Johannes Bunzek
Born22 May 1922
Groß-Strehlitz
Died11 December 1943(1943-12-11) (aged 21)
Nikopol, Ukraine
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1941–1943
RankLeutnant (second lieuenant)
UnitJG 52
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Johannes Bunzek (22 May 1922 – 11 December 1943) was a German Luftwaffe ace credited with 75 victories, all on the Eastern Front. Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Bunzek was killed on 11 December 1943 over Nikopol, Ukraine. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944.

Career

Bunzek was born on 22 May 1922 in Groß-Strehlitz, present-day Strzelce Opolskie in southern Poland, at the time in the Province of Upper Silesia of the Weimar Republic.[1] He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe and completed his training with Luftkriegsschule 4 (LKS 4—4th Air War School) in July 1942.[Note 1] Bunzek was then posted to 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in late 1942.[3] At the time, 7. Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Adalbert Sommer who was replaced by Oberleutnant Walter Krupinski on 15 March 1943.[4] The Staffel was part of III. Gruppe of JG 52 under command of Major Hubertus von Bonin.[5]

War against the Soviet Union

III./JG 52 emblem

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Germany had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. In late 1942, III. Gruppe was based at an airfield named Soldatskaja, located approximately halfway between Mozdok and Pyatigorsk on the Eastern Front. The Gruppe stayed at this airfield until 1 January 1943. During this period, the pilots occasionally also operated from airfields at Mozdok (15, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 October) and from Digora (5 to 17 November 1942), supporting Army Group A in the Battle of the Caucasus.[6] On 1 April 1943, III. Gruppe was moved to the combat area of the Kuban bridgehead where it was based at an airfield at Taman. Operating from Taman until 2 July, III. Gruppe also flew missions from Kerch on 12 May, from Sarabuz and Saky on 14 May, Zürichtal, present-day Solote Pole, a village near the urban settlement Kirovske on 23 May, and Yevpatoria on 25/26 June.[7] Here, Bunzek claimed his first aerial victory over a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter on 28 May.[8]

On 1 November, III. Gruppe was moved to Apostolove fighting in the combat area between Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia. Adverse whether conditions rendered the airfield unusable and the Gruppe temporarily used an airfield near Kirovograd from 12 to 20 November.[9] Bunzek received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 8 November.[10] On 11 December, Bunzek was killed in action in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 20644—factory number) following combat with Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and LaGG-3 fighters during the Battle of the Dnieper.[11] He was initially reported as missing in action west of Nikopol.[12][13] According to Barbas, this combat took place near near Apostolove while fighting over the bridgehead established by Soviet forces at Nikopol.[14] Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock place this southwest of Verblyuzhka which is approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Apostolove.[11] Bunzek was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 6 April 1944.[15]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Spick, Bunzek was credited with 75 aerial victories in an unknown number of combat missions, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[16] Weal states that in addition to his 75 aerial victories, he also had 30 further unconfirmed claims.[17] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 78 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[18]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 76791". 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.[19]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Bunzek 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 Bunzek did not receive credit.
  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
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[20]
Eastern Front – 4 February – 11 December 1943
1 28 May 1943 06:40 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76791[21]
east of Trojzkaja		 41 18 September 1943 16:10 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 68141[22]
2 5 July 1943 04:10 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61453[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Belgorod		 42 19 September 1943 10:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58662[22]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Bolschoj Tokmak
3 5 July 1943 18:08 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61633[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Vovchansk		 43 20 September 1943 08:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58142[22]
northwest of Zaporizhzhia
4 6 July 1943 10:23 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61354[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tomarovka		 44 20 September 1943 08:14 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58144, northeast of Zaporizhzhia[22]
northwest of Zaporizhzhia
5 6 July 1943 10:40 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 61284[23]
25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Belgorod		 45 20 September 1943 08:20 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58153[22]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
6 7 July 1943 08:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61241[24]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Prokhorovka		 46 21 September 1943 16:11 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58144[22]
20 km (12 mi) east of Zaporizhzhia
7 12 July 1943 13:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61212[24]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Prokhorovka		 47 21 September 1943 16:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58271[22]
25 km (16 mi) east of Zaporizhzhia
8 31 July 1943 10:00 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54661[25]
west of Bolkhov		 48 24 September 1943 11:14 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58891[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhzhia
9 3 August 1943 06:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61412[25]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Belgorod		 49 26 September 1943 07:19 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58272[26]
25 km (16 mi) east of Zaporizhzhia
10 7 August 1943 08:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61472[27]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Belgorod		 50 27 September 1943 05:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58552[26]
southeast of Vasilyevka
11 7 August 1943 12:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61383[27]
vicinity of Orlovka		 51?[Note 3] 27 September 1943 14:21 LaGG-3 PQ 58192[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhzhia
12 8 August 1943 12:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 60244[27]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Kharkov		 52 28 September 1943 06:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48464[26]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Zaporizhzhia
13 12 August 1943 16:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51822[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Zolochiv		 53 29 September 1943 14:11 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58674[26]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj Tokmak
14 17 August 1943 05:21 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 70791, Tichocki[29]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Izium		 54 29 September 1943 14:33 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58594[26]
20 km (12 mi) west of Bolschoj Tokmak
15 19 August 1943 12:56 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88293, southwest of Kuibyschewo[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino		 55 30 September 1943 05:55 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58681[26]
5 km (3.1 mi) north of Bolschoj Tokmak
16 19 August 1943 13:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88391[29] 56 30 September 1943 16:30 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58432[26]
20 km (12 mi) west of Bolschoj Tokmak
17 19 August 1943 17:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88754[29]
60 km (37 mi) west-southwest of Taganrog		 57 1 October 1943 06:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48432[26]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Zaporizhzhia
18 20 August 1943 06:07 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88263[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Marinowka		 58 3 October 1943 10:17 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58673[26]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolschoj Tokmak
19♠ 21 August 1943 05:34 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo[30]
1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino		 59 3 October 1943 15:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58133[26]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Zaporizhzhia
20♠ 21 August 1943 07:16 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88254, Kalinowka[30]
vicinity of Dmitrijewka		 60 3 October 1943 15:13 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58152[26]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
21♠ 21 August 1943 07:25 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88411[30]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino		 61 7 October 1943 06:23?[Note 4] LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49174[33]
55 km (34 mi) east-northeast of Mironowka
22♠ 21 August 1943 13:10 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88274[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Jalisawehino		 62 7 October 1943 15:33 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49363[33]
45 km (28 mi) west-northwest of Dnipropetrovsk
23♠ 21 August 1943 17:32 LaGG-3 PQ 88233[30]
30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Rovenki		 63 9 October 1943 08:55 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49333[33]
55 km (34 mi) west-northwest of Dnipropetrovsk
24 22 August 1943 08:16 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88293, southwest of Kuibyschewo[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino		 64 9 October 1943 15:35 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58564, northeast of Michailowka[33]
vicinity of Kalinowka
25 22 August 1943 10:50 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo[30]
1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino		 65 10 October 1943 08:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58154[33]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
26 22 August 1943 17:59 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88421[30]
20 km (12 mi) south of Jalisawehino		 66 10 October 1943 08:43 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58124[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia
27 23 August 1943 06:16 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88263[30] 67 11 October 1943 10:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58123[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia
28 26 August 1943 11:11 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88281[30]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino		 68 11 October 1943 10:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58124[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia
29 27 August 1943 12:10 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88281[30]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino		 69 11 October 1943 12:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58154[33]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
30 27 August 1943 17:35 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88194[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kuteinikowo		 70 11 October 1943 15:17 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58141, northeast of Zaporizhzhia[33]
northwest of Zaporizhzhia
31 27 August 1943 17:37 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88194[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kuteinikowo		 71 12 October 1943 06:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58152[33]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
32 28 August 1943 11:00 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88612[30]
30 km (19 mi) northwest of Taganrog		 72 12 October 1943 06:51 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58154[33]
northeast of Zaporizhzhia
33 28 August 1943 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88354[30]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Kuteinikowo		 73 13 October 1943 10:48 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 57183[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Melitopol
34 5 September 1943 12:22 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79883[22]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Stalino		 74 13 October 1943 10:50 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 57193[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Melitopol
35 5 September 1943 15:08 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 79684[22]
20 km (12 mi) west of Gorlowka		 75 14 October 1943 15:25 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58125[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhzhia
36 14 September 1943 09:00 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79574[22]
Black Sea, 65 km (40 mi) west-southwest of Gelendzhik		 76 15 October 1943 10:15 Boston PQ 34 Ost 49821[34]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Werchnedjeprowak
37 14 September 1943 15:16 Boston PQ 34 Ost 79712[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grischino		 77 30 November 1943 11:45 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49781[35]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northwest of Nikopol
38 15 September 1943 12:17 Yak-9?[Note 5] PQ 34 Ost 68642[22] 78 7 December 1943 12:37 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 29634, south of Petro-Nikolayevka[35]
39 18 September 1943 13:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 69341[22]
—
?[Note 6]		 11 December 1943
—
 Il-2 southwest of Verblyuzhka
40 18 September 1943 16:05 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 68893[22]
—
?[Note 6]		 11 December 1943
—
 La-5 southwest of Verblyuzhka

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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  3. ↑ According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, this claim is attributed to the 7. Staffel.[26]
  4. ↑ According to Barbas, and Mathews and Foreman, claimed at 06:25.[31][32]
  5. ↑ According to Barbas, and Mathews and Foreman, claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov aircraft of unknown type.[36][32]
  6. 1 2 This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Barbas.[37]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 97.
  2. ↑ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ↑ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 174.
  4. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 280.
  5. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 279.
  6. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 102.
  7. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 137.
  8. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 360.
  9. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 148.
  10. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 283.
  11. 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 500.
  12. ↑ Weal 2007, p. 62.
  13. ↑ Schreier 1990, p. 119.
  14. ↑ Barbas 2010, pp. 149, 315.
  15. ↑ Schreier 1990, p. 183.
  16. ↑ Spick 1996, p. 237.
  17. ↑ Weal 2004, p. 104.
  18. ↑ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 174–175.
  19. ↑ Planquadrat.
  20. ↑ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 673–674.
  21. ↑ Prien et al. 2012, p. 482.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2012, p. 483.
  24. 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 484.
  25. 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 485.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Prien et al. 2012, p. 490.
  27. 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.
  28. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 368.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Prien et al. 2012, p. 487.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Prien et al. 2012, p. 488.
  31. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 369.
  32. 1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 175.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Prien et al. 2012, p. 491.
  34. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2012, p. 492.
  35. 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 493.
  36. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 367.
  37. ↑ Barbas 2010, p. 372.
  38. ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 60.
  39. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 68.
  40. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 150.
  41. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 253.

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 20 March 2022.
  • 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; 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.
  • 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.
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  • Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 76. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
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