Joachim Brendel Explained

Joachim Brendel
Birth Date:	27 April 1921
Birth Place:	Ulrichshalben, Germany
Death Place:	Cologne, West Germany
Serviceyears:	1939–1945
Rank:	Hauptmann (captain)
Commands:	1./JG 51, III./JG 51
Unit:	JG 51
Awards:	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Joachim Brendel (27 April 1921 – 7 July 1974) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Brendel was credited with 189 aerial victories—that is, 189 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. All but six of his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces on the Eastern Front in more than 950 combat missions, including 162 ground support missions.

Born in Ulrichshalben, Brendel joined the military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1939. Following flight training, he was posted to 2. Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). He flew his first combat missions in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, and claimed his first aerial victory on 29 June 1941. There, after 101 aerial victories, he was presented with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943. In July 1944, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 51 "Mölders". Following his 153rd aerial victory, Brendel was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 14 January 1945. He continued flying operationally until the end of World War II. He died on 7 July 1974 in Cologne, West Germany.

Early life and career

Brendel, the son of a police Hauptmann (captain), was born on 27 April 1921 in Ulrichshalben, present-day a borough of Ilmtal-Weinstraße, at the time in Thuringia of the Weimar Republic. After attending a Gymnasium, a secondary school, and graduating with his Abitur (diploma), he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 15 November 1939. Following fighter pilot training, he was posted to 2. Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in early 1941.

World War II

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. JG 51, under the command of Oberst Werner Mölders, was preparing for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union which was launched on 22 June 1941. On 29 June, Brendel claimed his first aerial victory. On 1 July, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and two days later he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (German: Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse).

Brendel then flew a number of ground support missions, was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (German: Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 21 April 1942. On 8 December, he claimed his 10th victory on his 225th combat mission. He claimed his 20th victory on 24 February 1943 and received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (German: Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 15 March 1943. On 25 May, Brendel was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of JG 51s 1. Staffel (1st squadron), replacing Oberleuntant (First Lieutenant) Hans Boos who had been killed in a mid-air collision on 21 April. His number of aerial victories claimed increased to 30 on 5 May, and on 17 May he was awarded the German Cross in Gold (German: Deutsches Kreuz in Gold). On 10 June, Brendel claimed his 40th opponent shot down and was promoted to Oberleuntant on 1 July.

On the first day of the Battle of Kursk, 5 July 1943, Brendel claimed two Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down on the northern flank of the attack. His wingman, Unteroffizier Oskar Romm was credited with the destruction of a third Il-2. The next day, Brendel led his 1. Staffel in an attack against 15 Douglas A-20 Havoc bombers from the 221 Bomber Aviation Division. Brendel claimed one bomber destroyed but the fighter escort from 282 Fighter Aviation Division successfully engaged the German fighters.

Brendel became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 12 July 1943, claiming aerial victories 53 to 57. On 28 July, Brendel was shot down and wounded in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 470002—factory number) by Soviet anti artillery behind enemy lines. He managed to return to German held territory. On 1 October 1943, he was promoted to Hauptman with a rank age dated to 1 April 1944. On 22 November, Brendel claimed six aircraft shot down on his 551st combat mission, taking his total to 101 aerial victories. For this achievement he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) that day. He was the 60th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

Group commander

On 29 July 1944, Brendel claimed a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter shot down in the vicinity of Białystok. His opponent may have been Kapitan Vladimir Shchegolev from the 162nd Fighter Aviation Regiment, a fighter ace credited with 14 individual and three shared victories who was killed in action that day. On 1 September 1944, Brendel was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 51. He succeeded Hauptmann Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber in this function who was transferred. Command of 1. Staffel was briefly passed to Leutnant Gerhard Mai before Leutnant Kurt Dombacher was given command of the Staffel on 10 September.

Flying with III. Gruppe on 16 October 1944, Brendel achieved his 150th victory on his 792nd combat mission. Following his 153rd victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 14 January 1945, the 697th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored. He continued flying on the Eastern Front, claiming his 174th and 175th victory on 4 March 1945. End of March, he was ordered to Berlin where the presentation of the Oak Leaves was made at the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM— Ministry of Aviation) in Berlin by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring.

On 18 February 1945, III. Gruppe claimed six aerial victories during the battle of the Courland Pocket, including four by Brendel. Two days later, he claimed three further victories. He claimed his last victory on the 25 April 1945, finishing the war with 189 victories and emerged as JG 51 highest claiming fighter pilot on the Eastern Front, including over 90 heavily armored Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.

Later life

He died on 7 July 1974 in Cologne, West Germany and was buried in Salzburg, Austria.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Brendel was credited with 189 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 178 aerial victory claims, plus 13 further unconfirmed claims. This number includes one claim over a United States Army Air Forces flown B-17 Flying Fortress, and 177 Soviet Air Forces piloted aircraft on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 07813". The Luftwaffe grid map (German: Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360sqmi. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3x in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
1	29 June 1941	18:20	DB-3
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" – Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
2	31 March 1942	14:55	I-61 (MiG-3)		4	29 April 1942	18:55	MiG-3	Lake Dechino
3	5 April 1942	11:05	Il-2	Demyansk
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" – Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
5	7 May 1942	10:35	Il-2	10km (10miles) west of Demyansk	12	6 January 1943	10:44	Pe-2	PQ 07813
6	3 July 1942?	13:28	Il-2		13	6 January 1943	10:57	Pe-2	PQ 07851
7	6 July 1942	19:25	MiG-3		14	6 January 1943	11:00	Pe-2	PQ 07822
8	9 July 1942	04:20	MiG-3		15	16 January 1943	08:16	MiG-3	PQ 17712, Velikiye Luki 35km (22miles) west-southwest of Toropa
9	12 July 1942	09:00	MiG-3		16	18 January 1943	08:02	Pe-2	PQ 07743
10	8 December 1942	13:00	Il-2	PQ 26192, Bely	17	18 January 1943	08:05	Pe-2	PQ 07741
11	14 December 1942	10:42	MiG-3	southwest of Belyi	18	18 January 1943	08:09	Pe-2	PQ 06131
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" – Eastern Front — 4 February 1943 – 31 December 1943
19	24 February 1943	09:12	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 54122 20km (10miles) south-southwest of Sukhinichi	28	21 March 1943	16:05	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 53763 vicinity of Perwoawgustowskiy
20	24 February 1943	09:15	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 54131 20km (10miles) south of Sukhinichi	29	15 April 1943	09:28	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 64832 10km (10miles) south of Mtsensk
21	7 March 1943	14:25	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 36432 25km (16miles) west-northwest of Dunigo	30	5 May 1943	07:00	R-5	PQ 35 Ost 62141 20km (10miles) northwest of Kursk
22	9 March 1943	07:27	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63244 10km (10miles) south of Zalegoshch	31	6 May 1943	13:30	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64754 20km (10miles) northeast of Oryol
23	9 March 1943	07:32	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63433 40km (30miles) east-southeast of Zmiyovka	32	7 May 1943	05:05	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63121 10km (10miles) east of Oryol
24	18 March 1943	06:40	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 53562 20km (10miles) southeast of Dmitrovsk-Orlovsky	33	7 May 1943	05:15	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63181 vicinity of Zmiyovka
25	18 March 1943	06:42	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 53543 15km (09miles) south-southwest of Dmitrovsk-Orlovsky	34	8 May 1943	07:49	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63644 5km (03miles) southeast of Maloarkhangelsk
26	18 March 1943	06:44	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 53822 20km (10miles) northeast of Dmitriyev-Lgovsky	35	11 May 1943	13:30	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 53632 vicinity of Trosna
27	21 March 1943	06:23	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 45521 10km (10miles) northeast of Utrikowo
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" – Eastern Front — 4 February 1943 – 31 December 1943
36	28 May 1943	11:24	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63151 15km (09miles) southeast of Oryol	68	25 July 1943	12:30	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 53427 5km (03miles) west of Kromy
37	5 June 1943	09:35	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 44454 25km (16miles) east-southeast of Dyatkovo	69	25 July 1943	12:33?	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 53425 5km (03miles) west of Kromy
38	8 June 1943	19:11	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 54892 15km (09miles) northwest of Oryol	70	28 July 1943	10:35?	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54657 20km (10miles) west-southwest of Belyov
39	8 June 1943	19:12	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 54864 20km (10miles) north-northwest of Oryol	71	28 July 1943	10:37	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54654 20km (10miles) west-southwest of Belyov
40	10 June 1943	19:37	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 44472 15km (09miles) southeast of Dyatkovo	72	28 July 1943	10:39	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54643, southwest of Bolkhov 20km (10miles) northeast of Znamenskoye
41	10 June 1943	19:49	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 45893 25km (16miles) west-southwest of Sukhinichi	73	15 September 1943	08:00	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 16697, southeast of Lake Akitovskoye
42	5 July 1943	08:52	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63694 25km (16miles) east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk	74	15 September 1943	17:05	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 25496, west of Yelnya
43	5 July 1943	08:54	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 73571 40km (30miles) west-southwest of Livny	75	17 September 1943	07:18	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 35374, Wilkowa
44	6 July 1943	05:39	Boston	PQ 35 Ost 53653 20km (10miles) southwest of Trosna	76	17 September 1943	10:43	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 35318, Wjawka
45	6 July 1943	13:55	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63553 15km (09miles) west of Maloarkhangelsk	77	17 September 1943	13:48	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 25622, west of Chamino
46	7 July 1943	08:20	Boston	PQ 35 Ost 53593 20km (10miles) south-southwest of Trosna	78	19 September 1943	15:42	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 25476, west of Schozokowo
47	8 July 1943	03:51	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63741 10km (10miles) southeast of Fatez	79	20 September 1943	13:20	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 25619, Olchowskij Yelnya
48	8 July 1943	03:58	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63573 20km (10miles) south-southeast of Trosna	80	5 October 1943	15:10	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 15525, Lenino
49	9 July 1943	05:40	Il-2?	PQ 35 Ost 63553 15km (09miles) west of Maloarkhangelsk	81	6 October 1943	11:30	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 06172 25km (16miles) south-southeast of Nevel
50	9 July 1943	05:41	LaGG-3?	PQ 35 Ost 63552 15km (09miles) west of Maloarkhangelsk	82	6 October 1943	15:15	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 06149 20km (10miles) south-southeast of Nevel
51	9 July 1943	05:44	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63523 20km (10miles) west-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk	83	12 October 1943	11:20	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 05696, Gorki
52	11 July 1943	03:55	MiG-3	PQ 35 Ost 63581 10km (10miles) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk	84	13 October 1943	08:55	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 15512, DajewoLajewo??
53♠	12 July 1943	05:46?	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63226 10km (10miles) east of Zalegoshch	85	13 October 1943	13:00	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 15355, Litowka
54♠	12 July 1943	05:48	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63231 20km (10miles) east of Zalegoshch	86	20 October 1943	15:00	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 03877, Uborow
55♠	12 July 1943	05:54	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 64897 25km (16miles) east-northeast of Zalegoshch	87	20 October 1943	15:15	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 03888, Prud
56♠	12 July 1943	19:40	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54277 25km (16miles) southwest of Kozelsk	88	21 October 1943	10:10	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 02251 35km (22miles) northwest of Ossijaki
57♠	12 July 1943	19:46	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54278 25km (16miles) southwest of Kozelsk	89	21 October 1943	12:28	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 02211 45km (28miles) south-southeast of Rechytsa
58	13 July 1943	09:30	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63228 10km (10miles) east of Zalegoshch	90	22 October 1943	13:43	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 02244, Kortschewka
59	13 July 1943	11:47?	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63264 25km (16miles) east-southeast of Zalegoshch	91	25 October 1943	11:15	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 03872 40km (30miles) south-southeast of Rechytsa
60	14 July 1943	14:37	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54172 20km (10miles) east-northeast of Zhizdra	92	6 November 1943	07:30	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 01391, northwest of Kiev
61	17 July 1943	10:23	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 53636 vicinity of Trosna	93	6 November 1943	14:35	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 01743, Malowilowka
62	17 July 1943	19:05?	MiG-3	PQ 35 Ost 54632 10km (10miles) west of Bolkhov	94	11 November 1943	09:40	Il-2	northeast of Bila Tserkva
63	19 July 1943	12:03	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 64814 10km (10miles) south of Mtsensk	95♠	22 November 1943	09:05	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 03493 10km (10miles) north of Gomel
?	19 July 1943	12:30	LaGG-3		96♠	22 November 1943	09:07	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 13371 10km (10miles) northeast of Gomel
64	20 July 1943	09:20	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 64875 10km (10miles) north of Zalegoshch	97♠	22 November 1943	12:05	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 13577, southwest of Klimovka
65	21 July 1943	18:15	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 64811 10km (10miles) south of Mtsensk	98♠	22 November 1943	12:25	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 03496, northeast of Kostyukovka
66	22 July 1943	13:02	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 63133 10km (10miles) west of Zalegoshch	99♠	22 November 1943	12:27	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 03436, Logatino
67	22 July 1943	13:10	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63135 10km (10miles) west of Zalegoshch	100♠	22 November 1943	12:30	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 13377 10km (10miles) northeast of Gomel
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" – Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 August 1944
101	10 January 1944	14:30	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost N/06749 25km (16miles) southwest of Liozna	115	7 August 1944	08:30	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost N/22312 20km (10miles) northeast of Dęblin
102	12 January 1944	09:58	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost N/96831 10km (10miles) northwest of Kamary	116	14 August 1944	17:22	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost N/12328 15km (09miles) southeast of Garwolin
103	12 January 1944	10:35	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost N/05126 20km (10miles) south-southeast of Kamary	117	16 August 1944	08:36	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost N/24765 20km (10miles) east-southeast of Lomza
104	12 January 1944	10:36	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost N/06788 15km (09miles) southeast of Kamary	118	16 August 1944	14:20	La-5	PQ 25 Ost N/24791 25km (16miles) southeast of Lomza
105	12 January 1944	13:50	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost N/05162 20km (10miles) east-southeast of Kamary	119	18 August 1944	16:40	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost N/13392 40km (30miles) northeast of Warsaw
106	5 February 1944	14:28	Pe-2	PQ 25 Ost N/93337 10km (10miles) south of Parichi	120	20 August 1944	12:42	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost N/13523, northeast of Warsaw 15km (09miles) north of Gerdauen
107	8 April 1944	09:38	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost N/42676 15km (09miles) northwest of Kovel	121	21 August 1944	16:22	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost N/13522, northeast of Warsaw 25km (16miles) north-northeast of Warsaw
108	30 April 1944	13:47?	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost N/42871 20km (10miles) south-southwest of Kovel	122	22 August 1944	08:25	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost N/23128 25km (16miles) northeast of Ostrov
109	23 June 1944	10:30	La-5	PQ 35 Ost N/05421 30km (20miles) north-northeast of Orsha	123	22 August 1944	08:42	Yak-9?	PQ 25 Ost N/23129 25km (16miles) northeast of Ostrov
	24 June 1944	10:36	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost N/05427 15km (09miles) south-southeast of Byerazino	124	24 August 1944	11:45	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost N/24745 10km (10miles) south of Lomza
110	24 June 1944	10:50	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost N/05382 30km (20miles) north-northeast of Orsha	125	24 August 1944	14:37	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost N/13264 10km (10miles) north of Ostrov
111	30 June 1944	17:50?	La-5	PQ 25 Ost N/94313 25km (16miles) north-northwest of Orsha	126	25 August 1944	06:57	Yak-7	PQ 25 Ost N/13529, northeast of Warsaw 25km (16miles) north-northeast of Warsaw
112	9 July 1944	07:15?	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost N/54744 20km (10miles) north of Oryol	127	25 August 1944	07:14	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost N/13521, northeast of Warsaw 25km (16miles) north-northeast of Warsaw
113	19 July 1944	17:50	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost N/32816 15km (09miles) northeast of Cholm	128	26 August 1944?	08:45	LaGG-3?	PQ 25 Ost N/13254 10km (10miles) north of Ostrov
114	29 July 1944	10:05	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost N/34746 vicinity of Białystok	129?	28 August 1944	14:11	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost N/13245
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
130	16 September 1944	16:55	Pe-2	PQ 25 Ost 27516 55km (34miles) north-northwest of Telsche		14 January 1945		unknown
131	16 September 1944	16:58	Pe-2	PQ 25 Ost 27556 45km (28miles) north of Telsche		18 February 1945		unknown	vicinity of Heiligenbeil
132	17 September 1944	15:56	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 27556 25km (16miles) west-southwest of Mitau		18 February 1945		unknown	vicinity of Heiligenbeil
133	17 September 1944	16:12	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 27556 35km (22miles) west-southwest of Mitau		18 February 1945		unknown	vicinity of Heiligenbeil
134	22 September 1944	10:27	Boston	PQ 25 Ost 27491 50km (30miles) south-southwest of Tukkum		18 February 1945		unknown	vicinity of Heiligenbeil
135	24 September 1944	08:29	Pe-2	PQ 25 Ost 37362		19 February 1945		unknown
136	5 October 1944	15:27	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 27883 30km (20miles) east-northeast of Telsche		19 February 1945		unknown
137	5 October 1944	15:30	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 27739 25km (16miles) north-northeast of Telsche		20 February 1945		unknown
138	6 October 1944	11:44	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 36345 25km (16miles) north-northeast of Nemakščiai		20 February 1945		unknown
139	6 October 1944	11:58	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 36377 20km (10miles) northeast of Nemakščiai		20 February 1945		unknown
140	9 October 1944	14:38	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 26725 vicinity of Tauroggen		21 February 1945		Il-2
141	13 October 1944	15:34	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 25267 10km (10miles) north of Trakehnen		21 February 1945		Il-2
142♠	14 October 1944	12:05	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 25228 25km (16miles) northeast of Blumenfeld		21 February 1945		Il-2
143♠	14 October 1944	14:45	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 16173 30km (20miles) east of Neusiedel		21 February 1945		P-39
144♠	14 October 1944	14:46	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 16157 15km (09miles) north of Memel		23 February 1945		unknown
145♠	14 October 1944	14:47	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 16155 10km (10miles) southeast of Polangen	174	4 March 1945		Il-2
146♠	14 October 1944	15:05	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 16326 10km (10miles) southeast of Polangen	175	4 March 1945		Il-2
147	16 October 1944	09:59	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 25256 10km (10miles) east of Memel	176	8 March 1945	14:32	Pe-2
148	16 October 1944	10:02	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 25261 20km (10miles) northeast of Blumenfeld	177	9 March 1945	12:00+	unknown
149	18 October 1944	09:46	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 25484 25km (16miles) northeast of Blumenfeld	178	9 March 1945	12:00+	unknown
150	20 October 1944	10:06	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 25243 15km (09miles) east-southeast of Gumbinnen		18 March 1945		unknown
151	22 October 1944	12:36	Yak-3	PQ 25 Ost 25367 20km (10miles) east of Trakehnen		18 March 1945		unknown
152	24 October 1944	12:45	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 25511 20km (10miles) east of Rautenberg		18 March 1945		unknown
153	14 December 1944	12:18	Yak-3	15km (09miles) north of Gumbinnen	189	25 April 1945		Yak-9

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (3 July 1941)
  • 1st Class (21 April 1942)
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 15 March 1943 as Leutnant and pilot
• German Cross in Gold on 17 May 1943 as Leutnant in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 51
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 22 November 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"
  • 697th Oak Leaves on 14 January 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"

References

Bibliography

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• Web site: Bergström . Christer .

  sv:Christer Bergström

  . Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat . Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website . 21 July 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20181222042030/http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm . 22 December 2018 . dead .
• Book: Bergström , Christer .

  sv:Christer Bergström

  . 2007 . Kursk—The Air Battle: July 1943 . Hersham, Surrey . Classic Publications . 978-1-903223-88-8.
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  . 2008 . Bagration to Berlin—The Final Air Battles in the East: 1944–1945 . Burgess Hill . Classic Publications . 978-1-903223-91-8.
• Book: Bergström . Christer .

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  . Antipov . Vlad . Sundin . Claes . 2003 . Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces . Hamilton MT . Eagle Editions . 978-0-9721060-4-7.
• Book: Fellgiebel , Walther-Peer .

  de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

  . 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 . de . Friedberg, Germany . Podzun-Pallas . 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Book: Mathews . Andrew Johannes . Foreman . John . 2014 . Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F . Walton on Thames . Red Kite . 978-1-906592-18-9.
• Book: Obermaier , Ernst . 1989 . Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 . The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945 . de . Mainz, Germany . Verlag Dieter Hoffmann . 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Book: 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 . de . Norderstedt, Germany . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Book: Patzwall . Klaus D. . 2008 . Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg . The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War . de . Norderstedt, Germany . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2003 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941 . de . Eutin, Germany . Struve-Druck . 978-3-923457-69-4.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2005 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942 . de . Eutin, Germany . Struve-Druck . 978-3-923457-76-2.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2006 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943 . de . Eutin, Germany . Struve-Druck . 978-3-923457-77-9.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2012 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943 . de . Eutin, Germany . Buchverlag Rogge . 978-3-942943-02-4.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Balke . Ulf . Bock . Winfried . 2022 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/I—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/I—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944 . de . Eutin, Germany . Buchverlag Rogge . 978-3-942943-26-0.
• Book: 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 . de . Jena, Germany . Scherzers Militaer-Verlag . 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Book: Spick , Mike . 1996 . Luftwaffe Fighter Aces . New York . Ivy Books . 978-0-8041-1696-1 . registration .
• Book: Stockert , Peter . 2011 . 2nd . Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 7 . The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 7 . 7 . de . Bad Friedrichshall, Germany . Friedrichshaller Rundblick . 76072662.
• Book: Thomas , Franz . 1997 . Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K . The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K . de . Osnabrück, Germany . Biblio-Verlag . 978-3-7648-2299-6.
• Book: Weal , John . 2001 . Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front . Aircraft of the Aces . 37 . Oxford, UK . . 978-1-84176-084-1.
• Book: Zabecki . David T. . David T. Zabecki . 2019 . The German War Machine in World War II . Santa Barbara, California . . 978-1-44-086918-1.