Kurt Dombacher
Kurt Dombacher | |
---|---|
Born | Untertürkheim, Weimar Republic | 9 February 1920
Died | 8 October 1993 Rust, Germany | (aged 73)
Allegiance | Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
Service | Luftwaffe |
Years of service | ?–1945 1956–1970's |
Rank | Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht) Major (Bundeswehr) |
Unit | JG 5 JG 51 |
Battles / wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Kurt Dombacher (9 February 1920 – 8 October 1993) was a German Luftwaffe ace during World War II. Kurt Dombacher was credited with 68 victories in 800+ missions, with 1 over Western forces and 67 over Soviet forces. He was captured by Soviet forces in May 1945 and was held until 1950.
Career
[edit]On 10 September 1944, Dombacher was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). He succeeded Leutnant Gerhard Mai who had temporarily led the Staffel after its former commander Hauptmann Joachim Brendel had been transferred on 2 September.[1]
Summary of career
[edit]Aerial victory claims
[edit]According to Spick, Dombacher is credited with 68 aerial victories claimed in approximately 300 combat missions.[2] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 68 aerial victory claims, 67 of which on the Eastern Front and one four-engined heavy bomber on the Western Front.[3]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 34333". 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.[4]
Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Dombacher 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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
| |||||||||
Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 – Action in south and west Norway — 1 January – 26 June 1942 | |||||||||
1?[Note 1] | 3 April 1942 | —
|
Spitfire | Trondheim Fjord[6] | |||||
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[5] Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 | |||||||||
2 | 10 June 1943 | 19:03 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 34333[7] 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Seschtschinskaja |
14♠ | 14 August 1943 | 18:24 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | northeast of Schilow[8] |
3 | 30 June 1943 | 09:05 | MiG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 64322[9] 10 km (6.2 mi) south-southeast of Belyov |
15 | 16 August 1943 | 18:26 | La-5 | southwest of Tschernezkii[10] |
4 | 6 July 1943 | 19:30 | Boston | PQ 35 Ost 63843[11] 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zolotukhino |
16 | 18 August 1943 | 17:39 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | west of Savur-Mohyla[10] |
5 | 13 July 1943 | 13:43 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 35 Ost 63254[12] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Zalegoshch |
17 | 18 August 1943 | 17:43 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | northwest of Dmitriyevka[10] |
6 | 13 July 1943 | 14:08 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 35 Ost 63251[12] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Zalegoshch |
18 | 27 September 1943 | 10:28 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | south of Akimovka[13] |
7 | 17 July 1943 | 08:10 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 35 Ost 63564[12] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk |
19 | 27 September 1943 | 10:29 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | east of Sagolitschki[13] |
8 | 5 August 1943 | 07:34 | LaGG-3 | west of Petrosselki[8] | 20 | 27 September 1943 | 16:08 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | northeast of Schulgowka[13] |
9 | 5 August 1943 | 07:40 | Boston | southwest of Krassawka[8] | 21 | 27 September 1943 | 16:10 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | northeast of Gorodajewka[13] |
10♠ | 14 August 1943 | 18:14 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | east of Rakinoye[8] | 22 | 29 September 1943 | 14:35 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | west of Trozko[13] |
11♠ | 14 August 1943 | 18:16 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | east of Jkalowka[8] | 23 | 30 November 1943 | 08:29 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 34 Ost 49818[14] 30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Dnepropetrovsk |
12♠ | 14 August 1943 | 18:17 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | north of Kut[8] | 24 | 30 November 1943 | 13:23 | La-5 | PQ 34 Ost 49767[14] 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Dnepropetrovsk |
13♠ | 14 August 1943 | 18:21 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | southwest of Ogulzy[8] | |||||
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[5] Eastern Front — 1 January – 14 August 1944 | |||||||||
25 | 16 January 1944 | 13:10 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 90572[15] 40 km (25 mi) east-northeast of Vinnytsia |
32 | 7 April 1944 | 17:49 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 50814[16] 40 km (25 mi) south of Ternopil |
26 | 24 January 1944 | 10:32 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 80662[15] 30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Vinnytsia |
33 | 22 April 1944 | 18:18 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 40681[16] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Berezhany |
27 | 24 January 1944 | 10:35 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 80632[15] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Koziatyn |
34 | 27 April 1944 | 15:34 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 24 Ost 59314[16] 20 km (12 mi) north of Kolomyia |
28 | 24 January 1944 | 10:42 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 90513[15] 30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Koziatyn |
35?[Note 1] | 1 May 1944 | 17:10 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 24 Ost 59173[16] |
29 | 25 January 1944 | 10:37 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 80634[15] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Koziatyn |
36 | 7 July 1944 | 14:55 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 44816[17] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Kovel |
30 | 25 January 1944 | 10:42?[Note 3] | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 90371[15] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Koziatyn |
37 | 1 August 1944 | 10:43 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 35315[17] 20 km (12 mi) north of Mariiampil |
31 | 7 April 1944 | 14:23 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 50641[15] 20 km (12 mi) south of Ternopil |
38 | 1 August 1944 | 11:15 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35345[17] 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Mariiampil |
– 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[5] Eastern Front — 15 August – 9 September 1944 | |||||||||
39♠ | 15 August 1944 | 14:45 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 25297[18] 25 km (16 mi) east of Blumenfeld |
43♠ | 15 August 1944 | 18:27 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 35342[18] 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Mariiampil |
40♠ | 15 August 1944 | 14:50 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 35155[18] 35 km (22 mi) north of Mariiampil |
44 | 17 August 1944 | 07:00 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 36331[18] 25 km (16 mi) south of Schaulen |
41♠ | 15 August 1944 | 15:23 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 35319[18] 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Mariiampil |
45 | 1 September 1944 | 10:56 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 13552[18] 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Warsaw |
42♠ | 15 August 1944 | 18:20 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 25433[18] 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Blumenfeld |
|||||
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[19] Eastern Front — 10 September – 31 December 1944 | |||||||||
46 | 12 September 1944 | 09:12 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost N/13729[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Warsaw |
50 | 18 September 1944 | 13:43 | P-51?[Note 4] | PQ 25 Ost N/03685[20] 20 km (12 mi) west of Warsaw |
47 | 12 September 1944 | 09:16?[Note 5] | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost N/13588[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Warsaw |
51 | 9 October 1944 | 14:22 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost N/26726[21] vicinity of Tauroggen |
48 | 15 September 1944 | 09:55 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost N/03861[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Warsaw |
52 | 13 October 1944 | 14:30 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost N/25312[21] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Insterburg |
49 | 15 September 1944 | 10:15 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost N/13547[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Warsaw |
|||||
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[19] Eastern Front — 1 January – 8 May 1945 | |||||||||
According to Mathews and Foreman, Dombacher claimed 17 aerial victories on the Eastern Front in 1945, six of which are documented.[3] | |||||||||
56 | 16 February 1945 | —
|
Il-2 | northwest of Graudenz | 59 | 19 February 1945 | —
|
Il-2 | northwest of Neuenburg |
57 | 16 February 1945 | —
|
Il-2 | northwest of Graudenz | 60 | 20 February 1945 | —
|
unknown | |
58 | 16 February 1945 | —
|
Il-2 | northwest of Graudenz | 61 | 9 March 1945 | 12:48 | Il-2 |
Awards
[edit]- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 3 April 1944 as Feldwebel and pilot[22]
- German Cross in Gold on 25 May 1944 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51[23][Note 6]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 April 1945 as Leutnant and pilot in 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders[25][Note 7]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[5]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:43.[5]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.[19]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:18.[19]
- ^ According to Obermaier on 20 March 1944.[24]
- ^ Kurt Dombacher's nomination by the troop was processed by the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe/Auszeichnung und Disziplin (OKL/AuD—Air Force High Command/Award and Discipline) on 15 April 1945. This nomination, now recommending approval, was forwarded on 16 April with a Luftwaffenpersonalamt-Verleihungsvorschlag (LPA-VV—Air Force Staff Office Nomination Recommendation) Nr. 1576 to the adjutancy of Hermann Göring. The nomination was never finalized and was left unfinished by the end of the war. A presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross cannot be verified. The presentation date of 7 April 1945 as listed by Ernst Obermaier, author of Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945—The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Fighter Force 1939–1945, must be incorrect.[24] The presentation date of 8 April 1945 as listed by the Walther-Peer Fellgiebel is an assumption of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients.[26]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 319.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 238.
- ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 231–232.
- ^ Planquadrat.
- ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 231.
- ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 180.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 148.
- ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 152.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 149.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 153.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 150.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 151.
- ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 154.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 156.
- ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2022, p. 481.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 482.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2022, p. 484.
- ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2022, p. 485.
- ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 232.
- ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 325.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 326.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 67.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 89.
- ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 102.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 138.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 126.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- 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 (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
- 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; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 7—Heimatverteidigung—1. January bis 31 Dezember 1942—Einsatz im Westen—1. Januar bis 31. Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 7—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1942—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-73-1.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/I—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/I—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-26-0.
- 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.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- 1920 births
- 1993 deaths
- Military personnel from Stuttgart
- Luftwaffe pilots
- German World War II flying aces
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- German Air Force personnel
- German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union
- People from the Free People's State of Württemberg