Friedrich Obleser

Friedrich-Erich Obleser (21 February 1923 – 5 June 2004) was a German general in the Bundeswehr. During World War II, he served as a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe. A fighter ace, Obleser was credited with 120 aerial victories and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. For his post-war service in the German Air Force, he received the Grand Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Friedrich Obleser
Obleser during his service in the Bundeswehr
Born	(1923-02-21)21 February 1923 Pottenstein, Austria
Died	5 June 2004(2004-06-05) (aged 81) Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany  West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe German Air Force
Years of service	1940–1945, 1956–1983
Rank	Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht) Generalleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit	JG 52
Commands	Jagdbombergeschwader 43 Jagdbombergeschwader 31
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Inspector of the Air Force
In office 1978–1983
Preceded by	Gerhard Limberg
Succeeded by	Eberhard Eimler

Early life and career

Obleser was born on 21 February 1923 in Pottenstein in the district of Baden in Lower Austria in Austria.^[1] In 1940, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe.^[2] Following flight training,^{[Note 1]} Obleser was assigned to 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing), a squadron of III. Gruppe of JG 52.^[1]

World War II

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In January 1943, Obleser arrived with 8. Staffel under command of Hauptmann Günther Rall at the Gigant airfield which was located in the vicinity of Salsk. At the time, the Red Army had launched Operation Koltso, the final phase of the Battle of Stalingrad. Rall made Obleser his wingman and also appointed him as technical officer of the Staffel, a position which was responsible for the overall readiness of the equipment and aircraft.^[4] Obleser flew his first combat mission on 12 January 1943 on the Eastern Front.^[1] There, he claimed his first aerial victory on 28 March over a Bell P-39 Airacobra.^[5] On 28 May 1943, Obleser was wounded when his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-4 (Werknummer 19284—factory number) was hit by anti-aircraft artillery resulting in a forced landing at Varenikovskaya.^[6] Following his convalescence, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel of JG 52 on 6 July 1943, succeeding Rall who took command of III. Gruppe.^[7] Obleser received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 8 November 1943 and the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) six days later.^[8]

Obleser was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 23 March 1944 following his 80th aerial victory.^[9] At one point he questioned the aerial victory claims made by Erich Hartmann. Hartmann asked Rall to have Obleser transferred to be Hartmann's wingman for a while. Obleser became a witness on some of Hartmann's claims and no longer questioned Hartmann's claims.^[10] On 21 July 1944, Obleser was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 87th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[11]

On 12 December, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Zagórze, located 36 kilometers (22 miles) west of Kraków. The Gruppe flew relatively few missions at the time. Obleser toyed around with a Panzerfaust, a recoil-less anti-tank weapon, in an attempt to increase its firing range. On 30 December, Obleser was severely wounded when a Panzerfaust exploded in his hand.^[12] He did not see any further action before the end of the war in May 1945.^[13] He was temporarily replaced by Leutnant Karl Gratz until Leutnant Viktor Petermann officially succeeded Obleser on 7 January 1945 as commander of 10. Staffel.^[7]

Later life

After Obleser was released from US captivity, he worked as a commissioner of a recycling company, which predominantly had to dismantle and dispose of bomber aircraft. He then became head of an industrial application department in the private industry. In 1956, Obleser continued his military career, joining the German Air Force of West Germany as a Hauptmann. Following multiple assignments to various fighter units, Obleser was appointed wing commander of Jagdgeschwader 72 in Leck, later known as Jagdbombergeschwader 43, and then commander of Jagdbombergeschwader 31 "Boelcke". Obleser then held the position of system officer for the multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) within the German Air Staff. He then was appointed general manager of the NATO MRCA Management Agency.^[2]

Obleser then served as chief of the Air Force Office (Luftwaffenamt) and commanding general of the Air Force Support Command (Luftwaffenunterstützungskommando). From 1 October 1978 until his retirement on 31 March 1983, he held the position of Inspector of the Air Force in the Bundeswehr, achieving the rank of Generalleutnant.^[2]

In June 1981, the Federal Minister of Defence Hans Apel threatened Obleser with early retirement following Obleser's report to the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag (Verteidigungsausschuss des Deutschen Bundestages). Obleser had stated that, due to the latest defense budget cut, the German Air Force could only partially fulfill its obligations. Apel had viewed Obleser's statement as lack of loyalty towards his superiors. Earlier in March 1981, although skeptical of the proposal, Obleser had approved two budget cuts suggested by Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Jürgen Brandt.^[14]

Obleser died of natural causes on 5 June 2004 in Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, at 81 years of age.^[13]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Obleser was credited with 120 aerial victories.^[15] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Obleser was credited with 112 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.^[16] In addition to these claims, Obleser claimed nine undocumented aerial victories over United States Army Air Forces aircraft, two heavy bombers and seven fighter aircraft.^[13]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 86724". 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 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.^[17]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Obleser an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.   This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[18] Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
1	28 March 1943	05:37	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 86724[5] vicinity of Tichonowskij	42	22 August 1943	08:23	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuybyshev[19] 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino
2	11 April 1943	15:55	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 85153[5] vicinity of Nowo Nekrassowskij	43	22 August 1943	18:00	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88284[19] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino
3	20 April 1943	07:04	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85192[20] vicinity of Erdol	44	24 August 1943	12:44	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 88282, west of Kuibyschewo[19] 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Jalisawehino
4	21 April 1943	10:57	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75452[20] 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Novorossiysk	45	24 August 1943	15:13	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88252, Marinowka[19] 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Kuteinikowo
?[Note 3]	21 April 1943	11:05	Il-2	8 km (5.0 mi) south of Novorossiysk[13]	46	26 August 1943	06:49	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 88273[19] 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Jalisawehino
5	21 April 1943	11:06	Yak-1?[Note 4]	PQ 34 Ost 75[20] Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Novorossiysk	47	29 August 1943	06:24	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 88343[19] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kuteinikowo
6	24 April 1943	16:48	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 75 444[20] Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Novorossiysk	48	5 September 1943	17:15	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 79484[21] 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Grischino
7	24 April 1943	16:53	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 75461[20] Black Sea, 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Kabardinka	49	14 September 1943	09:25	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 69413[21] 20 km (12 mi) east of Polohy
8?[Note 5]	27 April 1943	14:18	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 76713[20]	50	18 September 1943	07:30	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 69711[21] 30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Pokrowskoje
9	27 April 1943	16:03	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75713[20] over sea, south of Gelendzhik	51	18 September 1943	13:40	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 68373[21] 15 km (9.3 mi) west-northwest of Polohy
10	27 April 1943	16:20	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85112[20] north of Mertschanskaja	52♠	19 September 1943	05:25	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 59444[21] 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Pavlohrad
11	30 April 1943	14:50	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85113, east of Krymskaja[22] east of Krymsk	53♠	19 September 1943	08:07	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 59524[21] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Dnepropetrovsk
12	3 May 1943	05:08	I-153?[Note 6]	PQ 34 Ost 76854[22] east of Varenikovskaya	54♠	19 September 1943	08:10	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 59553[21] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Dnepropetrovsk
13	3 May 1943	05:12	I-153[Note 6]	PQ 34 Ost 76862[22] vicinity of Imeni Dimitrowo	55♠	19 September 1943	15:07	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 59583[21] 25 km (16 mi) east of Dnepropetrovsk
14	4 May 1943	15:55	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85313[22] southeast of Schapssugskaja	56♠	19 September 1943	15:26	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 59641[21] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Pavlohrad
15	5 May 1943	07:22?[Note 7]	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85174, southwest of Abinskaja[22] vicinity of Nowenjkij	57	21 September 1943	13:40	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 59383[21] south-southeast of Dnepropetrovsk
16	5 May 1943	07:38?[Note 7]	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85161[22] west of Eriwanskaja	58	23 September 1943	14:07	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 58993[21] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhia
17	6 May 1943	05:15	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 75241[22] vicinity of Neberdshajewskaja	59	25 September 1943	15:03	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 58672[21] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak
18	8 May 1943	16:05	Spitfire	PQ 34 Ost 85113, east of Krymskaja[23] east of Krymsk	60	25 September 1943	15:05	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 58673[21] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak
19	9 May 1943	07:20	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75262[23] south of Krymsk	61	26 September 1943	06:51	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 58673[24] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak
20	11 May 1943	06:29	LaGG	PQ 34 Ost 85152, north of Abinskaja[23] east of Sorin	62	26 September 1943	07:10	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 58331[24] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Zaporizhia
21	11 May 1943	06:40	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 86112[23] north of Mertschanskaja	63	27 September 1943	14:15	LaGG	PQ 34 Ost 58192[24] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhia
22	22 May 1943	09:25	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85563[23] over sea, south of Gelendzhik	64	29 September 1943	14:10	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 58672, Bolschoj Tokmak[24] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak
23	26 May 1943	13:19	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 76861[23] north of Kessjetowa	65	30 September 1943	11:23	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 58564, northeast of Michailowka[24] vicinity of Kalinowka
24	26 May 1943	16:05	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 76894[23] vicinity of Kijewakoje	66	1 October 1943	06:50	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 58674[24] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak
25	27 May 1943	06:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85113, east of Krymskaja[23] east of Krymsk	67	1 October 1943	07:20	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 58133[24] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Zaporizhia
26	28 May 1943	12:12	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 76894[25] vicinity of Kijewakoje	68	1 October 1943	12:25	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 58561[24] vicinity of Kalinowka
27	3 August 1943	08:45	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 35 Ost 61293[26] 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Prochorowka	69	3 October 1943	08:23	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 58153[24] northeast of Zaporizhia
28	3 August 1943	18:39	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61194[26] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Krasnyi Lyman	70	3 October 1943	16:12	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 58583[24] 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Beloserka
29	4 August 1943	04:48	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61332, northwest of Belgorod[26] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Tomarovka	71	4 October 1943	11:45	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 58672, Bolschoj Tokmak[24] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak
30	4 August 1943	10:55	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 61154[26] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Krasnyi Lyman	72	6 October 1943	07:10	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 58674[27] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj-Tokmak
31	4 August 1943	15:15	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 61624[28] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Belgorod	73	7 October 1943	07:44	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 49173[27] 55 km (34 mi) east-northeast of Myronivka
32	5 August 1943	09:43	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61412[28] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Belgorod	74	7 October 1943	11:10	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 49322, west of Schulgowka[27] 60 km (37 mi) west-northwest of Dnepropetrovsk
33	7 August 1943	08:46	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 51612[28] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Grayvoron	75	7 October 1943	11:15	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 49321[27] 60 km (37 mi) west-northwest of Dnepropetrovsk
34	8 August 1943	15:00	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61532[28] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Belgorod	76	8 October 1943	06:40	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 49321[27] 60 km (37 mi) west-northwest of Dnepropetrovsk
35	9 August 1943	05:35	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61652[28] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Vovchansk	77	8 October 1943	13:06	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 58683[27] 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Bolschoj-Tokmak
36	9 August 1943	05:39	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61633[28] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Vovchansk	78	10 October 1943	06:00	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 34 Ost 58164, east of Zaporizhia[27] 20 km (12 mi) east of Zaporizhia
37	14 August 1943	14:52	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 60163[29] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Kharkiv	79	28 November 1943	14:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 48644[30] 20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Nikopol
38	19 August 1943	09:32	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88263[29] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Marinowka	80	7 December 1943	13:53	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	north of Nowa Praha[30] north Nowaja Praga
39	19 August 1943	11:38	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88254, Kalinowka[29] vicinity of Dmitrijewka	81	17 December 1943	13:45	Boston	northeast of Losowatka[31] northeast of Losowatka
40	19 August 1943	11:44	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88281[29] 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino	82	19 December 1943	12:10	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	south of Nowo-Dnjeprowka[31]
41	21 August 1943	13:20	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo[19] 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[32] Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944
83	7 January 1944	11:35	P-39	PQ 39763[33] 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of Perekop	95	15 April 1944	16:18	Il-2	PQ 35311[34] Black Sea, 35 km (22 mi) west-northwest of Sevastopol
84	15 January 1944	10:30	Il-2	PQ 19494[33] 25 km (16 mi) west of Kirovograd	96	17 April 1944	15:30	LaGG	PQ 35451[34] Dzhankoi
85	23 January 1944	10:30	P-39	PQ 38824[33] 45 km (28 mi) south of Apostolove	97	27 June 1944	19:40	Pe-2	PQ 95243[35]
86	30 January 1944	12:02	LaGG	PQ 19152[33] 25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Signajewka	98	7 July 1944	15:15	LaGG	PQ 55393[35] 45 km (28 mi) east of Otopeni
87	1 February 1944	07:28	LaGG	PQ 19274[33] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Signajewka	99	19 July 1944	14:45	P-39	PQ 42552[35] 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Liuboml
88	1 February 1944	10:06	LaGG	PQ 19134[33] 10 km (6.2 mi) south-southwest of Signajewka	100	21 July 1944	18:58	P-39	PQ 31876[36] 20 km (12 mi) south of Rawa Ruska
89	26 February 1944	12:02	Pe-2	PQ 19452[37] 30 km (19 mi) west-northwest of Kirovograd	101	24 July 1944	18:28	LaGG	PQ 30694[36] 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Stryj
90	14 March 1944	15:34	LaGG	PQ 70543[37] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Balakleya	102	12 August 1944	14:04	LaGG	PQ 11383[36] 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Mielec
91	21 March 1944	16:21	LaGG	PQ 70551[37] 20 km (12 mi) north of Izium	103	17 August 1944	12:44	P-39	PQ 11474[36] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Sandomierz
92	31 March 1944	15:53?[Note 8]	LaGG	PQ 51783[37] 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Brody	104	22 August 1944	15:20	P-39	PQ 11417[36] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
93	4 April 1944	14:03	LaGG	PQ 50674[37] 25 km (16 mi) south of Ternopol	105	22 August 1944	15:33	LaGG	PQ 11287[36] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
94	15 April 1944	16:15	LaGG	Laspinskaya Bukhta[34] Black Sea, 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Laspi Bight
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[38] Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944
106	26 August 1944	10:45	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 11189[39] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów	110	2 September 1944	14:09	LaGG	PQ 11197[39] vicinity of Opatów
107	27 August 1944	15:24	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 11319[39] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Opatów	111	15 October 1944	10:48	LaGG	PQ 20759[39] 45 km (28 mi) south of Sanok
108	31 August 1944	18:33	LaGG	PQ 11321[39] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów	112	25 October 1944	14:59	Il-2 m.H.[Note 2]	PQ 25599[39] 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Prahovo
109	1 September 1944	11:15	Il-2	PQ 11385[39] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Opatów

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class^[40]
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 November 1943 as Leutnant in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52^[8]
• German Cross in Gold on 14 November 1943 as Leutnant in the III./Jagdgeschwader 52^[41]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 March 1944 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52^{[42][Note 9]}
• Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Officer's Cross (April 1973)
  • Commanders Cross (26 September 1979)^[44]
  • Grand Cross with Star (4 March 1983)

Notes

1. Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.^[3]
2. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
3. This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.^[20]
4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin Il-2.^[13]
5. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.^[13]
6. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.^[13]
7. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:32.^[13]
8. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 05:53.^[38]
9. According to Scherzer on 26 March 1944.^[43]

References

Citations

1. Obermaier 1989, p. 175.
2. 1978–1982 Friedrich Obleser.
3. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
4. Rall 2007, pp. 142–144.
5. Prien et al. 2012, p. 478.
6. Prien et al. 2012, p. 496.
7. Barbas 2010, p. 280.
8. Barbas 2010, p. 283.
9. Schreier 1990, p. 177.
10. interview by Colin Heaton Archived 2008-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
11. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
12. Barbas 2010, pp. 196, 321.
13. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 929.
14. Der Spiegel Volume 24/1981.
15. Zabecki 2019, p. 330.
16. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 929–931.
17. Planquadrat.
18. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 929–930.
19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 488.
20. Prien et al. 2012, p. 479.
21. Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.
22. Prien et al. 2012, p. 480.
23. Prien et al. 2012, p. 481.
24. Prien et al. 2012, p. 490.
25. Prien et al. 2012, p. 482.
26. Prien et al. 2012, p. 485.
27. Prien et al. 2012, p. 491.
28. Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.
29. Prien et al. 2012, p. 487.
30. Prien et al. 2012, p. 493.
31. Prien et al. 2012, p. 494.
32. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 930–931.
33. Barbas 2010, p. 373.
34. Barbas 2010, p. 375.
35. Barbas 2010, p. 378.
36. Barbas 2010, p. 379.
37. Barbas 2010, p. 374.
38. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 931.
39. Barbas 2010, p. 380.
40. Dixon 2023, p. 85.
41. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 335.
42. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 328.
43. Scherzer 2007, p. 574.
44. Ministerialblatt 1980, p. 3.

Bibliography

• Barbas, Bernd (2010). Die Geschichte der III. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 3rd Group of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-94-6.
• Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
• Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
• Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
• Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton-on-Thames, UK: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
• 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.
• 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.
• Rall, Günther (2007). Braatz, Kurt [in German] (ed.). Günther Rall: Mein Flugbuch—Erinnerungen 1938–2004 [Günther Rall: My Flight Book—Recollections 1938–2004] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-3-7.
• 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.
• Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
• Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.
• "Ablösung für Obleser" [Replacement for Obleser]. Der Spiegel (in German). No. 24. 1981. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
• "Generalleutnant Friedrich Obleser" [Lieutenant General Friedrich Obleser]. Bundeswehr (in German). Retrieved 1 February 2017.
• "Ministerialblatt für das Land Nordrhein-Westfalen" [Ministerial Newspaper for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia]. recht.nrw.de (in German). 7 January 1980. Retrieved 9 February 2022.

External links

• "Ich denk?, ich steh?". Der Spiegel (in German). No. 46. 1979. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
• "Ein schöner Tod - fürs Vaterland?". Der Spiegel (in German). No. 35. 1982. Retrieved 18 June 2013.

Military offices
Preceded by Oberstleutnant Erich Hohagen	Commander of Jagdgeschwader 72 1 November 1961 – 19 December 1963	Succeeded by Oberstleutnant Benno Schmieder
Preceded by Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Meyn	Commander of Jagdbombergeschwader 31 Boelcke December 1963 – November 1966	Succeeded by Oberst Paul Monreal
Preceded by Generalleutnant Gerhard Limberg	Inspector of the Air Force 1 October 1978 – 31 March 1983	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Eberhard Eimler