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Heinrich Bartels

January 07, 2023

Heinrich Bartels (13 July 1918 – 23 December 1944) was an Austrian-born German fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe and fought during World War II. Bartels was credited with 99 victories, making him a fighter ace. A fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1]

Heinrich Bartels
Heinrich Bartels
Born13 July 1918
Linz, Austria-Hungary
Died23 December 1944(1944-12-23) (aged 26)
Bad Godesberg, Nazi Germany
Buried
Cemetery in Villip, Wachtberg
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–1944
RankOberfeldwebel (staff sergeant)
UnitErg./JG 26, JG 1, JG 5, JG 27
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other workButcher

Born in Austria in 1918 and working as a baker to his late teenage years Bartels joined the Luftwaffe after Germany's union with Austria in 1938. Bartels completed his training as a pilot in 1941. He was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) on the Channel Front which was tasked with intercepting Royal Air Force (RAF) incursions over occupied France and Belgium. He achieved his first aerial victory in August 1941. Bartels was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front where he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 46 aerial victories. In 1943 Bartels moved to Jagdgeschwader 27 "Afrika" (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing) to serve in the Mediterranean and Balkans theatres and by the years end had 73 victories. In 1944 he returned to the Western Front and fought Normandy Campaign in June to August 1944. Bartel's personal tally rose to 96 and he was nominated for the Oak Leaves of the Knight's Cross.

On 23 December 1944, while supporting German forces in the Battle of the Bulge Bartels was shot down by United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-47 Thunderbolts belonging to the US 56th Fighter Group after achieving his 99th aerial victory and he was posted missing in action. On 26 January 1968, 23 years later, Bartel's fighter and remains were found near Bad Godesberg, Germany.

Career

Bartels was born on 13 July 1918 in Linz, Austria.[2] Prior to his military service, Bartels was working as a butcher.[3] During his combat career, he frequently had his wife's name Marga painted on his aircraft.[4] World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Following completion of flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 1] Bartels joined the Ergänzungsgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in the summer of 1941.[2] The Ergänzungsgruppe of JG 26, a supplementary training group, was formed on 22 June 1941 in Wevelgem under the command of Hauptmann Fritz Fromme. The Gruppe was made up of two Staffeln (squadrons): The first squadron was the operational squadron and designated 1. (Einsatzstaffel) or 1. Erg./JG 26, while the second squadron was the training squadron referred to as 2. (Schulstaffel) or 2. Erg./JG 26.[6] Serving with the 1. Erg./JG 26, Bartels claimed his first aerial victory on 19 August, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire shot down at the English Channel. On 27 August, he was credited with another Spitfire shot down.[7] On 1 February 1942, 1. Erg./JG 26 was renamed and became the 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) under the command of Oberleutnant Hermann Segatz.[8] The unit then participated in Operation Donnerkeil. The objective of this operation was to give the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen fighter protection in the breakout from Brest to Germany. The Channel Dash operation (11–13 February 1942) by the Kriegsmarine was codenamed Operation Cerberus by the Germans. In support of this, the Luftwaffe, formulated an air superiority plan dubbed Operation Donnerkeil for the protection of the three German capital ships. Following the German ships, 11. Staffel arrived in Jever Air Field on 14 February and in Trondheim-Lade on 6 March. There, on 21 March, the squadron was re-designated 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing).[7]

War on the Arctic Front

 
Area of operations.

On 20 April, 8. Staffel moved to an airfield at Petsamo, present-day Pechenga in Murmansk Oblast, Russia.[9] On 26 April, the Staffel escorted Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers to Murmansk. The flight was intercepted by Hawker Hurricane fighters from 2 GvSAP (Gvardeyskiy Smeshannyy Aviatsionnyy Polk—Guards Composite Aviation Regiment). In this encounter, Bartels claimed one of the Hurricanes shot down, his first on the Arctic Front.[10] JG 5 flew numerous fighter escort missions on 10 May resulting in aerial combat with the Soviet Air Forces (VVS). The VVS lost eight aircraft plus further two were severely damaged that day, including a Hurricane fighter shot down by Bartels.[11] On 14 May between 17:55 and 19:03, eighteen German fighters flew on a Ju 87 escort mission to Murmansk. They encountered twenty-six Hurricanes, eleven Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and six Polikarpov I-16 fighters. Soviet reports indicate that one Hurricane and one P-40 was effectively lost with a I-16 and a further P-40 damaged. German pilots had claimed five aerial victories, including a I-16 by Bartels. The following day, in combat over the Liza Bight, Bartels shot down a Hurricane fighter.[12] On 17 May, he increased his number of aerial victors to seven when he again claimed a Hurricane fighter shot down. [13] On 29 July, on a Ju 87 dive bomber escort mission to Murmansk and Murmashi, Bartels claimed two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighters shot down north of Murmansk. According to Soviet records, no aircraft of that type were lost in that area that day.[14] On 10 August, 8. Staffel had combat with 20 Hurricane fighters near Ura-Guba during the course of which Bartels claimed three Hurricanes shot down.[15]

Bartels became an "ace-in-a-day" on 22 September. He claimed six aerial victories on two separate combat missions, including four Hurricanes and two MiG-3 fighters in the vicinity of Murmashi.[16] Following his 40th aerial victory, he received the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 20 October. [17] Bartels shot down three MiG-3 fighters during the third mission on 29 October, a fighter escort mission for Ju 87 dive bombers.[18] On 5 November, 8. Staffel flew a combat air patrol to Murmansk. During the course of this mission, Bartels claimed the destruction of a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter.[19] He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) after 46 aerial victories on 13 November 1942.[2] That day, Leutnant Theodor Weissenberger from 6. Staffel of JG 5 was also awarded the Knight's Cross.[20] The presentation was made by Generalmajor Alexander Holle on 30 November at Petsamo.[21]

In early 1943, Bartels was transferred due to disciplinary reasons.[22] According to Walter Schuck, the events leading to this disciplinary measure were made under the influence of large quantities of alcohol. Bartels, Schuck, and Kurt Dylewski had consumed three bottles of cognac. The intoxicated Bartels then attempted to drive a truck, was caught in the act by a fellow soldier who hit Bartels in the face. Bartels pursued the soldier only to get into a fight with another soldier. The events pinnacled when Bartels made a donkey empty its bladder into the company sergeant major's bed.[23]

Greece and the Balkans

From August 1943, Bartels served with 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 "Afrika" (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing).[24] This Staffel was subordinated to the newly created IV. Gruppe of JG 27. The Gruppe had been formed in May 1943 at the Kalamaki Airfield in Athens, Greece under the command of Hauptmann Rudolf Sinner. 11. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Alfred Buk.[25] On 17 July, IV. Gruppe moved to Tanagra Airfield.[26] Bartels claimed his first aerial victories with JG 27 on 1 October. Flying from Gadurrà Airfield on Rhodes, he claimed two Douglas A-20 Havoc bombers, also known as Bostons, near of Kos.[24][27] In early October, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) flew many missions in support of British forces fighting in the Dodecanese campaign. On 5 October, IV. Gruppe intercepted a flight of Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers over the northern Attica. In this encounter, Bartels claimed the destruction of two B-24 bombers.[28] Three days later, 105 USAAF aircraft attacked German airfields in Greece. IV. Gruppe encountered the escort fighters and shot down three Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters, all of them credited to Bartels.[29]

On 18 October, IV. Gruppe command was passed on to Hauptmann Joachim Kirschner after the former commander Sinner had been transferred on 13 September. In the intermediate period, two officers had led the Gruppe, Oberleutnant Dietrich Boesler, who was killed on 10 October, and by Burk, the commander of 11. Staffel.[30] Bartels claimed a Supermarine Spitfire shot down on 23 October. Two days later, IV. Gruppe claimed seven aerial victories without loss. Between Stari Bar and Cape of Rodon the Gruppe engaged in combat with P-38 fighters of which Bartels shot down four of the USAAF fighters.[29] On 31 October, 11. Staffel lost its Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) Burk who was shot down over sea near Cape of Rodon. In this encounter, Bartels shot down two P-38 fighters. Command of 11. Staffel was then briefly led by Leutnant Wolfgang Hohls until he was killed in action on 10 December. The Staffel was then led by Leutnant Rolf Heissner until 17 December when he was also killed. The next Staffelkapitän was then Leutnant Paul Becker. On 17. December, the Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) Kirschner was also shot down in combat and later killed. He was replaced by Hauptmann Otto Meyer.[31]

Bartels claimed his 70th aerial victory on 15 November 1943. That day, he shot down four P-38 fighters southeast of Kalamaki.[32] At the time, he was assigned Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6/R6 (Werknummer 27 169—factory number) "Red 13" bearing the name of his wife Marga.[33] Two days later, he was credited with two North American B-25 Mitchell bombers and a P-38 fighter following an USAAF attack on the Kalamaki Airfield. These were his last claims in the Mediterranean theater.[34] On 27 January 1944, IV. Gruppe began relocating to Graz Airfield, at first the ground personnel followed by the flying elements on 16 March. During its ten-month tenure since its creation in May 1943, IV. Gruppe pilots had claimed 88 aerial victories, including 24 by Bartels alone. During this period, the Gruppe lost 27 pilots plus further seven were severely wounded and one was taken prisoner of war.[35]

Defense of the Reich

 
Bartels parachute on display at the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin

Based in Graz, IV. Gruppe, along with the Stab (headquarters unit), I. and III. Gruppe of JG 27, then fought in Defense of the Reich (Reichsverteidigung), defending southern Germany and Austria. IV. Gruppe became the Höhengruppe, the high-altitude group responsible for fighting off the escort fighters.[36] Bartels claimed his first aerial victory in this theater on 11 April when he shot down a P-38 fighter 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of Graz.[37] On 23 April, Bartels shot down three Spitfire fighters in combat near Celje, approximately halfway between Maribor and Ljubljana, in Slovenia. The following day, the USAAF Eighth Air Force targeted German airfields in southern Germany as well as the aircraft factories in Oberpfaffenhofen. The attack on Landsberg Airfield and Oberpfaffenhofen was headed by 281 bombers of the 1st Bombardment Division escorted by North American P-51 Mustang long-range fighter aircraft. IV. Gruppe intercepted this flight east of Munich. In this aerial battle, Bartels claimed three P-51 fighters shot down.[38] On 28 April, Bartels shot down two P-51 fighters northeast of Ljubljana.[39] The Eighth Air Force targeted Berlin on 19 May. Near Zerbst, IV. Gruppe encountered a formation of B-24 bombers escorted by escort fighters. The Gruppe was unable to break the escort screen and attack the bombers. In this battle, Bartels shot down three of the escort fighters.[40]

On 6 June, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe in Normandy, France. IV. Gruppe was immediately ordered to relocate to Champfleury-la-Perthe, an airfield approximately 90 kilometers (56 miles) south of Reims.[41] Bartels claimed his first aerial victories on the invasion front on 14 June. That day, IV. Gruppe encountered USAAF fighters in the vicinity of Argentan. In quick succession, he shot down three Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters, followed by a fourth P-47 on the return flight.[42] Three days later, he claimed two further P-47 fighters shot down west of Dives-sur-Mer. On 22 June, Bartels shot down a Spitfire fighter and a P-51 fighter southwest of Caen. Two days later, he was credited with the destruction of two further P-51 fighters near Flers. He claimed his eleventh and last aerial victory on the invasion front on 25 June, a P-38 fighter shot down southeast of Blois.[43] For these achievements, he was nominated for Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub).[2] On 16 August, IV. Gruppe was withdrawn from the invasion front and ordered to Hustedt, north of Celle. During its eight weeks of combat on the invasion front, the Gruppe was nearly annihilated and lost 25 pilots either killed or missing in action with further 15 pilots severely wounded. In total, 98 aircraft were destroyed, 71 due to combat and 27 in flying accidents. Pilots of IV. Gruppe claimed 60 aerial victories, including eleven by Bartels, making him the most successful pilot of the unit.[44]

 
Grave in Villip, Wachtberg.

As part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe, Bartels' 11. Staffel was re-designated and became the 15. Staffel of JG 27.[45] In mid-November, the Gruppe was reequipped with the Bf 109 G-10 fighter aircraft.[46] Bartels claimed the destruction of a P-51 fighter on 8 December.[47] Ten days later, he again shot down a P-51 in the combat area near Cologne.[48] On 23 December 1944, Bartels took off for his last and fatal mission. After he shot down a P-47,[49] he was most likely shot down himself by P-47 fighters of the USAAF 56th Fighter Group. His victor may have been Colonel David C. Schilling who claimed five aerial victories that day.[50] Some 24 years later, on 26 January 1968, Bartels' Bf 109 G-10 (Werknummer 130 359) "Yellow 13" was found near Castle Gudenau in Villip, close to Bad Godesberg.[51][52] In its cockpit was Bartels' remains and his intact parachute, which is currently on display at the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin. His last rank was Oberfeldwebel (technical sergeant).[2]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Bartels was credited with 99 aerial victories claimed in approximately 500 combat missions. This figure includes 47 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 52 over the Western Allies, including two four-engined bombers.[2] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 94 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 47 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and another 47 on the Western Front, including two four-engined bombers.[53]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 2920". 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 × 4 km in size.[54]

Chronicle of aerial victories

  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Bartels an ace-in-a-day, a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Bartels did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (exclamation mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mombeek, Mathews, and Foreman.

Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 1. Ergänzungsjagdgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 –[17]
Western Front — 22 June – 31 December 1941
1 19 August 1941
—
 Spitfire[55] 2 27 August 1941
—
 Spitfire[55]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[56]
Eastern Front — April 1942 – March 1943
3 26 April 1942 09:31?[Note 2] Hurricane Murmansk[57]
vicinity of Ura-Guba 		27 8 September 1942 15:08 P-40[58] vicinity of Murmashi
4 10 May 1942 17:12 Hurricane Motovsky Gulf[59] 28 8 September 1942 15:09 P-40[58] vicinity of Murmashi
5 14 May 1942
—
?[Note 3]		 I-16[59]?[Note 3] 29 9 September 1942 10:35 P-39[58] vicinity of Kola railway
6 15 May 1942 18:11?[Note 4] Hurricane[59] vicinity of Ura-Guba 30 11 September 1942 15:30 Yak-7 north of Murmashi[60]
7 17 May 1942 05:42 Hurricane[59] vicinity of Ura-Guba 31 11 September 1942 15:35 MiG-3[60]
8 19 May 1942 09:30 MiG-3 south of Liza Bight[61] 32 11 September 1942 15:37 MiG-3[60]
9 29 July 1942 10:15 MiG-3 north of Murmansk[62] 33♠ 22 September 1942 12:07 Hurricane east of Murmashi[60]
10 29 July 1942 10:16 MiG-3 north of Murmansk[62] 34♠ 22 September 1942 12:08 Hurricane northeast of Murmashi[60]
11 5 August 1942 12:40 P-40[62] south of Shonguy 35♠ 22 September 1942 12:13 Hurricane north-northeast of Murmashi[60]
12 5 August 1942 12:45 P-40 south of Murmashi[62] 36♠ 22 September 1942 12:15 Hurricane north-northeast of Murmashi[60]
13 10 August 1942 18:50?[Note 5] Hurricane[62] 37♠ 22 September 1942 15:12 MiG-3 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Murmashi[60]
14 10 August 1942 18:55?[Note 6] Hurricane[62] 38♠ 22 September 1942 15:21 MiG-3 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Murmashi[60]
15 10 August 1942 19:05 Hurricane[62] 39 29 September 1942 12:55 I-180 (Yak-7) 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Murmashi[60]
16 11 August 1942 20:20 Hurricane[62] 40 29 September 1942 12:56 I-180 (Yak-7) 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Murmashi[60]
17 13 August 1942 15:00?[Note 7] I-153[62] 41 21 October 1942 13:25 MiG-3 north of Murmashi[60]
18 13 August 1942 15:15 P-40[62] 42 21 October 1942 13:28 MiG-3[60]
19 13 August 1942 15:20 P-40[62] 43 29 October 1942 13:45 MiG-3[60]?[Note 8]
20 2 September 1942 11:15 P-39[58] vicinity of Kola railway 44 29 October 1942 13:55 MiG-3[60]?[Note 8]
21 2 September 1942 11:20 Yak-7 north of Murmashi[58] 45 29 October 1942 13:56 MiG-3[60]?[Note 8]
22 2 September 1942 11:25 P-40[58] vicinity of Murmashi 46 5 November 1942 10:55 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 2920[64]
vicinity of Murmashi
23 5 September 1942 08:25 Hurricane north of Murmashi[58] 47 23 March 1943 14:15 P-40[65]
24 5 September 1942 08:32 MiG-3[58] 48 23 March 1943 14:18 P-40[66]
25 5 September 1942 08:40 MiG-3[58] vicinity of Kola railway 49 23 March 1943 14:20 P-39[66]
26 8 September 1942 11:35 P-39[58]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[67]
Mediterranean Theater — 1 June – 31 December 1943
—
?[Note 9]		 1 October 1943
—
 Boston northwest of Kos[69] 60 31 October 1943 15:15 P-38 Cape of Rodon[69]
—
[Note 9]		 1 October 1943
—
 Boston northwest of Kos[69] 61 31 October 1943 15:20 P-38 southwest of Cape of Rodon[69]
50 5 October 1943 12:23 B-24 Petromogula[69] 62 2 November 1943 13:47 Spitfire west-southwest of Skoutari[69]
51 5 October 1943 12:33 B-24 Lake Yliki[69] 63 2 November 1943 13:47 Spitfire west-southwest of Skoutari[69]
52 8 October 1943 13:15 P-38 30 km (19 mi) south of Lebadeia[69] 64 4 November 1943 16:25 Boston west of Durrës[69]
53 8 October 1943 13:52 P-38 7 km (4.3 mi) south-southwest of Cape Vourlias[69] 65 15 November 1943 13:10 P-38 southeast of Kalamaki[69]
54 8 October 1943 13:55 P-38 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Velanidia[69] 66 15 November 1943 13:10 P-38 southeast of Kalamaki[69]
55 23 October 1943 13:11 Spitfire south-southwest of Podgorica[69] 67 15 November 1943 13:11 P-38 southeast of Kalamaki[69]
56?[Note 10] 25 October 1943
—
 P-38 north of Cape of Rodon[69] 68 15 November 1943 13:12 P-38 southeast of Kalamaki[69]
57 25 October 1943 13:17 Whitley south of Stari Bar[69] 69 17 November 1943 12:50 B-25 northeast of Kalamaki[71]
58 25 October 1943 13:20 P-38 south of Stari Bar[69] 70 17 November 1943 12:52 B-25 northeast of Kalamaki[71]
59 25 October 1943 13:22 P-38 south of Stari Bar[69] 71 17 November 1943 12:58 P-38 east of Marathon[71]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[70]
Defense of the Reich — March – May 1944
72 11 April 1944 16:32 P-38 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Graz[37] 78?[Note 10] 24 April 1944
—
 P-51 north of Waldkraiburg[37]
73 23 April 1944 08:20 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Celje[37] 79 28 April 1944 10:38 P-51 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Ljubljana[37]
74 23 April 1944 08:22 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Celje[37] 80 28 April 1944 10:39 P-51 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Ljubljana[37]
75 23 April 1944 08:23 Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Celje[37] 81 19 May 1944 13:25 P-47 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Quenstedt[43]
76 24 April 1944 13:45 P-51 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mühldorf[37] 82 19 May 1944 13:27 P-47 Quedlinburg[43]
Magdeburg
77 24 April 1944 13:47 P-51 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mühldorf[37] 83 19 May 1944 13:30 P-51 south of Aschersleben[43]
Magdeburg
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[72]
In defense of the Normandy Invasion — June – August 1944
84 14 June 1944 07:28 P-47 Argentan[43] 90 22 June 1944 14:10 Spitfire west-southwest of Caen[43]
85 14 June 1944 07:29 P-47 Falaise[43] 91 22 June 1944 14:17 P-51 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Caen[43]
86 14 June 1944 07:30 P-47 Argentan[43] 92 24 June 1944 15:05 P-51 south of Flers[43]
87 14 June 1944 08:05 P-47 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Paris[43] 93 24 June 1944 15:08 P-51 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Flers[43]
88 16 June 1944 20:47 P-47 west of Dives-sur-Mer[43] 94 25 June 1944 09:05 P-38 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Blois[43]
89 16 June 1944 20:48 P-47 Dives-sur-Mer[43]
– 15. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[67]
Defense of the Reich — December 1944
95 8 December 1944 09:50 P-51 northwest of Achmer[73] 97?[Note 10] 23 December 1944
—
 P-47 vicinity of Bad Godesberg[73]
96 18 December 1944 13:48 P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/PN, Eifel area

Awards

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 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.[5]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman at 09:50.[17]
  3. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:35 over a Hawker Hurricane.[17]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman at 18:15.[17]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman at 18:55.[17]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman at 19:00.[17]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman at 15:05.[17]
  8. ^ a b c According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3.[63]
  9. ^ a b This claim was listed as confirmed in the 1995 published book "Messerschmidt Bf 109 in Action with the III. and IV./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1938 – 1945".[68]
  10. ^ a b c According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[70]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Obermaier 1989, p. 84.
  3. ^ Schuck 2007, p. 88.
  4. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 392.
  5. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2003, pp. 558–560.
  7. ^ a b Mombeek 2003, p. 103.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 559.
  9. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 161.
  10. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 169.
  11. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 176.
  12. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 178.
  13. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 179.
  14. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 244.
  15. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 248.
  16. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 267.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 47.
  18. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 275.
  19. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 281.
  20. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 284.
  21. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 285.
  22. ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 29.
  23. ^ Schuck 2007, pp. 85–88.
  24. ^ a b Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 369.
  25. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 454, 474.
  26. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 367.
  27. ^ Weal 2003, p. 100.
  28. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 369–370.
  29. ^ a b Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 370.
  30. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 370, 454.
  31. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 371–372, 467.
  32. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 371, 396, 467.
  33. ^ Scutts 1994, pp. 55–56.
  34. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 371, 468.
  35. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 374.
  36. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 401.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 468.
  38. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 404.
  39. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 405.
  40. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 405–406.
  41. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 414.
  42. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 417.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 469.
  44. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 422.
  45. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 424.
  46. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 427.
  47. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 430.
  48. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 431.
  49. ^ Girbig 1975, p. 72.
  50. ^ Bergström 2014, p. 114.
  51. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 464.
  52. ^ Girbig 1997, p. 92.
  53. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 47–49.
  54. ^ Planquadrat.
  55. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 562.
  56. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 47–48.
  57. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 259.
  58. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mombeek 2011, p. 265.
  59. ^ a b c d Mombeek 2011, p. 260.
  60. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Mombeek 2011, p. 266.
  61. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 261.
  62. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mombeek 2011, p. 264.
  63. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 48.
  64. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 267.
  65. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 268.
  66. ^ a b Mombeek 2011, p. 269.
  67. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 248–249.
  68. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 467.
  69. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Prien et al. 2010, p. 311.
  70. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 48–49.
  71. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2010, p. 312.
  72. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 49.
  73. ^ a b Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 470.
  74. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 45.
  75. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 24.
  76. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 202.
  77. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 122.

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January 07, 2023
heinrich, bartels, july, 1918, december, 1944, austrian, born, german, fighter, pilot, luftwaffe, fought, during, world, bartels, credited, with, victories, making, fighter, fighter, military, aviator, credited, with, shooting, down, five, more, enemy, aircraf. Heinrich Bartels 13 July 1918 23 December 1944 was an Austrian born German fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe and fought during World War II Bartels was credited with 99 victories making him a fighter ace A fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat 1 Heinrich BartelsHeinrich BartelsBorn13 July 1918Linz Austria HungaryDied23 December 1944 1944 12 23 aged 26 Bad Godesberg Nazi GermanyBuriedCemetery in Villip WachtbergAllegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branch LuftwaffeYears of service1939 1944RankOberfeldwebel staff sergeant UnitErg JG 26 JG 1 JG 5 JG 27Battles warsWorld War IIAwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron CrossOther workButcherBorn in Austria in 1918 and working as a baker to his late teenage years Bartels joined the Luftwaffe after Germany s union with Austria in 1938 Bartels completed his training as a pilot in 1941 He was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter JG 26 26th Fighter Wing on the Channel Front which was tasked with intercepting Royal Air Force RAF incursions over occupied France and Belgium He achieved his first aerial victory in August 1941 Bartels was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 5 JG 5 5th Fighter Wing on the Eastern Front where he was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross for 46 aerial victories In 1943 Bartels moved to Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika JG 27 27th Fighter Wing to serve in the Mediterranean and Balkans theatres and by the years end had 73 victories In 1944 he returned to the Western Front and fought Normandy Campaign in June to August 1944 Bartel s personal tally rose to 96 and he was nominated for the Oak Leaves of the Knight s Cross On 23 December 1944 while supporting German forces in the Battle of the Bulge Bartels was shot down by United States Army Air Force USAAF P 47 Thunderbolts belonging to the US 56th Fighter Group after achieving his 99th aerial victory and he was posted missing in action On 26 January 1968 23 years later Bartel s fighter and remains were found near Bad Godesberg Germany Contents 1 Career 1 1 War on the Arctic Front 1 2 Greece and the Balkans 1 3 Defense of the Reich 2 Summary of career 2 1 Aerial victory claims 2 2 Awards 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 BibliographyCareer EditBartels was born on 13 July 1918 in Linz Austria 2 Prior to his military service Bartels was working as a butcher 3 During his combat career he frequently had his wife s name Marga painted on his aircraft 4 World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland Following completion of flight and fighter pilot training Note 1 Bartels joined the Erganzungsgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter JG 26 26th Fighter Wing in the summer of 1941 2 The Erganzungsgruppe of JG 26 a supplementary training group was formed on 22 June 1941 in Wevelgem under the command of Hauptmann Fritz Fromme The Gruppe was made up of two Staffeln squadrons The first squadron was the operational squadron and designated 1 Einsatzstaffel or 1 Erg JG 26 while the second squadron was the training squadron referred to as 2 Schulstaffel or 2 Erg JG 26 6 Serving with the 1 Erg JG 26 Bartels claimed his first aerial victory on 19 August a Royal Air Force RAF Supermarine Spitfire shot down at the English Channel On 27 August he was credited with another Spitfire shot down 7 On 1 February 1942 1 Erg JG 26 was renamed and became the 11 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 JG 1 1st Fighter Wing under the command of Oberleutnant Hermann Segatz 8 The unit then participated in Operation Donnerkeil The objective of this operation was to give the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen fighter protection in the breakout from Brest to Germany The Channel Dash operation 11 13 February 1942 by the Kriegsmarine was codenamed Operation Cerberus by the Germans In support of this the Luftwaffe formulated an air superiority plan dubbed Operation Donnerkeil for the protection of the three German capital ships Following the German ships 11 Staffel arrived in Jever Air Field on 14 February and in Trondheim Lade on 6 March There on 21 March the squadron was re designated 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 JG 5 5th Fighter Wing 7 War on the Arctic Front Edit Area of operations On 20 April 8 Staffel moved to an airfield at Petsamo present day Pechenga in Murmansk Oblast Russia 9 On 26 April the Staffel escorted Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers to Murmansk The flight was intercepted by Hawker Hurricane fighters from 2 GvSAP Gvardeyskiy Smeshannyy Aviatsionnyy Polk Guards Composite Aviation Regiment In this encounter Bartels claimed one of the Hurricanes shot down his first on the Arctic Front 10 JG 5 flew numerous fighter escort missions on 10 May resulting in aerial combat with the Soviet Air Forces VVS The VVS lost eight aircraft plus further two were severely damaged that day including a Hurricane fighter shot down by Bartels 11 On 14 May between 17 55 and 19 03 eighteen German fighters flew on a Ju 87 escort mission to Murmansk They encountered twenty six Hurricanes eleven Curtiss P 40 Warhawk and six Polikarpov I 16 fighters Soviet reports indicate that one Hurricane and one P 40 was effectively lost with a I 16 and a further P 40 damaged German pilots had claimed five aerial victories including a I 16 by Bartels The following day in combat over the Liza Bight Bartels shot down a Hurricane fighter 12 On 17 May he increased his number of aerial victors to seven when he again claimed a Hurricane fighter shot down 13 On 29 July on a Ju 87 dive bomber escort mission to Murmansk and Murmashi Bartels claimed two Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 3 fighters shot down north of Murmansk According to Soviet records no aircraft of that type were lost in that area that day 14 On 10 August 8 Staffel had combat with 20 Hurricane fighters near Ura Guba during the course of which Bartels claimed three Hurricanes shot down 15 Bartels became an ace in a day on 22 September He claimed six aerial victories on two separate combat missions including four Hurricanes and two MiG 3 fighters in the vicinity of Murmashi 16 Following his 40th aerial victory he received the German Cross in Gold Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 20 October 17 Bartels shot down three MiG 3 fighters during the third mission on 29 October a fighter escort mission for Ju 87 dive bombers 18 On 5 November 8 Staffel flew a combat air patrol to Murmansk During the course of this mission Bartels claimed the destruction of a Lavochkin Gorbunov Gudkov LaGG 3 fighter 19 He received the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes after 46 aerial victories on 13 November 1942 2 That day Leutnant Theodor Weissenberger from 6 Staffel of JG 5 was also awarded the Knight s Cross 20 The presentation was made by Generalmajor Alexander Holle on 30 November at Petsamo 21 In early 1943 Bartels was transferred due to disciplinary reasons 22 According to Walter Schuck the events leading to this disciplinary measure were made under the influence of large quantities of alcohol Bartels Schuck and Kurt Dylewski had consumed three bottles of cognac The intoxicated Bartels then attempted to drive a truck was caught in the act by a fellow soldier who hit Bartels in the face Bartels pursued the soldier only to get into a fight with another soldier The events pinnacled when Bartels made a donkey empty its bladder into the company sergeant major s bed 23 Greece and the Balkans Edit From August 1943 Bartels served with 11 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika JG 27 27th Fighter Wing 24 This Staffel was subordinated to the newly created IV Gruppe of JG 27 The Gruppe had been formed in May 1943 at the Kalamaki Airfield in Athens Greece under the command of Hauptmann Rudolf Sinner 11 Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Alfred Buk 25 On 17 July IV Gruppe moved to Tanagra Airfield 26 Bartels claimed his first aerial victories with JG 27 on 1 October Flying from Gadurra Airfield on Rhodes he claimed two Douglas A 20 Havoc bombers also known as Bostons near of Kos 24 27 In early October the United States Army Air Forces USAAF flew many missions in support of British forces fighting in the Dodecanese campaign On 5 October IV Gruppe intercepted a flight of Consolidated B 24 Liberator bombers over the northern Attica In this encounter Bartels claimed the destruction of two B 24 bombers 28 Three days later 105 USAAF aircraft attacked German airfields in Greece IV Gruppe encountered the escort fighters and shot down three Lockheed P 38 Lightning fighters all of them credited to Bartels 29 On 18 October IV Gruppe command was passed on to Hauptmann Joachim Kirschner after the former commander Sinner had been transferred on 13 September In the intermediate period two officers had led the Gruppe Oberleutnant Dietrich Boesler who was killed on 10 October and by Burk the commander of 11 Staffel 30 Bartels claimed a Supermarine Spitfire shot down on 23 October Two days later IV Gruppe claimed seven aerial victories without loss Between Stari Bar and Cape of Rodon the Gruppe engaged in combat with P 38 fighters of which Bartels shot down four of the USAAF fighters 29 On 31 October 11 Staffel lost its Staffelkapitan squadron leader Burk who was shot down over sea near Cape of Rodon In this encounter Bartels shot down two P 38 fighters Command of 11 Staffel was then briefly led by Leutnant Wolfgang Hohls until he was killed in action on 10 December The Staffel was then led by Leutnant Rolf Heissner until 17 December when he was also killed The next Staffelkapitan was then Leutnant Paul Becker On 17 December the Gruppenkommandeur group commander Kirschner was also shot down in combat and later killed He was replaced by Hauptmann Otto Meyer 31 Bartels claimed his 70th aerial victory on 15 November 1943 That day he shot down four P 38 fighters southeast of Kalamaki 32 At the time he was assigned Messerschmitt Bf 109 G 6 R6 Werknummer 27 169 factory number Red 13 bearing the name of his wife Marga 33 Two days later he was credited with two North American B 25 Mitchell bombers and a P 38 fighter following an USAAF attack on the Kalamaki Airfield These were his last claims in the Mediterranean theater 34 On 27 January 1944 IV Gruppe began relocating to Graz Airfield at first the ground personnel followed by the flying elements on 16 March During its ten month tenure since its creation in May 1943 IV Gruppe pilots had claimed 88 aerial victories including 24 by Bartels alone During this period the Gruppe lost 27 pilots plus further seven were severely wounded and one was taken prisoner of war 35 Defense of the Reich Edit Bartels parachute on display at the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin Based in Graz IV Gruppe along with the Stab headquarters unit I and III Gruppe of JG 27 then fought in Defense of the Reich Reichsverteidigung defending southern Germany and Austria IV Gruppe became the Hohengruppe the high altitude group responsible for fighting off the escort fighters 36 Bartels claimed his first aerial victory in this theater on 11 April when he shot down a P 38 fighter 20 kilometers 12 miles northwest of Graz 37 On 23 April Bartels shot down three Spitfire fighters in combat near Celje approximately halfway between Maribor and Ljubljana in Slovenia The following day the USAAF Eighth Air Force targeted German airfields in southern Germany as well as the aircraft factories in Oberpfaffenhofen The attack on Landsberg Airfield and Oberpfaffenhofen was headed by 281 bombers of the 1st Bombardment Division escorted by North American P 51 Mustang long range fighter aircraft IV Gruppe intercepted this flight east of Munich In this aerial battle Bartels claimed three P 51 fighters shot down 38 On 28 April Bartels shot down two P 51 fighters northeast of Ljubljana 39 The Eighth Air Force targeted Berlin on 19 May Near Zerbst IV Gruppe encountered a formation of B 24 bombers escorted by escort fighters The Gruppe was unable to break the escort screen and attack the bombers In this battle Bartels shot down three of the escort fighters 40 On 6 June Allied forces launched Operation Overlord the invasion of German occupied Western Europe in Normandy France IV Gruppe was immediately ordered to relocate to Champfleury la Perthe an airfield approximately 90 kilometers 56 miles south of Reims 41 Bartels claimed his first aerial victories on the invasion front on 14 June That day IV Gruppe encountered USAAF fighters in the vicinity of Argentan In quick succession he shot down three Republic P 47 Thunderbolt fighters followed by a fourth P 47 on the return flight 42 Three days later he claimed two further P 47 fighters shot down west of Dives sur Mer On 22 June Bartels shot down a Spitfire fighter and a P 51 fighter southwest of Caen Two days later he was credited with the destruction of two further P 51 fighters near Flers He claimed his eleventh and last aerial victory on the invasion front on 25 June a P 38 fighter shot down southeast of Blois 43 For these achievements he was nominated for Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub 2 On 16 August IV Gruppe was withdrawn from the invasion front and ordered to Hustedt north of Celle During its eight weeks of combat on the invasion front the Gruppe was nearly annihilated and lost 25 pilots either killed or missing in action with further 15 pilots severely wounded In total 98 aircraft were destroyed 71 due to combat and 27 in flying accidents Pilots of IV Gruppe claimed 60 aerial victories including eleven by Bartels making him the most successful pilot of the unit 44 Grave in Villip Wachtberg As part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe Bartels 11 Staffel was re designated and became the 15 Staffel of JG 27 45 In mid November the Gruppe was reequipped with the Bf 109 G 10 fighter aircraft 46 Bartels claimed the destruction of a P 51 fighter on 8 December 47 Ten days later he again shot down a P 51 in the combat area near Cologne 48 On 23 December 1944 Bartels took off for his last and fatal mission After he shot down a P 47 49 he was most likely shot down himself by P 47 fighters of the USAAF 56th Fighter Group His victor may have been Colonel David C Schilling who claimed five aerial victories that day 50 Some 24 years later on 26 January 1968 Bartels Bf 109 G 10 Werknummer 130 359 Yellow 13 was found near Castle Gudenau in Villip close to Bad Godesberg 51 52 In its cockpit was Bartels remains and his intact parachute which is currently on display at the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin His last rank was Oberfeldwebel technical sergeant 2 Summary of career EditAerial victory claims Edit According to Obermaier Bartels was credited with 99 aerial victories claimed in approximately 500 combat missions This figure includes 47 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 52 over the Western Allies including two four engined bombers 2 Mathews and Foreman authors of Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 94 aerial victory claims plus five further unconfirmed claims This figure includes 47 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and another 47 on the Western Front including two four engined bombers 53 Victory claims were logged to a map reference PQ Planquadrat for example PQ 36 Ost 2920 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 4 km in size 54 Chronicle of aerial victories This and the Ace of spades indicates those aerial victories which made Bartels an ace in a day a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day This and the dash indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Bartels did not receive credit This and the exclamation mark indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien Stemmer Rodeike Bock Mombeek Mathews and Foreman Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location 1 Erganzungsjagdgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 17 Western Front 22 June 31 December 19411 19 August 1941 Spitfire 55 2 27 August 1941 Spitfire 55 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 56 Eastern Front April 1942 March 19433 26 April 1942 09 31 Note 2 Hurricane Murmansk 57 vicinity of Ura Guba 27 8 September 1942 15 08 P 40 58 vicinity of Murmashi4 10 May 1942 17 12 Hurricane Motovsky Gulf 59 28 8 September 1942 15 09 P 40 58 vicinity of Murmashi5 14 May 1942 Note 3 I 16 59 Note 3 29 9 September 1942 10 35 P 39 58 vicinity of Kola railway6 15 May 1942 18 11 Note 4 Hurricane 59 vicinity of Ura Guba 30 11 September 1942 15 30 Yak 7 north of Murmashi 60 7 17 May 1942 05 42 Hurricane 59 vicinity of Ura Guba 31 11 September 1942 15 35 MiG 3 60 8 19 May 1942 09 30 MiG 3 south of Liza Bight 61 32 11 September 1942 15 37 MiG 3 60 9 29 July 1942 10 15 MiG 3 north of Murmansk 62 33 22 September 1942 12 07 Hurricane east of Murmashi 60 10 29 July 1942 10 16 MiG 3 north of Murmansk 62 34 22 September 1942 12 08 Hurricane northeast of Murmashi 60 11 5 August 1942 12 40 P 40 62 south of Shonguy 35 22 September 1942 12 13 Hurricane north northeast of Murmashi 60 12 5 August 1942 12 45 P 40 south of Murmashi 62 36 22 September 1942 12 15 Hurricane north northeast of Murmashi 60 13 10 August 1942 18 50 Note 5 Hurricane 62 37 22 September 1942 15 12 MiG 3 2 km 1 2 mi northeast of Murmashi 60 14 10 August 1942 18 55 Note 6 Hurricane 62 38 22 September 1942 15 21 MiG 3 7 km 4 3 mi south of Murmashi 60 15 10 August 1942 19 05 Hurricane 62 39 29 September 1942 12 55 I 180 Yak 7 2 km 1 2 mi east of Murmashi 60 16 11 August 1942 20 20 Hurricane 62 40 29 September 1942 12 56 I 180 Yak 7 2 km 1 2 mi east of Murmashi 60 17 13 August 1942 15 00 Note 7 I 153 62 41 21 October 1942 13 25 MiG 3 north of Murmashi 60 18 13 August 1942 15 15 P 40 62 42 21 October 1942 13 28 MiG 3 60 19 13 August 1942 15 20 P 40 62 43 29 October 1942 13 45 MiG 3 60 Note 8 20 2 September 1942 11 15 P 39 58 vicinity of Kola railway 44 29 October 1942 13 55 MiG 3 60 Note 8 21 2 September 1942 11 20 Yak 7 north of Murmashi 58 45 29 October 1942 13 56 MiG 3 60 Note 8 22 2 September 1942 11 25 P 40 58 vicinity of Murmashi 46 5 November 1942 10 55 LaGG 3 PQ 36 Ost 2920 64 vicinity of Murmashi23 5 September 1942 08 25 Hurricane north of Murmashi 58 47 23 March 1943 14 15 P 40 65 24 5 September 1942 08 32 MiG 3 58 48 23 March 1943 14 18 P 40 66 25 5 September 1942 08 40 MiG 3 58 vicinity of Kola railway 49 23 March 1943 14 20 P 39 66 26 8 September 1942 11 35 P 39 58 11 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 67 Mediterranean Theater 1 June 31 December 1943 Note 9 1 October 1943 Boston northwest of Kos 69 60 31 October 1943 15 15 P 38 Cape of Rodon 69 Note 9 1 October 1943 Boston northwest of Kos 69 61 31 October 1943 15 20 P 38 southwest of Cape of Rodon 69 50 5 October 1943 12 23 B 24 Petromogula 69 62 2 November 1943 13 47 Spitfire west southwest of Skoutari 69 51 5 October 1943 12 33 B 24 Lake Yliki 69 63 2 November 1943 13 47 Spitfire west southwest of Skoutari 69 52 8 October 1943 13 15 P 38 30 km 19 mi south of Lebadeia 69 64 4 November 1943 16 25 Boston west of Durres 69 53 8 October 1943 13 52 P 38 7 km 4 3 mi south southwest of Cape Vourlias 69 65 15 November 1943 13 10 P 38 southeast of Kalamaki 69 54 8 October 1943 13 55 P 38 5 km 3 1 mi west of Velanidia 69 66 15 November 1943 13 10 P 38 southeast of Kalamaki 69 55 23 October 1943 13 11 Spitfire south southwest of Podgorica 69 67 15 November 1943 13 11 P 38 southeast of Kalamaki 69 56 Note 10 25 October 1943 P 38 north of Cape of Rodon 69 68 15 November 1943 13 12 P 38 southeast of Kalamaki 69 57 25 October 1943 13 17 Whitley south of Stari Bar 69 69 17 November 1943 12 50 B 25 northeast of Kalamaki 71 58 25 October 1943 13 20 P 38 south of Stari Bar 69 70 17 November 1943 12 52 B 25 northeast of Kalamaki 71 59 25 October 1943 13 22 P 38 south of Stari Bar 69 71 17 November 1943 12 58 P 38 east of Marathon 71 11 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 70 Defense of the Reich March May 194472 11 April 1944 16 32 P 38 20 km 12 mi northwest of Graz 37 78 Note 10 24 April 1944 P 51 north of Waldkraiburg 37 73 23 April 1944 08 20 Spitfire 10 km 6 2 mi southwest of Celje 37 79 28 April 1944 10 38 P 51 15 km 9 3 mi northeast of Ljubljana 37 74 23 April 1944 08 22 Spitfire 15 km 9 3 mi southwest of Celje 37 80 28 April 1944 10 39 P 51 15 km 9 3 mi northeast of Ljubljana 37 75 23 April 1944 08 23 Spitfire 20 km 12 mi southwest of Celje 37 81 19 May 1944 13 25 P 47 15 km 9 3 mi southwest of Quenstedt 43 76 24 April 1944 13 45 P 51 10 km 6 2 mi west of Muhldorf 37 82 19 May 1944 13 27 P 47 Quedlinburg 43 Magdeburg77 24 April 1944 13 47 P 51 10 km 6 2 mi west of Muhldorf 37 83 19 May 1944 13 30 P 51 south of Aschersleben 43 Magdeburg 11 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 72 In defense of the Normandy Invasion June August 194484 14 June 1944 07 28 P 47 Argentan 43 90 22 June 1944 14 10 Spitfire west southwest of Caen 43 85 14 June 1944 07 29 P 47 Falaise 43 91 22 June 1944 14 17 P 51 10 km 6 2 mi southwest of Caen 43 86 14 June 1944 07 30 P 47 Argentan 43 92 24 June 1944 15 05 P 51 south of Flers 43 87 14 June 1944 08 05 P 47 15 km 9 3 mi southwest of Paris 43 93 24 June 1944 15 08 P 51 10 km 6 2 mi southwest of Flers 43 88 16 June 1944 20 47 P 47 west of Dives sur Mer 43 94 25 June 1944 09 05 P 38 15 km 9 3 mi southeast of Blois 43 89 16 June 1944 20 48 P 47 Dives sur Mer 43 15 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 67 Defense of the Reich December 194495 8 December 1944 09 50 P 51 northwest of Achmer 73 97 Note 10 23 December 1944 P 47 vicinity of Bad Godesberg 73 96 18 December 1944 13 48 P 51 PQ 05 Ost S PN Eifel areaAwards Edit Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 5 October 1942 as Unteroffizier and pilot 74 German Cross in Gold on 20 October 1942 as Unteroffizier in the 8 Jagdgeschwader 5 75 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 November 1942 as Unteroffizier and pilot in the 8 Jagdgeschwader 5 76 77 See also EditList of solved missing person casesNotes Edit 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 5 According to Mathews and Foreman at 09 50 17 a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18 35 over a Hawker Hurricane 17 According to Mathews and Foreman at 18 15 17 According to Mathews and Foreman at 18 55 17 According to Mathews and Foreman at 19 00 17 According to Mathews and Foreman at 15 05 17 a b c According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin Gorbunov Gudkov LaGG 3 63 a b This claim was listed as confirmed in the 1995 published book Messerschmidt Bf 109 in Action with the III and IV Jagdgeschwader 27 1938 1945 68 a b c According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed 70 References EditCitations Edit Spick 1996 pp 3 4 a b c d e f Obermaier 1989 p 84 Schuck 2007 p 88 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 392 Bergstrom Antipov amp Sundin 2003 p 17 Prien et al 2003 pp 558 560 a b Mombeek 2003 p 103 Prien et al 2003 p 559 Mombeek 2003 p 161 Mombeek 2003 p 169 Mombeek 2003 p 176 Mombeek 2003 p 178 Mombeek 2003 p 179 Mombeek 2003 p 244 Mombeek 2003 p 248 Mombeek 2003 p 267 a b c d e f g h Mathews amp Foreman 2014 p 47 Mombeek 2003 p 275 Mombeek 2003 p 281 Mombeek 2003 p 284 Mombeek 2003 p 285 Mombeek 2010 p 29 Schuck 2007 pp 85 88 a b Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 369 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 pp 454 474 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 367 Weal 2003 p 100 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 pp 369 370 a b Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 370 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 pp 370 454 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 pp 371 372 467 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 pp 371 396 467 Scutts 1994 pp 55 56 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 pp 371 468 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 374 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 401 a b c d e f g h i j Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 468 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 404 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 405 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 pp 405 406 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 414 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 417 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 469 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 422 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 424 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 427 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 430 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 431 Girbig 1975 p 72 Bergstrom 2014 p 114 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 464 Girbig 1997 p 92 Mathews amp Foreman 2014 pp 47 49 Planquadrat a b Prien et al 2003 p 562 Mathews amp Foreman 2014 pp 47 48 Mombeek 2011 p 259 a b c d e f g h i j Mombeek 2011 p 265 a b c d Mombeek 2011 p 260 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Mombeek 2011 p 266 Mombeek 2011 p 261 a b c d e f g h i j k Mombeek 2011 p 264 Mathews amp Foreman 2014 p 48 Mombeek 2011 p 267 Mombeek 2011 p 268 a b Mombeek 2011 p 269 a b Mathews amp Foreman 2014 pp 248 249 Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 467 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Prien et al 2010 p 311 a b Mathews amp Foreman 2014 pp 48 49 a b c Prien et al 2010 p 312 Mathews amp Foreman 2014 p 49 a b Prien Rodeike amp Stemmer 1995 p 470 Patzwall 2008 p 45 Patzwall amp Scherzer 2001 p 24 Scherzer 2007 p 202 Fellgiebel 2000 p 122 Bibliography Edit Bergstrom Christer Bergstrom Black Cross Red Star website Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat Archived from the original on 22 December 2018 Retrieved 30 November 2020 Bergstrom Christer Antipov Vlad Sundin Claes 2003 Graf amp Grislawski A Pair of Aces Hamilton MT Eagle Editions ISBN 978 0 9721060 4 7 Bergstrom Christer 2014 The Ardennes 1944 1945 Hitler s Winter Offensive Havertown Casemate Publisher p 451 ISBN 978 1 61200 277 4 Fellgiebel Walther Peer 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 Girbig Werner 1975 Six Months to Oblivion The Eclipse of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force New York Hippocrene Books ISBN 978 0 88254 360 4 Girbig Werner 1997 Start im Morgengrauen Takeoff at Dawn in German Stuttgart Germany Motorbuch Verlag ISBN 978 3 613 01292 9 Mathews Andrew Johannes Foreman John 2014 Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims Volume 1 A F Walton on Thames Red Kite ISBN 978 1 906592 18 9 Mombeek Eric 2003 Eismeerjager Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5 Band 2 Fighters in the Arctic Sea The History of the 5th Fighter Wing Volume 2 in German Linkebeek Belgium ASBL La Porte d Hoves ISBN 978 2 9600236 4 0 Mombeek Eric 2010 Eismeerjager Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5 Band 3 Fighters in the Arctic Sea The History of the 5th Fighter Wing Volume 3 in German Linkebeek Belgium ASBL La Porte d Hoves ISBN 978 2 930546 02 5 Mombeek Eric 2011 Eismeerjager Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5 Band 4 Fighters in the Arctic Sea The History of the 5th Fighter Wing Volume 4 in German Linkebeek Belgium ASBL La Porte d Hoves ISBN 978 2 930546 05 6 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 Patzwall Klaus D Scherzer Veit 2001 Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II The German Cross 1941 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 in German Norderstedt Germany Verlag Klaus D Patzwall ISBN 978 3 931533 45 8 Patzwall Klaus D 2008 Der Ehrenpokal fur besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War in German Norderstedt Germany Verlag Klaus D Patzwall ISBN 978 3 931533 08 3 Prien Jochen Rodeike Peter Stemmer Gerhard 1995 Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III und IV Jagdgeschwader 27 1938 1945 Messerschmidt Bf 109 in Action with the III and IV Jagdgeschwader 27 1938 1945 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 30 4 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003 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 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 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 Schuck Walter 2007 Abschuss Von der Me 109 zur Me 262 Erinnerungen an die Luftkampfe beim Jagdgeschwader 5 und 7 Victory From the Me 109 to the Me 262 Memories of the Dogfights with Fighter Wing 5 and 7 in German Aachen Germany Helios Verlags und Buchvertriebsgesellschaft ISBN 978 3 938208 44 1 Scutts Jerry 1994 Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean London UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 85532 448 0 Spick Mike 1996 Luftwaffe Fighter Aces New York Ivy Books ISBN 978 0 8041 1696 1 Weal John 2003 Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika London UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 538 9 Portals Aviation Biography Military of Germany World War IIHeinrich Bartels at Wikipedia s sister projects Media from Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Heinrich Bartels amp oldid 1125515638, 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