Wolf-Udo Ettel

Wolf-Udo Ettel (26 February 1921 – 17 July 1943) was a German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace and a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Ettel is listed with 124 aerial victories—that is, 124 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in over 250 missions.^[1] He was killed in action by anti-aircraft artillery on 17 July 1943 over Fascist Italy.

Wolf-Udo Ettel
Ettel as a Leutnant
Born	(1921-02-26)26 February 1921 Free City of Hamburg, German Empire
Died	17 July 1943(1943-07-17) (aged 22) near Lentini, Sicily, Fascist Italy
Cause of death	Killed in action
Buried	war cemetery at Motta Sant'Anastasia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–1943
Rank	Oberleutnant (first lientenant)
Unit	JG 3, JG 27
Commands	8./JG 27
Battles / wars	See battles World War II Air campaigns: European air campaign Land campaigns: Mediterranean theatre  † Siege of Malta Eastern Front Battle of Stalingrad Kuban bridgehead
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (posthumous)

Early life and schooling

Ettel was born on 26 February 1921 in Hamburg in the Weimar Republic. He was the son of a representative of the Junkers aircraft manufacture. Due to his father's work, the family lived in Teheran and in Colombia where he attended the German school. Following his parents' divorce and return to Germany in 1934, he and his two younger brothers attended the Potsdam National Political Institutes of Education (Nationalpolitische Erziehungsanstalt—Napola) which was a secondary boarding school founded under the recently established Nazi state. The goal of the Napola schools was to raise a new generation for the political, military and administrative leadership of Nazi Germany.^[2]

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 15 November 1939, Ettel volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe. Following various training courses, he attended blind flying school in January 1941 and passed his A/B pilot license at Prenzlau.^{[Note 1]} He then attended a Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot training school) based in Paris, France. In September 1941, he was posted to a Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe (supplementary fighter group), a fighter pilot training unit based in Denmark.^[2]

On 10 April 1942, Leutnant Ettel was posted to 4. Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing),^{[Note 2]} a II. Gruppe (2nd group) squadron.^[2] At the time, II. Gruppe had been placed under the overall command of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) and was based at San Pietro Clarenza, Sicily, flying combat missions during the Siege of Malta.^[5]

Eastern Front

On 5 May 1942, Adolf Hitler issued his directive No. 41 which summarized his orders for the summer campaign in the Soviet Union and resulted in Case Blue, the Wehrmacht plan for the 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia. In preparation for this campaign, II. Gruppe was moved to the Eastern Front, arriving in Pilsen from Sicily on 27 April. The Gruppe was then placed under the command of Hauptmann Kurt Brändle and refit for the summer campaign.^[6] After three weeks of rest, II. Gruppe, as part of the VIII. Fliegerkorps, was placed on the left wing of Army Group South and ordered to relocate to an airfield at Chuguyev, first elements arriving on 19 May. On 24 June, II. Gruppe moved to Shchigry, a forward airfield approximated 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Kursk close to the front lines.^[7] That day, Ettel claimed his first two victories when he shot down two Ilyushin Il-2 "Shturmovik" ground-attack aircraft.^[8]

He, himself, was shot down approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) north Voronezh on 10 July while destroying a Soviet-flown Douglas Boston bomber, his seventh claim in total. He bailed out of his damaged Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 "White 1" (Werknummer 8383—factory number) behind Soviet lines, swam across the Don River and returned to his unit four days later.^[9] On 24 July 1942, he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) and the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) on 2 August. Ettel claimed his 20 aerial victory on 9 August, his 30th on 7 October, and was awarded the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots (Frontflugspange für Jagdflieger) on 23 October. Three further claims were filed on 31 October, his last victories in 1942, leading to the presentation of the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) in December 1942.^[10]

Following the German loss in the Battle of Stalingrad, 4. Staffel was relocated to the Kuban bridgehead, and during the months of intensive operations, Ettel claimed 28 Soviet aircraft shot down in March and 36 more in April, including five shot down on 11 April, an "ace-in-a-day" achievement. On 28 April 1943, Ettel claimed his 100th aerial victory. He was the 38th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[11] In early May, II. Gruppe was moved to Kharkiv, from where they operated over the combat area east of Belgorod, operating in this area from 2 to 6 May. On 6 May, the Gruppe claimed twelve aerial victories, including four by Ettel, taking his total to 104.^[12]

On 11 May, Ettel claimed his 120th victory, his last on the Eastern Front, but was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, resulting in a forced landing of his Bf 109 G-4 (Werknummer 19 453) between the front lines, west of Anastassiewskaja. During his return to German held territory, Ettel came under heavy rifle fire from Soviet infantry but escaped unharmed.^[13] That same night Ettel led a Wehrmacht patrol to his damaged aircraft to salvage important equipment. Ettel was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 1 June.^[14] The presentation was made by General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland while Ettel was on vacation in Berlin.^[15]

Mediterranean Theatre and death

Promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant), Ettel was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the newly created 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing), a squadron of III. Gruppe JG 27, at the time based in Tanagra, Greece.^{[Note 3]} While based at Tanagra, III. Gruppe was reequipped with a full contingent of the Bf 109 G-4 and G-6 series. In June, the Gruppe familiarized themselves with the new aircraft, flying training missions. At the end of June, III. Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Argos in Peloponnese. There, the unit was tasked with flying combat air patrol mission over the Aegean Sea.^[16] The Allied invasion of Sicily resulted in the relocation of III. Gruppe to Brindisi in southern Italy on 14 July 1943.^[17]

III. Gruppe flew its first missions in support of the German ground forces southeast of Catania, Sicily on 15 July. Because of the distance to the target area, the Bf 109s had to be equipped with drop tanks. The flight engaged in aerial combat north of Mount Etna where Ettel claimed his first aerial victory in the Mediterranean Theatre over a Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft.^[17] The next day, he claimed another Spitfire shot down. At around noon that day, he claimed two United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) B-24 Liberator bombers shot down.^[18]

On 17 July 1943, III. Gruppe was again tasked with flying ground support missions against British forces in the vicinity of Catania. In the vicinity of Lentini, the Gruppe lost five of ten dispatched fighters to anti-aircraft fire, among them Ettel who was shot down and killed in action.^[17][19] His Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 18 402) crashed northeast of Lago di Lentini.^[20] Ettel was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 31 August 1943, the 289th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored.^[21] He was buried at the German cemetery at Motta Sant'Anastasia in an unmarked grave.^[18]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Ettel was credited with 124 aerial victories.^[22] Obermaier also lists Ettel with 124 victories claimed in over 250 missions. Of his 120 claims on the Eastern Front, 21 were Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft. He claimed four victories over Sicily, which included two USAAF four-engine bombers.^[23]

Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 121 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 118 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and three on the Western Front, including two four-engined bomber.^[24]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 29323". 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.^[25]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Ettel 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 – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Ettel did not receive credit.   This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[24] Eastern Front — 26 April 1942 – 3 February 1943
1	24 June 1942	14:13	Il-2[26]		18	7 August 1942	17:47	LaGG-3	3 km (1.9 mi) east of Klischewskij[27]
2	24 June 1942	14:17	Il-2[26]		19	9 August 1942	05:26	Il-2	Kalach[27]
3	28 June 1942	16:07	Il-2[26]		20	9 August 1942	05:35	Il-2	20 km (12 mi) east of Kalach[27] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Pitomnik
4	30 June 1942	12:45	Yak-1[28]		21	19 August 1942	04:58	MiG-1	5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Ssadki[29]
5	9 July 1942	13:18	Yak-1[30]		22	21 August 1942	13:35	I-180 (Yak-7)	2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Businowka[29] 40 km (25 mi) south of Pitomnik
6	9 July 1942	13:30	Il-2[30]		23	13 September 1942	06:55	LaGG-3	6 km (3.7 mi) east of Rzhev[31]
7?[Note 4]	10 July 1942	04:30	Boston	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Voronezh[30]	24	13 September 1942	07:10	Yak-1	5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Zubtsov[31] south of Michailowka
8	24 July 1942	06:16	Hurricane	18 km (11 mi) north-northeast of Oblivskaya[33]	25	15 September 1942	09:13	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Zubtsov[31] south of Michailowka
9	24 July 1942	13:25	Il-2	5 km (3.1 mi) north of Mukownin[33]	26	15 September 1942	09:16	Il-2	20 km (12 mi) northeast of Rzhev[31]
10	24 July 1942	13:31	Il-2	15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Ssirotinskaja[33]	27	23 September 1942	07:08	LaGG-3	5 km (3.1 mi) east of Torshok[31]
11	26 July 1942	03:55	LaGG-3	10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kalach[33]	28	23 September 1942	07:15	MiG-1	20 km (12 mi) orthwest of Stariza[31]
12	26 July 1942	08:15	Il-2	Morosowskij[33]	29	7 October 1942	15:58	LaGG-3	2 km (1.2 mi) east of Soroga[31]
13	26 July 1942	08:17	Il-2	Kalach[33]	30	7 October 1942	16:00	LaGG-3	5 km (3.1 mi) south of Ostashkov[31]
14	28 July 1942	09:40	U-2	PQ 29323[33]	31	31 October 1942	16:00	Il-2	Pressljanka[34] 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Tazinskaja
15	28 July 1942	09:48	MiG-1	12 km (7.5 mi) east of Tschernomarow[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Shutow	—	31 October 1942	16:40	LaGG-3[34]
16	30 July 1942	07:10	MiG-1	18 km (11 mi) east-northeast of Kalach[33] 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Kalach	32	31 October 1942	16:50	Il-2	20 km (12 mi) east of airfield Ulgy[34]
17	5 August 1942	04:37	LaGG-3	7 km (4.3 mi) north of Plodowitoje[35]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[36] Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
33	12 February 1943	14:10	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 79232, 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Liman[37]	77	17 April 1943	11:30	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75424, 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk[38]
34	13 February 1943	15:30	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 79132, 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Golaja-Dolina[37] 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Slavansk	78	17 April 1943	11:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75432, 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk[38]
35	22 February 1943	13:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88661, 2 km (1.2 mi) southwast of Pokrovskoye[37] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Taganrog	79?[Note 5]	17 April 1943	11:43	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85343, 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Gelendzhik[38]
36	5 March 1943	09:00	U-2	PQ 34 Ost 98334, vicinity of Platowo[40] 45 km (28 mi) north-northeast of Sinjawka	80	18 April 1943	10:05	I-16	PQ 34 Ost 75462, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Kabardinka[41] vicinity of Leprasorium
37	9 March 1943	08:30	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 88463, 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Matwejewkurgan[40] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Jalisawehnino	81	18 April 1943	18:50?[Note 6]	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 7545, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Novorossiysk[41] vicinity of Kabardinka
38	9 March 1943	15:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 98523, 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest of Nowo-Strojenka[40] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Sinjawka	82	22 April 1943	14:01	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 7546, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Novorossiysk[41] Black Sea, 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Kabardinka
39	12 March 1943	06:50	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 70323, 2 km (1.2 mi) east of the Bulazelowka train station[40] 20 km (12 mi) west of Kupiansk	83	22 April 1943	14:08	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 7546, 8 km (5.0 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk[41] vicinity of Novorossiysk
40	13 March 1943	06:20	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 70761, 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sswjatogorskaja[42] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Izium	84	22 April 1943	14:11	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 7546, 7 km (4.3 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk[41]
41	13 March 1943	06:25	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 70841, 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Nowossjolowka[42] 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Krasnyi Lyman	85	22 April 1943	14:20	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85143, 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Krymskaja[41]
42	16 March 1943	14:25	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 70423, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Kupiansk[42] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Kupiansk	86	23 April 1943	05:30	U-2	PQ 34 Ost 7545, southern edge of Novorossiysk[41] vicinity of Novorossiysk
43	17 March 1943	10:50	Boston	PQ 35 Ost 70463, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Tabajewka[42] 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Kupiansk	87	23 April 1943	17:02	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 7543, 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Novorossiysk[41] vicinity of Novorossiysk
44	18 March 1943	15:05	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61853, 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Repokrytaja[42] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Vovchansk	88	23 April 1943	17:07	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 7546, 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk[41] vicinity of Novorossiysk
45	19 March 1943	06:15	LaGG-3	PQ 35 OSt 71761, 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Olchowatka[42] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Bely Kolodez	89	23 April 1943	17:10	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 7546, 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk[41] vicinity of Novorossiysk
46	19 March 1943	06:45	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 71724, east of Prikolnotoje train station[42] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Bely Kolodez	90	24 April 1943	05:36	I-16	PQ 34 Ost 85142, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Abinskaja[43] west of Abinsk
47	19 March 1943	14:15	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61873, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Nepokrytaja[42] 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Kharkov	91	24 April 1943	05:37	I-16	PQ 34 Ost 85142, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Abinskaja[43] west of Abinsk
48	19 March 1943	14:27	I-180 (Yak-7)	PQ 35 Ost 60221, western edge of Bolshaja Babka[42] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Malinovka	92	24 April 1943	05:42	I-16	PQ 34 Ost 85149, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Achtyrskaja[43] Abinsk - Achtyrskaja
49	20 March 1943	08:43	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 98833, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Rostov-on-Don[42] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Rostov-on-Don	93	26 April 1943	12:19	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 95113, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Krasnodar[43]
50	20 March 1943	15:05	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 80693, western edge of Starobilsk[42]	94	26 April 1943	17:05	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 95173, 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Kalushskaja[43] southwest of Abinsk
51	21 March 1943	14:57	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 98812, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Rostov-on-Don[42] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Rostov-on-Don	95	26 April 1943	17:20	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 85231, 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Krasnodar[43] vicinity of Tochtamukaj
52	21 March 1943	15:00	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 98734, 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Asov[42] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Asov	96	28 April 1943	12:25	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 8511, 6 km (3.7 mi) northwest of Abinskaja[43] vicinity west of Abinsk
53	25 March 1943	07:49	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88264, 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Kubyshewo[44] vicinity of Jalisawehino	97	28 April 1943	12:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 8511, 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Krymskaja[43] vicinity of Mertschskaja
54	25 March 1943	07:50	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88264, 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Kubyshewo[44] vicinity of Jalisawehino	98	28 April 1943	12:40	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 8511, 6 km (3.7 mi) east of Krymskaja[43] vicinity of Mertschskaja
55	25 March 1943	13:30	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 98842, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Bataysk[44] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Asov	99	28 April 1943	12:42	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 8677, 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Krymskaja[43] vicinity of Mertschskaja
56	25 March 1943	13:55	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 98841, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Bataysk[44] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Asov	100	6 May 1943	13:30	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 71863, 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Dolgoje[43] 20 km (12 mi) west of Urazovo
57	26 March 1943	07:52	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 98672, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of airfield Rostov-on-Don 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Rostov	101	6 May 1943	13:35	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 71864, 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Valuyki[43] 20 km (12 mi) west of Urazovo
58	27 March 1943	11:15	I-16	PQ 34 Ost 98842, 6 km (3.7 mi) west of Bataysk 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Asov	102	6 May 1943	13:37	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 81741, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Valuyki[43] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Aleksejevka
59	27 March 1943	11:20	I-16	PQ 34 Ost 98813, 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Rostov-on-Don 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Asov	103	6 May 1943	14:00	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 71851, 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southeast of Olchowatka[43] 25 km (16 mi) west of Urazovo
60	27 March 1943	11:30	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 98673, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Rostov-on-Don[44] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Rostov	104	7 May 1943	18:35	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 75262, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Krymskaja[45] vicinity of Krymsk
61	28 March 1943	10:35	I-180 (Yak-7)	PQ 35 Ost 71782, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Bolschoje-Burluk[44] 20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Bely Kolodez	105	8 May 1943	11:51	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 75233, 6 km (3.7 mi) west of Krymskaja[45] vicinity of Krymsk
62	28 March 1943	13:12	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 81714, 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Valuyki[44] vicinity of Valuyki	106	8 May 1943	11:52	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 75234, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Krymskaja[45] vicinity of Krymsk
63	28 March 1943	13:15	Yak-7	PQ 35 Ost 81713, 20 km (12 mi) west of Valuyki[44] vicinity of Valuyki	107	8 May 1943	12:05	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75231, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Kijewskoje[45] vicinity of Krymsk
64	2 April 1943	06:42	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 98371, 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Matwejewkurgan[46] 25 km (16 mi) north of Sinjawka	108	8 May 1943	12:09	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75263, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Krymskaja[45] vicinity of Krymsk
65♠	11 April 1943	09:35	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 85322, 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Gelendzhik[46] vicinity of Erwanskaja	109	9 May 1943	08:35	Boston	PQ 34 Ost 75294, 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Novorossiysk[45] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Krymsk
66♠	11 April 1943	09:37	P-39	PQ 85321, 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Gelendzhik[46] vicinity of Erwanskaja	110	9 May 1943	18:07	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75234, southern edge of Krymskaja[45] vicinity of Krymsk
67♠	11 April 1943	09:40	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 85122, 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Mingrelskaja[46] vicinity of Erwanskaja	111	9 May 1943	18:15	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75234, easternern edge of Krymskaja[45] vicinity of Krymsk
68♠	11 April 1943	13:55	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 75184, 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Anapa over sea[46]	112♠	10 May 1943	09:40	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 76831, northeastern edge of Anatassijewskaja[45] 20 km (12 mi) west of Slawjanskaja
69♠	11 April 1943	14:05	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75392, 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Novorossiysk[46] Black Sea, 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Novorossiysk	113♠	10 May 1943	15:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85173, 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Abinskaja[45] southwest of Abinsk
70	12 April 1943	10:25	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 86853, 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Marjanskaja[38] east of Marianskaja	114♠	10 May 1943	15:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85171, 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Abinskaja[45] southwest of Abinsk
71	12 April 1943	10:35	P-40	PQ 34 Ost 86592, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Iwanowskaja[38] vicinity of Iwanowskaja	115♠	10 May 1943	15:37	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85144, 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of Abinskaja[45] southwest of Abinsk
72	15 April 1943	15:30	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 86892, northern edge of Krasnodar[38] vicinity of Marianskaja	116♠	10 May 1943	15:50	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 85123, 9 km (5.6 mi) northeast of Abinskaja[45] vicinity of Sswobodnyj
73	15 April 1943	16:12	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85344, 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Gelendzhik[38] vicinity of Leprasorium	117♠	10 May 1943	15:55	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 85114, 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Krymskaja[45] vicinity of Mertschskaja
74	15 April 1943	16:15	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85343, 8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of Gelendzhik[38] vicinity of Leprasorium	118	11 May 1943	16:35	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 86721, 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Slavyansk-na-Kubani[45] southeast of Slavyansk-na-Kubani
75	16 April 1943	14:47	P-40	PQ 34 Ost 85114, 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Krymskaja[38]	119	11 May 1943	16:37	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 86712, 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Slavyansk-na-Kubani[45] vicinity of Slavyansk-na-Kubani
76	16 April 1943	14:55	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 85782, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mingrelskaja[38]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[47] Mediterranean Theatre — July 1943
120	15 July 1943	12:12	Spitfire	southeast of Noto[48]	122	16 July 1943	12:50	B-24	40 km (25 mi) southeast of Potenza[48]
121	16 July 1943	08:10	Spitfire?[Note 7]	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Augusta[48]	—	16 July 1943	12:55	B-24	southwest of Bari[48]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (24 July 1942)^[10]
  • 1st Class (2 August 1942)^[10]
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold (23 October 1942)^[10]
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 25 June 1943 as Leutnant and pilot^[49]
• German Cross in Gold on 23 December 1942 as Leutnant in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3^[50]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 1 June 1943 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"^{[51][Note 8]}
  • 289th Oak Leaves on 31 August 1943 (posthumously) as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 27^[52][53]

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. On 1 December 1941, JG 3 was given the honorary name "Udet" following the suicide of World War I fighter pilot and Luftwaffe Generalleutnant Ernst Udet.^[4]
3. The original 8. Staffel under the command of Oberleutnant Dietrich Boesler was detached from III. Gruppe in May 1943, and was redesignated to 12. Staffel, forming the nucleus of the newly created IV. Gruppe. This decision lead to the recreation of a new 8. Staffel under the command of Ettel.^[16]
4. This claim is listed as number 13 by Mathews and Foreman.^[32]
5. Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock consider this claim confirmed.^[38] Mathews and Foreman list this claim as unconfirmed.^[39]
6. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:00.^[39]
7. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator.^[47]
8. According to Scherzer as pilot and not Staffelführer in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"^[52]

References

Citations

1. Spick 1996, p. 242.
2. Stockert 1997, p. 371.
3. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
4. Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 12.
5. Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 106.
6. Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 134.
7. Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 135.
8. Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 378.
9. Prien & Stemmer 2003, pp. 138–139, 340, 380.
10. Stockert 1997, p. 372.
11. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
12. Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 150.
13. Prien & Stemmer 2003, pp. 150, 344.
14. Weal 2001, p. 66.
15. Stockert 1997, p. 373.
16. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 207.
17. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 208.
18. Stockert 1997, p. 375.
19. Scutts 1994, p. 60.
20. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 327.
21. Weal 2003, p. 97.
22. Zabecki 2019, p. 330.
23. Obermaier 1989, p. 59.
24. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 292–294.
25. Planquadrat.
26. Prien et al. 2006, p. 145.
27. Prien et al. 2006, p. 151.
28. Prien et al. 2006, p. 146.
29. Prien et al. 2006, p. 152.
30. Prien et al. 2006, p. 147.
31. Prien et al. 2006, p. 153.
32. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 292.
33. Prien et al. 2006, p. 149.
34. Prien et al. 2006, p. 154.
35. Prien et al. 2006, p. 150.
36. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 139–141.
37. Prien et al. 2012, p. 73.
38. Prien et al. 2012, p. 79.
39. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 293.
40. Prien et al. 2012, p. 75.
41. Prien et al. 2012, p. 80.
42. Prien et al. 2012, p. 76.
43. Prien et al. 2012, p. 81.
44. Prien et al. 2012, p. 77.
45. Prien et al. 2012, p. 82.
46. Prien et al. 2012, p. 78.
47. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 294.
48. Prien et al. 2010, p. 261.
49. Patzwall 2008, p. 74.
50. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 106.
51. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 175.
52. Scherzer 2007, p. 299.
53. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 72.

Bibliography

• Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
• 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.
• 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 (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 (2002). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: Stab and I./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-1681-4.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard (2003). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: II./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-1774-3.
• Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1997). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei II./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1940 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with II./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1940 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-42-7.
• 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/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] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
• 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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Scutts, Jerry (1994). Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 2. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-448-0.
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
• Stockert, Peter (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 3 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 3] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-932915-01-7.
• Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
• Weal, John (2001). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 37. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-084-1.
• Weal, John (2003). Jagdgeschwader 27 "Afrika". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 12. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-538-9.
• Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.

Further reading

• Ettel, Wolf (1997). Busacker-Lührssen, Ilse (ed.). Sie nannten ihn König der Kubanjäger — Feldpostbriefe 1941–1943 des Jagdfliegers Wolf Ettel [They called him King of the Kuban Hunters — Letters from 1941–1943 of the fighter pilot Wolf Ettel] (in German). Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Haag + Herchen. ISBN 978-3-86137-579-1.