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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)
Template:Luftwaffe (1935–45)
Template:GAF (1958–71)
Years of service1931–1945
1958–1971
RankOberst (colonel)
UnitJ/88, ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2, NJG 5
CommandsNJG 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 victoriy 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 victoriy. 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

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 Karl 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

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

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 clamed 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

On 1 August 1943, Radusch was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commande) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5—5th Night Fighter Wing). 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.[19] For this, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 29 August.[20]

Radusch was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) on 1 February 1944.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23] 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.[24]

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.[21] The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Hitler's residence in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, on 5 May 1944.[25][Note 1]

A black-and-white photo of six soldiers standing around a flag-covered coffin.
Hermann Göring speaking at Lent's funeral[27]

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.[28] On 12 November, Radusch succeeded Lent in command of NJG 3 which he led until the German surrender in May 1945. Radusch was promoted to Oberst (colonel) on 30 January 1945.[21] He tested the Focke-Wulf Ta 154 as a night fighter aircraft in February but rejected it for its less than impressive performance.[29]

Later life

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.[30]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Radusch 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, Matthews and Parry, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 64 nocturnal victory claims.[31] Matthews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Radusch with 65 claims, including one as a daytime fighter pilot in Spain.[32]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ Also present at the ceremony were Günther Schack, Emil Lang, Alfred Grislawski, Erich Rudorffer, Martin Möbus, Wilhelm Herget, Hans-Karl Stepp, Otto Pollmann and Fritz Breithaupt, who all received the Oak Leaves on this date.[26]
  2. ^ According to Scherzer as Major and not Oberstleutnant.[89]

References

Citations

  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, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 9.
  15. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 27.
  16. ^ Aders 1978, p. 226.
  17. ^ Aders 1978, p. 228.
  18. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 18.
  19. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, pp. 103–104.
  20. ^ a b c Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 999.
  21. ^ a b c Stockert 2007, p. 94.
  22. ^ Bowman 2016b, pp. 13–14.
  23. ^ Aders 1978, p. 227.
  24. ^ Bowman 2016b, p. 24.
  25. ^ Stockert 2007, p. 107.
  26. ^ Stockert 2007, p. 134.
  27. ^ Hinchliffe 2003, p. 267.
  28. ^ Hinchliffe 2003, pp. 266–267.
  29. ^ Hermann 2006, pp. 159, 162.
  30. ^ Brütting 1979, p. 484.
  31. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, pp. 18–198.
  32. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 999–1001.
  33. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 35.
  34. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 38.
  35. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 39.
  36. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 55.
  37. ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 60.
  38. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 62.
  39. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 64.
  40. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 65.
  41. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 76.
  42. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 86.
  43. ^ Accident description for Lancaster ED973 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  44. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 186.
  45. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 87.
  46. ^ Accident description for Halifax HR799 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  47. ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 89.
  48. ^ Accident description for Wellington HF606 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  49. ^ Accident description for Wellington HZ376 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  50. ^ a b Chorley 1996, p. 206.
  51. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 90.
  52. ^ Accident description for Halifax JD261 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  53. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 208.
  54. ^ a b c d Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 91.
  55. ^ Accident description for Halifax JD215 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  56. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 216.
  57. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 213.
  58. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 98.
  59. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 100.
  60. ^ Accident description for Lancaster ED705 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  61. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 256.
  62. ^ Bowman 2016a, p. 177.
  63. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 103.
  64. ^ Accident description for Lancaster LM342 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  65. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 104.
  66. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 114.
  67. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 117.
  68. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 121.
  69. ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 124.
  70. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 140.
  71. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 141.
  72. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 142.
  73. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 143.
  74. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 144.
  75. ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 146.
  76. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 150.
  77. ^ Accident description for Lancaster ND410 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  78. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 152.
  79. ^ Accident description for Halifax LV794 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2020.
  80. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 161.
  81. ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 178.
  82. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 180.
  83. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 187.
  84. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 194.
  85. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 195.
  86. ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 198.
  87. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 166.
  88. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 364.
  89. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 610.
  90. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 348.
  91. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 81.

Bibliography

  • Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. London: Janes. ISBN 978-0-354-01247-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Bowman, Martin (2016a). Nachtjagd, Defenders of the Reich 1940–1943. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-4738-4986-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Bowman, Martin (2016b). 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)
  • Braatz, Kurt (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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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. {{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)
  • Foreman, John; Matthews, Johannes; Parry, Simon (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Hermann, Dietmar (2006). Focke-Wulf Nachtjäger Ta 154 "Moskito" – Entwicklung, Produktion und Truppenerprobung (in German). Lemwerder: Stedinger. ISBN 978-3-927697-46-1. {{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.
  • Hinchliffe, Peter (2003). "The Lent Papers" Helmut Lent. Bristol, UK: Cerberus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84145-105-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Matthews, 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. {{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)
  • 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. {{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 (2007). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 5 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945] (in German). Vol. V. Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
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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