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Heinz Strüning

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Heinz Strüning
Born13 January 1912
Neviges, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died24 December 1944(1944-12-24) (aged 32)
near Bergisch Gladbach, Free State of Prussia, Nazi Germany
Buried
cemetery Westönnen
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchTemplate:Luftwaffe
Years of service1935–44
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitZG 26, KG 30, NJG 2, NJG 1
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Heinz Strüning (13 January 1912 – 24 December 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 56 nocturnal aerial victories claimed in 280 combat missions.[Note 1]

All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command. He was shot down and killed in action on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1944.

Early life and career

Strüning was born on 13 January 1912 in Neviges, at the time in the Rhine Province of the German Empire. He was the son of electrician Karl Strüning. Following graduation from the Realgymnasium—a secondary school built on the mid-level Realschule—in Langenberg he began his vocational education as a merchant. In March 1935, he joined the Luftwaffe and was trained as a pilot.[1][Note 2]

Holding the rank of Unteroffizier, he was posted to 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing), named after the Nazi martyr Horst Wessel, on 2 August 1939.[3][Note 3]

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Flying with ZG 26, he flew several patrol missions on the Western Front during the Phoney War period. On 9 April 1940, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Weserübung, the German assault on Denmark and Norway. Two days later, Strüning was reassigned to the Zerstörrerstaffel of Kampfgeschwader 30 (KG 30—30th Bomber Wing). Until 9 June, he flew escort missions in support of the German troops at Narvik. For his service in Norway, he was awarded the Iron Cross second Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) on 15 July 1940. On 1 August 1940, Strüning was promoted to Feldwebel (sergeant).[1]

Night fighter career

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, Royal Air Force (RAF) attacks shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign.[4] 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.[5]

In July 1940, elements of (Z)KG 30 were trained and converted to flying night fighter missions. These elements then became the 4. Staffel in the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of the newly created Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing). On 11 September, II. Gruppe of NJG 1 was reassigned and became the I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2—2nd Night Fighter Wing), subsequently Strünning became a pilot of 1./NJG 2.[1] Kammhuber had created I./NJG 2 with the idea of utilizing the Junkers Ju 88 C-2 and Dornier Do 17 Z as an offensive weapon, flying long range intruder (Fernnachtjagd) missions into British airspace, attacking RAF airfields. Until October 1941, I. Gruppe operated from the Gilze-Rijen Air Base.[6]

With this unit, Strüning flew 66 intruder missions over England at night,[7] and claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 23 November 1940 over a Vickers Wellington bomber 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Scheveningen.[8] Two days later, he received the Iron Cross first Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse). For his service in Norway, he was presented the Narvik Shield on 30 January 1941.[1] On the evening of 15 February 1941, Strüning claimed a Lockheed Hudson 75 km (47 mi) east of Great Yarmouth and a Wellington 65 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Southend-on-Sea.[9] Following his fifth aerial victory, he received the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 12 June 1941. On 1 July 1941, Strüning was promoted to Oberfeldwebel (Master Sergeant).[1] He claimed his ninth and last intruder aerial victory on 13 October 1941 over a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in the vicinity of Upwood over England.[10]

In the timeframe 24 October 1940, the date of I. Gruppe's first aerial victory, to 12 October 1941, the intruder Gruppe claimed approximately 100 RAF aircraft destroyed, additionally further aircraft were damaged as well as RAF ground targets attacked. This came at the expense of 26 aircraft lost. In October 1941, Hitler ordered the intruder operations stopped as he was skeptical of the results. The unit was then ordered to Catania, Sicily in the Mediterranean theater of operations.[11] Strüning however stayed at Gilze-Rijen and was transferred to the Ergänzungsjagdgruppe, a supplementary unit of NJG 2.[1]

In November 1941, he was transferred to 7./NJG 2. With this unit, Strüning gained 15 victories until mid-September 1942. He received the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) in July 1942, after his 19th claim. In mid September 1942 he was promoted to Leutnant and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) in October 1942. Strüning is then transferred to 2./NJG 1 in May 1943.

Staffelkapitän and death

Heinkel He 219

Strüning was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 August 1943.[12] On 15 August, he was then appointed Staffelkapitän of 3. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing). On 23 August 1943, Strüning claimed a Lancaster shot down 20 km (12 mi) east of Eindhoven.[13]

Strüning coordinated the introduction of the new Heinkel He 219 "Uhu". With this aircraft, Strüning downed three bombers on the night of 31 August 1943, a Halifax 20 km (12 mi) west of Mönchengladbach.[14] On 22 June 1944, he shot down three RAF bombers. Strüning was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 20 July 1944.

At about 6 pm on 24 December 1944 his Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (Werknummer 740 162—factory number) G9+CT was shot down by 10-kill ace F/L R.D. Doleman and F/L D.C. Bunch of No. 157 Squadron RAF in a de Havilland Mosquito Intruder while he tried to attack a Lancaster bomber over Cologne.[15] He bailed out but struck the tail of his plane and fell to his death. His body was found two months after his death.

During his career, Hauptmann Heinz Strüning had made 280 combat missions (250 at night), and claimed 56 victories at night (including two Mosquitoes).

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Foreman, Parry and Matthews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 56 nocturnal victory claims.[16] Matthews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Strüning with 56 aerial victories claimed in 280 combat missions.[17]

Awards

Dates of rank

1 August 1940: Feldwebel (Technical Sergeant)[1]
1 July 1941: Oberfeldwebel (Master Sergeant)[1]
1 August 1942: Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)[1]
1 August 1943: Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant)[12]
1 April 1944: Hauptmann (Captain)[12]

Notes

  1. ^ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
  2. ^ 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. For pilots destined to fly multi-engine aircraft, the training was completed with the Luftwaffe Advanced Pilot's Certificate (Erweiterter Luftwaffen-Flugzeugführerschein), also known as the C-Certificate.[2]
  3. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  4. ^ a b Beacon "Gorilla"—At Schoonrewoerd in 51°55′N 5°6′E / 51.917°N 5.100°E / 51.917; 5.100
  5. ^ Beacon "Hamster"—At Oostkapelle/Domburg in 51°35′N 3°32′E / 51.583°N 3.533°E / 51.583; 3.533
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the 8./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2.[59]
  7. ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann (war officer).[59]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stockert 2012, p. 105.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ MacLean 2007, p. 441.
  4. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 9.
  5. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 27.
  6. ^ Hinchliffe 1998, p. 39.
  7. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 67.
  8. ^ a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 1289.
  9. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 16.
  10. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 32.
  11. ^ Hinchliffe 1998, p. 40.
  12. ^ a b c d e Stockert 2012, p. 106.
  13. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 104.
  14. ^ a b c d Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 108.
  15. ^ Thomas & Davey 2005, p. 72.
  16. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, pp. 12–202.
  17. ^ a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1289–1290.
  18. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 12.
  19. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 20.
  20. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 24.
  21. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 29.
  22. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 34.
  23. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 39.
  24. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 40.
  25. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 42.
  26. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 43.
  27. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 44.
  28. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 46.
  29. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 47.
  30. ^ a b c Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 1290.
  31. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 50.
  32. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 51.
  33. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 52.
  34. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 58.
  35. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 59.
  36. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 80.
  37. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 82.
  38. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 83.
  39. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 87.
  40. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 88.
  41. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 90.
  42. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 93.
  43. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 110.
  44. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 159.
  45. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 176.
  46. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 177.
  47. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 178.
  48. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 179.
  49. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 181.
  50. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 188.
  51. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 190.
  52. ^ Bowman 2016, p. 104.
  53. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 191.
  54. ^ Foreman, Parry & Matthews 2004, p. 202.
  55. ^ a b Thomas 1998, p. 365.
  56. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 201.
  57. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 466.
  58. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 415.
  59. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 732.
  60. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 85.

Bibliography

  • Bergström, Christer; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Bowman, Martin (2016). German Night Fighters Versus Bomber Command 1943–1945. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-4738-4979-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Forsyth, Robert (2019). Ju 88 Aces of World War 2. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-2922-1.
  • Foreman, John; Parry, Simon; Matthews, Johannes (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Vol. Two. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2658-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Stockert, Peter (2012). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 6 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 6] (in German) (3rd ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Thomas, Andrew; Davey, Chris (2005). Mosquito Aces of World War 2. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-878-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • {{Cite book
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