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Fritz Gromotka

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Fritz Gromotka
Born2 June 1915
Kronschkow
Died2 November 1979(1979-11-02) (aged 64)
Remscheid
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service?–1945
RankLeutnant
UnitJG 27
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Fritz Gromotka (2 June 1915 – 2 November 1979) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Fritz Gromotka was credited with 29 aerial victories, 27 on the Western Front and 2 on the Eastern Front.

Career

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Gromotka was born on 2 June 1915 in Kronschkow, present-day Krążkowy, in the Prussian Province of Posen within the German Empire.[1] In November 1940, he was posted to 6./JG 27, and during the Balkans Campaign of March–April 1941 claimed three victories over Greece, including two RAF Bristol Blenheim bombers of No. 211 Squadron on 13 April 1941. His first claim was Blenheim L8604 piloted by Flying Officer E. V. Thompson. His second claim was Blenheim L4819 piloted by flown by Flying Officer R. V. Herbert, in which Wing Commander Patrick Coote was flying. In both instances, all crew members died.[2]

Unteroffizier Gromotka participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, claiming two DB-3 twin-engine bombers shot down on 25 June 1941 near Wilna. While returning from this mission, he ran out of fuel and forced-landed his Bf 109 E-8 near Minsk. He returned to his unit on 28 June.

Gromotka was posted to North Africa with II./JG 27 in September 1941. He was shot down in combat on 21 May 1942, but was unhurt after crash-landing. By June 1942 he had claimed a further four victories over the Desert Air Force. In July 1942 Gromotka served as instructor at Jagdfliegerschule 4.

He returned to JG 27 in December 1942, with 9. Staffel based in the Mediterranean theatre. From September to December 1943, Gromotka claimed another nine victories. He claimed a USAAF four-engine B-24 bomber on 5 October near Eratini.

In March 1944, III./JG 27 departed the Mediterranean for Reichsverteidigung duties and deployment in June to the Normandy Invasion front. On 2 July, Gromotka was shot down and wounded in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 during aerial combat.[3] Gromotka was commissioned to Leutnant and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes) on 28 January 1945 for 29 victories.

On 1 February 1945, Gromotka was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 27, succeeding Oberleutnant Kurt Heidenreich in this function. He held this position until the end of the war.[4]

Later life

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Gromotka died on 2 November 1979 at the age of 64 in Remscheid, West Germany.[5]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to Obermaier, Gromotka was credited with 29 aerial victories claimed in 438 missions, and included 10 four-engined heavy bombers.[1] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 22 aerial victories, plus seven further unconfirmed claims, achieved in 438 combat missions. This figure includes two aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 20 over the Western Allies, including eight four-engined bombers.[6]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 23 Ost 2951". 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.[7]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  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, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[6]
During the Balkan Campaign — 6 November 1940 – 11 May 1941
1 13 April 1941 16:06 Blenheim southwest of Bitolj-Kenali[8] 3?[Note 1] 14 April 1941
—
 Gladiator[8]
2 13 April 1941 16:09 Blenheim southwest of Bitolj-Kenali[8]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[6]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 19 July 1941
4 25 June 1941 10:45 DB-3 northeast of Vilnius[9] 5 25 June 1941 12:45 DB-3 west-southwest of Vilnius[9]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[6]
In North Africa — 22 September 1941 – 6 December 1942
6 29 November 1941 14:32 Hurricane southwest of El Adem[10] 8?[Note 1] 18 March 1942 08:30 P-40 southeast of Tobruk[11]
7 23 February 1942 13:15 Blenheim west of Sidi Barrani[11] 9?[Note 1] 10 June 1942 07:40 Hurricane Sidi Rezegh[12]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[6]
Mediterranean theater — September – 31 December 1943
10 27 September 1943 11:20 Spitfire 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Kos airfield[13] 15 10 November 1943 13:40 Beaufighter west-southwest of Karpathos[14]
11 27 September 1943 15:17 Spitfire northwest of Kos airfield[13] 16 4 December 1943 08:32 Baltimore east of Kea[15]
12 27 September 1943 16:15 Spitfire north of the Galli island[13] 17 6 December 1943 11:40 B-24 northwest of Eleusis[15]
13 5 October 1943 12:53 B-24 PQ 23 Ost 2951, west of Erateini[14] 18?[Note 1] 6 December 1943
—
 B-24 west of Milos[15]
14 8 October 1943 13:53 B-24 6 km (3.7 mi) north-northwest of Cape Pappas[14]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[6]
Defense of the Reich — 1 March – 6 June 1944
19 19 March 1944 13:50 B-24 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Marburg[16] ?[Note 2] 12 May 1944 12:38 B-17 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Hanau
20 12 April 1944 12:15 B-17 northwest of Wiener Neustadt[16] 22?[Note 1] 12 May 1944 12:38?[Note 3] B-17* 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Hanau[16]
21 12 May 1944 12:30 B-17 30 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Hanau[16] 23 28 May 1944 14:30 B-17 Wittenberg[17]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[6]
In defense of the Normandy Invasion — 6 June – 15 October 1944
24 12 June 1944 14:05 P-47 Paris[17] 26 19 August 1944 08:53 P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/UD 8-9, northwest of Paris[18]
25 17 August 1944 14:48 Typhoon PQ 04 Ost N/AC 1-2, vicinity of Dreux[17]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[6]
Defense of the Reich — November – 31 December 1944
27?[Note 1] 26 November 1944 11:15 P-51 north of Osnabrück[18]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f According to Mathews and Foreman this claim was unconfirmed.[6]
  2. ^ Mathews and Foreman list three claims over Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on 12 May 1944, two confirmed (12:30 and 12:38) and one unconfirmed (~12:50).[6] Prien, Balke, Stemmer and Bock only list two confirmed claims on 12 May 1944.[16]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at approximately 12:50.[6]
  4. ^ According to Obermaier on 19 January 1944.[1]
  5. ^ According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.[23]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 122.
  2. ^ Shores & Cull 2008, p. 243.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2019, p. 328.
  4. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, p. 313.
  5. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 196.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 431.
  7. ^ Planquadrat.
  8. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003a, p. 202.
  9. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 168.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 260.
  11. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 262.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 266.
  13. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2010, p. 261.
  14. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2010, p. 262.
  15. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2010, p. 264.
  16. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2019, p. 323.
  17. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2019, p. 324.
  18. ^ a b Prien et al. 2019, p. 325.
  19. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 195.
  20. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 89.
  21. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 149.
  22. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 170.
  23. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 350.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  • 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.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1995). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III. und IV./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1938 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the III. and IV./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1938 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-30-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis December 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Balke, Ulf; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2019). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/V—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/V—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-21-5.
  • 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.
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Cull, Brian (2008). Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece, and Crete, 1940–41. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-07-6.
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