Günther Radusch

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Günther Radusch
Günther Radusch.jpg
Günther Radusch
Nickname(s) "Fips"
Born (1912-11-11)11 November 1912
Schwetz
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Nordstrand
Allegiance  Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch Balkenkreuz.svg Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)
Bundeswehr Kreuz.svg Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr)
Years of service 1934–45
1958−71
Rank Oberst
Unit J/88, ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2, NJG 5
Commands held II./NJG 3, NJG 5
Battles/wars Spanish Civil War
World War II
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 aircraft pilot, the sixth highest-scoring night fighter flying ace in the German Luftwaffe during World War II.[Notes 1] He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Günther Radusch is credited with 65 aerial victories. 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.

Career

Radusch, an enthusiastic 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 Sonderausbildung (special training) at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in Russia.[2] He was sent to Spain as part of the Condor Legion in October 1936 as a Leutnant.[3] He claimed his only aerial victory in the Spanish Civil War on 22 April 1937. Together with fellow pilot Feldwebel 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 (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern).[1]

Awards

Notes

  1. For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces
  2. According to Scherzer as Major and not Oberstleutnant.[8]

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Obermaier 1989, p. 63.
  2. Braatz 2005, pp. 28–51.
  3. Forsyth 2011, p. 25.
  4. Forsyth 2011, p. 58.
  5. Forsyth 2011, p. 33.
  6. Patzwall 2008, p. 166.
  7. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 364.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 610.
  9. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 81.

Bibliography

  • Braatz, Kurt (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow (in German). NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 3-9807935-6-7.
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  • Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8.
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External links

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