Günther Radusch

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Günther Radusch
Born(1912-11-11)11 November 1912
Schwetz
Died29 July 1988(1988-07-29) (aged 75)
Nordstrand
Allegiance Nazi Germany
 West Germany
Service/branchReichsheer (1931–35)
Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe (1935–45)
Bundeswehrkreuz (Iron Cross) German Air Force (1958–71)
Years of service1931–1945
1958–1971
RankOberst (colonel)
UnitJ/88, ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2, NJG 5
Commands heldNJG 5, NJG 2, NJG 3
Battles/wars
See battles

Spanish Civil War

World War II

AwardsSpanish Cross in Gold with Swords
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Günther Radusch (11 November 1912 – 29 July 1988) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander. As a fighter ace, he claimed 65 enemy aircraft shot down in over 140 combat missions. He claimed one victory in the Spanish Civil War. During World War II, he was credited with 64 aerial victories in Defense of the Reich all of which claimed at night and includes the destruction of 57 four-engined bombers.

Born in Schwetz, Radusch volunteered for military service in the Reichsheer of the Weimar Republic in 1931. In parallel, he was accepted for flight training with the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule, a covert military-training organization, and at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school. Following flight training, he served with Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) and volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War where he claimed one aerial victory. For his service in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords.

At the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, Radusch served with Zerstörergeschwader 1 and was appointed a squadron leader in June 1940. This unit became the nucleus of the newly created night fighter wing Nachtjagdgeschwader 1. He claimed his first nocturnal aerial victory on the night of 9/10 April 1941. In August 1943, Radusch was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commande) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5. Following his 25th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 August 1943. In February 1944, Radusch was given command of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 and received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 6 April 1944 after 58 nocturnal aerial victories. In October, he was appointed commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3, a position he held until the end of World War II. After the war, Radusch reentered military service in the Bundeswehr in 1958 and retired 1971. Radusch died on 29 July 1988 in Nordstrand, West Germany.

Early life and career[edit]

Radusch, the son of a middle school director, was born on 11 November 1912 in Schwetz, present-day Świecie in northern Poland, at the time in West Prussia within the German Empire. While at school, he learned to fly glider aircraft. In April 1931, Radusch began his pilot training at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (DVS—German Air Transport School) at Schleißheim.[1]

The DVS was headed by Carl Bolle, a World War I fighter pilot, and his flight instructor was Wilhelm Stör, another World War I fighter pilot. He and 29 other trainees were part of Kameradschaft 31 (camaraderie of 1931), abbreviated "K 31". Among the members of "K 31" were future Luftwaffe staff officers Bernd von Brauchitsch, Wolfgang Falck, Günther Lützow, Ralph von Rettberg and Hannes Trautloft. Radusch graduated from the DVS on 19 February 1932.[2] Radusch and nine others, among them Lützow, Falck and Trautloft, were recommended for training at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in the Soviet Russia.[3] Following his return from flight training, Radusch joined 4. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment (4th (Prussian) Infantry Regiment), in Schwerin. There he completed his basic training, attended the Kriegsschule (war school) in Dresden,[4] and was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 1 October 1934. In 1935, he officially transferred to the newly formed Luftwaffe, at first serving as a fighter pilot instructor at Schleißheim,[5] and was then assigned to the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel".[1] III. Gruppe of JG 134 was formed on 4 January 1936 at Döberitz under the command of Major Oskar Dinort. The Gruppe was initially equipped with the Heinkel He 51 A-1. On 24 February, the unit was ordered to Lippstadt Airfield and participated in the remilitarisation of the Rhineland.[6]

He was sent to Spain as part of the Condor Legion in October 1936.[7] He claimed his only aerial victory in the Spanish Civil War on 22 April 1937. Together with fellow pilot Franz Heilmayer of 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 they each claimed one Polikarpov I-15 shot down, one of which was flown by Felipe del Río Crespo, a seven victory flying ace.[8] Radusch also tested the Heinkel He 112 under combat conditions in Spain.[9] For his services in Spain, he received the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern).[10] In 1939, Radusch served on the staff of the Inspekteur der Jagdflieger, an organization within the Luftwaffe responsible for the readiness, training and tactics of the fighter force.[1]

World War II[edit]

On Friday 1 September 1939, German forces invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe. Radusch flew the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter during the Norwegian campaign and during the Battle of France. On the night of 30 April and 1 May, 50 Royal Air Force (RAF) Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, Vickers Wellington and Handley Page Hampden bombers attacked Luftwaffe airfields in Norway. Radusch, Falck, Oberleutnant Werner Streib, and another pilot, followed the bombers shortly before sunup on their flight back to England. The pilots attacked the bombers without claiming any aerial victories. Radusch Bf 110 sustained combat damage in the encounter, numerous bullet holes were counted following his landing at Aalborg.[11] On 1 June, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2. Staffel of Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1—1st Destroyer Wing), a squadron of I. Gruppe under the command of his "K 31" comrade Falck.[1] On 22 June 1940, General der Flieger Albert Kesselring called Falck that Hermann Göring, commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, had tasked him with the creation of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing).[12] In consequence, I. Gruppe of ZG 1 became the I. Gruppe of NJG 1.[13]

Night fighter career[edit]

A map of part of the Kammhuber Line, the 'belt' and night fighter 'boxes' are shown.

Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight, bombing missions by the RAF shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign.[14] By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector, named a Himmelbett (canopy bed), would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers. In 1941, the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar. This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942.[15]

On 1 July 1940, Radusch was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of NJG 1.[16] Already on 7 October 1940, he was appointed commander of I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 3—3rd Night Fighter Wing), a position he held until 2 October 1941.[17] Radusch claimed his first nocturnal aerial victory on 10 April 1941 when he shot down a Wellington bomber 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) southwest Papenburg.[18]

Wing commander[edit]

On 2 August 1943, Radusch was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commande) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5—5th Night Fighter Wing), succeeding Major Fritz Schaffer in this capacity.[19] On the night of 17/18 August, Bomber Command launched Operation Hydra, the attack on a German scientific research centre at Peenemünde. Defending against this attack, Radusch claimed three bombers shot down near Peenemünde, taking his total to 25 nocturnal aerial victories.[20] For this, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 29 August.[21]

Radusch was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) on 1 February 1944.[22] On 21 January, Major Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, the commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2—2nd Night Fighter Wing), had been killed in action.[23] On 4 February, Radusch succeeded Sayn-Wittgenstein in command of NJG 2 while command of NJG 5 was passed on to Major Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld.[24] Radusch shot down Halifax LV794 from No. 78 Squadron on 26 February. Pilot Flight Lieutenant William Carruthers met Radusch afterwards and recalled how the German pilot him in good English that he had studied at Oxford University before the war before he handed him cigarettes and chocolate. Radusch departed after expressing his regrets at the loss of Carruthers' aircraft and crew.[25]

He became the 444th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 6 April 1944 after 58 nocturnal aerial victories.[22] The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Hitler's residence in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, on 5 May 1944.[26] Also present at the ceremony were Anton Hafner, Otto Kittel, Günther Schack, Emil Lang, Alfred Grislawski, Erich Rudorffer, Martin Möbus, Wilhelm Herget, Hans-Karl Stepp, Rudolf Schoenert, Otto Pollmann and Fritz Breithaupt, who all received the Oak Leaves on this date.[27]

A black-and-white photo of six soldiers standing around a flag-covered coffin.
Hermann Göring speaking at Lent's funeral[28]

On 7 October, Helmut Lent, the Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 3, died of wounds sustained in a flying accident the day before. Lent's state funeral was held in the Reich Chancellery, Berlin, on Wednesday 11 October 1944. Radusch, together with Oberstleutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs, Major Rudolf Schoenert, Hauptmann Heinz Strüning, Hauptmann Karl Hadeball and Hauptmann Paul Zorner, formed the guard of honour.[29] On 12 November, Radusch succeeded Lent in command of NJG 3 which he led until the German surrender in May 1945.[17] Radusch was promoted to Oberst (colonel) on 30 January 1945.[22] He tested the Focke-Wulf Ta 154 as a night fighter aircraft in February but rejected it for its less than impressive performance.[30]

Later life[edit]

On 1 September 1958, Radusch reentered military service in the Bundeswehr holding the rank of Oberst in the West German Air Force. Until March 1964, he commanded the flight school (Flugzeugführerschule A) at Landsberg-Lech Air Base.[31] Radusch died on 29 July 1988 in Nordstrand.[32]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Radusch was credited with 64 aerial victories during World War II.[33][Note 1] In total, he was credited with 65 aerial victories claimed in over 140 combat missions. He claimed one victory during the Spanish Civil War, the remaining 64 victories were all claimed at night and includes the destruction of 57 four-engine bombers. Foreman, Mathews and Parry, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 64 nocturnal victory claims.[34] Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Radusch with 65 claims, including one as a daytime fighter pilot in Spain.[35]

Chronicle of aerial victories
Claim
(total) 		Claim
(nocturnal) 		Date Time Type Location Serial No./Squadron No.
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 –[21]
1 22 April 1937
—
 I-15 Spain
– Stab I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –
2 1 10 April 1941 03:00 Wellington[18] 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest Papenburg
– Stab II. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –
3 2 27 February 1942 00:55 Wellington[36] west Westerland
4 3 26 April 1942 02:08 Stirling[37] south Scheldt Estuary
5 4 28 April 1942 01:05 Stirling[38] Rømø
6 5 29 April 1942 02:18 Wellington[38]
7 6 17 August 1942 02:42 Halifax[39] Sønderborg
8 7 17 August 1942 02:52 Halifax[39]
9 8 22 September 1942 01:01 Wellington[40] 18 km (11 mi) west Blidsel
10 9 2 October 1942 01:04 Stirling[40]
11 10 2 October 1942 01:22 Stirling[40]
12 11 17 December 1942 19:53 Lancaster[41] southeast Ribe
13 12 8 January 1943 20:00 Lancaster[42] west Sylt
14 13 17 January 1943 22:14 Lancaster[43] 5 km (3.1 mi) west Eiderstedt
15 14 21 April 1943 03:07 Stirling[44] in sea
16 15 21 April 1943 03:32 Stirling[44] in sea
17 16 15 June 1943 01:15 Lancaster[45] 10 km (6.2 mi) south Venlo
18 17 15 June 1943 01:20 Lancaster[45] 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest Venlo Lancaster ED973/No. 100 Squadron RAF,[46] 7 killed[47]
– 3./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –
19 18 17 June 1943 01:45 Lancaster[48] northeast Neerpelt
20 19 22 June 1943 01:34 Halifax[48] 16 km (9.9 mi) north-northwest Venlo Halifax HR799/No. 35 Squadron RAF[49]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –
21 20 25 June 1943 00:57 Wellington[50] Wellen Wellington HF606/No. 300 Polish Bomber Squadron[51]
22 21 25 June 1943 01:15 Wellington[50] Jasmund Possibly Wellington HZ376/No. 300 Polish Bomber Squadron[52] Perhaps crashed due to anti-aircraft fire.[53] 4 men killed, 2 captured[53]
23 22 25 June 1943 01:24 Lancaster[50] northwest Venlo
24 23 26 June 1943 01:58 Halifax[54] 20 km (12 mi) south Nijmegen Halifax JD261/No. 51 Squadron RAF[55] 7 men killed[56]
25 24 29 June 1943 02:15 Halifax[57] Waalre Halifax JD215/No. 419 Bomber Squadron RCAF,[58] 7 men killed[59]
26 25 29 June 1943 02:24 Halifax[57] 7 km (4.3 mi) south Eindhoven Halifax II DT783 ZA-Q/No. 10 Squadron RAF, 7 killed[60]
27 26 29 June 1943 02:34 Halifax[57] 5 km (3.1 mi) north Helmond
28 27 29 June 1943 02:56 Lancaster[57] 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest Eindhoven
– Stab II. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –
29 28 28 July 1943 00:26 Lancaster[61] south Vollerwiek
30 29 28 July 1943 00:43 Lancaster[61] Wöhrden
31 30 30 July 1943 00:25 Lancaster 1 km (0.62 mi) north Hemminger
32 31 3 August 1943 01:22 Lancaster[62] 40 km (25 mi) east-southeast Helgoland Lancaster ED705/No. 100 Squadron RAF,[63] 7 killed[64]
33 32 3 August 1943 02:14 Halifax[62] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest Helgoland Halifax HR859/No. 51 Squadron RAF[65]
– Stab of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 –
34 33 18 August 1943 01:46 four-engined bomber[66] Peenemünde Lancaster LM342/No. 467 Squadron RAAF[67]
35 34 18 August 1943 01:55 four-engined bomber[68] Peenemünde
36 35 18 August 1943 02:00 four-engined bomber[68] Peenemünde
– Stab II. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –
37 36 22 September 1943 01:01 Wellington[69]
– Stab of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 –
38 37 27 September 1943 23:24 Lancaster[70] southwest Hanover
39 38 9 October 1943 01:51 Lancaster[71] 20 km (12 mi) west Hanover
40 39 22 October 1943 20:57 Halifax[72] 5–10 km (3.1–6.2 mi) west-northwest Kassel
41 40 22 October 1943 21:04 Halifax[72] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast Kassel
42 41 22 October 1943 22:13 Lancaster[72] 20 km (12 mi) north Kassel
43 42 14 January 1944 19:29 Lancaster[73]
44 43 20 January 1944 19:30 Lancaster[74]
45 44 20 January 1944 19:39 Lancaster[75]
46 45 21 January 1944 23:15 Halifax[76]
47 46 29 January 1944 03:12 Halifax[77]
48 47 30 January 1944 20:24 Lancaster[78]
49 48 30 January 1944 20:27 Lancaster[78]
50 49 30 January 1944 20:30 Lancaster[78]
– Stab of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
51 50 20 February 1944 05:39 four-engined bomber[79] KH-9 Lancaster ND410/No. 12 Squadron RAF[80]
52 51 25 February 1944 24:00 Halifax[81] Schnee-Eifel
53 52 26 February 1944 00:30 Halifax[81] south Rottweil Halifax LV794/No. 78 Squadron RAF[82]
54 53 31 March 1944 00:36 four-engined bomber[83] Adenau
55 54 31 March 1944 00:41 Lancaster[83] southwest Koblenz
– 8. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
56 55 22 May 1944 01:44 four-engined bomber[84] LK-LL-KL-KK
57 56 22 May 1944 01:56 four-engined bomber[84] LK-LI-KI-KK
58 57 22 May 1944 02:00 four-engined bomber[84] IK-KK-KI-II
– Stab of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
59 58 28 May 1944 02:07 four-engined bomber[85] Meerle
60 59 13 June 1944 01:48 four-engined bomber[86] Amiens
61 60 29 June 1944 00:37 Halifax[87] Compiègne
62 61 29 June 1944 00:44 Halifax[87] Soissons
63 62 1 July 1944 01:12 four-engined bomber[88] Saint-Leu-d'Esserent
64 63 1 July 1944 01:14 four-engined bomber[88] Saint-Leu-d'Esserent
65 64 8 July 1944 01:05 Lancaster[89] TB-89

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces
  2. ^ According to Scherzer as Major and not Oberstleutnant.[32]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Stockert 2007, p. 93.
  2. ^ Braatz 2005, pp. 28, 50.
  3. ^ Braatz 2005, p. 51.
  4. ^ Braatz 2005, p. 102.
  5. ^ Braatz 2005, p. 103.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 366.
  7. ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 25.
  8. ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 58.
  9. ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 33.
  10. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 63.
  11. ^ Hinchliffe 1998, pp. 27–28.
  12. ^ Hinchliffe 1998, p. 33.
  13. ^ Hinchliffe 1998, p. 34.
  14. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 9.
  15. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 27.
  16. ^ Aders 1978, p. 226.
  17. ^ a b Aders 1978, p. 228.
  18. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 18.
  19. ^ Aders 1978, p. 229.
  20. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, pp. 103–104.
  21. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 999.
  22. ^ a b c Stockert 2007, p. 94.
  23. ^ Bowman 2016b, pp. 13–14.
  24. ^ Aders 1978, p. 227.
  25. ^ Bowman 2016b, p. 24.
  26. ^ Stockert 2007, p. 107.
  27. ^ Stockert 2007, pp. 107, 109, 134.
  28. ^ Hinchliffe 2003, p. 267.
  29. ^ Hinchliffe 2003, pp. 266–267.
  30. ^ Hermann 2006, pp. 159, 162.
  31. ^ Brütting 1979, p. 484.
  32. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 610.
  33. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  34. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, pp. 18–198.
  35. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 999–1001.
  36. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 35.
  37. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 38.
  38. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 39.
  39. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 55.
  40. ^ a b c Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 60.
  41. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 62.
  42. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 64.
  43. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 65.
  44. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 76.
  45. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 86.
  46. ^ Lancaster ED973.
  47. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 186.
  48. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 87.
  49. ^ Halifax HR799.
  50. ^ a b c Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 89.
  51. ^ Wellington HF606.
  52. ^ Wellington HZ376.
  53. ^ a b Chorley 1996, p. 206.
  54. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 90.
  55. ^ Halifax JD261.
  56. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 208.
  57. ^ a b c d Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 91.
  58. ^ Halifax JD215.
  59. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 216.
  60. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 213.
  61. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 98.
  62. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 100.
  63. ^ Lancaster ED705.
  64. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 256.
  65. ^ Bowman 2016a, p. 177.
  66. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 103.
  67. ^ Lancaster LM342.
  68. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 104.
  69. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 114.
  70. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 117.
  71. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 121.
  72. ^ a b c Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 124.
  73. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 140.
  74. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 141.
  75. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 142.
  76. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 143.
  77. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 144.
  78. ^ a b c Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 146.
  79. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 150.
  80. ^ Lancaster ND410.
  81. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 152.
  82. ^ Halifax LV794.
  83. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 161.
  84. ^ a b c Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 178.
  85. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 180.
  86. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 187.
  87. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 194.
  88. ^ a b Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 195.
  89. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 198.
  90. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 166.
  91. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 364.
  92. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 348.
  93. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 81.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. London: Janes. ISBN 978-0-354-01247-8.
  • Bowman, Martin (2016a). Nachtjagd, Defenders of the Reich 1940–1943. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-4738-4986-0.
  • Bowman, Martin (2016b). German Night Fighters Versus Bomber Command 1943–1945. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-4738-4979-2.
  • Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow [God or an Airplane – Life and Death of Fighter Pilot Günther Lützow] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-6-8.
  • Brütting, Peter (1979). Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte [The Book of German Aviation History] (in German). Vol. 3. Stuttgart, Germany: Drei-Brunnen-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87174-001-5.
  • Chorley, W. R (1996). Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: Aircraft and crew losses: 1943. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 978-0-90459-790-5.
  • 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.
  • Foreman, John; Mathews, Johannes; Parry, Simon (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 99. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8.
  • Hermann, Dietmar (2006). Focke-Wulf Nachtjäger Ta 154 "Moskito" – Entwicklung, Produktion und Truppenerprobung (in German). Lemwerder: Stedinger. ISBN 978-3-927697-46-1.
  • Hinchliffe, Peter (1998). Luftkrieg bei Nacht 1939–1945 [Air War at Night 1939–1945] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-01861-7.
  • Hinchliffe, Peter (2003). "The Lent Papers" Helmut Lent. Bristol, UK: Cerberus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84145-105-3.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton-on-Thames, UK: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • 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 (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
  • 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.
  • Stockert, Peter (2007). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 5 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945] (in German). Vol. V. Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
  • Accident description for Lancaster ED973 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Halifax HR799 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Wellington HF606 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Wellington HZ376 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Halifax JD261 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Halifax JD215 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Lancaster ED705 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Lancaster LM342 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Lancaster ND410 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  • Accident description for Halifax LV794 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.

External links[edit]

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
2 August 1943 – 3 February 1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
4 February 1944 – 11 November 1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Helmut Lent
 Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
12 November 1944 – 8 May 1944 		Succeeded by
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