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Kurt Brändle

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Kurt Brändle
Brändle as a Hauptmann
Born(1912-01-19)19 January 1912
Ludwigsburg, Duchy of Baden, German Empire
Died3 November 1943(1943-11-03) (aged 31)
North Sea, off Amsterdam, German-occupied Netherlands
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery, Netherlands
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1935–1943
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 134, JG 53, JG 3
Commands5./JG 3, II./JG 3
Battles / wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Kurt-Werner Brändle (19 January 1912 – 3 November 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 180 enemy aircraft shot down in over 700 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, with 25 claims over the Western Front.[Note 1] He was "ace-in-a-day" three times, shooting down five or more aircraft on a single day.

Born in Ludwigsburg, Brändle, who already was a civilian motor-powered aircraft and glider pilot, volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazy Germany in 1935. He was posted to Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) in 1939 and claimed 14 aerial victories on the Western Front. In May 1942 he was given command of II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). Fighting on the Eastern Front, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 July 1942 after 49 aerial victories. In July and August 1942, he claimed a further 50 aerial victories in the southern sector of the Eastern Front. After claiming his 100th aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 27 August 1942.

On 5 July 1943 during the Battle of Kursk, Brändle achieved his 150th aerial victory and in August 1943 was transferred to the Western Front fighting in Defense of the Reich. There Brändle was killed in action on 3 November 1943 west of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. His body was washed ashore near Zandvoort on 30 December 1943.

Early life and career

[edit]

Brändle was born on 19 January 1912 in Ludwigsburg in the Kingdom of Württemberg, a federated state of the German Empire. His father was a Meister, a master craftsman, in the field of precision mechanics. Following school, Brändle learned the trade of a surgical instrument maker and worked in his father's firm.[4]

Since his early youth he was very enthusiastic about flying and volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of the Third Reich on 10 December 1935. There he participated in a number of exercises and was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) of the Reserves on 1 December 1936. In his civilian life, Brändle attained a pilot license and worked as a flight instructor. As an instructor, he trained roughly 150 students and logged more than 6,000 starts and 8,000 flight hours before he became a military aviator. In addition to his passion for motor power flight, he also was a glider pilot.[4]

In early 1937 Brändle passed his Meister examination in aircraft construction and in the same year was trained as a fighter pilot with Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing), named after the martyr of the Nazi movement Horst Wessel.[Note 2] As of 1 February 1939, Brändle served with Flieger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 22 (22nd Flight Training Regiment) in Güstrow. There, he transferred from the reserve force to active service and was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 June 1939. He was then transferred to the 4. Staffel (4th Squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing).[5]

World War II

[edit]

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Brändle received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) on 20 April 1940.[Note 3] He claimed his first aerial victory on 10 May 1940 during the Battle of France, shooting down an Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 south of Sedan.[5] In total Brändle claimed two victories over France before he was wounded on 26 May 1940.[2] During takeoff on a maintenance test flight he crashed into a Dornier Do 17 injuring himself in the head. He spent the next few weeks in the military hospital at Heidelberg.[5][7]

A Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1's of JG 53, similar to those flown by Brändle

After recovering from the hospital, Brändle claimed his second victory during the Battle of Britain over the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 11 August 1940. On 26 August 1940, he was tasked with the leadership of 5. Staffel (5th Squadron) of JG 53. Following his fourth aerial victory, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) on 3 September 1940. He was officially appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel on 15 September 1940. On 11 November 1940, he claimed his 6th and 7th aerial victories and was awarded the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots (Frontflugspange für Jagdflieger) in Silver on 5 May 1941 and in Gold on 7 June 1941.[5]

The bulk of the Geschwader's air elements were moved via Jever, in northern Germany, to Mannheim-Sandhofen on 8 June 1941. There the aircraft were given a maintenance overhaul prior to moving east. The II. Gruppe was transferred to Neusiedel in East Prussia, present-day Malomožaiskojė in Kaliningrad Oblast in Russia, between 12–14 June.[8] On 22 June the Geschwader crossed into Soviet airspace in support of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union which opened the Eastern Front. There, Brändle claimed further victories and by the end of October 1941 was credited with 28 aerial victories.[5]

Brändle's unit was then relocated to the Western Front again in October 1941 where it was based at Leeuwarden in the Netherlands before it was moved to the Mediterranean theater in December 1941. Based at Comiso airfield, Brändle flew combat missions against the RAF during the siege of Malta. There he was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 25 February 1942 and four days later, on 1 March, he was promoted to Hauptmann (captain).[2][5]

Group commander

[edit]

On 1 May 1942, Brändle was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), named after the World War I fighter ace Ernst Udet. Its former Gruppenkommandeur, Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Krahl, had been killed in action over Malta on 14 April 1942.[9] At the time, the Gruppe was stationed at Plzeň for rest and refit before it was relocated to the Eastern Front on 18 May 1942. Too late to participate in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula, it was located on the left wing of Army Group South, assigned to an airfield at Chuguyev in the Kharkov area where they arrived on 19 May. Brändle scored the Gruppe's first victory after the relocation, claiming a Polikarpov R-5 reconnaissance bomber aircraft at 3:49 am on 20 May 1942.[10] By this date, Brändle had accumulated 36 victories.[11] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 1 July 1942 for 49 aerial victories. On this day, he claimed his 53rd aerial victory, after he shot down an Ilyushin Il-2 "Sturmovik".[5]

Brändle often claimed multiple victories per day, three victories on 8 July 1942 took his tally to 58 and further three claims made on 10 July took his score to 61. On 16 July 1942 he filed four claims, numbers 64–67. He became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 26 July 1942 when he shot down five enemy aircraft, aerial victories 73–77, and again five on 7 August 1942, 89 in total.[5]

In July and August 1942, he claimed 50 aerial victories in the southern sector of the Eastern Front, among them his 100th to 102nd victory on 23 August 1942. He was the 17th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[12] For this achievement he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 27 August 1942, the 114th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler personally.[5]

Brändle was promoted to Major on 1 March 1943.[5] On 29 April 1943, he claimed his 135th to 138th aerial victories. On 5 July 1943, the first day of the Battle of Kursk (Unternehmen Zitadelle), he claimed five victories taking his total to 151. His II. Gruppe claimed 77 aircraft shot down on 12 July which included its 2,000 aerial victory of the war.[13]

Defense of the Reich and death

[edit]

In early August 1943, Brändle's II. Gruppe was withdrawn from the Eastern Front for service in Defense of the Reich on the Western Front. The Gruppe spent one-month training in northern Germany before they arrived at the Schiphol airfield near Amsterdam in the Netherlands on 12 September.[14] While based at Uetersen Airfield, the Gruppe received the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 which was equipped with Y-Control for fighters, a system used to control groups of fighters intercepting United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bomber formations.[15]

German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn – Kurt Brändle

On 3 November 1943, Brändle shot down two Republic P-47 Thunderbolts fighters escorting a formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on a mission targeting Wilhelmshaven. Later that day, he was killed in action west of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Following an attack by a group of Martin B-26 Marauders on Schiphol airfield, II. Gruppe scrambled to counter the attack.[16] It is assumed that he was shot down in his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 26058—factory number) by Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighters under the command of Wing Commander Lloyd Chadburn.[2][17] His body was later washed ashore near Zandvoort on 30 December 1943 and was buried at the Heroes Cemetery in Amsterdam (field 74, grave 405) one day later. His remains were moved in January 1944 before they were reinterred for a last time on 2 December 1947, this time at the cemetery Ysselsteyn (block CW, row 1, grave 25).[13]

Summary of career

[edit]

Aerial victory claims

[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Brändle was credited with 180 aerial victories.[18] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 170 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims. This number includes 16 aerial victory claims on the Western Front, and 154 Soviet Air Forces piloted aircraft on the Eastern Front.[19]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 18274". 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.[20]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Brändle an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.
  This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[21]
1 1 13 May 1940 12:05 M.S.406 south of Sedan[22] 3 3 16 August 1940 18:15 Spitfire west-southwest of Isle of Wight[23]
2 2?[Note 4] 11 August 1940 11:45 Spitfire west of Portland[23] 4 4 11 September 1940 17:40 Spitfire[24]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[21]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 21 June 1941
5 5 26 September 1940 17:38 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Isle of Wight[24] 7 7 11 November 1940 13:15 Spitfire[25]
6 6 11 November 1940 13:07 Spitfire[25]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[26]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
8 8 22 June 1941 18:03 SB-3 north of Tauroggen[27] 19 18 26 July 1941 11:26 SB-3[28]
9 9 1 July 1941 19:50 SB-3[27] 20 19 30 August 1941 18:07 R-5[29]
10 10 6 July 1941 19:46 SB-3[28] 21 20 11 September 1941 14:22 I-16[29]
11 11 6 July 1941 19:51 SB-3[28] 22 21 16 September 1941 06:47 I-16[30]
12 7 July 1941 03:57 I-153[28] 23 22 17 September 1941 11:38 I-18 (MiG-1)[30]
13 12 9 July 1941 05:01 Li-6[28] 24 23 21 September 1941 10:38 I-18 (MiG-1)[30]
14 13 12 July 1941 19:51 SB-3[28] 25 24 22 September 1941 15:51 I-18 (MiG-1)[30]
15 14 15 July 1941 19:14 DB-3[28] 26 25 22 September 1941 15:53 I-18 (MiG-1)[30]
16 15 24 July 1941 18:26 I-153[28] 27 26 27 September 1941 16:39 I-18 (MiG-1)[30]
17 16 25 July 1941 20:21 Pe-2[28] 28 27 3 October 1941 10:00 I-18 (MiG-1)[31]
18 17 26 July 1941 11:23 SB-2[28] 29 28 4 October 1941 12:09 Pe-2[31]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[32]
Mediterranean Theater — 15 December 1941 – 31 December 1942
30 29 24 December 1941 13:08 Hurricane[33] 34 33 24 March 1942 15:08 Spitfire[34]
31 30 4 January 1942 10:28 Hurricane[33] 35 34 21 April 1942 12:37 Spitfire[35]
32 31 19 January 1942 13:54 Hurricane[33] 36 35 21 April 1942 17:39 Spitfire 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Bubaqra[35]
33 32 15 February 1942 10:14 Hurricane[34]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –[36]
Eastern Front — 29 April 1942 – 31 December 1943
37 36 20 May 1942 03:49 R-5[37] 104 103 15 September 1942 09:44 Il-2 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Zubtsov[38]
38 37 23 May 1942 07:26 I-61 (MiG-3)[37] 105 104 21 September 1942 11:06 Pe-2 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Rzhev[38]
39 38 23 May 1942 12:17 I-61 (MiG-3)[37] 106 105 21 September 1942 11:07 MiG-1 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Rzhev[38]
40 39 26 May 1942 08:57 MiG-1[37] 107 106 29 September 1942 08:59 LaGG-3 PQ 18274, southeast of Staraya Russa[38]
41 40 26 May 1942 17:10 MiG-1 east of Savyntsi[37] 108 107 29 September 1942 09:08 I-16 PQ 18252, east-southeast of Staraya Russa[38]
42 41 26 May 1942 17:20 MiG-1 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Savyntsi[37] 109 108 7 November 1942 12:29 LaGG-3 PQ 17862[39]
43 42 29 May 1942 15:49 Pe-2[37] 110 109 10 November 1942 12:27 LaGG-3 24 km (15 mi) southwest of Zapadnaya[39]
44 43 2 June 1942 13:14 MiG-1[37] 111 110 11 November 1942 14:17 La-5 PQ 27731[39]
45 44 2 June 1942 13:23 MiG-1[37] 112 111 17 December 1942 10:55 Il-2?[Note 5] PQ 29452[41]
46 45 10 June 1942 17:32 LaGG-3 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Buganjewka[37] 113 112 17 December 1942 13:10 Yak-1 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Abganerowo[41]
47 46 11 June 1942 06:35 Il-2[37] 114 113 17 December 1942 13:17 Il-2 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of Petrapawlowskoje[41]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Shutow
48 47 11 June 1942 06:42 Il-2[37] 115 114 17 December 1942 13:23 Il-2 PQ 39670[41]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Shutow
49 48 12 June 1942 10:54 Su-2 (Seversky)[37] 116 115 17 December 1942 13:30 Il-2 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Nestarkin[41]
50 49 13 June 1942 10:18 Il-2[37] 117 116 27 December 1942 11:55 MiG-1 PQ 29394[41]
51 50 24 June 1942 11:38 LaGG-3 south of Wilschana[42] 118 117 27 December 1942 12:05 Il-2 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Nestarkin[41]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Obliwskaja
52 51 29 June 1942 18:42 Pe-2[42] 119 118 31 December 1942 07:06 Il-2 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Michailowka[41]
53 52 30 June 1942 11:38 LaGG-3[43] 120 119 31 December 1942 07:30 Il-2 PQ 19431[41]
54 53 1 July 1942 16:17 Il-2 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Alissowo[43]
Gorscheschnoje 		121 120 3 January 1943 07:52 Il-2 PQ 09391[41]
55 54 3 July 1942 15:10 Il-2[43] 122 121 26 January 1943 11:47 MiG-1?[Note 6] PQ 09562[44]
56 55 4 July 1942 16:58 LaGG-3[43] 123 122 28 January 1943 09:25 Yak-4 PQ 09713[44]
57 56 8 July 1942 19:24 Pe-2[45] 124 123 1 February 1943 11:05 MiG-1 PQ 99461[44]
40 km (25 mi) east-northeast of Voroshilovgrad
58 57 8 July 1942 19:27 Pe-2[45] 125 124 1 February 1943 11:15 Yak-1 PQ 09513, west of Klimovo[44]
59 58 8 July 1942 19:32 Pe-2[45] 126 125 1 February 1943 11:22 Yak-4 PQ 99861[44]
40 km (25 mi) east of Ravenki
60 59 10 July 1942 09:30 Pe-2[45] 127 126 2 February 1943 09:21 Il-2 PQ 99614[44]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Voroshilovgrad
61 60 10 July 1942 09:50 MiG-1[46] 128 127 2 February 1943 09:23 Il-2 PQ 99623[44]
35 km (22 mi) southeast of Voroshilovgrad
62 61 10 July 1942 09:52 MiG-1[46] 129 128 2 February 1943 09:25 Il-2 PQ 99642[44]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Voroshilovgrad
63 62 11 July 1942 08:55 R-5[46] 130 129 10 February 1943 09:10 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 99452, east of Voroshilovgrad[47]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Voroshilovgrad
64 63 13 July 1942 09:07 MiG-3[46] 131 130 20 April 1943 11:56 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75423, Novorossiysk[48]
Kabardinka area
65 64 16 July 1942 11:45 LaGG-3[46] 132 131 20 April 1943 11:58 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75464, southeast of Novorossiysk[48]
Kabardinka area
66 65 16 July 1942 17:17 Pe-2[46] 133 22 April 1943 17:30 P-39[48]
67 66 16 July 1942 17:20 Pe-2[46] 134 132 23 April 1943 09:45 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85328, east of Novorossiysk[48]
Krassnyj area
68 67 16 July 1942 17:23 Pe-2[46] 135 133 23 April 1943 17:12 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75433, south of Novorossiysk[48]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Kabardinka
69 68 20 July 1942 15:44 Il-2[46] 136 134 29 April 1943 07:47 Yak-4 PQ 34 Ost 85154, 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Abinskaja[49]
Abinskaja-Achtyrskaja
70 69 21 July 1942 09:05 Il-2 Konstantinowskoje[46] 137 135 29 April 1943 07:56 Yak-4 PQ 34 Ost 85181, southwest of Achtyrskaja[49]
south of Achtyrskaja
71 70 23 July 1942 13:01 Il-2[50] 138 136 29 April 1943 07:57 Yak-4 PQ 34 Ost 85181, southwest of Achtyrskaja[49]
south of Achtyrskaja
72 71 23 July 1942 13:03 Il-2[50] 139 137 7 May 1943 16:26 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 86774, south of Troizkaja[51]
Kijewskoje
73 72 24 July 1942 11:41 Yak-1[50] 140 138 8 May 1943 11:31 I-153 PQ 34 Ost 75262, south of Krymskaja[51]
Krymsk area
74♠ 73 26 July 1942 12:04 Il-2 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Kalach[50] 141 139 8 May 1943 11:33 I-153 PQ 34 Ost 85114, west of Mertschanskaja[51]
Mertschskaja area
75♠ 74 26 July 1942 12:09 MiG-1 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Kalach[50] 142 140 8 May 1943 15:23 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85123, southwest of Mingrelskaja[51]
Sswobodnyj area
76♠ 75 26 July 1942 16:05 Pe-2[50] 143 141 11 May 1943 11:56 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85144, southeast of Krymskaja[51]
west of Abinsk
77♠ 76 26 July 1942 16:07 Pe-2[50] 144 142 31 May 1943 06:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 71794, south of Bolshoj Burluk[52]
25 km (16 mi) south of Novy Oskol
78♠ 77 26 July 1942 16:11 Yak-1[50] 145 143 19 June 1943 08:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 62813, west of Prilepy[53]
20 km (12 mi) east of Oboyan
79 78 27 July 1942 09:11 LaGG-3 Kalach[50] 146 144 20 June 1943 09:57 Boston PQ 35 Ost 70161, near train station Shipowatoje[53]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Valuyki
80 79 27 July 1942 09:12 LaGG-3 Kalach[50] 147♠ 145 5 July 1943 03:50 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60122, north of Kharkov-Roganj[54]
Kharkov area
81 80 3 August 1942 14:55 Yak-1 south of Peskowatka[55] 148♠ 146 5 July 1943 03:57 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60284, Malinovka[54]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Malinovka
82 81 5 August 1942 07:12 Yak-1 northwest of Dubowy Ostrog[55] 149♠ 147 5 July 1943 04:07 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 6046, west of Petschenegi[54]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Malinovka
83 82 6 August 1942 11:25 Pe-2?[Note 7] northeast of Aksay[55] 150♠ 148 5 July 1943 10:22 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61172, northwest of Belgorod[54]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Kharkov
84 83 6 August 1942 11:26 Pe-2?[Note 7] southeast of Iwanowka[56] 151♠ 149 5 July 1943 10:24 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61244, 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Lutschky[54]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Prokhorovka
85 84 6 August 1942 11:35 Pe-2?[Note 7] east of Tschapurniki[56] 152 150 6 July 1943 14:04 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61112, west of Werchopenje[57]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Belgorod
86♠ 85 7 August 1942 14:09 Pe-2?[Note 7] southwest of Klischewskij[56] 153 151 6 July 1943 14:07 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61112, west of Werchopenje[57]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Belgorod
87♠ 86 7 August 1942 14:10 Pe-2?[Note 7] south of Klischewskij[56] 154 152 7 July 1943 07:33 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61462, east of Belgorod[57]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Belgorod
88♠ 87 7 August 1942 14:11 Pe-2?[Note 7] Klischewskij[56] 155 153 7 July 1943 07:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61211, east of Werchopenje[57]
Prokhorovka area
89♠ 88 7 August 1942 17:46 Pe-2?[Note 7] west-northwest of Flodowitoje[56] 156 154 7 July 1943 08:03 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61162, southeast of Werchopenje[57]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Prokhorovka
90♠ 89 7 August 1942 17:46 Pe-2?[Note 7] south of Ssolenyi[56] 157 155 14 July 1943 08:35 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61253, Oskotchnoje[58]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Prokhorovka
91 90 8 August 1942 09:46 Su-2 (Seversky) east of Nischnij Mity[56] 158 156 14 July 1943 08:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61281, northeast of Belgorod[58]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Prokhorovka
92 91 8 August 1942 09:48 Su-2 (Seversky) west of Popow[56] 159 157 17 July 1943 08:13 Yak-4 PQ 35 Ost 61131, Werchopenje[59]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Prokhorovka
93 92 8 August 1942 09:50 Su-2 (Seversky) southwest of Leonowo[56] 160 158 17 July 1943 14:16 Boston PQ 35 Ost 61164, Jakowlewo[59]
94 93 9 August 1942 14:40 R-5 east of Mostrowskij[56] 161 159 21 July 1943 10:12 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88144, west of Kuteinikowo[60]
20 km (12 mi) east of Jalisawehino
95 94 10 August 1942 07:07 I-180 (Yak-7) southwest of Businowka[56]
southwest of Kalach 		162 160 21 July 1943 10:14 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 88263, northeast of Kuybyshev[60]
Jalisawehino area
96 95 11 August 1942 12:06 MiG-1 southwest of Stalingrad[56] 163 161 22 July 1943 04:26 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88212, south of Krasny Luzk[60]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino
97 96 19 August 1942 11:28 ER-2 southwest of Penyschino[61] 164 162 22 July 1943 10:44 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88291, west of Marijewka[60]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Jalisawehino
98 97 19 August 1942 11:31 ER-2 northwest of Alayew[61] 165 163 22 July 1943 10:47 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88174, west of Kuteinikowo[60]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Jalisawehino
99 98 22 August 1942 09:45 LaGG-3 Satow[61] 166 164 22 July 1943 10:50 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88181, 45 km (28 mi) east of Kuybyshev[60]
west of Domizza
100 99 22 August 1942 09:47 Il-2 northeast of Gratschij[61] 167 165 23 July 1943 09:33 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88194, south of Kuteinikowo[60]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Kuteinkowo
101 100 23 August 1942 05:43 ER-2 southwest of Karpovka[61] 168 166 23 July 1943 09:35 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88182, west of Kuteinikowo[60]
vicinity of Kuteinkowo
102 101 23 August 1942 08:42 LaGG-3 northwest of Stalingrad[61] 169 167 27 July 1943 18:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61184, southeast of Sawidowka[60]
103 102 23 August 1942 08:44 LaGG-3 Kotluban[61] 170 168 30 July 1943 12:22 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88233, east of Dimitrijewka[62]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Jalisawehino
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –[36]
Western Front — 1 September – 31 December 1943
171 169 3 November 1943 12:30 P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/EK-4[63]
northwest of Schagen 		172 170 3 November 1943 12:31 P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/FK-4[63]
1 km (0.62 mi) west of Egmond

Awards

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ According to Spick, Brändle is credited with 180 aerial victories, 160 of which claimed over the Eastern Front and 20 in the western theater of operations, including 14 during the Battle of Britain.[1] According to Obermaier, he is also credited with 180 aerial victories, stating that 25 of which were claimed over the Western Front.[2] Authors Prien and Stemmer only credit him with 172 aerial victories.[3]
  2. ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations, see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. ^ According to Prien, the presentation of the Iron Cross 2nd Class was made on 1 April 1940.[6]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed with 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53.[21]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-4.[40]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3.[40]
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yermolayev Yer-2.[40]

References

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Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Spick 1996, p. 228.
  2. ^ a b c d Obermaier 1989, p. 52.
  3. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 195.
  4. ^ a b Stockert 2012, p. 41.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Stockert 2012, p. 42.
  6. ^ Prien 1997, p. 86.
  7. ^ Prien 1997, p. 112.
  8. ^ Prien 1997, p. 252.
  9. ^ Prien 1997, p. 369.
  10. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 135.
  11. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 377.
  12. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  13. ^ a b Stockert 2012, p. 43.
  14. ^ Weal 2013, p. 60.
  15. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 189.
  16. ^ Weal 2013, p. 61.
  17. ^ Coughlin 1968, p. 27.
  18. ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
  19. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 138–141.
  20. ^ Planquadrat.
  21. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 138.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 341.
  23. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 226.
  24. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 228.
  25. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 230.
  26. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 138–139.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 131.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2003, p. 133.
  29. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 134.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 135.
  31. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 137.
  32. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 139.
  33. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 142.
  34. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 143.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 144.
  36. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 139–141.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2006, p. 144.
  38. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 153.
  39. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 154.
  40. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 140.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 155.
  42. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 145.
  43. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 146.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 156.
  45. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 147.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 148.
  47. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 73.
  48. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 80.
  49. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 81.
  50. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 149.
  51. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 82.
  52. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 83.
  53. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 84.
  54. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 85.
  55. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 150.
  56. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prien et al. 2006, p. 151.
  57. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 86.
  58. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 87.
  59. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 89.
  60. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2012, p. 90.
  61. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 152.
  62. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 91.
  63. ^ a b Prien et al. 2008, p. 293.
  64. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 70.
  65. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 56.
  66. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 238.
  67. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 141.
  68. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 61.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
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  • Stockert, Peter (2012) [1997]. Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2] (in German) (4th ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-9802222-9-7.
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  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.
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