Peter Düttmann
Encyclopedia
Peter "Bonifazius" Düttmann was a World War II
Luftwaffe
flying ace
. He achieved 152 kills in 398 sorties. All of his victories were scored against Soviet opposition on the Eastern Front flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
.
on 7 May 1943. He served with the same unit until the end of the war and soon became one of their most successful pilots, flying with Heinz Ewald
and Heinz Sachsenberg
. He scored his first victory on 21 May 1943 and downed another 24 by the end of the year. He was forced to ditch his plane on 11 July 1943 after being hit by return fire form a formation of Douglas Boston medium bombers. On 9 August 1943 he belly-landed in no-man's land and was posted missing for 17 hours. On the 23 August 1943 his machine caught fire while belly-landing after Soviet AA damage.
He scored a further 18 kills in March 1944, 22 in April and 14 in May 1944. On 7 May 1944 he scored 9 victories to take his score to 91. Suffering from combat fatigue he was sent on leave at the end of May and returned in September 1944. His 100th kill was claimed on 24 September 1944. On the 13 November 1944 he was shot down by an Il-2 rear gunner and bailed out at 1000 feet, landing behind enemy lines, but managing to reach German lines. The same happened to him on the 3 March 1945 due to AA damage and he returned a day later. On 23 December 1944 he was appointed Staffelkapitän
of 5./JG 52. Düttmann claimed his last victory on 26 April 1945.
During two years on the Russian Front Düttmann flew 395 missions and claimed 152 victories (including 9 in one day) at the Eastern front, including two Sherman tanks. His tally includes 38 Il-2s, 8 Boston bombers, 5 Romanian aircraft and 98 Russian fighters.
He was shot down or crash landed 17 times but was never wounded.
His decorations include the Knights Cross and towards the end of the war was recommended for Oak Leaves. Peter Düttmann died on 9 January 2001.
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...
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....
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. He achieved 152 kills in 398 sorties. All of his victories were scored against Soviet opposition on the Eastern Front flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt 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...
.
Military career
Düttmann joined 5 staffel, Jagdgeschwader 52Jagdgeschwader 52
Jagdgeschwader 52 of the Luftwaffe, was the most successful fighter-wing of all time, with a claimed total of more than 10,000 victories over enemy aircraft during World War II. It was the unit of the top three scoring Fighter aces of all time, Erich Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn and Günther Rall...
on 7 May 1943. He served with the same unit until the end of the war and soon became one of their most successful pilots, flying with Heinz Ewald
Heinz Ewald
Heinz "Esau" Ewald was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II...
and Heinz Sachsenberg
Heinz Sachsenberg
Heinz Wimmersaal Sachsenberg was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
. He scored his first victory on 21 May 1943 and downed another 24 by the end of the year. He was forced to ditch his plane on 11 July 1943 after being hit by return fire form a formation of Douglas Boston medium bombers. On 9 August 1943 he belly-landed in no-man's land and was posted missing for 17 hours. On the 23 August 1943 his machine caught fire while belly-landing after Soviet AA damage.
He scored a further 18 kills in March 1944, 22 in April and 14 in May 1944. On 7 May 1944 he scored 9 victories to take his score to 91. Suffering from combat fatigue he was sent on leave at the end of May and returned in September 1944. His 100th kill was claimed on 24 September 1944. On the 13 November 1944 he was shot down by an Il-2 rear gunner and bailed out at 1000 feet, landing behind enemy lines, but managing to reach German lines. The same happened to him on the 3 March 1945 due to AA damage and he returned a day later. On 23 December 1944 he was appointed 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 5./JG 52. Düttmann claimed his last victory on 26 April 1945.
During two years on the Russian Front Düttmann flew 395 missions and claimed 152 victories (including 9 in one day) at the Eastern front, including two Sherman tanks. His tally includes 38 Il-2s, 8 Boston bombers, 5 Romanian aircraft and 98 Russian fighters.
He was shot down or crash landed 17 times but was never wounded.
His decorations include the Knights Cross and towards the end of the war was recommended for Oak Leaves. Peter Düttmann died on 9 January 2001.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(8 February 1944) - 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 15 April 1944 as Fahnenjunker-FeldwebelFeldwebelFeldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
in the 5./JG 52 - 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...
on 9 June 1944 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the 5./JG 52