Helmut Bennemann

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Dr. med. dent.

Helmut Bennemann
Helmut Bennemann.jpg
Helmut Bennemann
Born (1915-03-16)16 March 1915
Wanne-Eickel
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Bad Sassendorf
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Balkenkreuz.svg Luftwaffe
Rank Oberstleutnant
Unit JG 52, JG 53
Commands held I./JG 52, JG 53
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work dentist

Dr. med. dent. Helmut Bennemann[Notes 1] (16 March 1915 – 17 November 2007) was a German Oberstleutnant.

During World War II Bennemann served in the German Luftwaffe claiming 93 aerial victories in over 400 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. His commands included Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 53 fighter wing.

World War II

Helmut Bennemann held the position of Adjutant of I./Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in June 1940. He claimed his first aerial victory on 26 August, when he shot down a Royal Air Force (RAF) Spitfire near Dover. On 15 September, Bennemann claimed three RAF Hurricane shot down to record his sixth through eighth victories. On 27 April 1941, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 3./JG 52. By the time I./JG 52 was transferred to the Eastern Front in September 1941, Bennemann had claimed 12 victories. On 14 June 1942, Bennemann was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of I./JG 52. By the End of 1942 his score stood at 72 victories.

With his score at 88 victories, Benemann was severely wounded by the explosion of an incendiary bomb on 10 May 1943. Convalescence kept him from combat duty for some months.

Bennemann was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) on 9 November 1943, taking over command from Oberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn. On 25 April 1944, he shot down a USAAF B-24 over Bologna to claim his 90th victory. However, his Bf 109G-6 (Werknummer 163 314—factory number) "Black < 3" was hit by defensive fire and Bennemann was again wounded, baling out successfully. In June 1944, Bennemann led the Geschwaderstab of JG 53 on a short return to the Eastern Front, to direct the supply missions for the city of Vilna. The unit departed the Soviet Union for Wunstorf near Hannover in Germany on 22 July. From August 1944, Bennemann led JG 53 on Reichsverteidigung missions, initially from bases in France, then from bases in Germany. He claimed his last three victories in October 1944 to bring his final score to 93. Among his 93 victories are at least 10 Il-2 Sturmoviks claimed over the Eastern Front.

In early 1945 he participated in the "Fighter Pilots Revolt", a minor insurrection among the high-ranking Luftwaffe pilots, whereas they confronted the Reich Marshal and chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring with their demands on the conduct of the air war.

Awards

Notes

  1. In German a Doctor of Medical Dentistry is abbreviated as Dr. med. dent. (Doctor medicinae dentariae).

References

Citations

  1. Obermaier 1989, p. 87.
  2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 35.
  3. Scherzer 2007, p. 214.
  4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 129.

Bibliography

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik As
November 9, 1943 – April 27, 1945
Succeeded by
none