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Johannes Bunzek

December 15, 2023

Johannes Bunzek (22 May 1922 – 11 December 1943) was a German Luftwaffe ace credited with 75 victories, all on the Eastern Front. Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Bunzek was killed on 11 December 1943 over Nikopol, Ukraine. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944.

Johannes Bunzek
Born22 May 1922
Groß-Strehlitz
Died11 December 1943(1943-12-11) (aged 21)
Nikopol, Ukraine
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1941–1943
RankLeutnant (second lieuenant)
UnitJG 52
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career edit

Bunzek was born on 22 May 1922 in Groß-Strehlitz, present-day Strzelce Opolskie in southern Poland, at the time in the Province of Upper Silesia of the Weimar Republic.[1] He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe and completed his training with Luftkriegsschule 4 (LKS 4—4th Air War School) in July 1942.[Note 1] Bunzek was then posted to 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in late 1942.[3] At the time, 7. Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Adalbert Sommer who was replaced by Oberleutnant Walter Krupinski on 15 March 1943.[4] The Staffel was part of III. Gruppe of JG 52 under command of Major Hubertus von Bonin.[5]

War against the Soviet Union edit

 
III./JG 52 emblem

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Germany had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. In late 1942, III. Gruppe was based at an airfield named Soldatskaja, located approximately halfway between Mozdok and Pyatigorsk on the Eastern Front. The Gruppe stayed at this airfield until 1 January 1943. During this period, the pilots occasionally also operated from airfields at Mozdok (15, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 October) and from Digora (5 to 17 November 1942), supporting Army Group A in the Battle of the Caucasus.[6] On 1 April 1943, III. Gruppe was moved to the combat area of the Kuban bridgehead where it was based at an airfield at Taman. Operating from Taman until 2 July, III. Gruppe also flew missions from Kerch on 12 May, from Sarabuz and Saky on 14 May, Zürichtal, present-day Solote Pole, a village near the urban settlement Kirovske on 23 May, and Yevpatoria on 25/26 June.[7] Here, Bunzek claimed his first aerial victory over a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter on 28 May.[8]

On 1 November, III. Gruppe was moved to Apostolove fighting in the combat area between Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia. Adverse whether conditions rendered the airfield unusable and the Gruppe temporarily used an airfield near Kirovograd from 12 to 20 November.[9] Bunzek received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 8 November.[10] On 11 December, Bunzek was killed in action in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 20644—factory number) following combat with Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and LaGG-3 fighters during the Battle of the Dnieper.[11] He was initially reported as missing in action west of Nikopol.[12][13] According to Barbas, this combat took place near near Apostolove while fighting over the bridgehead established by Soviet forces at Nikopol.[14] Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock place this southwest of Verblyuzhka which is approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Apostolove.[11] Bunzek was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 6 April 1944.[15]

Summary of career edit

Aerial victory claims edit

According to Spick, Bunzek was credited with 75 aerial victories in an unknown number of combat missions, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[16] Weal states that in addition to his 75 aerial victories, he also had 30 further unconfirmed claims.[17] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 78 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[18]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 76791". 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.[19]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Bunzek 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 Bunzek did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[20]
Eastern Front – 4 February – 11 December 1943
1 28 May 1943 06:40 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76791[21]
east of Trojzkaja 		41 18 September 1943 16:10 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 68141[22]
2 5 July 1943 04:10 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61453[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Belgorod 		42 19 September 1943 10:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58662[22]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Bolschoj Tokmak
3 5 July 1943 18:08 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61633[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Vovchansk 		43 20 September 1943 08:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58142[22]
northwest of Zaporizhzhia
4 6 July 1943 10:23 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61354[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tomarovka 		44 20 September 1943 08:14 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58144, northeast of Zaporizhzhia[22]
northwest of Zaporizhzhia
5 6 July 1943 10:40 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 61284[23]
25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Belgorod 		45 20 September 1943 08:20 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58153[22]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
6 7 July 1943 08:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61241[24]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Prokhorovka 		46 21 September 1943 16:11 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58144[22]
20 km (12 mi) east of Zaporizhzhia
7 12 July 1943 13:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61212[24]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Prokhorovka 		47 21 September 1943 16:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58271[22]
25 km (16 mi) east of Zaporizhzhia
8 31 July 1943 10:00 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54661[25]
west of Bolkhov 		48 24 September 1943 11:14 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58891[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhzhia
9 3 August 1943 06:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61412[25]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Belgorod 		49 26 September 1943 07:19 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58272[26]
25 km (16 mi) east of Zaporizhzhia
10 7 August 1943 08:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61472[27]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Belgorod 		50 27 September 1943 05:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58552[26]
southeast of Vasilyevka
11 7 August 1943 12:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61383[27]
vicinity of Orlovka 		51?[Note 3] 27 September 1943 14:21 LaGG-3 PQ 58192[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhzhia
12 8 August 1943 12:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 60244[27]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Kharkov 		52 28 September 1943 06:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48464[26]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Zaporizhzhia
13 12 August 1943 16:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51822[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Zolochiv 		53 29 September 1943 14:11 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58674[26]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj Tokmak
14 17 August 1943 05:21 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 70791, Tichocki[29]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Izium 		54 29 September 1943 14:33 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58594[26]
20 km (12 mi) west of Bolschoj Tokmak
15 19 August 1943 12:56 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88293, southwest of Kuibyschewo[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino 		55 30 September 1943 05:55 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58681[26]
5 km (3.1 mi) north of Bolschoj Tokmak
16 19 August 1943 13:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88391[29] 56 30 September 1943 16:30 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58432[26]
20 km (12 mi) west of Bolschoj Tokmak
17 19 August 1943 17:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88754[29]
60 km (37 mi) west-southwest of Taganrog 		57 1 October 1943 06:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48432[26]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Zaporizhzhia
18 20 August 1943 06:07 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88263[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Marinowka 		58 3 October 1943 10:17 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58673[26]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj Tokmak
19♠ 21 August 1943 05:34 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo[30]
1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino 		59 3 October 1943 15:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58133[26]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Zaporizhzhia
20♠ 21 August 1943 07:16 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88254, Kalinowka[30]
vicinity of Dmitrijewka 		60 3 October 1943 15:13 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58152[26]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
21♠ 21 August 1943 07:25 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88411[30]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino 		61 7 October 1943 06:23?[Note 4] LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49174[33]
55 km (34 mi) east-northeast of Mironowka
22♠ 21 August 1943 13:10 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88274[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Jalisawehino 		62 7 October 1943 15:33 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49363[33]
45 km (28 mi) west-northwest of Dnipropetrovsk
23♠ 21 August 1943 17:32 LaGG-3 PQ 88233[30]
30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Rovenki 		63 9 October 1943 08:55 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49333[33]
55 km (34 mi) west-northwest of Dnipropetrovsk
24 22 August 1943 08:16 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88293, southwest of Kuibyschewo[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino 		64 9 October 1943 15:35 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58564, northeast of Michailowka[33]
vicinity of Kalinowka
25 22 August 1943 10:50 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo[30]
1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino 		65 10 October 1943 08:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58154[33]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
26 22 August 1943 17:59 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88421[30]
20 km (12 mi) south of Jalisawehino 		66 10 October 1943 08:43 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58124[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia
27 23 August 1943 06:16 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88263[30] 67 11 October 1943 10:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58123[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia
28 26 August 1943 11:11 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88281[30]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino 		68 11 October 1943 10:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58124[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia
29 27 August 1943 12:10 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88281[30]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino 		69 11 October 1943 12:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58154[33]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
30 27 August 1943 17:35 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88194[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kuteinikowo 		70 11 October 1943 15:17 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58141, northeast of Zaporizhzhia[33]
northwest of Zaporizhzhia
31 27 August 1943 17:37 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88194[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kuteinikowo 		71 12 October 1943 06:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58152[33]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
32 28 August 1943 11:00 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88612[30]
30 km (19 mi) northwest of Taganrog 		72 12 October 1943 06:51 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58154[33]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
33 28 August 1943 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88354[30]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Kuteinikowo 		73 13 October 1943 10:48 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 57183[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Melitopol
34 5 September 1943 12:22 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79883[22]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Stalino 		74 13 October 1943 10:50 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 57193[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Melitopol
35 5 September 1943 15:08 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 79684[22]
20 km (12 mi) west of Gorlowka 		75 14 October 1943 15:25 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58125[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia
36 14 September 1943 09:00 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79574[22]
Black Sea, 65 km (40 mi) west-southwest of Gelendzhik 		76 15 October 1943 10:15 Boston PQ 34 Ost 49821[34]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Werchnedjeprowak
37 14 September 1943 15:16 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79712[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grischino 		77 30 November 1943 11:45 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49781[35]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northwest of Nikopol
38 15 September 1943 12:17 Yak-9?[Note 5] PQ 34 Ost 68642[22] 78 7 December 1943 12:37 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 29634, south of Petro-Nikolayevka[35]
39 18 September 1943 13:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 69341[22]
—
?[Note 6]		 11 December 1943
—
 Il-2 southwest of Verblyuzhka
40 18 September 1943 16:05 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 68893[22]
—
?[Note 6]		 11 December 1943
—
 La-5 southwest of Verblyuzhka

Awards edit

Notes edit

  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.[2]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  3. ^ According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, this claim is attributed to the 7. Staffel.[26]
  4. ^ According to Barbas, and Mathews and Foreman, claimed at 06:25.[31][32]
  5. ^ According to Barbas, and Mathews and Foreman, claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov aircraft of unknown type.[36][32]
  6. ^ a b This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Barbas.[37]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 97.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 174.
  4. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 280.
  5. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 279.
  6. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 102.
  7. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 137.
  8. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 360.
  9. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 148.
  10. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 283.
  11. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 500.
  12. ^ Weal 2007, p. 62.
  13. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 119.
  14. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 149, 315.
  15. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 183.
  16. ^ Spick 1996, p. 237.
  17. ^ Weal 2004, p. 104.
  18. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 174–175.
  19. ^ Planquadrat.
  20. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 673–674.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 482.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.
  23. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 483.
  24. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 484.
  25. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 485.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2012, p. 490.
  27. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.
  28. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 368.
  29. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 487.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al. 2012, p. 488.
  31. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 369.
  32. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 175.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2012, p. 491.
  34. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 492.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 493.
  36. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 367.
  37. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 372.
  38. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 60.
  39. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 68.
  40. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 150.
  41. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 253.

Bibliography edit

  • Barbas, Bernd (2010). Die Geschichte der III. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 3rd Group of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-94-6.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. . Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • 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 (2014). Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims – Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • 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.
  • 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 für 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; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • 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.
  • Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 15. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.
  • Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 76. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.

External links edit

  • TracesOfWar.com

December 15, 2023
johannes, bunzek, 1922, december, 1943, german, luftwaffe, credited, with, victories, eastern, front, knight, cross, iron, cross, during, world, bunzek, killed, december, 1943, over, nikopol, ukraine, posthumously, awarded, knight, cross, iron, cross, april, 1. Johannes Bunzek 22 May 1922 11 December 1943 was a German Luftwaffe ace credited with 75 victories all on the Eastern Front Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II Bunzek was killed on 11 December 1943 over Nikopol Ukraine He was posthumously awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944 Johannes BunzekBorn22 May 1922Gross StrehlitzDied11 December 1943 1943 12 11 aged 21 Nikopol UkraineAllegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branch LuftwaffeYears of service1941 1943RankLeutnant second lieuenant UnitJG 52Battles warsWorld War II Battle of the Caucasus Battle of Kursk Lower Dnieper Offensive AwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross Contents 1 Career 1 1 War against the Soviet Union 2 Summary of career 2 1 Aerial victory claims 2 2 Awards 3 Notes 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksCareer editBunzek was born on 22 May 1922 in Gross Strehlitz present day Strzelce Opolskie in southern Poland at the time in the Province of Upper Silesia of the Weimar Republic 1 He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe and completed his training with Luftkriegsschule 4 LKS 4 4th Air War School in July 1942 Note 1 Bunzek was then posted to 7 Staffel 7th squadron of Jagdgeschwader 52 JG 52 52nd Fighter Wing in late 1942 3 At the time 7 Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Adalbert Sommer who was replaced by Oberleutnant Walter Krupinski on 15 March 1943 4 The Staffel was part of III Gruppe of JG 52 under command of Major Hubertus von Bonin 5 War against the Soviet Union edit nbsp III JG 52 emblemWorld War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland Germany had launched Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941 In late 1942 III Gruppe was based at an airfield named Soldatskaja located approximately halfway between Mozdok and Pyatigorsk on the Eastern Front The Gruppe stayed at this airfield until 1 January 1943 During this period the pilots occasionally also operated from airfields at Mozdok 15 18 19 21 22 and 23 October and from Digora 5 to 17 November 1942 supporting Army Group A in the Battle of the Caucasus 6 On 1 April 1943 III Gruppe was moved to the combat area of the Kuban bridgehead where it was based at an airfield at Taman Operating from Taman until 2 July III Gruppe also flew missions from Kerch on 12 May from Sarabuz and Saky on 14 May Zurichtal present day Solote Pole a village near the urban settlement Kirovske on 23 May and Yevpatoria on 25 26 June 7 Here Bunzek claimed his first aerial victory over a Lavochkin Gorbunov Gudkov LaGG 3 fighter on 28 May 8 On 1 November III Gruppe was moved to Apostolove fighting in the combat area between Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia Adverse whether conditions rendered the airfield unusable and the Gruppe temporarily used an airfield near Kirovograd from 12 to 20 November 9 Bunzek received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 8 November 10 On 11 December Bunzek was killed in action in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G 6 Werknummer 20644 factory number following combat with Ilyushin Il 2 ground attack aircraft and LaGG 3 fighters during the Battle of the Dnieper 11 He was initially reported as missing in action west of Nikopol 12 13 According to Barbas this combat took place near near Apostolove while fighting over the bridgehead established by Soviet forces at Nikopol 14 Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock place this southwest of Verblyuzhka which is approximately 100 kilometers 62 miles northwest of Apostolove 11 Bunzek was posthumously awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 6 April 1944 15 Summary of career editAerial victory claims edit According to Spick Bunzek was credited with 75 aerial victories in an unknown number of combat missions all of which claimed on the Eastern Front 16 Weal states that in addition to his 75 aerial victories he also had 30 further unconfirmed claims 17 Mathews and Foreman authors of Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 78 aerial victory claims plus two further unconfirmed claims all of which claimed on the Eastern Front 18 Victory claims were logged to a map reference PQ Planquadrat for example PQ 34 Ost 76791 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 19 Chronicle of aerial victories This and the Ace of spades indicates those aerial victories which made Bunzek 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 Bunzek did not receive credit This and the question mark indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas Prien Stemmer Rodeike Bock Mathews and Foreman Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location 7 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 20 Eastern Front 4 February 11 December 19431 28 May 1943 06 40 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 76791 21 east of Trojzkaja 41 18 September 1943 16 10 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 68141 22 2 5 July 1943 04 10 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61453 23 15 km 9 3 mi northeast of Belgorod 42 19 September 1943 10 15 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 58662 22 20 km 12 mi northeast of Bolschoj Tokmak3 5 July 1943 18 08 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61633 23 15 km 9 3 mi north of Vovchansk 43 20 September 1943 08 10 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58142 22 northwest of Zaporizhzhia4 6 July 1943 10 23 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61354 23 15 km 9 3 mi west of Tomarovka 44 20 September 1943 08 14 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58144 northeast of Zaporizhzhia 22 northwest of Zaporizhzhia5 6 July 1943 10 40 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 35 Ost 61284 23 25 km 16 mi north northeast of Belgorod 45 20 September 1943 08 20 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58153 22 northeast of Zaporizhzhia6 7 July 1943 08 50 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61241 24 10 km 6 2 mi south of Prokhorovka 46 21 September 1943 16 11 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58144 22 20 km 12 mi east of Zaporizhzhia7 12 July 1943 13 45 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61212 24 10 km 6 2 mi southwest of Prokhorovka 47 21 September 1943 16 12 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58271 22 25 km 16 mi east of Zaporizhzhia8 31 July 1943 10 00 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 54661 25 west of Bolkhov 48 24 September 1943 11 14 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 58891 22 15 km 9 3 mi east southeast of Zaporizhzhia9 3 August 1943 06 20 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61412 25 15 km 9 3 mi north of Belgorod 49 26 September 1943 07 19 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 58272 26 25 km 16 mi east of Zaporizhzhia10 7 August 1943 08 50 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61472 27 5 km 3 1 mi south of Belgorod 50 27 September 1943 05 55 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58552 26 southeast of Vasilyevka11 7 August 1943 12 05 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61383 27 vicinity of Orlovka 51 Note 3 27 September 1943 14 21 LaGG 3 PQ 58192 28 15 km 9 3 mi east southeast of Zaporizhzhia12 8 August 1943 12 55 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 60244 27 25 km 16 mi east southeast of Kharkov 52 28 September 1943 06 05 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 48464 26 25 km 16 mi south southwest of Zaporizhzhia13 12 August 1943 16 00 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 51822 29 15 km 9 3 mi southwest of Zolochiv 53 29 September 1943 14 11 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58674 26 10 km 6 2 mi northwest of Bolschoj Tokmak14 17 August 1943 05 21 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 70791 Tichocki 29 20 km 12 mi southeast of Izium 54 29 September 1943 14 33 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58594 26 20 km 12 mi west of Bolschoj Tokmak15 19 August 1943 12 56 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88293 southwest of Kuibyschewo 29 15 km 9 3 mi east of Jalisawehino 55 30 September 1943 05 55 P 39 PQ 34 Ost 58681 26 5 km 3 1 mi north of Bolschoj Tokmak16 19 August 1943 13 10 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88391 29 56 30 September 1943 16 30 P 39 PQ 34 Ost 58432 26 20 km 12 mi west of Bolschoj Tokmak17 19 August 1943 17 15 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88754 29 60 km 37 mi west southwest of Taganrog 57 1 October 1943 06 05 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 48432 26 20 km 12 mi southwest of Zaporizhzhia18 20 August 1943 06 07 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88263 29 10 km 6 2 mi east of Marinowka 58 3 October 1943 10 17 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 58673 26 10 km 6 2 mi northwest of Bolschoj Tokmak19 21 August 1943 05 34 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88283 southwest of Kuibyschewo 30 1 km 0 62 mi south of Jalisawehino 59 3 October 1943 15 08 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58133 26 20 km 12 mi northeast of Zaporizhzhia20 21 August 1943 07 16 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88254 Kalinowka 30 vicinity of Dmitrijewka 60 3 October 1943 15 13 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 58152 26 northeast of Zaporizhzhia21 21 August 1943 07 25 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88411 30 20 km 12 mi southwest of Jalisawehino 61 7 October 1943 06 23 Note 4 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 49174 33 55 km 34 mi east northeast of Mironowka22 21 August 1943 13 10 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88274 30 15 km 9 3 mi west southwest of Jalisawehino 62 7 October 1943 15 33 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 49363 33 45 km 28 mi west northwest of Dnipropetrovsk23 21 August 1943 17 32 LaGG 3 PQ 88233 30 30 km 19 mi west southwest of Rovenki 63 9 October 1943 08 55 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 49333 33 55 km 34 mi west northwest of Dnipropetrovsk24 22 August 1943 08 16 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88293 southwest of Kuibyschewo 30 15 km 9 3 mi east of Jalisawehino 64 9 October 1943 15 35 P 39 PQ 34 Ost 58564 northeast of Michailowka 33 vicinity of Kalinowka25 22 August 1943 10 50 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88283 southwest of Kuibyschewo 30 1 km 0 62 mi south of Jalisawehino 65 10 October 1943 08 10 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 58154 33 northeast of Zaporizhzhia26 22 August 1943 17 59 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88421 30 20 km 12 mi south of Jalisawehino 66 10 October 1943 08 43 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58124 33 15 km 9 3 mi north northeast of Zaporizhzhia27 23 August 1943 06 16 P 39 PQ 34 Ost 88263 30 67 11 October 1943 10 08 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58123 33 15 km 9 3 mi north northeast of Zaporizhzhia28 26 August 1943 11 11 P 39 PQ 34 Ost 88281 30 5 km 3 1 mi southwest of Jalisawehino 68 11 October 1943 10 12 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58124 33 15 km 9 3 mi north northeast of Zaporizhzhia29 27 August 1943 12 10 P 39 PQ 34 Ost 88281 30 5 km 3 1 mi southwest of Jalisawehino 69 11 October 1943 12 45 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58154 33 northeast of Zaporizhzhia30 27 August 1943 17 35 P 39 PQ 34 Ost 88194 30 10 km 6 2 mi east of Kuteinikowo 70 11 October 1943 15 17 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 58141 northeast of Zaporizhzhia 33 northwest of Zaporizhzhia31 27 August 1943 17 37 P 39 PQ 34 Ost 88194 30 10 km 6 2 mi east of Kuteinikowo 71 12 October 1943 06 50 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58152 33 northeast of Zaporizhzhia32 28 August 1943 11 00 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88612 30 30 km 19 mi northwest of Taganrog 72 12 October 1943 06 51 Il 2 m H Note 2 PQ 34 Ost 58154 33 northeast of Zaporizhzhia33 28 August 1943 12 35 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 88354 30 20 km 12 mi south southwest of Kuteinikowo 73 13 October 1943 10 48 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 57183 34 10 km 6 2 mi southwest of Melitopol34 5 September 1943 12 22 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79883 22 10 km 6 2 mi northwest of Stalino 74 13 October 1943 10 50 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 57193 34 10 km 6 2 mi south of Melitopol35 5 September 1943 15 08 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 79684 22 20 km 12 mi west of Gorlowka 75 14 October 1943 15 25 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 58125 34 15 km 9 3 mi north northeast of Zaporizhzhia36 14 September 1943 09 00 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79574 22 Black Sea 65 km 40 mi west southwest of Gelendzhik 76 15 October 1943 10 15 Boston PQ 34 Ost 49821 34 25 km 16 mi south southwest of Werchnedjeprowak37 14 September 1943 15 16 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79712 22 15 km 9 3 mi south of Grischino 77 30 November 1943 11 45 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 49781 35 15 km 9 3 mi north northwest of Nikopol38 15 September 1943 12 17 Yak 9 Note 5 PQ 34 Ost 68642 22 78 7 December 1943 12 37 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 29634 south of Petro Nikolayevka 35 39 18 September 1943 13 30 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 69341 22 Note 6 11 December 1943 Il 2 southwest of Verblyuzhka40 18 September 1943 16 05 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 68893 22 Note 6 11 December 1943 La 5 southwest of VerblyuzhkaAwards edit Flugzeugfuhrerabzeichen 3 September 1942 Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class 14 July 1943 1st Class 2 August 1943 Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 November 1943 as Leutnant and pilot 38 German Cross in Gold 14 November 1943 as Leutnant in the 7 Jagdgeschwader 52 39 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 7 Jagdgeschwader 52 40 41 Notes 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 2 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r The m H refers to an Ilyushin Il 2 with rear gunner mit Heckschutze According to Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock this claim is attributed to the 7 Staffel 26 According to Barbas and Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06 25 31 32 According to Barbas and Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin Gorbunov Gudkov aircraft of unknown type 36 32 a b This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Barbas 37 References editCitations edit Obermaier 1989 p 97 Bergstrom Antipov amp Sundin 2003 p 17 Mathews amp Foreman 2014 p 174 Barbas 2010 p 280 Barbas 2010 p 279 Barbas 2010 p 102 Barbas 2010 p 137 Barbas 2010 p 360 Barbas 2010 p 148 Barbas 2010 p 283 a b Prien et al 2012 p 500 Weal 2007 p 62 Schreier 1990 p 119 Barbas 2010 pp 149 315 Schreier 1990 p 183 Spick 1996 p 237 Weal 2004 p 104 Mathews amp Foreman 2014 pp 174 175 Planquadrat Mathews amp Foreman 2014 pp 673 674 Prien et al 2012 p 482 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al 2012 p 489 a b c d Prien et al 2012 p 483 a b Prien et al 2012 p 484 a b Prien et al 2012 p 485 a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al 2012 p 490 a b c Prien et al 2012 p 486 Barbas 2010 p 368 a b c d e f Prien et al 2012 p 487 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al 2012 p 488 Barbas 2010 p 369 a b Mathews amp Foreman 2014 p 175 a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al 2012 p 491 a b c d Prien et al 2012 p 492 a b Prien et al 2012 p 493 Barbas 2010 p 367 Barbas 2010 p 372 Patzwall 2008 p 60 Patzwall amp Scherzer 2001 p 68 Fellgiebel 2000 p 150 Scherzer 2007 p 253 Bibliography edit Barbas Bernd 2010 Die Geschichte der III Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 The History of 3rd Group of Fighter Wing 52 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 94 6 Bergstrom Christer in Swedish Bergstrom Black Cross Red Star website Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat Archived from the original on 22 December 2018 Retrieved 20 March 2022 Bergstrom Christer in Swedish Antipov Vlad Sundin Claes 2003 Graf amp Grislawski A Pair of Aces Hamilton MT Eagle Editions ISBN 978 0 9721060 4 7 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 2014 Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims Volume 1 A F Walton on Thames Red Kite ISBN 978 1 906592 18 9 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 Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2012 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 12 II Einsatz im Osten 4 2 bis 31 12 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 12 II Action in the East 4 February to 31 December 1943 in German Eutin Germany Buchverlag Rogge ISBN 978 3 942943 05 5 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 Schreier Hans 1990 JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2 Weltkriegs JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II in German Berg am See K Vowinckel ISBN 978 3 921655 66 5 Spick Mike 1996 Luftwaffe Fighter Aces New York Ivy Books ISBN 978 0 8041 1696 1 Weal John 2004 Jagdgeschwader 52 The Experten Aviation Elite Units Vol 15 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 786 4 Weal John 2007 More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front Aircraft of the Aces Vol 76 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84603 177 9 External links editTracesOfWar com Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 1945Portals nbsp Aviation nbsp Biography nbsp Military of Germany nbsp World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johannes Bunzek amp oldid 1189388630, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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