Willy Unger
Unger (right)
Born27 March 1920
Warstein, Germany
Died23 June 2005(2005-06-23) (aged 85)
Warstein, Germany
Allegiance Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–1945
RankLeutnant
UnitJG 3
JG 7
Battles/wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Willy Unger (27 March 1920 – 23 June 2005) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.

Career

Willy Unger was born on 27 March 1920 in Warstein. Already as a teenager, he became a skilled glider pilot. In September 1939 he joined the Luftwaffe and was accepted as an aircraft mechanic (Flugzeugmechaniker) in spite of his qualifications as pilot. Only in early 1943 Unger began his training as a fighter pilot, being incorporated into the I./Jagdgeschwader 104 (JG 104—104th Fighter Wing). In December 1943 when he completing his training was promoted to Unteroffizier.

In defense of the Reich

In January 1944, Unger was posted to IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). At the time, the Gruppe was , commanded by Major Franz Beyer.[1] On 26 February, just after the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command finished "Big Week", IV. Gruppe moved from Venlo in the Netherlands to Salzwedel in central Germany. At Salzwedel, the Gruppe was joined by Sturmstaffel 1, headed by Major Hans-Günter von Kornatzki. The Sturmstaffel was an experimental unit flying the so-called Sturmböcke (battering ram) up-gunned Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-7 and A-8 aircraft in Defense of the Reich.[2]

Combat box of a 12-plane B-17 squadron. Three such boxes completed a 36-plane group box.
  1. Lead Element
  2. High Element
  3. Low Element
  4. Low Low Element

On 11 April, Unger claimed his first aerial victories. At the time, he was assigned to 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of JG 3 commanded by Oberleutnant Otto Wessling. That day, the USAAF attacked the German aircraft industry in Oschersleben, Bernburg, Sorau, Cottbus and Arnimswalde, present-day Goleniów, with 917 heavy bombers escorted by 819 fighter aircraft. The Gruppe was scrambled at 10:05 with the order to unite with other Luftwaffe units of the 1. Jagd Division (1st Fighter Division) and 3. Jagd Division (3rd Fighter Division) over the Brocken. Between 10:00 and 10:30, the Luftwaffe fighters intercepted the USAAF bombers between Braunschweig and Halberstadt. During this aerial battle, Unger claimed a bomber shot down. Because the claim was not witnessed, he was not credited with the aerial victory.[3] Following this mission, the Luftwaffe fighters were refueled and rearmed and were scrambled a second time at 12:40. The returning bombers were intercepted south of Rostock. Flying his fourth combat mission of the war, Unger was credited with a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress shot down.[4]

shot down Consolidated B-24 Liberator of the 492d Bombardment Group after the aerial battle at Oschersleben on 7 July 1944

Two days later, the USAAF Eighth Air Force attacked the ball-bearing factories of Schweinfurt, the Messerschmitt factory at Augsburg, the Dornier factory at Oberpfaffenhofen and the Luftwaffe Lechfeld Airfield. IV. Gruppe attacked the third wave of bombers near Aschaffenburg in a frontal attack. During this attack, Unger shot down a B-17 bomber.[5] On 15 April, General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland visited IV. Gruppe at Salzwedel and announced that the Gruppe was to be converted to a Sturmgruppe following the example of Sturmstaffel 1. In consequence, the Sturmgruppe was placed under the command of Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz and 11. Staffel was merged with the experimental Sturmstaffel 1 and renamed to 11. Sturmstaffel and placed under the command of Oberleutnant Werner Gerth after Weßling was killed in action on 19 April.[6] On 18, the USAAF Eighth Air Force headed for industrial targets near Berlin. The USAAF 3rd Bombardment Division was intercepted in the area Rathenow and Nauen. During the course of a 20 minutes aerial battle, Unger claimed two B-17 bombers shot down.[7] The following day, the USAAF Eighth Air Force attacked the German aircraft manufacturing and aircraft engine industry as well as various Luftwaffe airfields in Westphalia and Hesse. IV. Gruppe took off at 09:30 and met up with the other two Gruppen of JG 3 near Göttingen and Kassel. During this mission, Unger shot down a B-17. The USAAF Eighth Air Force sent 803 heavy bombers to attack transportation infrastructure in western Germany, including the marshalling yard at Hamm. IV. Gruppe was scrambled at 18:20 and intercepted the bombers of the 2nd Bombardment Division at 19:40. In this encounter, the four aerial victories. This number includes an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from its combat box which was counted as an aerial victory—over a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber.[8]

On 24 April, the USAAF sent its bombers to the German aircraft industry located in southern Germany. At 13:30, Luftwaffe units intercepted the bombers west of Munich. In this encounter, Unger was credited with an aerial victory over a B-17 bomber.[9] The USAAF Eighth Air Force flew its next daylight mission on 29 April, attacking Berlin with 679 heavy bombers of which 618 reached the target area. IV. Gruppe was scrambled at 10:10 and the bombers were first sighted in the area of Magdeburg. Although the bombers were protected by escorting fighters, IV. Gruppe flew two frontal attacks. The Luftwaffe pilots claimed twelve aerial victories and nine Herausschüsse, including one by Unger, for the loss of five Fw 190 fighters damaged in combat.[10]

On 8 May 1944 he was shot down by defensive fire from one of the B-17s, but managed to make a gear-up landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 at Uelzen.[11] Awarded the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 21 June 1944, Unger hit two B-24 Liberator over the town of Oschersleben on 7 July 1944, claiming his 10th and 11th victories. In total, Luftwaffe pilots claimed the destruction of 60 bombers while actual losses were 28 bombers destroyed and further bombers returned with various levels of combat damage.[12] The authors Prien, Stemmer and Bock state that the consolidated attack flown in close formation by the Sturmgruppe resulted in overclaiming of aerial victories caused by the confusing combat situation. During these attacks, multiple pilots may have simultaneously fired at the same bomber. It was therefore unclear who was responsible for the destruction of the bomber.[13]

On 3 August 1944, he shot down two further B-24s, but his Fw 190 A-8 was hit again, forcing him to abandon his aircraft.[14] In August 1944 Unger vas awarded the German Cross in Gold. On 23 October 1944, when he had accounted for a total of 19 four-engine bombers, the Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel Unger was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes).[15] Unger was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) in December 1944.

Eastern Front and end of war

On 12 January 1945, Soviet forces launched the Vistula–Oder offensive advancing into German-held territory, capturing Kraków, Warsaw and Poznań on the Eastern Front.[16] In consequence, on 21 January, IV. Sturmgruppe was ordered to relocate from Gütersloh Airfield to Märkisch Friedland, present-day Mirosławiec, located approximately 75 kilometers (47 miles) east of Stargard.[17] With this transfer, the Sturmgruppe came under the control of the 1. Flieger-Division (1st Air Division), commanded by Generalmajor Robert Fuchs, and subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps), headed by General der Flieger Martin Fiebig.[18] The following day, Unger was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 14. Sturmstaffel of JG 3, succeedin Oberleutnant Karl-Heinz von den Steinen who was transferred.[19] On 27 January, Märkisch Friedland had to be abandoned and the Sturmgruppe retreated to an airfield 75 kilometers (47 miles) southwest of Stargard. Over the next weeks, the Sturmgruppe predominantly flew fighter-bomber missions in support of German ground forces retreating towards the Oder.[20]

On 19 February, the Sturmgruppe flew ground support missions south of Stargard near the Oder. During this mission, Luftwaffe pilots claimed five aerial victories, including a Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft by Unger.[21] On 15 March, the Sturmgruppe flew multiple combat missions to combat area near Stettin. During these missions, Unger shot down two Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers.[22] On 2 April, Unger left for Brandenburg-Briest when he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7 "Nowotny" (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) operating the revolutionary Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter without claiming further aerial victories. He was succeeded by Leutnant Herbert Bareuther as commander of 14. Sturmstaffel of JG 3.[23]

Unger died on 23 June 2005 in the town of Warstein, at 85 years of age.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Forsyth, Unger was credited with 24 aerial victories, including 21 heavy bombers.[24] Obermaier lists Unger with 22 aerial victories, including 19 heavy bombers and three on the Eastern Front, claimed in 59 combat missions.[25] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 21 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes three aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 18 Western Allies heavy bombers.[26]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 15 Ost S/UE-3". 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.[27]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Unger did not receive credit.
  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.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[28]
Defense of the Reich — April – May 1944
1 11 April 1944 13:27 B-17[29] PQ 15 Ost S/UE-3, Warnemünde[30] 5 19 April 1944 10:47 B-17[31] PQ 05 Ost S/LU - 15 Ost S/LA[30]
vicinity of Kassel
—
 11 April 1944?[Note 1]
—
 B-17 6?[Note 2] 22 April 1944
—
 B-24*[31] PQ 05 Ost S/NQ - OQ[30]
southwest of Siegen
2 13 April 1944 14:05 B-17[29] PQ 05 Ost S/QU[30]
northwest of Würzburg 		7 24 April 1944 13:35 B-17*[31] PQ 04 Ost S/CE, northeast of Munich[30]
3 18 April 1944 14:32 B-17[31] northwest of Nauen[30] 8?[Note 2] 29 April 1944 13:20 B-17*[31]?[Note 3]
4 18 April 1944 14:38 B-17[31] PQ 15 Ost S/EF-7[30]
north-northwest of Friesack 		9 8 May 1944 10:07 B-24[31] PQ 15 Ost S/FA-1[30]
north of Braunschweig
– 12. Sturmstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[32]
Defense of the Reich — July – 10 August 1944
10 7 July 1944 09:42 B-24[33] PQ 15 Ost S/HC, Oschersleben[30] 13 29 July 1944 10:30 B-17[34] PQ 15 Ost S/ME[35]
Zeitz-Groitzsch
11 7 July 1944 09:43 B-24[33] PQ 15 Ost S/HC, Oschersleben[30] 14 3 August 1944 11:40 B-24[34] PQ 04 Ost S/GB-3/6[35]
Füssen
12 18 July 1944 10:50 B-17[33] 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Memmingen[30] 15 3 August 1944 11:41 B-24[34] PQ 04 Ost S/FB-GB-3/6[35]
Füssen
– 15. Sturmstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[32]
Defense of the Reich — 10 August 1944 – 22 January 1945
16 29 August 1944 10:46 B-17[36] PQ 15 Ost S/UQ-UR[37]
Brünn 		19 12 September 1944 11:45 B-17[36] PQ 15 Ost S/DG-EG-DH-EH[37]
north of Berlin
17 29 August 1944 10:47 B-17[36] PQ 15 Ost S/UQ-UR[37]
Brünn 		20 7 October 1944 12:06 B-17[36] PQ 15 Ost S/LC-MD[37]
northeast of Kölleda
18 11 September 1944 12:02 B-17[36] PQ 15 Ost S/LC-KD[37]
Hettstedt
– 14. Sturmstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[38]
Defense of the Reich in the East — 22 January – 2 April 1945
21 19 February 1945 13:18 P-39[39] 7 km (4.3 mi) southeast of Stargard 23 15 March 1945 13:58 Pe-2[39] vicinity of Greifenberg
22 15 March 1945 13:55 Pe-2[39] vicinity of Greifenberg

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 9 April 1944.[28]
  2. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman this Herausschuss was unconfirmed.[28]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator.[28]
  4. ^ According to Scherzer in the 15.(Sturm)/Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[43]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Prien 1996, p. 330.
  2. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 77–78.
  3. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 95–97, 331.
  4. ^ Prien 1996, p. 99.
  5. ^ Prien 1996, p. 100.
  6. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 100–101, 331.
  7. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 102, 104.
  8. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 107, 356.
  9. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 109, 111.
  10. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 111–113.
  11. ^ Prien 1996, p. 339.
  12. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 367.
  13. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 368.
  14. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, pp. 381, 390.
  15. ^ Prien 1996, p. 248.
  16. ^ Prien 1996, p. 287.
  17. ^ Prien 1996, p. 289.
  18. ^ Prien 1996, p. 291.
  19. ^ Prien 1996, p. 331.
  20. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 290–291.
  21. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 297, 362.
  22. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 307, 362.
  23. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 312, 331.
  24. ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 90.
  25. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 217.
  26. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1346–1347.
  27. ^ Planquadrat.
  28. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1346.
  29. ^ a b Prien 1996, p. 355.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 380.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g Prien 1996, p. 356.
  32. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1347.
  33. ^ a b c Prien 1996, p. 358.
  34. ^ a b c Prien 1996, p. 359.
  35. ^ a b c Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 381.
  36. ^ a b c d e Prien 1996, p. 360.
  37. ^ a b c d e Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 382.
  38. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1058.
  39. ^ a b c Prien 1996, p. 362.
  40. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 161.
  41. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 483.
  42. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 428.
  43. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 754.

Bibliography

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2011). Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942–45. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 101. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-438-3.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen (1996). IV./Jagdgeschwader 3—Chronik einer Jagdgruppe—1943 – 1945 [IV./Jagdgeschwader 3—Chronic of a Fighter Group—1943 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-36-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2018). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/IV—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/IV—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-19-2.
  • 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.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.

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