At the Channel and over England August 1940 8 June 19413 2 10 October 1940 11 40 Note 1 Spitfire Folkestone 35 Thames Estuary 7 24 November 1940 16 50 Hurricane Gravesend 36 4 3 11 October 1940 08 55 Spitfire 35 8 6 30 November 1940 15 26 Hurricane Ashford 36 5 4 28 October 1940 17 28 Hurricane 20 km 12 mi south of London 36 9 7 25 April 1941 15 47 Spitfire 37 6 5 1 November 1940 15 40 Spitfire 36 Stab II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 32 Operation Barbarossa 22 June 8 October 194110 8 1 July 1941 13 52 I 153 38 17 15 29 August 1941 15 57 I 16 39 Note 2 11 9 4 July 1941 16 45 SB 2 38 18 16 11 September 1941 09 02 I 18 MiG 1 39 12 10 4 July 1941 16 49 SB 3 38 19 17 21 September 1941 16 05 I 18 MiG 1 40 13 11 5 July 1941 09 26 SB 3 southeast of Smitten 38 20 18 23 September 1941 17 05 I 18 MiG 1 40 14 12 14 July 1941 19 24 DB 3 41 21 19 28 September 1941 08 03 I 18 MiG 1 40 15 13 19 July 1941 17 25 R 5 41 22 20 4 October 1941 09 43 Note 3 I 18 MiG 1 42 16 14 27 August 1941 17 10 R 5 41 4 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 32 Mediterranean Theater 15 December 1941 August 194223 Note 4 21 20 December 1941 16 40 Hurricane 45 35 30 29 June 1942 08 45 Spitfire 46 24 29 December 1941 10 40 Hurricane 47 36 31 2 July 1942 08 07 Spitfire 10 km 6 2 mi northeast of Malta 46 5 8 km 3 1 5 0 mi north of Ta Vnezja25 22 3 January 1942 09 18 Note 5 Hurricane 47 37 32 2 July 1942 13 30 Spitfire 7 8 km 4 3 5 0 mi east of La Valletta 46 26 23 20 January 1942 14 18 Hurricane 47 38 33 8 July 1942 06 48 Spitfire 48 27 24 January 1942 14 25 Hurricane 47 39 34 8 July 1942 11 35 Spitfire 48 28 24 17 March 1942 08 08 Spitfire Malta 49 40 35 30 July 1942 08 25 Spitfire 48 29 2 April 1942 10 42 Spitfire 49 41 36 31 July 1942 14 58 Spitfire 48 30 25 8 May 1942 09 40 P 40 Ta Vnezja 50 42 37 31 July 1942 15 00 Spitfire 48 26 14 May 1942 11 43 Spitfire 38 2 August 1942 14 30 Spitfire 5 km 3 1 mi west of Venezia31 15 May 1942 11 31 Spitfire 50 43 39 2 August 1942 16 23 Spitfire 48 32 27 3 June 1942 11 13 Spitfire 60 km 37 mi southeast of Pantelleria 46 44 40 10 August 1942 12 21 Spitfire 48 33 28 8 June 1942 11 25 Spitfire 46 45 Note 4 12 August 1942 Spitfire 51 34 29 15 June 1942 10 40 Beaufighter 70 km 43 mi southeast of Pantelleria 46 46 41 14 August 1942 18 48 Spitfire 52 Stab II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 32 Mediterranean Theater August 31 December 194247 42 13 October 1942 Note 6 14 10 Note 7 Spitfire 20 km 12 mi north of La Valletta 52 49 44 27 November 1942 14 56 Spitfire 15 km 9 3 mi south of Majaz al Bab 53 48 43 14 October 1942 08 20 Spitfire 52 vicinity of Malta Stab II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 30 Mediterranean Theater 1 January 15 October 194350 Note 4 1 January 1943 11 56 Spitfire 54 56 50 19 April 1943 16 08 Spitfire 3 km 1 9 mi southeast of Menzel Temime 55 15 km 9 3 mi southwest of Zembra51 45 25 February 1943 12 16 P 38 15 km 9 3 mi west of Tebourba 55 57 51 2 May 1943 14 54 P 40 southwest of Beja 55 52 Note 8 2 March 1943 11 50 Spitfire 5 km 3 1 mi southeast of Sfax 55 58 52 8 June 1943 08 52 Spitfire 40 km 25 mi south southwest of Pozzallo 55 46 2 March 1943 11 50 B 17 5 km 3 1 mi southeast of Beja 59 53 9 June 1943 14 00 P 38 15 km 9 3 mi south of Pantelleria 55 53 Note 8 47 22 March 1943 14 10 P 38 PQ 03 Ost 9848 55 60 54 13 June 1943 12 12 Spitfire Syracuse 55 54 48 18 April 1943 19 05 P 40 4 km 2 5 mi southeast of the Gulf of Tunis 55 61 Note 4 55 8 September 1943 17 00 P 38 56 50 km 31 mi southwest of Capri55 49 19 April 1943 15 56 Spitfire 15 km 9 3 mi southwest of Zembra 55 Stab II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 57 Defense of the Reich 16 October 31 December 194362 56 2 November 1943 12 40 Note 9 B 24 Kaindorf 58 Stab II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 57 Defense of the Reich 1 January April 194463 57 7 January 1944 11 28 P 38 59 15 km 9 3 mi south of Kalsdorf 67 8 April 1944 B 24 59 64 58 24 February 1944 12 56 B 17 59 vicinity of Friedburg 68 11 April 1944 B 24 59 65 59 25 February 1944 11 56 B 24 59 Radlersberg Fridau 69 61 13 April 1944 15 54 B 17 59 Konigsdorf66 60 23 March 1944 10 28 B 17 59 southwest of Braundes 70 62 19 April 1944 10 35 B 17 59 south of Hann Munden east of Kassel Stab of Jagdgruppe z b V 57 Defense of the Reich April 194471 63 29 April 1944 11 03 B 17 Schandelah 60 east of Braunschweig Stab of Jagdgeschwader 4 57 Defense of the Reich September 1944 8 May 194572 64 21 September 1944 15 25 Lancaster northwest of Nijmegen 60 75 67 2 November 1944 12 56 Note 10 B 17 PQ 15 Ost JD JE 60 73 65 27 September 1944 18 15 Typhoon southwest of Goch 60 76 68 8 March 1945 10 27 Yak 9 Eastern Front74 66 2 November 1944 12 55 B 17 PQ 15 Ost JE JD 60 Awards edit Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class 28 September 1939 61 1st Class 3 September 1940 61 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight s Cross on 4 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitan of the 4 Jagdgeschwader 53 62 63 667th Oak Leaves on 25 November 1944 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 4 62 64 Notes edit According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11 45 32 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 1 32 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09 45 32 a b c d This claim is not listed by Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock 43 44 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14 18 32 According to Prien this claim was dated 12 October 1942 51 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14 16 32 a b This claim is not listed by Prien 54 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12 48 57 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11 56 57 References editCitations edit a b Stockert 2011 p 170 Prien 1997 p 76 Prien 1997 p 242 Prien 1997 p 244 Prien 1997 p 252 Prien 1997 p 253 Prien et al 2003b p 127 Prien et al 2003a p 104 Prien et al 2003a p 105 Prien et al 2003b p 129 Shores Cull amp Malizia 1991 p 652 Prien et al 2004 p 134 Prien 1998 pp 489 495 Shores Cull amp Malizia 1991 pp 607 608 Shores amp Massimello 2016 pp 145 147 Prien et al 2010 pp 379 389 Cull Malizia amp Galea 2000 pp 76 77 Prien 1998 pp 628 654 Prien et al 2010 p 394 Cull Malizia amp Galea 2000 pp 95 99 Shores et al 2018 pp 96 98 a b c Stockert 2011 p 171 Prien Stemmer amp Bock 2018 p 397 Prien Stemmer amp Bock 2018 pp 397 404 Prien Stemmer amp Bock 2018 pp 397 400 404 Prien Stemmer amp Bock 2018 pp 397 398 400 Braatz 2005 p 348 351 Obermaier 1989 p 71 Spick 1996 p 237 a b Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 849 850 Planquadrat a b c d e f g h i j k Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 849 Prien et al 2001 p 386 Prien et al 2002 p 226 a b Prien et al 2002 p 228 a b c d Prien et al 2002 p 230 Prien et al 2002 p 231 a b c d Prien et al 2003b p 131 a b Prien et al 2003b p 134 a b c Prien et al 2003b p 135 a b c Prien et al 2003b p 133 Prien et al 2003b p 137 Prien et al 2004 pp 142 148 Prien et al 2011 pp 122 123 Prien 1991 p 1669 a b c d e f Prien et al 2004 p 146 a b c d Prien et al 2004 p 142 a b c d e f g Prien et al 2004 p 148 a b Prien et al 2004 p 143 a b Prien et al 2004 p 144 a b Prien 1991 p 1677 a b c Prien et al 2004 p 149 Prien et al 2004 p 150 a b Prien 1991 p 1678 a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al 2011 p 123 Prien 1991 p 1680 a b c d e f Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 850 Prien et al 2009 p 244 a b c d e f g h Prien 1991 p 1683 a b c d e Prien Stemmer amp Bock 2018 p 404 a b Thomas 1998 p 80 a b Scherzer 2007 p 543 Fellgiebel 2000 p 311 Fellgiebel 2000 p 93 Bibliography edit Bergstrom Christer Bergstrom Black Cross Red Star website Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat Archived from the original on 22 December 2018 Retrieved 12 August 2019 Braatz Kurt in German 2005 Gott oder ein Flugzeug Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Gunther Lutzow God or an Airplane Life and Death of Fighter Pilot Gunther Lutzow in German Moosburg Germany NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag ISBN 978 3 9807935 6 8 Cull Brian Malizia Nicola Galea Frederick 2000 Spitfires Over Sicily The crucial role of the Malta Spitfires in the Battle of Scily January August 1943 Grub Street ISBN 978 1 902304 32 8 Fellgiebel Walther Peer in German 2000 1986 Die Trager des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 1945 Die Inhaber der hochsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile 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 in German Friedberg Germany Podzun Pallas ISBN 978 3 7909 0284 6 Mathews Andrew Johannes Foreman John 2015 Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims Volume 3 M R Walton on Thames Red Kite ISBN 978 1 906592 20 2 Obermaier Ernst 1989 Die Ritterkreuztrager der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 1945 The Knight s Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 1945 in German Mainz Germany Verlag Dieter Hoffmann ISBN 978 3 87341 065 7 Prien Jochen 1991 Pik As Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 53 3 Das Ende in Italien 1944 Rumanien Ungarn 1944 45 Einsatz zur Verteidigung des Reiches 1943 1945 Ace of Spades History of the Fighter Wing 53 3 The End in Italy 1944 Romania Hungary 1944 45 Defense of the Reich 1943 1945 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 16 8 Prien Jochen 1997 Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the Pik As Geschwader March 1937 May 1942 Atglen Pennsylvania Schiffer Publishing ISBN 978 0 7643 0175 9 Prien Jochen 1998 Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the Pik As Geschwader May 1942 January 1944 Atglen Pennsylvania Schiffer Publishing ISBN 978 0 7643 0292 3 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2001 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 2 Der Sitzkrieg 1 9 1939 bis 9 5 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 2 The Phoney War 1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 59 5 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2002 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 4 II Einsatz am Kanal und uber England 26 June 1940 bis 21 June 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 4 II Action at the Channel and over England 26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 64 9 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003a Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 5 Heimatverteidigung 10 Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941 Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum Oktober 1940 bis November 1941 Einsatz im Westen 22 Juni bis 31 Dezember 1941 Die Erganzungsjagdgruppen Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflosung Anfang 1942 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 5 Defense of the Reich 10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941 Action in the Mediterranean Theater October 1940 to November 1941 Action in the West 22 June to 31 December 1941 The Supplementary Fighter Groups Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 68 7 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003b Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 6 II Unternehmen BARBAROSSA Einsatz im Osten 22 6 bis 5 12 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 6 II Operation BARBAROSSA Action in the East 22 June to 5 December 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 70 0 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2004 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 8 II Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 8 II Action in the Mediterranean Theater November 1941 to December 1942 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 74 8 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2009 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 10 III Reichsverteidigung 1 1 bis 31 12 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 10 III Defense of the Reich 1 January to 31 December 1943 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 89 2 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2010 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 11 I Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum 1 1 bis 31 12 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 11 I Action in the Mediterranean Theater 1 January to 31 December 1943 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 95 3 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2011 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 11 II Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum 1 1 bis 31 12 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 11 II Action in the Mediterranean Theater 1 January to 31 December 1943 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 942943 00 0 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Bock Winfried 2018 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 13 IV Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen 1 1 bis 31 12 1944 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 13 IV Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West 1 January to 31 December 1944 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 942943 19 2 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte 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 in German Jena Germany Scherzers Militaer Verlag ISBN 978 3 938845 17 2 Shores Christopher F Cull Brian Malizia Nicola 1991 Malta The Spitfire Year London UK Grub Street ISBN 978 0 948817 16 8 Shores Christopher Massimello Giovanni 2016 A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940 1945 Volume Three Tunisia and the End in Africa November 1942 1943 London UK Grub Street Publishing ISBN 978 1 910690 67 3 Shores Christopher Massimello Giovanni Guest Russell Olynyk Frank Bock Winfried Thomas Andy 2018 A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940 1945 Volume Four Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome 14 May 1943 5 June 1944 London Grub Street ISBN 978 1 911621 10 2 Spick Mike 1996 Luftwaffe Fighter Aces New York Ivy Books ISBN 978 0 8041 1696 1 Stockert Peter 2011 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 7 The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 7 in German Vol 7 2nd ed Bad Friedrichshall Germany Friedrichshaller Rundblick OCLC 76072662 Thomas Franz 1998 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 2 L Z The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 2 L Z in German Osnabruck Germany Biblio Verlag ISBN 978 3 7648 2300 9 Military officesPreceded bynone Commander of Jagdgeschwader z b V 20 April 1944 20 May 1944 Succeeded byHauptmann Walther DahlPreceded byMajor Gerhard Schopfel Commander of Jagdgeschwader 47 August 1944 8 May 1945 Succeeded bynonePortals nbsp Aviation nbsp Biography nbsp Military of Germany nbsp World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerhard Michalski amp oldid 1186420906, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.