Gustav Rödel

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Gustav Rödel
JG 27
Battles/wars
See battles

Spanish Civil War

World War II

Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Gustav Rödel (24 October 1915 – 6 February 1995) was a German fighter pilot and fighter ace who served during World War II in the Luftwaffe.

Gustav Rödel was born on 24 October 1915 in Saxony. In 1933 the Nazis came to power in Germany. Rödel had to choose a military career and he applied to join the Luftwaffe in late 1935 and was accepted the following year. After basic training he was selected to train as a fighter pilot. In 1938 Rödel completed his training and was assigned to Jagdgruppe 88, under the command of the Condor Legion. J/88 participated in the Spanish Civil War. There is no record of Rödel claiming any success in combat in Spain. In July 1939, Rödel was sent to Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21).

On 1 September 1939, the

Battle of Belgium and Battle of France in May and June 1940. Rödel claimed three aircraft shot down. In July 1940 Rödel was moved to 4./JG 27 and eventually appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of the Staffel effective from 1 September 1940. Rödel was credited with 10 Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft in the Battle of Britain
.

In March 1941 Rödel was transferred to the

Battle of Greece and received credit for six aerial victories. In June 1941 Rödel was briefly posted to the Eastern Front to support Operation Barbarossa. He claimed only one victory in the Soviet Union. For his success he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 25 June 1941. Rödel was posted to North Africa
with JG 27 soon after and remained there until November 1942.

On 22 April he was appointed

Battle of Normandy. He claimed his 98th and final victory on 5 July 1944. In December 1944 he served as a staff officer with the 2. Jagd Division
until the German surrender in May 1945.

Rödel was credited with 97 victories against the

Soviet Air Forces in over 980 combat missions. He flew the Messerschmitt Bf 109. In 1957, Rödel joined the Bundeswehr. He retired on 30 September 1971, holding the rank of Brigadegeneral
.

Early life and career

Rödel was born on 24 October 1915 in

Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service) in Zeitz. Rödel then studied half a semester of theology before joining the military service of the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 1 April 1936. He then attended the Luftkriegsschule Klotzsche (Air War School Klotzsche) until 31 January 1938.[1]

On 1 February 1938, Rödel was promoted to

exhumation and identification of German dead. He also learned to speak Spanish and was employed as an interpreter. For his service in Spain, Rödel was awarded the Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Bronze mit Schwertern) on 6 June 1939.[1]

World War II

On 1 September 1939 the German

Okęcie Warszawa.[3] After the campaign, I./JG 21 was used to form the second and third Gruppen of JG 27, founded on 1 October 1939.[4]

On 10 May 1940 JG 27 supported

invasion of Belgium. Rödel was part of I./JG 27, attached to Fliegerkorps VIII.[5] Rödel was assigned as Adolf Galland's wingman.[6] On 12 May Stab./JG 27 was patrolling near Huy led by Galland. The Stabsschwarm claimed four Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricanes, one of them was claimed by Rödel the other three by Galland.[7] The Hurricanes were probably from No. 87 Squadron RAF.[8] Stab./JG 27 had 101 Bf 109s on strength on 10 May and it flew 17 missions involving 325 sorties.[9] RAF resistance on the first day cost the Luftwaffe 10 Junkers Ju 87s that were under the protection of JG 27 and I./Jagdgeschwader 51.[9] The opposition weakened by 13 May and three weeks passed before Rödel claimed again.[9]

Rödel was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 June 1940.[1] Stab./JG 27 took part in the Battle of Dunkirk on 2 June and were peripherally involved in Operation Paula on 3 June.[10] Rödel claimed a Supermarine Spitfire on 2 June. On 7 June, he claimed his fourth victory and his last in France over a Potez 630 near Dunkirk.[7]

Battle of Britain

JG 27 transferred to the Netherlands, Belgium and France in the aftermath of the French capitulation on 25 June 1940. The Luftwaffe began its air offensive against the United Kingdom in support of a planned invasion codenamed Operation Sea Lion. The air offensive became known as the Battle of Britain. In July 1940 Rödel was transferred to 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 27 for the Kanalkampf phase of the battle.[11] Röddel was appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 4. Staffel on 6 September 1940. He replaced Oberleutnant Hermann Hollweg who took over 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2.[12]

On 11 August JG 27 formed part of large-scale fighter sweeps over

Flying Officer J. S. Bell was killed and Sergeant J. Hopewell survived a force-landing.[19] The losses were reported over Redhill, the area recorded in Rödel's claim.[19][15]

On 1 September Rödel claimed two Spitfires over Ashford and Folkestone.[15] Fighter Command lost 15 destroyed and four damaged in combat with five killed and seven wounded.[20] For the second and last time in the campaign, the Luftwaffe suffered the loss of fewer aircraft: five fighters destroyed and two damaged; two bombers destroyed and six damaged.[21] Only Hurricane squadrons reported losses in the afternoon battle at the time of Rödel's claim: 1 Squadron (two destroyed one damaged), 79 (three destroyed), 72 (three destroyed), 85 (five destroyed one damaged) and 253 Squadron (one destroyed).[20] Rödel was appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 4./JG 27 on this date.[11]

On 3 September, Rödel claimed a Hurricane and Spitfire over

Tunbridge Wells.[15]

On 27 September Rödel claimed two Hurricanes. One was claimed at 12:05 GMT.

P3415 uninjured.[29]

Battle of Greece and Eastern Front

4./JG 27 was redeployed to

Kalambaka and Vasiliki. Captain George Mokkas, commanding 23 Mira engaged them but was shot down and killed by Rödel who mistook his Bloch MB.150 for a Hurricane. It was his 15th victory.[30] Minutes later Rödel claimed two Gloster Gladiators and another three claims were made for Gladiators by his Staffel. The Greek fighters were actually PZL P.24s. Captain Kellas of 21 Mira, Katsarellas of 22 Mira and First Lieutenant Kontogiorgos were wounded.[30] On 20 April 1941 Rödel claimed three Hurricanes from No. 80 Squadron RAF in ten minutes.[31]

4./JG 27 was moved to East Prussia to support Army Group North in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. On 25 June 1941 Rödel claimed his only victory in this theatre over Vilnius. The claim was recorded as a Tupolev SB.[32]

North Africa

Following the withdrawal from the

Second Lieutenant Meek of 2 Squadron SAAF over Al Adm.[39] The 6 December claim was probably a No. 274 Squadron RAF Beaufighter flown by Pilot Officer William G. Snow which crashed near Tobruk. Snow and his navigator Sergeant John K. Dutton were captured.[40]

On a mission in January 1942 Rödel was accidentally rammed by Unteroffizier Heidel and was forced to carry out a force-landing.[40] On 27 March 1942 1. and 4. Staffel formed 10 Bf 109s to escort 15 Ju 87s from I.Sturzkampfgeschwader 3. P-40s from 2 SAAF and 80 Squadron RAF were scrambled to intercept. Ludwig Franzisket from 1. Staffel claimed a victory and Rödel claimed two of the three by his own unit. From 2 SAAF Lieutenants Lipawski and E. Smith were shot down and survived crash-landings—the former's aircraft was strafed and burnt out on the ground. Lieutenant Bryant's P-40 was also damaged, lightly. Flight Sergeant Comfort from 80 Squadron was also hit and his Hurricane badly damaged.[41]

On 6 April Rödel claimed one of the four claims made by JG 27.

Flight Lieutenant D. F. O. Shelford was killed. 2 and 40 Squadron SAAF lost one P-40 and a Hurricane respectively—Lieutenants R. D. B. Morton and Egner survived.[42] The next day II./JG 27 engaged 94 Sqn, 260 Sqn, 450 Sqn RAAF and 4 Squadron SAAF. 450 Sqn lost one in combat. 260 Sqn lost one P-40 and another badly damaged and one of 4 Sqn SAAF's P-40s was damaged. Rödel shot down the 260 Squadron P-40 piloted by Flying Officer E. T. Thompson.[42] Willi Kientsch appears to have fired at and claimed the same aircraft but both were credited with victories while JG 27 claimed four victories.[42] On 7 April, 4. Staffel intercepted 40 Squadron SAAF and Rödel made the only claim—although three P-40s were brought down. Lieutenants Gouws, J. P. Blaauw and D. N. Stott all survived. The claim was Rödel's 38th victory.[42] On 25 April JG 27 fought a large air battle over Gazala. The Germans claimed 10. 2, 4 SAAF and 260 Squadron RAF lost 8 destroyed between then and another 5 damaged. Rödel claimed one, while Günter Steinhausen claimed one and Hans-Joachim Marseille claimed two. JG 27 lost four Bf 109s in aerial combat.[43]

Rödel's Bf 109 G-2 remake in the Militärhistorisches Museum Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow.

Rödel was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 1 May 1942.[44] On 20 May 1942, Rödel was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of II./JG 27, replacing Major Erich Gerlitz who took over III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53.[45] In the last week of May the desert fighting escalated in the Battle of Gazala and Battle of Bir Hakeim.[46] On 23 May Rödel led the formation in an attack on 33 Squadron Hurricanes. He shot down its leader Flight Lieutenant P. D. Wade (not to be confused Lance Wade in the same squadron). Wade survived the ditching into the sea but died, presumably of drowning or wounds. Rödel's combat report stated that he observed the enemy pilot swimming away from his sinking fighter. Rödel claimed one other victory that day. 5. Staffel lost one Bf 109 with a wounded pilot and Lehrgeschwader 1 lost one Junkers Ju 88 in air combat and two on the ground. Italian units suffered no losses. Four Hurricanes were lost and two badly damaged. Two Martin Baltimore bombers were destroyed and two badly damaged. Two pilots from 33 and another two from 80 Squadron were killed as well as six men from the Boston-equipped No. 233 Squadron RAF. Marseille and Homuth claimed the bombers—two by the former and one by the latter.[47] Rödel now had 41.[46]

Over

Macchi C.202-equipped 10 Gruppo claimed 13 destroyed and two damaged in the day's fighting. Rödel claimed one P-40 destroyed.[48]

The First Battle of El Alamein began on 1 July. Rödel had his most successful day in Africa, claiming three shot down on 10 July.[49] The three P-40s raised his total to 45.[50] Rödel accounted for his 46th and 47th victories on 19 July. The identity of the Allied formation was probably 238 Squadron.[51] Two days later Rödel claimed four Hurricanes from seven submitted by German pilots in combat over the El Alamein area.[48] They were probably from 238 Squadron.[52] July was particularly successful for Rödel and Homuth's pilots.[53]

On 31 August he claimed a solitary victory as the

anti-aircraft artillery, fell out of formation and was then shot down by Rödel. it was the 12th Group's only loss.[57]

On the night of the 23 October 1942 the British began the

21st Panzer Division in another assault on Outpost Snipe.[60] Rödel claimed two more just before 11:00 on 31 October as JG 27 sought to provide determined German-Italian counter-attacks with air support.[61] The following morning Rödel filed his last claim for a victory over Egypt. At approximately 07:00 he claimed a Spitfire south of Sidi Abdel Rahman.[62]

Air War over Italy and Greece

II./JG 27 avoided the defeat at El Alamein which began with the British breakthrough on 4 November. The Anglo-American

Tunisian Campaign which brought the war in North Africa to an end on 13 May 1943. Along with the Stab (command) Staffel, II. Gruppe withdrew to Germany for resting.[63] In February 1943 it began staging down the leg of Italy to Sicily. Eduard Neumann oversaw the transfer while still flying the ageing Bf 109F-4/Trops. The fighter group was based at San Pietro, 20 miles (32 kilometres) inland from the island's southern coast. Rödel supervised an influx of new pilots and re-equipment with Bf 109G-4s and Bf 109G-6 models to replace the depleted Staffeln. Once at established strength it moved some Staffeln to Trapani and operated from there.[63] The main task of the fighter group was to escort Axis convoys from Italy to Tunisia. The air and sea threat from British forces based on Malta was now severe. The island was no longer under siege and its forces had taken the offensive.[63]

Rödel's command was not successful. On 18 April 1943 less than a dozen of the group's Bf 109s formed an escort for 65

General der Jagdflieger. Rödel replaced him as Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) of JG 27. II. Rödel appointed Werner Schröer to command II Gruppe.[65]

Rödel was a firm believer in leading in the air in contrast to the fighter wing's previous commanders. All five of the victories claimed by the Stab unit in the first two months over Sicily were credited to him.

Operation Husky and the invasion of Sicily, the group claimed six out of 24-strong formation of Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers—a rare success.[67]

Rödel's Geschwaderstab moved to

B-25 Mitchell on 8 October to bring his tally to 83. The only other pilot to claim a victory in the stab unit was Jost Schlang—one time wingman of Hans Joachim Marseille—who claimed a B-17 on 10 October west of Corinth.[69]

Defence of the Reich

By 9 February 1944 JG 27 had all but abandoned Greece to return to the Reich for the Defence of the Reich duty. Only 7. Staffel was permitted to remain and claimed the last victories on 14 May 1944.[70] I Gruppe was based at Fels am Wagram, west of Vienna on 12 August 1943 for the next ten months.[71] II./JG 27 remained in central Germany until June 1944 when it was withdrawn to rest and re-equip at Wels am Wagram. In the final weeks it was joined by III. and IV. Gruppen. Rödel's stab unit arrived in February 1944. The Kommodore continued to lead from the front and claimed 11 of the 25 victories claimed by the command squadron in the last few weeks of operations over Hungary, Austria and southern Germany. On 13 May the command Staffel moved to Wien-Seyring near Vienna.[72]

On 19 March 1944 Rödel flew his first RLV operation. The US Fifteenth Air Force sent a small formation of bombers to southern Germany. En route to Austria one Italian and two groups of German fighters from Jafü Oberitalien (Fighter Leader Northern Italy) in northern Italy and then Jagdfliegerführer Ostmark (Jafü Ostmark—Fighter Leader Austria) attacked. Rödel led III. and IV. into battle with 87 Bf 109s against of formation of 92 B-24s, which formed part of the USAAF operation. The battle cost Rödel ten Bf 109s and six pilots. The Germans claimed 27 B-24s and were credited with 21. American losses amounted to six B-17s and 12 B-24s for a total of 18. Eight came from the 454th Bombardment Group.[73] Rödel claimed two B-17s.[74] III Gruppe claimed 12 B-24s for two losses.[72]

On 2 April the Fifteenth bombed a ball-bearing and aircraft factory near

Royal Hungarian Air Force Bf 109s also joined the interception with Bf 109Gs and Messerschmitt Me 210s. JG 27 claimed four B-17s, one B-24 and one P-38 for no loss. Hungarian pilots claimed an identical number of B-17s and B-24s but no P-38s for one pilot killed. The Fifteenth confirmed lost four B-17s and one B-24 half the total amount Axis pilots claimed. It claimed four Me 210s and three Bf 109s which are not corroborated.[75] Another source gives a loss of nine bombers and one loss for III Gruppe.[72] Rödel claimed one of the B-17s in the action.[74]

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 of Jagdgeschwader 27 with two MG 151/20 gun pods under the wings. This aircraft was flown by Gruppenkommandeur Major Ludwig Franzisket in early 1944.[76]

On 12 April the Eighth Air Force targeted Schweinfurt and the Fifteenth attacked targets around Vienna. The Eighth operation was suspended because of weather but fighter forces continued a sweep over Germany. I. Jagdkorps units claimed to have fought off the attacks. In the south, the Fifteenth continued. Jagddivision 7 committed 190 fighters to battle and lost 21 in dogfights with the USAAF escorts. American losses amounted to just seven bombers: fighter losses are not known.[77] Rödel claimed one of the seven B-17s.[74] The next day the Fifteenth targeted Schweinfurt and Oberpfaffenhofen, two targets hated by American bomber crews.[78] III./Jagdgeschwader 3 two JG 27 Gruppen of Jafü Ostmark and all of Jagdabschnitt Ungarn (Fighter Section Hungary)—III./JG 27 and five Hungarian Bf 109 and Me 210 night fighter units—were scrambled to intercept. 18 American bombers were lost. The Me 210s lost 13 to the American escorts.[78]

On 12 May the Eighth Air Force struck at the petroleum industry near

3rd US Bomb Division alone lost 41 bombers—possibly to attacks from JG 3 and 11—before the escorts intervened.[81] Rödel claimed another pair of heavy bombers. Seven days later he repeated the feat.[74]

On 28 May 1944 the Eighth returned to bomb oil targets in central Germany. 1,341 bombers from several bomb divisions participated. Rödel led JG 27 without filing a claim.

94th Bombardment Wing. A combat box of 50 B-17s were flying to Dessau and nearing Magdeburg. Rödel's Geschwader did not normally employ a set formation to attack US heavy bombers but they took advantage of the situation and attacked in Staffeln-strength.[82] IV. Gruppe was flying as escort to engaged US fighters but came down to join the attack. The P-51s were urgently requested by the lead B-17 but were occupied by other German fighter units. Rödel's men attacked and forced the American formation—in a rare instance of indiscipline—to jettison their bombs to gain speed and escape.[82]

Smoke and haze obscured Dessau and the Americans set course for Leipzig, the secondary target but only six B-17s dropped their bombs. When the 94th returned to England they had lost 15 bombers. JG 27 claimed 16 and one P-51 for four killed and two wounded and seven Bf 109s.[82] The Eighth Air Force lost 32 bombers and 14 fighters. I. Jagdkorps lost 18 killed, 13 wounded and 52 fighters.[82] The official victories granted to Rödel's command were Herausschüsse ("shooting-out"—damaging a bomber so severely it drops out of formation and because an easy target for final destruction).[83] JG 27 would never achieve that level of success again and for the remainder of the war rarely claimed a total in double-figures.[83] The following day Rödel scored his last successes in Defence of the Reich operation—one heavy bomber.[74]

Western Front

On 6 June 1944

D-Day landings began. Rödel was ordered to relocate to France immediately and he arrived at Champfleury, 60 miles (95 km) southeast of Paris late on 6 June. I., III., and IV. Gruppen were now pitted against the weight of Anglo-American air power. In the battles that followed the units sustained 130 casualties, roughly two-thirds of them killed in action as the Germans retreated from France and across Belgium. The Geschwader claimed slightly more victories than losses but could not replace their men and machines as opposed to their enemy. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring tried to address the loss of experienced pilots by ordering the Geschwaderkommodore not to fly unless the size of the formation he was leading surpassed 45. It likely cost Rödel the chance to pass the 100-mark but also improved his chances of survival.[72]

Rödel claimed four victories over Normandy. On 29 June 1944, in the middle of Operation Epsom and Martlet, Rödel led his command flight into battle over Évreux against P-47 fighter-bombers.[84] On 5 July 1944 he claimed a P-38 for his 98th and final air victory.[84] This was also the last of the 82 claims submitted by the Geschwaderstab in World War II. Rödel accounted for 28 of these 82 enemy aircraft.[85]

Rödel's pilots were now fighting a different war at lower-level with Allied fighters and fighter bombers. On 12 June Gruppenkommandeur Otto Meyer led IV Gruppe claimed nine P-47s west of Évreux with Meyer claiming three, at a cost of one killed and five wounded. On 14 June Heinrich Bartels, who was an established fighter leader four as the unit claimed eight P-47s and a pair of B-17s without loss. It was not long before experienced pilots were lost. Meyer was killed over Caen on 12 July. Within two weeks of Meyer's loss his command had been reduced to nine Bf 109s and was withdrawn in mid-August. In mid-July III. Gruppe was withdrawn.[85]

The four Gruppen were officially set for re-equipment and re-training on 15 August 1944. The Geschwader began receiving the Bf 109G-14 and Bf 109K-4 over the early autumn. Each Staffel received 15 aircraft and each Gruppe had an established strength of 60 fighters. By mid-autumn it had 250 fighters and was the largest fighter unit at the time and any time in the history of JG 27. The

Oil campaign had contributed to a lack of training and most pilots lacked operational and combat experience. The war situation had brought the Western Allies to the German border by this time. The situation meant that the Defence of the Reich and close air support on the frontline were practically one and the same mission.[86]

On 2 November 1944 Rödel's command suffered its worst loss of the war. Around 600 Eighth Air Force bombers attacked Merseburg-Leuna. JG 27 could not penetrate the bomber stream but claimed six P-51s battling escorting US fighter groups. In return it lost 50 Bf 109s with 27 pilots killed and 12 wounded. By mid-December another 39 pilots were dead and 14 had suffered wounds.[87] On 16 December 1944 JG 27 participated in the Ardennes offensive but Rödel flew intermittently. On 23 December the 94th Bomb Group B-17 Darling Dott, formerly Big Gas Bird, became the last of 550 heavy bombers to fall to his command. This same day the unit suffered a blow when Bartels was killed in action with US P-47s.[88] JG 27 was in constant action over Belgium from 16 to 29 December 1944 and suffered significant losses.[89]

Rödel was also concerned at the level of morale in JG 27. British intelligence decrypted an Ultra message which suggested he suspected nearly 20 percent of pilots broke off their attacks on American bombers without good reason and jettisoned their drop tanks and returned to base prematurely. Rödel issued an order that any pilot who did so again would be court-martialled. Rödel also ordered that, "even in the event of such Allied air activity, a proportion of the fighters must avoid air combat and penetrate without fail into the area above the foremost panzer spearheads" in ordered to provide air cover for land forces that had begun to diminish.[90] He had no time to carry out the threat. On 29 December 1944 he was relieved of his command. Long-term member Major Ludwig Franzisket replaced him.[88]

Staff command and end of war

Rödel was informed of a planned air offensive against Allied airfields prior to his departure.[91] This operation was scheduled for mid-December but did not take place until New Year's Day 1945. Christened Operation Bodenplatte, it was a disaster for JG 27. The German wing struck at Melsbroek Air Base. The pilots of JG 27 and 54 claimed 85 victories and 40 damaged. German reconnaissance was able to "confirm" 49. JG 27 suffered unacceptable losses; 17 Bf 109s, 11 pilots killed, one wounded and three captured.[92]

On 1 January 1945, Rödel was appointed commander

Fighter Pilots Revolt".[93] The meeting took place on 22 January.[94] In April 1945, his oldest son Rüdiger, still in his infancy, was killed in an RAF raid.[95]

Later life

On 16 March 1957, Rödel reentered military service in the West German Air Force. Following various training courses in the United States, in 1958, he was assigned to the Air Defense Division at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris. His last service position was Sector Commander with the Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2 ATAF). On 30 September 1971, Rödel retired from military service. His final rank was Brigadegeneral (brigadier general). Rödel died on 6 February 1995 in Bonn-Bad Godesberg and was buried at the cemetery Rüngsdorf (Section II–Grave 708).[95]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Rödel was credited with 98 aerial victories.[96] Obermaier also lists him with 98 enemy aircraft shot down in 980 combat missions, of which one was claimed in the invasion of Poland, one on the Eastern Front and 52 in the Mediterranean theatre. His 98 aerial victories includes 13 four-engined bombers.[97] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces: Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 95 aerial victory claims, plus seven further unconfirmed claims. All but one aerial victory claimed on the Eastern Front were claimed on the Western Front and include eleven four-engined bombers.[98]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 15 Ost S/GC-8". 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.[99]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  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.
Claim Date Time Type Location Unit Claim Date Time Type Location Unit
– Claims with I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 21 –[100]
Invasion of Poland
1 1 September 1939 17:08 PZL P.24 vicinity of Warsaw[101] 2./JG 21
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[102]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
2 12 May 1940 10:15 Hurricane Huy[7] Stab/JG 27 4 7 June 1940 10:50 Potez 63 northwest of Dunkirk[7] Stab/JG 27
3 2 June 1940 09:14 Spitfire west of Dunkirk[7] Stab/JG 27
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[15]
On the Channel Front — August – November 1940
5 11 August 1940 10:40 Spitfire north of Cape de la Hague[103] 4./JG 27 10 3 September 1940 11:50 Hurricane
Southend[103]
 4./JG 27
6 30 August 1940 12:28 Spitfire north of Redhill[103] 4./JG 27 11 6 September 1940 10:05 Spitfire
Tunbridge Wells[103]
 4./JG 27
7 1 September 1940 15:05 Spitfire Ashford[103] 4./JG 27 12 11 September 1940 16:32 Spitfire Elham[103] 4./JG 27
8 1 September 1940 15:30 Spitfire Folkestone[103] 4./JG 27 13 27 September 1940 13:05 Hurricane Milton Regis[103] 4./JG 27
9 3 September 1940 11:20 Spitfire Southend[103] 4./JG 27 14 27 September 1940 16:18 Hurricane east of London[103] 4./JG 27
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[104]
During the Balkan Campaign — April 1940
15 15 April 1941 06:50 Hurricane west of
Trikkala[105]
 4./JG 27 18 20 April 1941 16:57 Hurricane Megara[105] 4./JG 27
16 15 April 1941 06:55 PZL P.24 west of Trikkala[105] 4./JG 27 19 20 April 1941 17:01 Hurricane Migalo[105] 4./JG 27
17 15 April 1941 07:05 PZL P.24 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Trikkala[105] 4./JG 27 20 20 April 1941 17:08 Hurricane Migalo[105] 4./JG 27
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[106]
On the Eastern Front — June 1941
21 25 June 1941 16:40 SB-3 Vilnius[107] 4./JG 27
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[108]
In North Africa — April 1941 – December 1942
22 3 October 1941 15:55 Hurricane southwest of Sidi Barrani[109] 4./JG 27 48 21 July 1942 18:10 Hurricane south-southwest of El Alamein[110] Stab II./JG 27
23 6 October 1941 09:10 P-40 southeast of Sidi Omar[109] 4./JG 27 49 21 July 1942 18:12 Hurricane south-southwest of El Alamein[110] Stab II./JG 27
24 6 October 1941 09:20 Hurricane southeast of Sidi Omar[109] 4./JG 27 50 21 July 1942 18:12 Hurricane northeast of El Dabaa[110] Stab II./JG 27
25 22 November 1941 14:05 Blenheim 80 km (50 mi) southeast of Ain el Gazala[111] 4./JG 27 51 21 July 1942 18:20 Hurricane 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of El Alamein[110] Stab II./JG 27
26 22 November 1941 16:40 P-40 southeast of
Bir Hacheim[111]
 4./JG 27 52 31 August 1942 18:29 Spitfire south-southeast of El Alamein[112] Stab II./JG 27
27 25 November 1941 15:55 Hurricane north of Tobruk[111] 4./JG 27 53 1 September 1942 07:05 P-40 south of Sana Hut[112] Stab II./JG 27
28 25 November 1941 15:57 P-40 north of Tobruk[111] 4./JG 27 54 3 September 1942 10:20 P-40 Deir el Raghil[112] Stab II./JG 27
29 1 December 1941 12:40 Hurricane southwest of
El Adem[111]
 4./JG 27 55 5 September 1942 10:53 P-40 south-southwest of El Alamein[112] Stab II./JG 27
30 4 December 1941 10:18 P-40 northeast of Bir el Gubi[111] 4./JG 27 56 5 September 1942 10:57 P-40 south-southwest of El Alamein[112] Stab II./JG 27
31 5 December 1941 11:55 P-40 northwest of Bir el Gubi[113] 4./JG 27 57 5 September 1942 11:00 P-40 south-southwest of El Alamein[112] Stab II./JG 27
32 6 December 1941 11:55 Beaufighter Tobruk[113] 4./JG 27 58 9 October 1942 09:23 P-39 north of Turbiya[114] Stab II./JG 27
33 4 January 1942 08:40 Hurricane southeast of Ajdabiya[113] 4./JG 27 59 9 October 1942 09:27 P-39 north-northeast of El Dabaa[114] Stab II./JG 27
34 27 March 1942 17:10 P-40 west of Tobruk[115] 4./JG 27 60 9 October 1942 09:35 Spitfire northwest of Sanyet Quotaifiya[114] Stab II./JG 27
35 27 March 1942 17:24 P-40 southwest of Ain el Gazala[115] 4./JG 27 61 13 October 1942 09:39 P-39 south-southwest of El Alamein[114] Stab II./JG 27
36 6 April 1942 08:23 P-40 Timimi/Martuba[115] 4./JG 27 62 22 October 1942 10:45 B-25 southwest of El Alamein[114] Stab II./JG 27
37 7 April 1942 15:43 P-40 north of Mteifel Chebir[115] 4./JG 27 63 24 October 1942 09:43 P-40 southwest of El Alamein[114] Stab II./JG 27
38 9 April 1942 14:25 P-40 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Mteifel Chebir[115] 4./JG 27 64 24 October 1942 09:45 P-40 west-southwest of El Alamein[114] Stab II./JG 27
39 25 April 1942 09:55 P-40 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Ain el Gazala[115] 4./JG 27 65 24 October 1942 09:50 P-40 west of El Alamein[114] Stab II./JG 27
40 23 May 1942 09:40 P-40 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Ras el Tin[116] Stab II./JG 27 66 26 October 1942 16:08 Spitfire southwest of Sanyet Quotaifiya[114] Stab II./JG 27
41 23 May 1942 09:47 P-40 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Ras el Tin[116] Stab II./JG 27 67 27 October 1942 09:23 Spitfire south-southwest of El Hammam[114] Stab II./JG 27
42 4 June 1942 08:15 P-40 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Bir Hacheim[117] Stab II./JG 27 68 27 October 1942 09:42 P-40 south-southwest of El Alamein[114] Stab II./JG 27
43 10 July 1942 10:32 Spitfire northeast of Miteiriga[118] Stab II./JG 27 69 27 October 1942 15:05 P-39 north of El Dabaa[114] Stab II./JG 27
44 10 July 1942 10:37 Spitfire south of Murmin Busak[118] Stab II./JG 27 70 29 October 1942 09:05 P-40 Deir el Bein[114] Stab II./JG 27
45 10 July 1942 10:40 P-40 northeast of Miteiriga[118] Stab II./JG 27 71 31 October 1942 09:52 P-40 southwest of Sanyet Quotaifiya[114] Stab II./JG 27
46 19 July 1942 09:13 Hurricane Chebel el Gabir[110] Stab II./JG 27 72 31 October 1942 09:55 P-40 southwest of Sanyet Quotaifiya[114] Stab II./JG 27
47 19 July 1942 09:17 Hurricane Bir Garbatte[110] Stab II./JG 27 73 1 November 1942 07:05 Spitfire south of Sidi Abdel Rahman[114] Stab II./JG 27
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[84]
Sicily — April – June 1943
74 18 May 1943 13:35 P-38 northeast of Trapani[119] Stab/JG 27 77 22 May 1943 16:22 P-38 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Marettimo[119] Stab/JG 27
75 18 May 1943 13:44 B-17 northeast of Marettimo[119] Stab/JG 27 78 22 May 1943 16:25 P-38 southwest Marettimo[119] Stab/JG 27
76 22 May 1943 16:17 B-17 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Marettimo[119] Stab/JG 27
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[74]
Aegean Sea — July 1943 – February 1944
79 2 July 1943
—
 Beaufighter northwest
Melos[119]
 Stab/JG 27 82 8 October 1943 14:00 P-38 north of Patras[119] Stab/JG 27
80 4 October 1943 12:20 B-24 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Kos[119] Stab/JG 27 83 10 October 1943 12:50 B-17* Lamia[119] Stab/JG 27
81 8 October 1943 13:48 B-25 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Livadeia[119] Stab/JG 27
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[74]
Defense of the Reich — February – June 1944
84 19 March 1944 13:44 B-24 southeast of Graz[120] Stab/JG 27 90 12 May 1944 12:37 B-17 east of Aschaffenburg[120] Stab/JG 27
85 19 March 1944 14:08 B-24 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Graz[120] Stab/JG 27 91 12 May 1944 12:47 B-17 east of Aschaffenburg[120] Stab/JG 27
86 2 April 1944 10:45 P-47 northwest of Graz[120] Stab/JG 27 92 19 May 1944 13:20 P-51 PQ 15 Ost S/GC-8, northwest of Magdeburg[120] Stab/JG 27
87 3 April 1944 10:42 B-17 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Budapest[120] Stab/JG 27 93 19 May 1944 13:20 P-51 PQ 15 Ost S/GC-8, northwest of Magdeburg[120] Stab/JG 27
88 12 April 1944 12:03 B-17 Wiener Neustadt[120] Stab/JG 27 94 29 May 1944 10:15 B-24 Sankt Pölten[120] Stab/JG 27
89 13 April 1944 11:48 B-17 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Raab[120] Stab/JG 27
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[74]
In defense of the Invasion — June – August 1944
95 29 June 1944 11:50 P-47 northwest of Évreux[120] Stab/JG 27 97 29 June 1944 11:57 P-47 northwest of Évreux[120] Stab/JG 27
96 29 June 1944 11:55 P-47 northwest of Évreux[120] Stab/JG 27 98 5 July 1944 21:05 P-38 south-southeast of Gaye[120] Stab/JG 27

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ According to Scherzer on 24 June 1941.[124]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Stockert 2012, p. 221.
  2. ^ Hooton 2007, p. 94.
  3. ^ Weal 2001, pp. 11–12.
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  5. ^ Hooton 2007, p. 46.
  6. ^ Ring & Girbig 1994, p. 27.
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  8. ^ Weal 2003, p. 21.
  9. ^ a b c Hooton 2007, p. 56.
  10. ^ Weal 2003, pp. 24–25.
  11. ^ a b Mason 1969, p. 481.
  12. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 52.
  13. ^ Mason 1969, p. 222.
  14. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 225–226.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, pp. 552–553.
  16. ^ Mason 1969, p. 229.
  17. ^ a b Mason 1969, p. 228.
  18. ^ Mason 1969, p. 327.
  19. ^ a b Mason 1969, p. 324.
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  21. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 336–338.
  22. ^ a b Mason 1969, pp. 344–345.
  23. ^ Mason 1969, p. 357.
  24. ^ a b Mason 1969, p. 356.
  25. ^ Mason 1969, p. 419.
  26. ^ a b Mason 1969, p. 417.
  27. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 417–419.
  28. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 416–419.
  29. ^ Franks 2015, p. 96.
  30. ^ a b Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 252.
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  32. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, pp. 120, 554.
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  66. ^ Scutts 1994, p. 59.
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  99. ^ Planquadrat.
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  125. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 70.

Bibliography

Military offices
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Eduard Neumann
 Commander of Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika
22 April 1943 – 29 December 1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Generalmajor Max Ibel
 Commander of 2. Jagd-Division
1 February 1945 – 8 May 1945 		Succeeded by
none
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gustav_Rödel&oldid=1213254781"