Heinz Golinski Explained

Heinz Golinski
Birth Date:	11 July 1919
Birth Place:	Nordstemmen, Germany
Serviceyears:	1939–1942
Battles:	World War II Eastern Front Western Front

Heinz Golinski (11 July 1919 – 16 October 1942) was a German fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Golinski was born on 11 July 1919 in Nordstemmen and was posted as an Unteroffizier to 3./Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) in the autumn of 1941, operating over the German Bight and over Malta. He then served as a test pilot with Messerschmitt. In August 1942, Golinski joined I./JG 53 on the Eastern Front. He claimed his first victory on 28 July 1942, an R-5 biplane. During August, he claimed 17 victories. Golinski claimed 27 victories in September. In late September, I./JG 53 transferred to the Mediterranean.

On 16 October 1942, Golinski shot down a Spitfire. However, another Spitfire attacked him and his Bf 109 G-2 crashed killing Golinski. It is thought Golinski was the victim of Canadian ace F/L Henry Wallace "Wally" McLeod of No. 1435 Squadron RCAF. Golinski was posthumously awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 5 November, and the Ritterkreuz on 30 December.

Awards

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 26 October 1942 as Unteroffizier and pilot
• German Cross in Gold on 5 November 1942 as Unteroffizier in the I./JG 53
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 December 1942 (posthumous) as Unteroffizier and pilot in the 3./JG 53

References

Bibliography

• Book: Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer . 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 . 2000 . First published 1986 . Podzun-Pallas . Friedberg, Germany . de . 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Book: Obermaier, Ernst . Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 . The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945 . 1989 . Verlag Dieter Hoffmann . Mainz, Germany . de . 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Book: Patzwall, Klaus D. . Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg . The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War . 2008 . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . Norderstedt, Germany . de . 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Book: Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II . The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 . Patzwall . Klaus D. . Scherzer . Veit . 2001 . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . Norderstedt, Germany . de . 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Book: Scherzer, Veit . 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 . 2007 . Scherzers Militaer-Verlag . Jena, Germany . de . 978-3-938845-17-2.