Gerhard Thyben

Gerhard Thyben (24 February 1922 – 4 September 2006) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1]

Gerhard Thyben
Gerhard Thyben
Nickname(s)Gerd
Born(1922-02-24)24 February 1922
Kiel
Died4 September 2006(2006-09-04) (aged 84)
Santiago de Cali, Colombia
Allegiance Nazi Germany
 Colombia
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Colombian Air Force (Post-war)
Years of service1940–1945
RankOberleutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 3, JG 54
Commands held7./JG 54
Battles/wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other workLa Violencia (Colombian Conflict, as instructor)

Thyben flew 385 combat missions and claimed 157 aerial victories. He claimed 152 victories on the Eastern Front, including 28 Il-2 Sturmoviks and five victories on the Western Front. He flew 22 fighter-bomber missions on which he claimed two aircraft and seven trucks destroyed on the ground.

Early life and career

Thyben was born on 24 February 1922 in Kiel, at the time the capital of the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, a free State of Prussia in the Weimar Republic. Following graduation from school, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe on 15 July 1940. He completed his recruit training with Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment 43 (43rd Aviators Training Regiment) in Wien-Stammersdorf and was then transferred to 3./Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment 32 (3rd company of the 32nd Aviators Training Regiment) in Rochefort-en-Terre for flight training on 14 October.[Note 1] On 15 November he was transferred to another flight school where he was promoted to Gefreiter (Privat First Class) on 1 July 1941.[3]

On 16 September 1941, Thyben was posted to the Jagdfliegervorschule 2 (2nd fighter pilot pre-school), passing this course on 14 December. He was then transferred to the Jagdfliegerschule 5 (5th fighter pilot school) in Wien-Schwechat. There, for disciplinary reasons, he was arrested for six days in April and further five days in May 1942. After he completed his fighter pilot training on 1 November, Thyben was then posted to the 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost, a specialized training unit for new fighter pilots destined for the Eastern Front, and on 13 November to 1. Staffel of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Süd.[Note 2] On 13 December 1942, Thyben was posted to the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), named after the World War I fighter ace Ernst Udet. This Gruppe was then based on the southern sector of the Eastern Front and Thyben was assigned to 6. Staffel.[4]

World War II

On 30 September 1944, Thyben was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 93rd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[5]

On 8 May 1945 he claimed his last victory over the Baltic Sea. He shot down a Petlyakov Pe-2 that was almost certainly looking for German refugee ships escaping from the besieged Courland Pocket. Thyben caught the reconnaissance Pe-2 at 07:54 and achieved what very well might have been the last Focke-Wulf Fw 190 victory of World War II.[6] The Pe-2 crew, consisting of Starshiy Leytenant Grigoriy Davidenko, Kapitan Aleksey Grachev, and Starshina Mikhail Murashko were all killed in the engagement. Thyben surrendered to the British on touching down. Following his release in 1946 he traveled to Spain and Argentina before serving as an instructor with the Colombian Air Force.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Thyben was credited with 157 aerial victories.[7] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Thyben was credited with 157 aerial victories. This figure includes 152 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 5 over the Western Allies.[8]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 79142". 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.[9]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Thyben 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 Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[10]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 3 August 1943
1 26 February 1943 09:15 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79142, south of Barvinkove[11]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Barvinkove
17 2 July 1943 07:46 Boston PQ 35 Ost 61154, vicinity of Sawidowka[12]
20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Vovchansk
2 6 May 1943 04:15?[Note 3] Boston PQ 35 Ost 71343, east of Belgorod[13]
10 km (6.2 mi) north-northeast of Balakliia
18 6 July 1943 12:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61492, southeast of Belgorod[14]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Belgorod
3 8 May 1943 08:00 Spitfire PQ 35 Ost 85143, north of Abinskaja[15]
west of Abinsk
19 7 July 1943 07:55 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 61453, east of Belgorod[14]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Belgorod
4 8 May 1943 15:46 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85142, northwest of Abinskaja[15]
west of Abinsk
20 7 July 1943 08:10 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61472, southeast of Belgorod[14]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Belgorod
5 11 May 1943 16:23 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 86584, east of Slavyansk-na-Kubani[15] 21 7 July 1943 17:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60291, east of Malinovka[14]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Malinovka
6 14 May 1943 12:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85113, north of Mertschanskaja[16]
vicinity of Mertschanskaja
22 7 July 1943 17:14 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60114, east of Kharkiv[14]
25 km (16 mi) south of Bilyj Kolodjas
7 1 June 1943 05:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61224, west of Bolenichino train station[16]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Prokhorovka
23 9 July 1943 06:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 62882, Prokhorovka[14]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Prokhorovka
8 3 June 1943 03:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61364, west of Belgorod[16]
vicinity of Belgorod
24 9 July 1943 06:35 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61461, east of Belgorod[14]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Belgorod
9 3 June 1943 03:22 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 61382, southwest of Belgorod[16]
vicinity of Orlivka
25 13 July 1943 05:56 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 62883, northeast of Prokhorovka[17]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Prokhorovka
10 12 June 1943 03:39 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61264, Bolshoj Bodjarugi[18]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Prokhorovka
26 13 July 1943 06:02 P-51 PQ 35 Ost 62853, northeast of Prokhorovka[17]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Prokhorovka
11 12 June 1943 07:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61483, southeast of Belgorod[18]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Belgorod
27 14 July 1943 06:47 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 61243, west of Oskotschnoje[17]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Prokhorovka
12 23 June 1943 06:16 Yak-4 PQ 35 Ost 61424, north of Belgorod[18]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Belgorod
28 20 July 1943 04:36 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88264, northeast of Kuibyschewo[19]
vicinity of Jalisawehino
13 24 June 1943 05:25 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 61634, southeast of Vovchansk[18]
20 km (12 mi) north of Vovchansk
29 20 July 1943 15:50 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88231, east of Dmitrijewka[19]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Jalisawehino
14 24 June 1943 18:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 71583, east of Jefremowka[18]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Bilyj Kolodjas
30 24 July 1943 04:42 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88283, east of Kuteinikowo[19]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Jalisawehino
15 26 June 1943 19:28 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61463, east of Belgorod[18]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Belgorod
31 25 July 1943 18:24 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 61458, northeast of Belgorod[19]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Belgorod
16 26 June 1943 19:34 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 71314, west of Szokojowka[18]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Belgorod
32 30 July 1943 12:43 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88433, southwest of Marijewka[20]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Jalisawehino
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[10]
Defense of the Reich — 1 September 1943 – 31 December 1943
33 8 October 1943 15:34 P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/EN-1[21]
50 km (31 mi) west of Egmond
34 30 November 1943 11:40?[Note 4] P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/KL-7[21]
Dendermonde
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[10]
Defense of the Reich — 1 January – February 1944
35 11 February 1944 13:06 P-38[22] east of St. Vith 37 11 February 1944 13:10 P-38[22] east of St. Vith
36 11 February 1944 13:07 P-38[22] east of St. Vith
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[23]
Eastern Front — April – August 1944
38 30 April 1944 06:02 La-5 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Dretun 52 29 June 1944 07:03 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Vyborg
39 5 May 1944 04:36 Yak-9 25 km (16 mi) east of Polotsk 53 30 June 1944 12:16 La-5 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Vyborg
40 5 May 1944 18:45 Yak-9 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Dretun 54 30 June 1944 20:13 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Vyborg
41 12 May 1944 13:18 Yak-9 55 1 July 1944 08:08 La-5 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Vyborg
42 16 May 1944 07:41 Yak-7 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Ostrov 56 1 July 1944 13:22 P-39 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Vyborg
43 16 May 1944 08:07 Yak-9 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Ostrov 57 3 July 1944 11:37 Pe-2 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Vyborg
44 5 June 1944 11:26 La-5 Baltic Sea, 90 km (56 mi) northeast of Kunda 58 4 July 1944 08:05 Yak-9 Gulf of Finland, southwest of Vyborg
45 19 June 1944 20:06 Yak-9 25 km (16 mi) south of Vyborg 59 6 July 1944 12:09 Yak-9 45 km (28 mi) east-northeast of Vyborg
46 19 June 1944 20:10 P-39 25 km (16 mi) south of Vyborg 60 7 July 1944 06:44 Yak-9 65 km (40 mi) east-southeast of Vyborg
47 19 June 1944 20:22 P-39 20 km (12 mi) south of Vyborg 61 9 July 1944 09:16 Yak-9 45 km (28 mi) east-northeast of Vyborg
48 20 June 1944 17:45 P-39 30 km (19 mi) east of Vyborg 62 6 August 1944 18:00 Yak-9 Lake Peipus
49 21 June 1944 07:28 LaGG-3 Baltic Sea, northeast of Hungerburg 63 7 August 1944 06:57 La-5 southwest of Narva
50 23 June 1944 14:12 La-5 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Vyborg 64 7 August 1944 14:23 La-5 Baltic Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Hungerburg
51 29 June 1944 08:16 P-39 Gulf of Finland, southwest of Vyborg
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[24]
Eastern Front — August 1944 – 8 May 1945
65 17 August 1944 12:10 La-5 western edge of Lake Peipus 109 28 October 1944 15:10 Il-2 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Liepāja
66 23 August 1944 09:22 La-5 20 km (12 mi) south of Tartu 110 29 October 1944 09:45 Il-2 40 km (25 mi) south-southwest of Kuldīga
67 23 August 1944 09:45 La-5 south of Tartu 111 29 October 1944 12:59 Yak-3 45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Liepāja
68 28 August 1944 17:50 Pe-2 112 30 October 1944 11:58 Pe-2 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Liepāja
69 30 August 1944 17:29 Il-2 Lake Wirz 113 30 October 1944 12:00 Pe-2 20 km (12 mi) south of Liepāja
70 4 September 1944 18:09 La-5 east of Tartu 114 30 October 1944 14:31 P-39 55 km (34 mi) east-southeast of Liepāja
71 5 September 1944 16:52 LaGG-7 northeast of Tartu 115 30 October 1944 14:42 P-39 40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Liepāja
72 6 September 1944 06:47 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Tartu 116 23 November 1944 08:20 Il-2 Gulf of Riga, northeast of Ventspils
73 6 September 1944 10:42 Il-2 Tartu 117 14 December 1944 12:16 Il-2
74 6 September 1944 13:55 La-5 north of Tartu 118 14 December 1944 12:24 Il-2
75 6 September 1944 14:00 La-5 north of Tartu 119 15 December 1944 11:12 Pe-2
76 14 September 1944 10:43 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Walk 120 15 December 1944 11:24 Pe-2
77 15 September 1944 11:35 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) north of Walk 121 15 December 1944 11:25 Pe-2
78 15 September 1944 12:00 La-5 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Walk 122 21 December 1944 11:49 LaGG-7
79 15 September 1944 12:11 La-5 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Walk 123 21 December 1944 12:05 Il-2
80 15 September 1944 17:15 La-5 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Moiseküll 124 21 December 1944 12:20 Pe-2
81♠ 16 September 1944 09:10 La-5 40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Kreuzburg 125 21 December 1944 12:21 Il-2
82♠ 16 September 1944 09:11 La-5 40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Kreuzburg 126♠ 22 December 1944 11:39 Pe-2
83♠ 16 September 1944 09:14 La-5 30 km (19 mi) north of Kreuzburg 127♠ 22 December 1944 11:47 Yak-9
84♠ 16 September 1944 09:24 Yak-9 50 km (31 mi) north of Kreuzburg 128♠ 22 December 1944 11:48 Yak-9
85♠ 16 September 1944 09:30 Yak-9 east-southeast of Katrina 129♠ 22 December 1944 14:20 Il-2
86♠ 16 September 1944 15:40 Il-2 vicinity of Walk 130♠ 22 December 1944 14:21 Il-2
87 18 September 1944 10:11 La-5 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Kreuzburg 131 23 December 1944 08:55 Pe-2
88 23 September 1944 15:50 La-5 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jelgava 132 23 December 1944 08:56 Pe-2
89 24 September 1944 09:40 Yak-9 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Jelgava 133 23 December 1944 08:59 Pe-2
90 24 September 1944 09:41 Yak-9 vicinity of Jelgava 134 29 December 1944 09:57 Pe-2
91 24 September 1944 09:45 Il-2 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of Jelgava 135 29 December 1944 10:01 Pe-2
92 25 September 1944 12:40 Yak-9 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Jelgava 136 29 December 1944 10:02 Pe-2
93 25 September 1944 12:44 Il-2 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Jelgava 137 29 December 1944 13:20 Il-2
94 25 September 1944 13:06 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of Jelgava 138 20 January 1945 14:57 Il-2
95 25 September 1944 16:37 Il-2 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Mālpils 139 20 January 1945 14:59 Il-2
96 27 September 1944 17:41 Il-2 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Mālpils 140 26 January 1945 10:31 P-39
97 28 September 1944 17:24 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) south of Wenden 141 26 January 1945 10:32 P-39
98 30 September 1944 10:31 La-5 north of Mālpils 142 30 January 1945 13:04 Il-2
99 30 September 1944 11:00 Yak-9 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Mālpils 143 9 February 1945 13:24 Yak-3
100 30 September 1944 15:03 Il-2 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Mālpils 144 17 February 1945 07:55 Yak-9
101 10 October 1944 09:55 Yak-9 145 17 February 1945 14:15 LaGG-7
102 10 October 1944 10:15 Pe-2 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Liepāja 146 17 February 1945 14:16 LaGG-7
103 16 October 1944 13:50 Il-2 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Liepāja 147 23 February 1945 08:00 Il-2
104 17 October 1944 14:46 Il-2 45 km (28 mi) north-northwest of Telšiai 148 23 February 1945 15:50 Il-2
105 22 October 1944 12:48 P-39 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Liepāja 149 23 February 1945 16:00 Pe-2
106 22 October 1944 14:20 Pe-2 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Liepāja 150 23 February 1945 16:08 Yak-3
107 27 October 1944 11:08 Yak-9 55 km (34 mi) north-northwest of Telšiai 151 24 February 1945 13:48 Yak-9
108 28 October 1944 11:54 Il-2 152 5 March 1945 14:32 Pe-2
According to Mathews and Foreman, aerial victories 153 to 156 were not documented.[25]
157 8 May 1945 07:54 Pe-2 Baltic Sea, west of Liepāja

Awards

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.[2]
  2. For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 04:45.[10]
  4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:45.[10]
  5. According to Obermaier on 30 August 1943.[28]
  6. According to Scherzer as Leutnant and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54[31]

References

Citations

  1. Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. Stockert 2011, p. 47.
  4. Stockert 2011, pp. 47–48.
  5. Obermaier 1989, p. 244.
  6. Weal 2001, p. 117.
  7. Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
  8. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1321–1324.
  9. Planquadrat.
  10. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1321.
  11. Prien et al. 2012, p. 75.
  12. Prien et al. 2012, p. 85.
  13. Prien et al. 2012, p. 81.
  14. Prien et al. 2012, p. 86.
  15. Prien et al. 2012, p. 82.
  16. Prien et al. 2012, p. 83.
  17. Prien et al. 2012, p. 87.
  18. Prien et al. 2012, p. 84.
  19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 90.
  20. Prien et al. 2012, p. 91.
  21. Prien et al. 2008, p. 293.
  22. Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 398.
  23. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1322.
  24. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1322–1324.
  25. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1324.
  26. Thomas 1998, p. 381.
  27. Patzwall 2008, p. 205.
  28. Obermaier 1989, p. 75.
  29. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 476.
  30. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 423.
  31. Scherzer 2007, p. 745.
  32. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 101.

Bibliography

  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  • Bergström, Christer; 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 (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • 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 (2003). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: II./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-1774-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2008). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/II—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/II—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-85-4.
  • 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.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
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