Peter Düttmann Explained

Peter Düttmann
Birth Date:23 May 1923
Birth Place:Gießen
Death Place:Echterdingen, Germany
Nickname:Bonifaz, sometimes Bonifazius
Allegiance: (to 1945)
Serviceyears:1940–45
Rank:Leutnant (second lieutenant)
Commands:5./JG 52
Battles:World War II
Awards:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Peter "Bonifazius" Düttmann (23 May 1923 – 9 January 2001) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 152 aerial victories achieved in 398 combat missions, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Born in Gießen, Düttmann grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. In 1940, he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe where he was trained as a fighter pilot. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in May 1943. Flying with this wing, Düttmann claimed his first aerial victory on 21 May 1943 over a Soviet Air Forces fighter aircraft. Following his 91st aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944. He claimed his 100th aerial victory on 25 September and was appointed squadron leader of 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 52 in December. He led this squadron until the end of World War II. Düttmann died on 9 January 2001 in Echterdingen.

Early life and career

Düttmann was born on 23 May 1923 in Gießen, at the time in People's State of Hesse in the Weimar Republic. His father was surgeon Dr. Erich Düttmann. Following flight training, Düttmann was transferred to the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group East) in southern France. In February 1943, Düttmann and other flight students of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost under the leadership of Oberleutnant Walter Krupinski were based at La Leu Airfield near La Rochelle, France. There, Düttmann flew the Arado Ar 96. On some of his flights, he was joined by members of the Kriegsmarine U-boat force who were made aware how easily a surfaced U-boat could be spotted from the air.

World War II

Following completion of flight and fighter pilot training, Düttmann joined 5. Staffel (5th squadron), Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on 7 May 1943. At the time, this squadron led by Leutnant Helmut Haberda who was killed in action on 8 May. Command of 5. Staffel was then temporarily given to Leutnant Josef Zwernemann who passed on command to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Batz on 26 May. The squadron was subordinated to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 52 under the command of Hauptmann Helmut Kühle. II. Gruppe was based at Anapa and was fighting in the Battle of the Caucasus on the Eastern Front. Düttmann served with the same unit until the end of the war and soon became one of their most successful pilots, flying with Heinz Ewald and Heinz Sachsenberg. He claimed his first aerial victory on 21 May 1943 over a Polikarpov Po-2, also known as a U-2, in the vicinity of Krasnodar. He downed another 24 by the end of the year.

On 11 July 1943, Düttmann ditched his Bf 109 G-4 southeast of Anapa in the Black Sea after being hit by return fire form a formation of Douglas Boston medium bombers. In the early hours of 26 July, 15 Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, escorted by Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter aircraft, headed for German shipping off of Anapa. The Soviet flight was intercepted over sea and scattered. During this engagement, German pilots claimed ten aerial victories, five Il-2s and five Yak-1s, including an Il-2 and Yak-1 shot down by Düttmann. One of the aerial victories claimed by Düttmann was also 5. Staffels 500th aerial victory to date.

Following aerial combat on 9 August 1943, he force landed his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 19623—factory number) in no-man's land and was posted missing for 17 hours. On the 23 August 1943, his Bf 109 G-6 was again hit by anti-aircraft artillery resulting in a forced landing 5abbr=offNaNabbr=off west of Nikolajewka. On 23 January 1944, Düttmann's Bf 109 G-6 was damaged three times in combat. At 08:00, during takeoff at Baherove, his aircraft was hit in the engine by a strafing Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. Later at 09:03, his Bf 109 G-6 was hit in aerial combat by a Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft resulting in a forced landing. At 14:45, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft artillery causing engine fire in flight. Nevertheless, he managed to return to his airfield and made a deadstick landing at Baherove.

On 28 February 1944, 4. and 5. Staffel was ordered to Grammatikowo located near Sovietskyi. On 13 March, the Gruppe returned to Baherove where they stayed for six days before again moving to Grammatikowo. On shuttle flight flown on 18 March, Düttmann's Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15992) suffered engine failure, resulting in a forced landing at Aissul. He scored a further 18 kills in March 1944, 22 in April and 14 in May 1944. Düttmann became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 11 April 1944 over the Kerch Peninsula. On 14 April, II. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Cape Chersonesus located at the Sevastopol Bay. On 15 April, he received the German Cross in Gold . On 7 May 1944, he claimed nine aerial victories to take his score to 91. Suffering from combat fatigue he was sent on leave at the end of May and returned in September 1944. During this period, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 9 June 1944.

Retreat through Hungary

Düttmann claimed his 100th aerial victory on 25 September 1944. He was the 92nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. On 1 November 1944, Düttmann, flying Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 167238), was involved in a ground accident at Ferihegy Airfield, killing his wingman Unteroffizier Heinrich Wester. Low on fuel, Wester had landed his Bf 109 G-14 (Werknummer 782775) first, the engine seized due to lack of fuel, leaving him sitting on the runway. Düttmann, who landed next, did not see Wester and crashed into his aircraft, killing him instantly.

On the 13 November 1944, he was shot down by an Il-2 rear gunner and bailed out at 1000 feet, landing behind enemy lines, but managing to reach German lines. The same happened to him on the 3 March 1945 due to AA damage and he returned a day later. On 23 December 1944, Düttmann was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 52. He replaced Hauptmann Heinrich Sturm who was killed in a flying accident the day before. On 1 March 1945, this squadron was renamed 6. Staffel of JG 52. On 24 April 1945, Düttmann claimed the destruction of a M4 Sherman tank 5abbr=onNaNabbr=on southwest of Cham.

Later life

Düttmann died on 9 January 2001 at the age of in Echterdingen, Germany.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Düttmann was credited with 152 aerial victories. Obermaier also lists Düttmann with 152 aerial victories claimed in 398 combat missions, 21 of which were ground support missions. Both Spick and Weal state that his total of aerial victories was 150 claimed in 398 combat missions, plus two tanks destroyed which were counted as additional victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 147 aerial victory claims, plus 45 further unconfirmed claims, including one North American P-51 Mustang. All of his confirmed victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 96453". 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
ClaimDateTimeTypeLocationClaimDateTimeTypeLocation
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
121 May 194315:48U-2PQ 34 Ost 96453, 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on northeast of Krasnodar176 September 194315:56Yak-1PQ 35 Ost 60314, 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on north-northwest of Taranovka
north of Taranovka
4 June 194318:30La-5vicinity of Krymskaja7 September 194309:35Yak-1vicinity of Taranovka
210 June 194314:43Yak-1PQ 34 Ost 75173
35abbr=onNaNabbr=on southwest of Noworossijsi
188 September 194305:13Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 50521, 6abbr=onNaNabbr=on east of Karlivka
east of Karlivka
310 July 194307:40Yak-1PQ 34 Ost 66893, 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on south of Wesselowka13 September 194316:45Yak-9vicinity of Merefa
411 July 194311:53BostonPQ 34 Ost 75353, 45abbr=onNaNabbr=on southeast of Anapa
lake south of Anapa
21 September 194317:00Il-2 m.H.south-southwest of Kozelets
522 July 194312:04Il-2 m.H.PQ 34 Ost 76852, 15abbr=onNaNabbr=on east of Varenikovskaya23 September 194317:40P-40west of Pereiaslav
622 July 194317:01Il-2 m.H.PQ 34 Ost 75234, 3abbr=onNaNabbr=on west of Krymskaja
vicinity of Krymsk
1925 September 194310:48P-40PQ 35 Ost 10131, 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on southwest of Pereiaslav
southwest of Pereiaslav
723 July 194306:14Il-2 m.H.PQ 34 Ost 75265, 5abbr=onNaNabbr=on southwest of Krymskaja
southwest of Krymsk
2026 September 194317:23P-40PQ 35 Ost 1013, 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on southwest of Pereiaslav
southwest of Pereiaslav
823 July 194306:20Il-2 m.H.PQ 34 Ost 86773, 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on northeast of Krymskaja
northeast of Krymsk
2 October 194311:52LaGG-3vicinity of Cherkasy
926 July 194306:18Il-2 m.H.PQ 34 Ost 76774, 5abbr=onNaNabbr=on southeast of Blagoweschtschenskoje
lake south of Blagoweschtschenskaja
2 October 194311:57LaGG-3vicinity of Cherkasy
1026 July 194306:27Yak-1PQ 34 Ost 75144, 5abbr=onNaNabbr=on southwest of Anapa
lake west of Anapa
3 October 194310:25P-39Michailowka
7 August 194311:25Il-2 m.H.Werenskowskaja9 October 194313:10Yak-1south of Tamenj
8 August 194307:30Il-2 m.H.west of Belgorod2110 October 194315:38Yak-1PQ 4932, 10km (10miles) northwest of Werchnedneprowsk
south of Borodajewka
118 August 194318:30BostonPQ 35 Ost 50683, 1abbr=onNaNabbr=on west of Nizacha
10km (10miles) west of Pavlovka
30 November 194309:59Yak-1southeast of Kolonka
1211 August 194318:03BostonPQ 35 Ost 51514, 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on west of Pavlovka
Nizacha
?28 December 194309:25P-39Cape Taulen
1315 August 194311:25La-5PQ 35 Ost 51374, 5abbr=onNaNabbr=on east of Krinitschnoje
east of Kinitzeknoje
2228 December 194310:57Yak-13km (02miles) west of Cape Tusla
1417 August 194305:56Il-2PQ 35 Ost 51312, 5abbr=onNaNabbr=on north of Mosgowoj
north of Mockorroj
2329 December 194312:23LaGG-35km (03miles) west-northwest of Cape Khroni
west of Cape Khroni
1517 August 194306:07Il-2PQ 35 Ost 51374, 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on south of Borodskoje
east of Borowskoje
2429 December 194312:33Yak-710km (10miles) southeast of Kerch
1617 August 194309:02Il-2PQ 35 Ost 41434, 2abbr=onNaNabbr=on northeast of Bazaiwschtschina
northeast of Baratschina
2529 December 194312:50P-395km (03miles) south of Opassnaja
south of Apannaja
19 August 194306:20Yak-1vicinity of Achtyrka30 December 194313:45P-39east of Apassnaja
Opermeja
23 August 194313:30Il-2 m.H.northeast of Marinowka
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –
Eastern Front — 1 January – May 1944
263 January 194408:17P-39PQ 34 Ost 66813, 5abbr=onNaNabbr=on west of Cape Tusla
west of Cape Tusla
565 April 194413:11La-5southwest of Kerch
273 January 194408:25P-39south of Apassnaja575 April 194417:26Il-2north of Katerles
4 January 194413:05P-39west of Cape Tusla585 April 194417:30P-40city center of Kerch
9 January 194409:00Yak-1southwest of Eltigen595 April 194417:31P-40northwest of Kerch
10 January 194406:55Yak-1west of Kerch60?6 April 194411:29Yak-1southeast of Perekop
10 January 194409:40Il-2 m.H.north east of Kolonka618 April 194416:29Yak-1east of An-Najman
10 January 194414:05P-39northeast of Cape Khroni629 April 194410:09Il-2 m.H.northwest of An-Najman
2815 January 194407:21Il-2 m.H.north of Cape Tarchan639 April 194410:12Il-2 m.H.west of An-Najman
2917 January 194406:41Il-2 m.H.northwest of Bakssy10 April 194407:50Yak-7southeast of Perekop
3021 January 194411:41P-40southwest of Eltigen6410 April 194408:49Yak-7Tschumak
5 February 194411:40P-39south of Kolonka6510 April 194417:47Yak-7north of An-Najman
6 February 194407:40P-39southeast of Kolonka11 April 194406:05Yak-7vicinity of Perekop
7 February 194414:20Yak-1north of Cape Khroni66♠11 April 194406:19Yak-7west of Michailowka
3110 February 194409:26Yak-1west of Bakssy
vicinity of Bulganek
67♠11 April 194410:50Yak-7Nowo Ivanovka
3210 February 194412:00LaGG-3east of Apassnaja
vicinity of Kolonka
68♠11 April 194410:54Yak-7northwest of Dzhankoi
3312 February 194408:52Yak-1east of Majak69♠11 April 194410:56P-39northeast of Kakankut
3413 February 194407:28P-39southeast of Apassnaja70♠11 April 194410:59Il-2 m.H.vicinity of Dzhankoi
3513 February 194415:07P-39east of Gorkom71♠11 April 194414:53Yak-7southwest of Dzhankoi
3614 February 194411:27P-39east of Kolonka13 April 194408:23Il-2 m.H.Bachtschasanj
15 February 194409:27P-39southwest of Kossa Tusla
Cape Tusla
?13 April 194408:27Yak-7vicinity of Simferopol
15 February 194409:29P-39south-southeast of Kossa Tusla
Cape Tusla
15 April 194409:15Il-2 m.H.west of Sevastopol
3726 February 194412:24P-40east of Kerch7217 April 194413:46Yak-75abbr=onNaNabbr=on west of Belbek
29 February 194409:25P-40south of Iljitsch7317 April 194413:47Il-2 m.H.north of Belbek
381 March 194408:03P-40east of Apassnaja18 April 194406:30Yak-9northwest of Sevastopol
392 March 194409:55Yak-1Adshin Uschkaj?22 April 194417:00Bostonvicinity of Balaklava
4011 March 194416:22Yak-1south of Michailkowka7423 April 194406:17Yak-7west-northwest of Belbek
4112 March 194407:45P-40Kamysch Burun7524 April 194417:00Bostonwest of Balaklava
4212 March 194407:52P-40northern Kerch7624 April 194417:28Bostoneast-southeast of Sevastopol
4313 March 194408:35Il-2east of Feodosia7725 April 194414:12Yak-7northwest of Balaklava
4414 March 194413:00LaGG-3southwest of Saporoshkaja781 May 194413:54Yak-9west of Belbek
4516 March 194410:10Il-2 m.H.south of Bakssy791 May 194414:04Yak-9west of Akhis
4616 March 194410:11Il-2 m.H.northeast of Bakssy806 May 194415:58Yak-7west of Belbek
4716 March 194410:12Il-2 m.H.southeast of Bakssy816 May 194415:59Yak-7south-southwest of Belbek
4816 March 194410:13P-40southwest of Bakssy826 May 194416:00Yak-7southeast of Belbek
4917 March 194409:18LaGG-3east of Feodosia83♠7 May 194412:21Yak-9southeast of Balaklava
5017 March 194409:20LaGG-3east of Feodosia84♠7 May 194412:24P-40north of Balaklava
5117 March 194409:21LaGG-3east of Feodosia85♠7 May 194412:26P-40north-northeast of Balaklava
5217 March 194409:23LaGG-3east of Feodosia86♠7 May 194416:55P-40northeast of Balaklava
5326 March 194409:23Il-2 m.H.south of Sacharowka87♠7 May 194417:03Yak-7north of Balaklava
5426 March 194416:07Yak-1northwest of Tschigary88♠7 May 194417:05Il-2 m.H.northwest of Balaklava
5526 March 194416:08Yak-1south of Tschigary89♠7 May 194417:07Yak-7south of Balaklava
3 April 194410:02Yak-7south of Cape Takyl90♠7 May 194417:08Yak-7north of Balaklava
3 April 194410:03Yak-7southeast of Cape Takyl91♠7 May 194417:10Il-2 m.H.west-southwest of Balaklava
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –
Eastern Front — September – November 1944
9217 September 194417:25IAR 80south of Thorenburg11021 October 194410:56Yak-11south-southeast of Szolnok
9317 September 194417:35He 111north of Frata11121 October 194410:58Yak-11south of Szolnok
9419 September 194417:45?Yak-11south of Thorenburg11223 October 194415:34Il-2 m.H.southeast of Szolnok
9519 September 194417:46Yak-11south-southwest of Thorenburg11330 October 194413:21MiG-3west of Nyíregyháza
9623 September 194410:40Yak-9east of Thorenburg11430 October 194413:24MiG-3south-southeast of Nyíregyháza
9724 September 194411:40La-5northwest of Ceanul11531 October 194408:21Il-2 m.H.southeast of Szolnok
9824 September 194411:42La-5east of Moinești116?31 October 194414:15Il-2 m.H.east of Cegléd
9924 September 194414:20La-5east-southeast of Thorenburg11731 October 194414:17Il-2 m.H.southeast of Cegléd
10024 September 194414:27La-5south of Tureni11831 October 194414:19Il-2 m.H.north of Nagykőrös
10125 September 194409:35IAR 80?south of Thorenburg119♠?1 November 194414:02Yak-9east of Kecskemét
10225 September 194409:37IAR 80southwest of Thorenburg120♠1 November 194414:03Yak-9north of Kecskemét
10325 September 194409:46?IAR 80south of Thorenburg121♠1 November 194414:05Yak-9south-southwest of Abony
10425 September 194411:30La-5north-northeast of Thorenburg122♠1 November 194414:06Yak-9south of Nagykőrös
10516 October 194415:50La-5southwest of Derecske123♠1 November 194414:09Il-2east of Kecskemét
10616 October 194415:54La-5south of Derecske1247 November 194416:05La-5north-northeast of Abony
10718 October 194413:30Yak-9north of Mikepércs12513 November 194409:02Yak-11south-southwest of Tápiószele
10818 October 194413:34Yak-9northeast of Mikepércs12613 November 194409:05Yak-11south-southwest of Tápiószele
10919 October 194409:21Yak-7west-northwest of Debrecen12713 November 194412:20Il-2 m.H.north of Jászberény
19 October 194418:00?La-55abbr=onNaNabbr=on northwest of Szolnok
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –
Eastern Front — 1 March – 8 May 1945
1288 March 194516:24Yak-33km (02miles) southwest of Aba13819 March 194514:56Yak-3north of Stuhlweißenburg
1298 March 194516:27Yak-34km (02miles) south of Aba13919 March 194515:03La-5south-southwest of Stuhlweißenburg
1309 March 194513:51La-512km (07miles) east of Káloz20 March 194514:05P-5110km (10miles) west-southwest of Veszprém
1319 March 194513:53Il-2 m.H.18km (11miles) east of Káloz1405 April 194513:32Il-2 m.H.west of Götzendorf
11 March 194513:23Yak-9southwest of Sebedražie1415 April 194513:33Il-2 m.H.southwest of Götzendorf
11 March 194513:26Yak-9south of Polgárdi1429 April 194508:53BostonMödling
13211 March 194515:21?Yak-96km (04miles) southeast of Káloz1439 April 194508:54Bostonnortheast of Mödling
13314 March 194512:55Boston8km (05miles) north of Aba14410 April 194512:23Yak-3east of Enzersdorf
16 March 194513:55Il-2 m.H.south of Pákozd14510 April 194512:27La-5west of Enzersdorf
16 March 194513:56Il-2 m.H.north of Stuhlweißenburg14613 April 194514:50Yak-3Vienna
13416 March 194513:58Il-2 m.H.6km (04miles) west of Pákozd14713 April 194514:52Yak-3north of Simmering
13516 March 194513:59Il-2 m.H.3km (02miles) northwest of Pákozd14813 April 194514:58Il-2 m.H.north-northwest of Sievering
13616 March 194514:01Il-2 m.H.6km (04miles) northeast of Pákozd14913 April 194515:03Yak-9west of Neuwaldegg
18 March 194514:05Yak-33km (02miles) southeast of Káloz15015 April 194509:12Yak-9east of Kostel train station
13719 March 194511:52Il-2 m.H.Stuhlweißenburg

Awards

Dates of rank

21 September 1943: Feldwebel (Technical Sergeant), effective as of 1 October 1943
1 February 1944: Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)

Works

References

Bibliography