Otto Fönnekold

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Otto Fönnekold
Otto Fönnekold.jpg
Born(1920-02-15)15 February 1920
Hamburg
Died31 August 1944(1944-08-31) (aged 24)
Ssaß-Budak, Siebenbürgen
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–1944
RankHauptmann (captain)
Commands held5./JG 52
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Otto Fönnekold (15 February 1920 – 31 August 1944) was a pilot in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. A flying ace, Fönnekold was credited with 136 aerial victories—that is, 136 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. All but three of his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in about 600 combat missions.[1]

World War II[]

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Fönnekold, who was born on 15 February 1920 in Hamburg of the Weimar Republic, was posted to the 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in the fall of 1942.[2] At the time, this squadron was officially commanded by Oberleutnant Siegfried Simsch who was on home leave recovering from wounds sustained on 29 May.[3] 5. Staffel was a squadron of II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 52 commanded by Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff.[4] In August 1942, II. Gruppe was subordinated to VIII. Fliegerkorps and supported the 6th Army offensive to capture Stalingrad.[5] Based at Gonschtakowka, Fönnekold claimed his first aerial victory on 7 September when he shot down a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter.[6]

Fönnekold often flew as wingman of Wilhelm Batz. On 12 January 1944, Fönnekold was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 62nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[7] Fönnekold was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 9 August 1943, the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 16 August 1943, and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 26 March 1944.[2][8]

Squadron leader and death[]

On 19 April 1944, Fönnekold was appointed Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel of JG 52 when its former commander, Batz, was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III. Gruppe of JG 52.[9][10] He became an "ace-in-a-day" on 30 May. That day, Fönnekold shot down seven P-39 fighters in combat near Tudora and Iași in Romania.[11]

Fönnekold claimed three United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) North American P-51 Mustang's on 31 August 1944. Later that day, he was bounced during his landing approach at Ssaß-Budak by P-51's. One of the .50 caliber projectiles penetrated his heart while taxiing his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 441931—factory number) "black 9".[12][13] He was succeeded by Heinrich Sturm as commander of 5. Staffel.[14]

Summary of career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 134 confirmed and three unconfirmed aerial victories. All these victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 54512". The Luftwaffe grid map (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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 × 4 km in size.[16]

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  2. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 07:26.[17]
  3. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 15:23.[17]
  4. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 10:17.[34]
  5. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 15:27.[17]
  6. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 04:17.[17]
  7. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 18:40.[17]
  8. ^ This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[11]
  9. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 04:08.[11]
  10. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-9.[11]
  11. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 13:25.[11]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Spick 1996, p. 230.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Obermaier 1989, p. 111.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 475, 502.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 475.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 458.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 462, 490.
  7. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  8. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 319.
  9. ^ Weal 2001, p. 75.
  10. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 286.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 322.
  12. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 322.
  13. ^ Weal 2001, p. 80.
  14. ^ Weal 2004, p. 112.
  15. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 319–322.
  16. ^ Planquadrat.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 320.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 490.
  19. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 497.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 491.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 498.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 492.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 494.
  24. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 320–321.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 378.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 389.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 390.
  28. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 379.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 382.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2012, p. 391.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 383.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 384.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 392.
  34. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 321.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 385.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2012, p. 393.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 386.
  38. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 387.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 394.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 388.
  41. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 321–322.
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m Barbas 2005, p. 358.
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Barbas 2005, p. 361.
  44. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Barbas 2005, p. 366.
  45. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Barbas 2005, p. 367.
  46. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Barbas 2005, p. 359.
  47. ^ Jump up to: a b c Barbas 2005, p. 368.
  48. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 78.
  49. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 118.
  50. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 183, 490.
  51. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 313.

Bibliography[]

  • Barbas, Bernd (2005). Die Geschichte der II. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 2nd Group of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). ISBN 978-3-923457-71-7.
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  • 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.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • 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.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2001). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-084-1.
  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten (Aviation Elite Units). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.


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