Gerhard Michalski

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Gerhard Michalski (25 June 1917 – 22 February 1946) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 73 aerial victories in 652 missions, of which 59 victories were achieved over the Western Front including 13 four-engine bombers, and 14 over the Eastern Front. He was awarded 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.

Early life and career

Michalski was born on 25 June 1917 in Augsdorf in the Province of Saxony of the German Empire. In 1936, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe and was promoted to Leutnant in 1938. Michalski received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Script error: No such module "Lang".) on 28 September 1939.Template:Sfn

World War II

Michalski joined 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) in 1940. He claimed his first victory on 31 March 1940 during the "Phoney War", when he downed a French Morane Saulnier MS 406 fighter over the French border near Püttlingen.Template:Sfn Flying through the Battle of Britain, he claimed eight further aerial victories. In October 1940, Michalski was appointed Adjutant in II./JG 53.Template:Sfn

JG 53 flew its last mission on the Channel Front on 4 June 1941.Template:Sfn Four days later, II. Gruppe was ordered to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield.Template:Sfn

Operation Barbarossa

In preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the aircraft were given a maintenance overhaul at Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield.Template:Sfn On 12 June, II. Gruppe relocated to Sobolewo. On 21 June, the commanding officers were ordered to Suwałki where they were briefed by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring.Template:Sfn

With JG 53 participating in the invasion of Russia from June 1941 onward, Michalski claimed 13 further victories by the end of August 1941 for a total of 22.Template:Sfn

On 5 October 1941, II. Gruppe of JG 53 was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and ordered to Insterburg, present-day Chernyakhovsk.Template:Sfn The Gruppe was then sent to Leeuwarden Airfield in the Netherlands where they arrived on 12. October.Template:Sfn Prior to the relocation, Michalski was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel of JG 53,Template:Sfn replacing Oberleutnant Kurt Liedtke in this capacity.Template:Sfn

Mediterranean theater

In November 1941, II. Gruppe of JG 53 were relocated to Sicily for operations against Malta. Michalski was to become the most successful German fighter pilot in the Siege of Malta, claiming 26 victories against the island's defenders.Template:Sfn Michalski was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 53 in August 1942. He succeeded Hauptmann Walter Spies who was transferred. Command of 4. Staffel was then passed to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Hobirk for two months before it was assigned to Leutnant Fritz Dinger in October.Template:Sfn He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Script error: No such module "Lang".) for 41 victories in September. On 1 October, Michalski was promoted to Hauptmann (captain).Template:Sfn

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-468-1404-28, Italien, Flugzeuge Me 109 auf Feldflugplatz.jpg
Bf 109s of JG 53 in southern Italy, similar to those flown by Michalski.

On 15 October, Michalski was shot down in his Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 10484—factory number). He bailed out over sea, climbed into his life raft before he was picked up by a Dornier Do 24 flying boat of Seenotstaffel 6, the 6th Squadron of the German air-sea rescue service.Template:Sfn His victors were No. 126 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire fighters, flown by F/L. Jones and F/Sgt Varey, who shot him down off Marsaxlokk Bay.Template:Sfn

In November 1942, II./JG 53 were sent to Tunisia. On 27 November, Michalski claimed a Spitfire fighter shot down Script error: No such module "convert". south of Majaz al Bab. That day, the RAF lost two Spitfires in aerial combat, one from No. 72 Squadron and another from No. 152 Squadron, plus another Spitfire damaged in combat. While Luftwaffe pilots claimed ten Spitfires shot down.Template:Sfn

Following the fall of Tunisia, II./JG 53 relocated to bases in Sicily in May 1943. By June 1943, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 53, Oberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, had fallen ill and could no longer lead JG 53 during combat missions. In consequence, Michalski was tasked with leading the air elements of JG 53.Template:Sfn On 13 June, Michalski claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down near Syracuse. His opponent may have been Wing Commander John Ellis who bailed out and was taken prisoner of war.Template:Sfn

On 18 June 1943, II. Gruppe engaged in combat with eight Spitfire fighters over southeast Sicily. In this encounter, Michalski was shot down in his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 16362) near Donnafugata Castle. Forced to bail out, he was injured and taken to hospital in Ragusa.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn His victor was Flying Officer George Noel Keith Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), flying a Spitfire of No. 72 Squadron.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn He bailed out wounded in the leg and with a broken ankle, landing in the sea, from where he was rescued by the German air-sea rescue service. Hospitalised, he returned to JG 53 in August 1943.Template:Sfn

On 1 October, Michalski was promoted to Major (major). In November 1943, II./JG 53 was relocated to airfields in Austria, operating on Reichsverteidigung (Defense of the Reich) duties. Michalski claimed his 60th victory on 2 November.Template:Sfn

Wing commander

On 24 April 1944, Michalski was made Geschwaderkommodore of the newly formed Jagdgeschwader z.b.V. (JG z.b.V.—fighter wing for special deployment), a special purpose unit which was tasked with defending the southern German airspace under control of 7. Jagd-Division (7th Fighter Division). Initially, the unit was based at Kassel and equipped with the Bf 109 G-6.Template:Sfn On 29 April, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force headed for Berlin. Michalski led the Stab and II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing) on the intercept mission. Near Schandelah, present-day part of Cremlingen, he shot down a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.Template:Sfn On 1 May, the Eighth Air Force attacked German railroad infrastructure in southern Germany. Defending against this attack, Michalski was shot down by USAAF escorting fighters in his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 440232) near Saarbrücken. Due to his injuries, he was taken off duty. The position of Geschwaderkommodore was left vacant until on 21 May Major Walther Dahl was given command of JG z.b.V.Template:Sfn

Following his recovery, Michalski was transferred to the Verbandsführerschule of the General der Jagdflieger on 20 May 1944. On 21 July, he joined the Stabsstaffel, I./Jagdgeschwader 11.Template:Sfn

On 15 June, JG z.b.V. had been renamed and became Jagdgeschwader 4 (JG 4—4th Fighter Wing) and Dahl was replaced by Major Gerhard Schöpfel as commander of JG 4. When on 6 August Schöpfel was wounded in combat, Michalski was transferred and became Geschwaderkommodore of JG 4.Template:Sfn Following the Allied aerial landings in Operation Market Garden on 17 September, Michalski was instructed to immediately transfer the Geschwaderstab to Dortmund Airfield. Here, he came under control of 3. Jagd-Division (3rd Fighter Division). Michalski was then tasked with the formation of a Script error: No such module "Lang"., a detachment consisting of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3, III. Gruppe of JG 4, III. Gruppe of JG 53, II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 and III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 300. From 18 to 25 September, Michalski led this detachment also dubbed Script error: No such module "Lang"..Template:Sfn Michalski was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Script error: No such module "Lang".) on 25 November for 72 victories. On 1 January 1945, Michalski was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel).Template:Sfn

As Geschwaderkommodore, Michalski was ordered to Berlin on 22 January 1945 and attended the meeting with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring which was later dubbed the Fighter Pilots' Mutiny. This was an attempt to reinstate Generalleutnant Adolf Galland as General der Jagdflieger who had been dismissed for outspokenness regarding the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe high command), and had been replaced by Oberst Gordon Gollob. The meeting was held at the Haus der Flieger in Berlin and was attended by a number of high-ranking fighter pilot leaders which included Michalski, Günther Lützow, Hannes Trautloft, Hermann Graf, Erich Leie, Helmut Bennemann, Kurt Bühligen and Herbert Ihlefeld, and their antagonist Göring supported by his staff Bernd von Brauchitsch and Karl Koller. The fighter pilots, with Lützow taking the lead as spokesman, criticized Göring and made him personally responsible for the decisions taken which effectively had led to the lost air war over Europe.Template:Sfn

Later life

Michalski was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 22 February 1946 and died in a hospital at the age of Script error: No such module "age". in Kaltenkirchen.Template:Sfn His brother Werner was killed in action as a Leutnant on 10 April 1942 serving with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter".Template:Sfn

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Michalski was credited with 73 aerial victories.Template:Sfn Spick also lists him with 73 aerial victories in 652 missions, of which 59 victories were achieved over the Western Front including 13 four-engine bombers and 29 Spitfire fighters.Template:Sfn Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 68 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This number includes 14 on the Eastern Front and 54 on the Western Front, including 11 four-engined bombers.Template:Sfn

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 03 Ost 9848". The Luftwaffe grid map (Script error: No such module "Lang".) 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 Script error: No such module "convert".. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area Script error: No such module "convert". in size.Template:Sfn

Chronicle of aerial victories
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Michalski did not receive credit.
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
"Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940
1 31 March 1940 16:00 M.S.406 southwest of SarregueminesTemplate:Sfn
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
At the Channel and over England — 26 June – August 1940
2 1 15 August 1940 18:50 Hurricane southwest of PortlandTemplate:Sfn
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
At the Channel and over England — August 1940 – 8 June 1941
3 2 10 October 1940 11:40?Template:Refn Spitfire FolkestoneTemplate:Sfn
Thames Estuary 		7 24 November 1940 16:50 Hurricane GravesendTemplate:Sfn
4 3 11 October 1940 08:55 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 8 6 30 November 1940 15:26 Hurricane AshfordTemplate:Sfn
5 4 28 October 1940 17:28 Hurricane Script error: No such module "convert". south of LondonTemplate:Sfn 9 7 25 April 1941 15:47 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
6 5 1 November 1940 15:40 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 8 October 1941
10 8 1 July 1941 13:52 I-153Template:Sfn 17 15 29 August 1941 15:57 I-16Template:Sfn?Template:Refn
11 9 4 July 1941 16:45 SB-2Template:Sfn 18 16 11 September 1941 09:02 I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
12 10 4 July 1941 16:49 SB-3Template:Sfn 19 17 21 September 1941 16:05 I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
13 11 5 July 1941 09:26 SB-3 southeast of SmittenTemplate:Sfn 20 18 23 September 1941 17:05 I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
14 12 14 July 1941 19:24 DB-3Template:Sfn 21 19 28 September 1941 08:03 I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
15 13 19 July 1941 17:25 R-5Template:Sfn 22 20 4 October 1941 09:43?Template:Refn I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
16 14 27 August 1941 17:10 R-5Template:Sfn
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
Mediterranean Theater — 15 December 1941 – August 1942
23?Template:Refn 21 20 December 1941 16:40 HurricaneTemplate:Sfn 35 30 29 June 1942 08:45 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
24 29 December 1941 10:40 HurricaneTemplate:Sfn 36 31 2 July 1942 08:07 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". northeast of MaltaTemplate:Sfn
Script error: No such module "convert". north of Ta' Vnezja
25 22 3 January 1942 09:18?Template:Refn HurricaneTemplate:Sfn 37 32 2 July 1942 13:30 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". east of La VallettaTemplate:Sfn
26 23 20 January 1942 14:18 HurricaneTemplate:Sfn 38 33 8 July 1942 06:48 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
27
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		24 January 1942 14:25 HurricaneTemplate:Sfn 39 34 8 July 1942 11:35 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
28 24 17 March 1942 08:08 Spitfire MaltaTemplate:Sfn 40 35 30 July 1942 08:25 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
29
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2 April 1942 10:42 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 41 36 31 July 1942 14:58 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
30 25 8 May 1942 09:40 P-40 Ta' VnezjaTemplate:Sfn 42 37 31 July 1942 15:00 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
26 14 May 1942 11:43 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 38 2 August 1942 14:30 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". west of VeneziaTemplate:Sfn
31 15 May 1942 11:31 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 43 39 2 August 1942 16:23 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
32 27 3 June 1942 11:13 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of PantelleriaTemplate:Sfn 44 40 10 August 1942 12:21 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
33 28 8 June 1942 11:25 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 45?[Note 1] 12 August 1942
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
34 29 15 June 1942 10:40 Beaufighter Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of PantelleriaTemplate:Sfn 46 41 14 August 1942 18:48 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
Mediterranean Theater — August – 31 December 1942
47 42 13 October 1942?Template:Refn 14:10?Template:Refn Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". north of La VallettaTemplate:Sfn 49 44 27 November 1942 14:56 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". south of Majaz al BabTemplate:Sfn
48 43 14 October 1942 08:20 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Malta
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
Mediterranean Theater — 1 January – 15 October 1943
50?[Note 1]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		1 January 1943 11:56 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 56 50 19 April 1943 16:08 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of Menzel TemimeTemplate:Sfn
Script error: No such module "convert". southwest of Zembra
51 45 25 February 1943 12:16 P-38 Script error: No such module "convert". west of TebourbaTemplate:Sfn 57 51 2 May 1943 14:54 P-40 southwest of BéjaTemplate:Sfn
52?Template:Refn 2 March 1943 11:50 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of SfaxTemplate:Sfn 58 52 8 June 1943 08:52 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". south-southwest of PozzalloTemplate:Sfn
46 2 March 1943 11:50 B-17* Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of BéjaTemplate:Sfn 59 53 9 June 1943 14:00 P-38 Script error: No such module "convert". south of PantelleriaTemplate:Sfn
53?[Note 2] 47 22 March 1943 14:10 P-38 PQ 03 Ost 9848Template:Sfn 60 54 13 June 1943 12:12 Spitfire SyracuseTemplate:Sfn
54 48 18 April 1943 19:05 P-40 Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of the Gulf of TunisTemplate:Sfn 61?[Note 1] 55 8 September 1943 17:00 P-38Template:Sfn Script error: No such module "convert". southwest of Capri
55 49 19 April 1943 15:56 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". southwest of ZembraTemplate:Sfn
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
Defense of the Reich — 16 October – 31 December 1943
62 56 2 November 1943 12:40?Template:Refn B-24* KaindorfTemplate:Sfn
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Template:Sfn
Defense of the Reich — 1 January – April 1944
63 57 7 January 1944 11:28 P-38Template:Sfn Script error: No such module "convert". south of Kalsdorf 67 8 April 1944
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		B-24Template:Sfn
64 58 24 February 1944 12:56 B-17Template:Sfn vicinity of Friedburg 68 11 April 1944
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		B-24Template:Sfn
65 59 25 February 1944 11:56 B-24Template:Sfn Radlersberg-Fridau 69 61 13 April 1944 15:54 B-17Template:Sfn Königsdorf
66 60 23 March 1944 10:28 B-17Template:Sfn southwest of Braundes 70 62 19 April 1944 10:35 B-17Template:Sfn south of Hann. Münden, east of Kassel
– Stab of Jagdgruppe z.b.V. –Template:Sfn
Defense of the Reich — April 1944
71 63 29 April 1944 11:03 B-17 Schandelah,Template:Sfn east of Braunschweig
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 4 –Template:Sfn
Defense of the Reich — September 1944 – 8 May 1945
72 64 21 September 1944 15:25 Lancaster northwest of NijmegenTemplate:Sfn 75 67 2 November 1944 12:56?Template:Refn B-17 PQ 15 Ost JD-JETemplate:Sfn
73 65 27 September 1944 18:15 Typhoon southwest of GochTemplate:Sfn 76 68 8 March 1945 10:27 Yak-9Template:Sfn Eastern Front
74 66 2 November 1944 12:55 B-17 PQ 15 Ost JE-JDTemplate:Sfn

Awards

Notes

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b c Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  2. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

References

Citations

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Bibliography

<templatestyles src="Refbegin/styles.css" />

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Military offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Commander of Jagdgeschwader z.b.V.
20 April 1944 – 20 May 1944 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Commander of Jagdgeschwader 4
7 August 1944 – 8 May 1945 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:Knight's Cross recipients of JG 53 Template:Subject bar

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Gerhard_Michalski&oldid=5996338"