Günther Radusch

Günther Radusch
Günther Radusch
Born	11 November 1912; Schwetz
Died	29 July 1988 (aged 75); Nordstrand
Allegiance	Nazi Germany; West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe ; German Air Force
Years of service	1934–45; 1958–71
Rank	Oberst
Unit	J/88, ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2, NJG 5
Commands held	NJG 5
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Defense of the Reich;
Awards	Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Günther Radusch (11 November 1912 – 29 July 1988) was a German pilot in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Radusch is credited with 65 aerial victories.

Biography

Radusch, an glider pilot as a student, joined the military service of the Heer before transferring to the Luftwaffe.^[1] Radusch and nine others, among them Günther Lützow, Wolfgang Falck and Hannes Trautloft, were recommended for training at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in the Soviet Russia.^[2] He was sent to Spain as part of the Condor Legion in October 1936.^[3] He claimed his only aerial victory in the Spanish Civil War on 22 April 1937. Together with fellow pilot Franz Heilmayer of 2./Jagdgruppe 88 they each claimed one Polikarpov I-15 shot down, one of which was flown by Felipe del Río Crespo, a seven victory flying ace.^[4] Radusch also tested the Heinkel He 112 5-1 under combat conditions in Spain.^[5] For his services in Spain he received the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords.^[1] He claimed one victory during the Spanish Civil War, the remaining 64 victories were all claimed at night in over 140 combat missions, including the destruction of 57 four-engine bombers.

He became the 444th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 6 April 1944 after 58 nocturnal aerial victories.^[6] The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Hitler's residence in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, on 5 May 1944.^[7]

Aerial victory claims

Radusch was credited with 65 aerial victories claimed in over 140 combat missions. He claimed one victory during the Spanish Civil War, the remaining 64 victories were all claimed at night and includes the destruction of 57 four-engine bombers.

Chronicle of aerial victories
Victory (total)	Victory (nocturnal)	Date	Time	Type	Location	Serial No./Squadron No.
– 2./Jagdgruppe 88 –
1		22 April 1937	—	I-15	Spain
– Stab I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –
2	1	10 April 1941	03:00	Wellington^[8]	2 km (1.2 mi) southwest Papenburg
– Stab II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –
3	2	27 February 1942	00:55	Wellington^[9]	west Westerland
4	3	26 April 1942	02:08	Stirling^[10]	south Scheldt Estuary
5	4	28 April 1942	01:05	Stirling^[11]	Rømø
6	5	29 April 1942	02:18	Wellington^[11]
7	6	17 August 1942	02:42	Halifax^[12]	Sønderborg
8	7	17 August 1942	02:52	Halifax^[12]
9	8	22 September 1942	01:01	Wellington^[13]	18 km (11 mi) west Blidsel
10	9	2 October 1942	01:04	Stirling^[13]
11	10	2 October 1942	01:22	Stirling^[13]
12	11	17 December 1942	19:53	Lancaster^[14]	southeast Ribe
13	12	8 January 1943	20:00	Lancaster^[15]	west Sylt
14	13	17 January 1943	22:14	Lancaster^[16]	5 km (3.1 mi) west Eiderstedt
15	14	21 April 1943	03:07	Stirling^[17]	in sea
16	15	21 April 1943	03:32	Stirling^[17]	in sea
17	16	15 June 1943	01:15	Lancaster^[18]	10 km (6.2 mi) south Venlo
18	17	15 June 1943	01:20	Lancaster^[18]	20 km (12 mi) west-southwest Venlo
– 3./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –
19	18	17 June 1943	01:45	Lancaster^[19]	northeast Neerpelt
20	19	22 June 1943	01:34	Halifax^[19]	16 km (9.9 mi) north-northwest Venlo
– Stab I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –
21	20	25 June 1943	00:57	Wellington^[20]	Wellen
22	21	25 June 1943	01:15	Wellington^[20]	Jasmund
23	22	25 June 1943	01:24	Lancaster^[20]	northwest Venlo
24	23	26 June 1943	01:58	Halifax^[21]	20 km (12 mi) south Nijmegen
25	24	29 June 1943	02:15	Halifax^[22]	Waalre
26	25	29 June 1943	02:24	Halifax^[22]	7 km (4.3 mi) south Eindhoven
27	26	29 June 1943	02:34	Halifax^[22]	5 km (3.1 mi) north Helmond
28	27	29 June 1943	02:56	Lancaster^[22]	5 km (3.1 mi) northwest Eindhoven
– Stab II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –
29	28	28 July 1943	00:26	Lancaster^[23]	south Vollerwiek
30	29	28 July 1943	00:43	Lancaster^[23]	Wöhrden
31	30	30 July 1943	00:25	Lancaster	1 km (0.62 mi) north Hemminger
32	31	3 August 1943	01:22	Lancaster^[24]	40 km (25 mi) east-southeast Helgoland
33	32	3 August 1943	02:14	Halifax^[24]	20 km (12 mi) north-northwest Helgoland
– Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 –
34	33	18 August 1943	01:46	four-engined bomber^[25]	Peenemünde
35	34	18 August 1943	01:55	four-engined bomber^[26]	Peenemünde
36	35	18 August 1943	02:00	four-engined bomber^[26]	Peenemünde
– Stab II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 –
37	36	22 September 1943	01:01	Wellington^[27]
– Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 –
38	37	27 September 1943	23:24	Lancaster^[28]	southwest Hanover
39	38	9 October 1943	01:51	Lancaster^[29]	20 km (12 mi) west Hanover
40	39	22 October 1943	20:57	Halifax^[30]	5–10 km (3.1–6.2 mi) west-northwest Kassel
41	40	22 October 1943	21:04	Halifax^[30]	10 km (6.2 mi) northeast Kassel
42	41	22 October 1943	22:13	Lancaster^[30]	20 km (12 mi) north Kassel
43	42	14 January 1944	19:29	Lancaster^[31]
44	43	20 January 1944	19:30	Lancaster^[32]
45	44	20 January 1944	19:39	Lancaster^[33]
46	45	21 January 1944	23:15	Halifax^[34]
47	46	29 January 1944	03:12	Halifax^[35]
48	47	30 January 1944	20:24	Lancaster^[36]
49	48	30 January 1944	20:27	Lancaster^[36]
50	49	30 January 1944	20:30	Lancaster^[36]
– Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
51	50	20 February 1944	05:39	four-engined bomber^[37]	KH-9
52	51	25 February 1944	24:00	Halifax^[38]	Schnee-Eifel
53	52	26 February 1944	00:30	Halifax^[38]	south Rottweil
54	53	31 March 1944	00:36	four-engined bomber^[39]	Adenau
55	54	31 March 1944	00:41	Lancaster^[39]	southwest Koblenz
– 8./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
56	55	22 May 1944	01:44	four-engined bomber^[40]	LK-LL-KL-KK
57	56	22 May 1944	01:56	four-engined bomber^[40]	LK-LI-KI-KK
58	57	22 May 1944	02:00	four-engined bomber^[40]	IK-KK-KI-II
– Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
59	58	28 May 1944	02:07	four-engined bomber^[41]	Meerle
60	59	13 June 1944	01:48	four-engined bomber^[42]	Amiens
61	60	29 June 1944	00:37	Halifax^[43]	Compiègne
62	61	29 June 1944	00:44	Halifax^[43]	Soissons
63	62	1 July 1944	01:12	four-engined bomber^[44]	Saint-Leu-d'Esserent
64	63	1 July 1944	01:14	four-engined bomber^[44]	Saint-Leu-d'Esserent
65	64	8 July 1944	01:05	Lancaster^[45]	TB-89

Awards

Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords^[1]
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 19 October 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur^[46]
German Cross in Gold on 13 February 1943 as Major in the II./NJG 3^[47]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 29 August 1943 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./NJG 3^[48]^[49]
- 444th Oak Leaves on 6 April 1944 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 5 on 6 April 1944 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 5^[50]^{[Note 1]}

Notes

↑ According to Scherzer as Major and not Oberstleutnant.^[48]

References

Citations

1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 63.
↑ Braatz 2005, pp. 28–51.
↑ Forsyth 2011, p. 25.
↑ Forsyth 2011, p. 58.
↑ Forsyth 2011, p. 33.
↑ Stockert 2007, p. 94.
↑ Stockert 2007, p. 107.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 18.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 35.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 38.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 39.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 55.
1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 60.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 62.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 64.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 65.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 76.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 86.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 87.
1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 89.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 90.
1 2 3 4 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 91.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 98.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 100.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 103.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 104.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 114.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 117.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 121.
1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 124.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 140.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 141.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 142.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 143.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 144.
1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 146.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 150.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 152.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 161.
1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 178.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 180.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 187.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 194.
1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 195.
↑ Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 198.
↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 166.
↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 364.
1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 610.
↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 348.
↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 81.

Bibliography

Braatz, Kurt (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow [God or an Airplane – Life and Death of Fighter Pilot Günther Lützow] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-6-8.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
Foreman, John; Matthews, Johannes; Parry, Simon (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.
Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8.
Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Stockert, Peter (2007). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 5 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945] (in German). V. Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.

Military offices
Preceded by Major Fritz Schäffer	Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 2 August 1943 – 3 February 1944	Succeeded by Major Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld
Preceded by Major Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein	Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 4 February 1944 – 8 February 1945	Succeeded by Major Paul Semrau

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[51] According to Scherzer as Major and not Oberstleutnant.^[48]

[FOOTNOTEObermaier198963-1] 1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 63.

[FOOTNOTEBraatz200528–51-2] Braatz 2005, pp. 28–51.

[FOOTNOTEForsyth201125-3] Forsyth 2011, p. 25.

[FOOTNOTEForsyth201158-4] Forsyth 2011, p. 58.

[FOOTNOTEForsyth201133-5] Forsyth 2011, p. 33.

[FOOTNOTEStockert200794-6] Stockert 2007, p. 94.

[FOOTNOTEStockert2007107-7] Stockert 2007, p. 107.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200418-8] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 18.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200435-9] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 35.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200438-10] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 38.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200439-11] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 39.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200455-12] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 55.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200460-13] 1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 60.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200462-14] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 62.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200464-15] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 64.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200465-16] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 65.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200476-17] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 76.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200486-18] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 86.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200487-19] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 87.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200489-20] 1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 89.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200490-21] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 90.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200491-22] 1 2 3 4 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 91.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry200498-23] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 98.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004100-24] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 100.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004103-25] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 103.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004104-26] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 104.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004114-27] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 114.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004117-28] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 117.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004121-29] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 121.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004124-30] 1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 124.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004140-31] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 140.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004141-32] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 141.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004142-33] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 142.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004143-34] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 143.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004144-35] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 144.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004146-36] 1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 146.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004150-37] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 150.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004152-38] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 152.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004161-39] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 161.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004178-40] 1 2 3 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 178.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004180-41] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 180.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004187-42] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 187.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004194-43] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 194.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004195-44] 1 2 Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 195.

[FOOTNOTEForemanMatthewsParry2004198-45] Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 198.

[FOOTNOTEPatzwall2008166-46] Patzwall 2008, p. 166.

[FOOTNOTEPatzwallScherzer2001364-47] Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 364.

[FOOTNOTEScherzer2007610-48] 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 610.

[FOOTNOTEFellgiebel2000348-49] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 348.

[FOOTNOTEFellgiebel200081-50] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 81.

German World War II night fighter flying aces with 40+ aerial claims
100+	Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (121) Helmut Lent (102)
80–99	Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (83)
60–79	Werner Streib (67) Manfred Meurer (65) Günther Radusch (64) Rudolf Schoenert (64) Heinz Rökker (63)
50–59	Paul Zorner (59) Martin Becker (58) Gerhard Raht (58) Wilhelm Herget (57) Kurt Welter (56) Gustav Francsi (56) Josef Kraft (56) Heinz Strüning (56) Hans-Dieter Frank (55) Heinz Vinke (54) August Geiger (53) Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld (51) Werner Hoffmann (50)
40–49	Reinhard Kollak (49) Hermann Greiner (47) Herbert Lütje (47) Johannes Hager (47) Paul Gildner (46) Hans-Heinz Augenstein (46) Ludwig Becker (46) Paul Semrau (46) Ernst-Georg Drünkler (45) Rudolf Frank (45) Alois Lechner (45) Reinhold Knacke (44) Walter Borchers (43) Martin Drewes (43) Dietrich Schmidt (43) Werner Baake (41)
Only nocturnal victories List of German World War II night fighter aces List of top World War II aces

Günther Radusch

Born	(1912-11-11)11 November 1912 Schwetz
Died	29 July 1988(1988-07-29) (aged 75) Nordstrand
Allegiance	Nazi Germany West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe German Air Force
Years of service	1934–45 1958–71
Rank	Oberst
Unit	J/88, ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2, NJG 5
Commands held	NJG 5
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Defense of the Reich
Awards	Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves