Günther Radusch
Günther Radusch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 11 November 1912 Schwetz |
| Died | 29 July 1988 (aged 75) Nordstrand |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany West Germany |
| Service/ | Luftwaffe German Air Force |
| Years of service | 1934–45 1958–71 |
| Rank | Oberst |
| Unit | J/88, ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2, NJG 5 |
| Commands held | NJG 5 |
| Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War
|
| Awards | Spanish 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 German pilot in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Radusch is credited with 65 aerial victories.
Biography
Radusch, an glider pilot as a student, joined the military service of the Heer before transferring to the Luftwaffe.[1] Radusch and nine others, among them Günther Lützow, Wolfgang Falck and Hannes Trautloft, were recommended for training at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in the Soviet Russia.[2] He was sent to Spain as part of the Condor Legion in October 1936.[3] He claimed his only aerial victory in the Spanish Civil War on 22 April 1937. Together with fellow pilot Franz Heilmayer of 2./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.[4] Radusch also tested the Heinkel He 112 5-1 under combat conditions in Spain.[5] For his services in Spain he received the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords.[1] He claimed one victory during the Spanish Civil War, the remaining 64 victories were all claimed at night in over 140 combat missions, including the destruction of 57 four-engine bombers.
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.[6] The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Hitler's residence in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, on 5 May 1944.[7]
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.
| Chronicle of aerial victories | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory (total) |
Victory (nocturnal) |
Date | Time | Type | Location | Serial No./Squadron No. |
| – 2./Jagdgruppe 88 – | ||||||
| 1 | 22 April 1937 | —
|
I-15 | Spain | ||
| – Stab I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 – | ||||||
| 2 | 1 | 10 April 1941 | 03:00 | Wellington[8] | 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest Papenburg | |
| – Stab II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 – | ||||||
| 3 | 2 | 27 February 1942 | 00:55 | Wellington[9] | west Westerland | |
| 4 | 3 | 26 April 1942 | 02:08 | Stirling[10] | south Scheldt Estuary | |
| 5 | 4 | 28 April 1942 | 01:05 | Stirling[11] | Rømø | |
| 6 | 5 | 29 April 1942 | 02:18 | Wellington[11] | ||
| 7 | 6 | 17 August 1942 | 02:42 | Halifax[12] | Sønderborg | |
| 8 | 7 | 17 August 1942 | 02:52 | Halifax[12] | ||
| 9 | 8 | 22 September 1942 | 01:01 | Wellington[13] | 18 km (11 mi) west Blidsel | |
| 10 | 9 | 2 October 1942 | 01:04 | Stirling[13] | ||
| 11 | 10 | 2 October 1942 | 01:22 | Stirling[13] | ||
| 12 | 11 | 17 December 1942 | 19:53 | Lancaster[14] | southeast Ribe | |
| 13 | 12 | 8 January 1943 | 20:00 | Lancaster[15] | west Sylt | |
| 14 | 13 | 17 January 1943 | 22:14 | Lancaster[16] | 5 km (3.1 mi) west Eiderstedt | |
| 15 | 14 | 21 April 1943 | 03:07 | Stirling[17] | in sea | |
| 16 | 15 | 21 April 1943 | 03:32 | Stirling[17] | in sea | |
| 17 | 16 | 15 June 1943 | 01:15 | Lancaster[18] | 10 km (6.2 mi) south Venlo | |
| 18 | 17 | 15 June 1943 | 01:20 | Lancaster[18] | 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest Venlo | |
| – 3./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 – | ||||||
| 19 | 18 | 17 June 1943 | 01:45 | Lancaster[19] | northeast Neerpelt | |
| 20 | 19 | 22 June 1943 | 01:34 | Halifax[19] | 16 km (9.9 mi) north-northwest Venlo | |
| – Stab I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 – | ||||||
| 21 | 20 | 25 June 1943 | 00:57 | Wellington[20] | Wellen | |
| 22 | 21 | 25 June 1943 | 01:15 | Wellington[20] | Jasmund | |
| 23 | 22 | 25 June 1943 | 01:24 | Lancaster[20] | northwest Venlo | |
| 24 | 23 | 26 June 1943 | 01:58 | Halifax[21] | 20 km (12 mi) south Nijmegen | |
| 25 | 24 | 29 June 1943 | 02:15 | Halifax[22] | Waalre | |
| 26 | 25 | 29 June 1943 | 02:24 | Halifax[22] | 7 km (4.3 mi) south Eindhoven | |
| 27 | 26 | 29 June 1943 | 02:34 | Halifax[22] | 5 km (3.1 mi) north Helmond | |
| 28 | 27 | 29 June 1943 | 02:56 | Lancaster[22] | 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest Eindhoven | |
| – Stab II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 – | ||||||
| 29 | 28 | 28 July 1943 | 00:26 | Lancaster[23] | south Vollerwiek | |
| 30 | 29 | 28 July 1943 | 00:43 | Lancaster[23] | Wöhrden | |
| 31 | 30 | 30 July 1943 | 00:25 | Lancaster | 1 km (0.62 mi) north Hemminger | |
| 32 | 31 | 3 August 1943 | 01:22 | Lancaster[24] | 40 km (25 mi) east-southeast Helgoland | |
| 33 | 32 | 3 August 1943 | 02:14 | Halifax[24] | 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest Helgoland | |
| – Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 – | ||||||
| 34 | 33 | 18 August 1943 | 01:46 | four-engined bomber[25] | Peenemünde | |
| 35 | 34 | 18 August 1943 | 01:55 | four-engined bomber[26] | Peenemünde | |
| 36 | 35 | 18 August 1943 | 02:00 | four-engined bomber[26] | Peenemünde | |
| – Stab II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 – | ||||||
| 37 | 36 | 22 September 1943 | 01:01 | Wellington[27] | ||
| – Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 – | ||||||
| 38 | 37 | 27 September 1943 | 23:24 | Lancaster[28] | southwest Hanover | |
| 39 | 38 | 9 October 1943 | 01:51 | Lancaster[29] | 20 km (12 mi) west Hanover | |
| 40 | 39 | 22 October 1943 | 20:57 | Halifax[30] | 5–10 km (3.1–6.2 mi) west-northwest Kassel | |
| 41 | 40 | 22 October 1943 | 21:04 | Halifax[30] | 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast Kassel | |
| 42 | 41 | 22 October 1943 | 22:13 | Lancaster[30] | 20 km (12 mi) north Kassel | |
| 43 | 42 | 14 January 1944 | 19:29 | Lancaster[31] | ||
| 44 | 43 | 20 January 1944 | 19:30 | Lancaster[32] | ||
| 45 | 44 | 20 January 1944 | 19:39 | Lancaster[33] | ||
| 46 | 45 | 21 January 1944 | 23:15 | Halifax[34] | ||
| 47 | 46 | 29 January 1944 | 03:12 | Halifax[35] | ||
| 48 | 47 | 30 January 1944 | 20:24 | Lancaster[36] | ||
| 49 | 48 | 30 January 1944 | 20:27 | Lancaster[36] | ||
| 50 | 49 | 30 January 1944 | 20:30 | Lancaster[36] | ||
| – Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 – | ||||||
| 51 | 50 | 20 February 1944 | 05:39 | four-engined bomber[37] | KH-9 | |
| 52 | 51 | 25 February 1944 | 24:00 | Halifax[38] | Schnee-Eifel | |
| 53 | 52 | 26 February 1944 | 00:30 | Halifax[38] | south Rottweil | |
| 54 | 53 | 31 March 1944 | 00:36 | four-engined bomber[39] | Adenau | |
| 55 | 54 | 31 March 1944 | 00:41 | Lancaster[39] | southwest Koblenz | |
| – 8./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 – | ||||||
| 56 | 55 | 22 May 1944 | 01:44 | four-engined bomber[40] | LK-LL-KL-KK | |
| 57 | 56 | 22 May 1944 | 01:56 | four-engined bomber[40] | LK-LI-KI-KK | |
| 58 | 57 | 22 May 1944 | 02:00 | four-engined bomber[40] | IK-KK-KI-II | |
| – Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 – | ||||||
| 59 | 58 | 28 May 1944 | 02:07 | four-engined bomber[41] | Meerle | |
| 60 | 59 | 13 June 1944 | 01:48 | four-engined bomber[42] | Amiens | |
| 61 | 60 | 29 June 1944 | 00:37 | Halifax[43] | Compiègne | |
| 62 | 61 | 29 June 1944 | 00:44 | Halifax[43] | Soissons | |
| 63 | 62 | 1 July 1944 | 01:12 | four-engined bomber[44] | Saint-Leu-d'Esserent | |
| 64 | 63 | 1 July 1944 | 01:14 | four-engined bomber[44] | Saint-Leu-d'Esserent | |
| 65 | 64 | 8 July 1944 | 01:05 | Lancaster[45] | TB-89 | |
Awards
- Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords[1]
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 19 October 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur[46]
- German Cross in Gold on 13 February 1943 as Major in the II./NJG 3[47]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 29 August 1943 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./NJG 3[48][49]
- 444th Oak Leaves on 6 April 1944 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 5 on 6 April 1944 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 5[50][Note 1]
Notes
- ^ According to Scherzer as Major and not Oberstleutnant.[48]
References
Citations
- ^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 63.
- ^ Braatz 2005, pp. 28–51.
- ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 25.
- ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 58.
- ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 33.
- ^ Stockert 2007, p. 94.
- ^ Stockert 2007, p. 107.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 18.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 35.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 38.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 39.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 55.
- ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 60.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 62.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 64.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 65.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 76.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 86.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 87.
- ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 89.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 90.
- ^ a b c d Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 91.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 98.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 100.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 103.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 104.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 114.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 117.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 121.
- ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 124.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 140.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 141.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 142.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 143.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 144.
- ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 146.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 150.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 152.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 161.
- ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 178.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 180.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 187.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 194.
- ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 195.
- ^ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 198.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 166.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 364.
- ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 610.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 348.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 81.
Bibliography
- 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) - 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) - 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 (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)
