Josef Fözö
Encyclopedia
Josef "Joschko" Fözö was a German
Luftwaffe
ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II
.
Fözö was born on 7 November 1912 in Vienna, Austria. He joined the Austrian Luftstreitkräfte before transferring to the Luftwaffe in 1938. From the summer of 1938 until March 1939, Fözö flew with 3. Staffel Jagdgruppe 88
, operating during the Civil war in Spain in support of Nationalist forces. He claimed three victories in some 147 missions and was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold.
Oberleutnant Fözö was then posted as Staffelkapitän of 10./JG 72 flying the Arado Ar 68 biplane fighter based at Böblingen
, before a move to command 2./JG 71 in July 1939.
In October 1939, 2./JG 71 was redesignated as 4./JG 51. Fözö recorded his first victory on 16 April 1940 when he shot down an artillery-spotting dirigible balloon during the French campaign. After 13 victories in the Battle of Britain
, Fözö was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 51 in February 1941.
By the time Hauptmann Fözö flew in the invasion of Russia, he had 15 victories to his credit, and was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 2 July for 22 victories. After his 24th victory on 11 July he was badly injured in a take-off accident at Stava Bychow in a Bf 109 F-2 and was hospitalised for a period. He returned to duty as Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 51, based on the Eastern front in May 1942. On 31 May he was again badly injured in a landing accident at Tubelja. On recovery Fözö was appointed Kommodore of training unit Jagdgeschwader 108 in June 1944. He led the unit until 10 January 1945.
Fözö died on 4 March 1979 in Vienna.
Josef Fözö was credited with 27 aerial victories in his career, 3 in the Spanish Civil War and 24 in World War II, including 9 on the Eastern Front.
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....
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...
and recipient of 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...
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...
.
Fözö was born on 7 November 1912 in Vienna, Austria. He joined the Austrian Luftstreitkräfte before transferring to the Luftwaffe in 1938. From the summer of 1938 until March 1939, Fözö flew with 3. Staffel Jagdgruppe 88
Jagdgruppe 88
Jagdgruppe 88 was a German Condor Legion fighter group serving in the Spanish Civil War. J/88 consisted of a headquarters and four squadrons , although the 4th Staffel was short lived...
, operating during the Civil war in Spain in support of Nationalist forces. He claimed three victories in some 147 missions and was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold.
Oberleutnant Fözö was then posted as Staffelkapitän of 10./JG 72 flying the Arado Ar 68 biplane fighter based at Böblingen
Böblingen
Böblingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen District. Physically Sindelfingen and Böblingen are continuous.-History:Böblingen was founded by Count Wilhelm von Tübingen-Böblingen in 1253. Württemberg acquired the town in 1357, and on 12 May 1525 one of the bloodiest battles...
, before a move to command 2./JG 71 in July 1939.
In October 1939, 2./JG 71 was redesignated as 4./JG 51. Fözö recorded his first victory on 16 April 1940 when he shot down an artillery-spotting dirigible balloon during the French campaign. After 13 victories in 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...
, Fözö was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 51 in February 1941.
By the time Hauptmann Fözö flew in the invasion of Russia, he had 15 victories to his credit, and was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 2 July for 22 victories. After his 24th victory on 11 July he was badly injured in a take-off accident at Stava Bychow in a Bf 109 F-2 and was hospitalised for a period. He returned to duty as Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 51, based on the Eastern front in May 1942. On 31 May he was again badly injured in a landing accident at Tubelja. On recovery Fözö was appointed Kommodore of training unit Jagdgeschwader 108 in June 1944. He led the unit until 10 January 1945.
Fözö died on 4 March 1979 in Vienna.
Josef Fözö was credited with 27 aerial victories in his career, 3 in the Spanish Civil War and 24 in World War II, including 9 on the Eastern Front.
Awards
- Spanienkreuz in Gold mit SchwertenSpanish CrossThe Spanish Cross was an award of Germany given to Germans who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for Franco.- History :With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Germany sent the Condor Legion to give military aid to Francisco Franco's nationalist forces.On April 14, 1939, Germany...
- FlugzeugführerabzeichenAviator BadgeAn Aviator Badge is an insignia used in most of the world’s militaries to designate those who have received training and qualification in military aviation...
- 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...
- 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
- 1st Class
- Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight'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 2 July 1941 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...
and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 51
- Knight's Cross on 2 July 1941 as Hauptmann