Gustav Denk

Gustav Denk
Born	24 January 1915 Soest
Died	13 February 1943(1943-02-13) (aged 28) Chernigov
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–43
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	JG 52
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gustav Denk (24 January 1915 – 13 February 1943) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Denk claimed 67 aerial victories, 1 over the Western Front and 66 over the Eastern Front. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Gustav Denk joined the Luftwaffe at the beginning of the war and participated in the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France, but did not get his first victory until the Battle of Britain. Denk found greater success during the Russian campaign, in 1941 he had 4 victories, in 1942 he had 45 victories and in 1943 he had 17. He was killed 13 February 1943 when he attacked the Russian airfield at Chernigov. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943.

Awards

• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 2 November 1942 as Leutnant and pilot
• German Cross in Gold on 23 December 1942 as Leutnant in the II./Jagdgeschwader 52
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the II./Jagdgeschwader 52

References

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Aces of the Luftwaffe
• Luftwaffe 1939-1945