Joachim Müncheberg
Encyclopedia
Joachim Müncheberg was a German
Luftwaffe
fighter ace
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. He is credited with 135 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 500 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Western front
with 33 claims over the Eastern Front
. Of his 102 aerial victories achieved over the Western Allies are 46 Supermarine Spitfire
fighters.
. In his youth he was very much interested in flying and other technical things. He also showed a certain aptitude and talent for athletics prior to joining the military service. After joining the Wehrmacht Heer in 1936, he transferred to the Luftwaffe
in 1938. He was then posted to Jagdgeschwader 234.
In October 1939, Müncheberg joined III Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 26
(JG 26). He claimed his first victory on 7 November 1939, a Royal Air Force
Bristol Blenheim
Mk. I bomber L1325 of No. 57 Squadron RAF
, piloted by P/O HR Bewley. During the invasion of France
, Müncheberg claimed eight Allied aircraft shot down, with 4 claimed on one day, 31 May 1940.
For the early part of the Battle of Britain
Müncheberg flew as wingman to Major Adolf Galland
, Gruppenkommandeur
of III./JG 26. In late August he was promoted to Staffelkapitän
of 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of JG 26, and on 14 September 1940 was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) the same day he achieved his 20th aerial victory. This achievement earned Müncheberg a reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
(his first of five in total), an information bulletin issued by the headquarters of the Wehrmacht. He claimed 14 victories in total during the Battle of Britain
.
unit to operate in the Mediterranean theatre
, and from bases in Sicily
the staffel was to achieve success out of all proportion to its size, with some 52 victories claimed without losing a single pilot. Müncheberg claimed almost half of these victories. Flying missions over Yugoslavia
in support of the German invasion of the Balkans, he also claimed a Yugoslav 'Hawker Fury
biplane' on 6 April 1941 of Ind. Fighter Esk, 81 (Bomber) Grupa, JKRV (Porucnik Milenko Milivojevic was killed). He claimed another destroyed on the ground (Both victories were in fact Avia BH-33
biplanes). On 16 February Müncheberg claimed the No. 261 Squadron
Hurricane of ace F/L. James MacLachlan
, who baled out severely wounded, losing his arm, but returning to combat in 1943. He shot down and killed 261 Squadron's 7-kill Malta ace F/O FF Taylor on 26 February.
In May 1941, Müncheberg was awarded the Oak Leaves and the Italian Medaglia d'Oro
and by this time had 43 victories. A 2-month spell in Libya in mid 1941 to support the Afrika Korps
saw a further 5 victories claimed.
In August 1941, 7./JG 26 returned to France. Müncheberg was to claim a further 35 victories (including 34 Spitfires
) by June 1942. On 19 September, Müncheberg was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and became Gruppenkommandeur
of II/JG 26. On 29 April 1942 Müncheberg probably shot down and killed the Northolt Wing Leader and Polish ace Wing Commander Marian Pisarek
.
, joining Jagdgeschwader 51
. On 5 September, he claimed his 100th kill. On 9 September, he was awarded the 'Swords' following his 103rd victory. Müncheberg shot down 33 victories over Russian aircraft while being shot down twice himself.
On 1 October 1942, Major Müncheberg was appointed Geschwaderkommodore
of Jagdgeschwader 77
, operating over North Africa and Tunisia. He scored over a No. 92 Squadron
Spitfire on 9 November, the first of 24 further victories in the theatre. He force-landed unhurt in his Bf 109-G2 after combat with Kittyhawks flown by F/Lt. HC Shaver & F/Lt. RR Smith of No. 112 Squadron on 10 December 1942. In the spring of 1943 Müncheberg became the second German fighter pilot to achieve 100 aerial victories over Anglo-American adversaries.
Müncheberg was killed on 23 March 1943 over Tunisia when his 135th victim, a USAAF 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire
exploded in front of him after a close burst of cannon fire. The Spitfire was piloted by Captain Theodore Sweetman. Müncheberg managed to bail out and landed severely wounded in his parachute. Although the search team quickly recovered him, Müncheberg died on the way to a field hospital.
On 30 November 1962 an honorary one-time pension of 1,500 DM
was paid to the relatives of Müncheberg (and relatives of Hans-Joachim Marseille
) by the Italian Minister of Defence Giulio Andreotti
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
during aerial combat. He is credited with 135 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 500 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Western front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
with 33 claims over the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. Of his 102 aerial victories achieved over the Western Allies are 46 Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
fighters.
Early World War II
Müncheberg was born at Friedrichsdorf near DramburgDrawsko Pomorskie
Drawsko Pomorskie is a town in Drawsko County in West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland, with 17,440 inhabitants. Originally inhabited by Slavs, the settlement was colonized by Germans during the Middle Ages...
. In his youth he was very much interested in flying and other technical things. He also showed a certain aptitude and talent for athletics prior to joining the military service. After joining the Wehrmacht Heer in 1936, he transferred to the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
in 1938. He was then posted to Jagdgeschwader 234.
In October 1939, Müncheberg joined III Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and...
(JG 26). He claimed his first victory on 7 November 1939, a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
Mk. I bomber L1325 of No. 57 Squadron RAF
No. 57 Squadron RAF
-History:57 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed on 8 June 1916 at Copmanthorpe, Yorkshire. In December 1916 the squadron was posted to France equipped with the FE2d. The squadron re-equipped with Airco DH4s in May 1917 and commenced long range bombing and reconnaissance operations near...
, piloted by P/O HR Bewley. During the invasion of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, Müncheberg claimed eight Allied aircraft shot down, with 4 claimed on one day, 31 May 1940.
For the early part of the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
Müncheberg flew as wingman to Major Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
, Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of III./JG 26. In late August he was promoted to Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
of 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of JG 26, and on 14 September 1940 was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) the same day he achieved his 20th aerial victory. This achievement earned Müncheberg a reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
Wehrmachtbericht
The Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
(his first of five in total), an information bulletin issued by the headquarters of the Wehrmacht. He claimed 14 victories in total during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Malta Operations
From February 1941, Müncheberg's staffel became the first Bf-109Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
unit to operate in the Mediterranean theatre
Mediterranean Theatre of World War II
The African, Mediterranean and Middle East theatres encompassed the naval, land, and air campaigns fought between the Allied and Axis forces in the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Africa...
, and from bases in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
the staffel was to achieve success out of all proportion to its size, with some 52 victories claimed without losing a single pilot. Müncheberg claimed almost half of these victories. Flying missions over Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in support of the German invasion of the Balkans, he also claimed a Yugoslav 'Hawker Fury
Hawker Fury
The Hawker Fury was a British biplane fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force in the 1930s. It was originally named the Hornet and was the counterpart to the Hawker Hart light bomber.-Design and development:...
biplane' on 6 April 1941 of Ind. Fighter Esk, 81 (Bomber) Grupa, JKRV (Porucnik Milenko Milivojevic was killed). He claimed another destroyed on the ground (Both victories were in fact Avia BH-33
Avia BH-33
|-See also:-References:* Belcarz, Bartłomiej . Avia BH-33 , PWS-10, PZL P.7a, Polskie Skrzydła #3. Sandomierz: Wydawnictwo Stratus, ISBN 83-89450-36-4 .* Němeček, Vaclav . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
biplanes). On 16 February Müncheberg claimed the No. 261 Squadron
No. 261 Squadron RAF
No. 261 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force notably involved in the defence of Malta from August 1940 till May 1941 and the campaign in Burma.-Formation and World War I:...
Hurricane of ace F/L. James MacLachlan
James MacLachlan
James MacLachlan DSO, DFC and Czech War Cross was a British World War II flying ace, famous for returning to operations with an artificial left arm, following the loss of the limb during combat over Malta.- Early life :...
, who baled out severely wounded, losing his arm, but returning to combat in 1943. He shot down and killed 261 Squadron's 7-kill Malta ace F/O FF Taylor on 26 February.
In May 1941, Müncheberg was awarded the Oak Leaves and the Italian Medaglia d'Oro
Gold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
and by this time had 43 victories. A 2-month spell in Libya in mid 1941 to support the Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
saw a further 5 victories claimed.
In August 1941, 7./JG 26 returned to France. Müncheberg was to claim a further 35 victories (including 34 Spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
) by June 1942. On 19 September, Müncheberg was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and became Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of II/JG 26. On 29 April 1942 Müncheberg probably shot down and killed the Northolt Wing Leader and Polish ace Wing Commander Marian Pisarek
Marian Pisarek
Marian Pisarek , was a Polish fighter pilot, a flying ace of the World War II, with 11 planes confirmed shot down and an additional three probable.-Biography:...
.
Russia 1942
In July 1942, Müncheberg was posted to the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, joining Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II, named after the fighter ace Werner Mölders in 1942. JG 51's pilots won more Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war. Flying Bf 109s and then...
. On 5 September, he claimed his 100th kill. On 9 September, he was awarded the 'Swords' following his 103rd victory. Müncheberg shot down 33 victories over Russian aircraft while being shot down twice himself.
North Africa
Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
of Jagdgeschwader 77
Jagdgeschwader 77
Jagdgeschwader 77 Herz As was a Luftwaffe fighter Geschwader during World War II. It served in all the German theaters of war, from Western Europe to the Eastern Front, and from the high north in Norway to the Mediterranean.All three gruppen within the Geschwader operated variants of the...
, operating over North Africa and Tunisia. He scored over a No. 92 Squadron
No. 92 Squadron RAF
No. 92 Squadron, also known as No 92 Squadron, of the Royal Air Force was formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps at London Colney as a fighter squadron on 1 September 1917. It deployed to France in July 1918 and saw action for just four months, until the end of the war. During the conflict it...
Spitfire on 9 November, the first of 24 further victories in the theatre. He force-landed unhurt in his Bf 109-G2 after combat with Kittyhawks flown by F/Lt. HC Shaver & F/Lt. RR Smith of No. 112 Squadron on 10 December 1942. In the spring of 1943 Müncheberg became the second German fighter pilot to achieve 100 aerial victories over Anglo-American adversaries.
Müncheberg was killed on 23 March 1943 over Tunisia when his 135th victim, a USAAF 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
exploded in front of him after a close burst of cannon fire. The Spitfire was piloted by Captain Theodore Sweetman. Müncheberg managed to bail out and landed severely wounded in his parachute. Although the search team quickly recovered him, Müncheberg died on the way to a field hospital.
Awards and honors
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (17 September 1939)
- 1st Class (10 May 1940)
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 5 June 1942 as HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
in the II./JG 26 - Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
for Fighter Pilots in Gold with Pennant "400" - Combined Pilots-Observation BadgeCombined Pilots-Observation BadgeCombined Pilots-Observation Badge was a German military award instituted on 26 March 1936 by the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring to commemorate soldiers or servicemen who had already been awarded the Pilot's badge or Observer badge...
- Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 14 September 1940 as OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
and AdjutantAdjutantAdjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the III./JG 26 "Schlageter" - 12th Oak Leaves on 7 May 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./JG 26 "Schlageter"
- 19th Swords on 15 June 1942 as Hauptmann and deputy GeschwaderkommodoreGeschwaderkommodoreGeschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
of JG 51 "Mölders"
- Knight's Cross on 14 September 1940 as Oberleutnant
- Mentioned five times in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
- Medaglia d'oro al Valore MilitareGold Medal of Military ValorThe Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
(7 May 1941)
On 30 November 1962 an honorary one-time pension of 1,500 DM
German mark
The Deutsche Mark |mark]], abbreviated "DM") was the official currency of West Germany and Germany until the adoption of the euro in 2002. It is commonly called the "Deutschmark" in English but not in German. Germans often say "Mark" or "D-Mark"...
was paid to the relatives of Müncheberg (and relatives of Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot and flying ace during World War II. He is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his bohemian lifestyle. One of the best fighter pilots of World War II, he was nicknamed the "Star of Africa"...
) by the Italian Minister of Defence Giulio Andreotti
Giulio Andreotti
Giulio Andreotti is an Italian politician of the now dissolved centrist Christian Democracy party. He served as the 42nd Prime Minister of Italy from 1972 to 1973, from 1976 to 1979 and from 1989 to 1992. He also served as Minister of the Interior , Defense Minister and Foreign Minister and he...
.