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Alexander Preinfalk

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Alexander Preinfalk
Nickname(s)Alex
Born6 February 1920
Baku, Azerbaijan
Died12 December 1944(1944-12-12) (aged 24)
Bruchsal
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Cemetery in Graben-Neudorf
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1940–1944
RankOberfeldwebel (staff sergeant)
UnitJG 51, JG 77, JG 53
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Alexander Preinfalk (6 February 1920 – 12 December 1944) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Preinfalk was shot down on 12 December 1944 by an American P-47 over Bruchsal, Germany and died after he bailed out. He was credited with 78 aerial victories, potentially up to 85 claims.

Early life and career

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Preinfalk was born on 6 February 1920 in Baku, at the time the capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.[1] In 1940, he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe. Following flight training and fighter pilot training at Jagdfliegerschule Werneuchen (fighter pilot school),[Note 1] he was briefly posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in 1941 before he was transferred to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). There, Preinfalk was assigned to the 5. Staffel (5th squadron) [3]

World War II

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World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. With II. Gruppe of JG 77 under command of Hauptmann Anton Mader, Preinfalk participated in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, which marked the beginning of the Eastern Front on 22 June 1941. JG 77, augmented by I.(J). Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing), primary role in Operation Barbarossa was to support the German advance as part of Army Group South.[4] On 1 October, Preinfalk's 5. Staffel was placed under command of Oberleutnant Anton Hackl and the German advance ad taken II. Gruppe to an airfield at Mariupol on 10 October. Here on 17 October, Preinfalk was credited with his first aerial victory when he claimed a Soviet Polikarpov I-16 fighter shot down. Two days later, the Gruppe then moved to Taganrog where Preinfalk claimed his second aerial victory, a Polikarpov I-15, on 26 October.[5]

On 6 August 1942, Preinfalk became an "ace-in-a-day", claiming six aerial victories on multiple combat missions. Fighting in the combat area between Voronezh and Yelets in support of Army Group B, Preinfalk claimed a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber and two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighters before midday. At 18:00, II. Gruppe's airfield at Kastornoye came under aerial attack. Defending against this attack, Preinfalk claimed three further Pe-2 bombers shot down.[6] Following his 60th aerial victory claimed, Preinfalk was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 3 October and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 14 October.[3]

North Africa and Italy

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In early 1941, the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW—Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) had sent an expeditionary force, to North Africa to support the Regio Esercito Italiano (Royal Italian Army) fighting in the North African Campaign. As intensity of combat increased, the OKW committed additional military forces to the Mediterranean theatre. First elements of JG 77 had already been committed to this theatre in February 1942.[7] The Axis defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October—4 November 1942) and the 8 November 1942 Operation Torch landings had pushed the Axis out of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Libya into Tunisia. On 10 November 1942, Preinfalk's II. Gruppe was also withdrawn from the Eastern Front and began relocating to North Africa. On 5 December 1942, the Gruppenstab (headquarters unit), 4. and 6. Staffel arrived at Zazur, 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) west of Tripoli, Libya. Reequipping the 5. Staffel with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 took longer than expected, arriving at Zazur on 18 December.[8]

On 26 March 1943, Preinfalk claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northeast of El Hamma.[9] On 4 April, he claimed another Spitfire shot, this time 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of Maknassy.[10] On 8 May 1943, JG 77 evacuated from Tunisia to various airfields in Sicily while I. Gruppe was sent to Munich. The original intent was to give the Geschwader a period of rest.[11] On 11 May, II. Gruppe moved from Trapani to the Italian mainland at Foggia for replenishment.[12] After a month of rest, on 19 June 1943, the Gruppe relocated back to Trapani.[13] In June 1943, Preinfalk was posted to 1. Staffel of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Süd—a supplementary training unit—as a fighter pilot instructor.[1]

In May 1944, Preinfalk was back with JG 77, then serving in the 1. Staffel under command of Oberleutnant Lothar Baumann and based at Tuscania, Italy. Here on 31 May, Preinfalk claimed two Spitfire fighters shot down when the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Twelfth Air Force attacked Albano Laziale, Genzano di Roma, Ariccia and Frascati.[14] His opponents were Flight Officer C.M. Cassels who baled out and Warrant Officer J.H. Saville who crash landed and was wounded in the encounter. Both pilots belonged to the RAF No. 43 Squadron and became a prisoner of war.[15] On 9 June, Preinfalk claimed a North American P-51 Mustang escort fighter destroyed, his 74th aerial victory in total and last claim over Italy. That day, the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force had attacked Munich.[16]

Defense of the Reich and death

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In July 1944, Preinfalk was posted to II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) based in Hustedt in northwestern Germany. The Gruppe under command of Hauptmann Julius Meimberg was fighting in defense of the Reich and largely staffed by inexperienced young pilots. In consequence, Meimberg made Preinfalk a leader of a Schwarm, a flight of four aircraft, within 6. Staffel led by Oberleutnant Alfred Hammer.[17][18] According to the authors Prien and Rodeike, this transfer was considered a disciplinary action, a measure for redemption in combat. The authors state, that particularly Oberstleutnant Johannes Steinhoff, the commander of JG 77 at the time, had a number of pilots transferred for redemption in defense of the Reich combat, this measure included pilots Preinfalk, Major Heinrich Bär, Hauptmann Lutz-Wilhelm Burckhardt, Leutnant Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert, and Oberfeldwebel Herbert Kaiser.[19]

In early December 1944, II. Gruppe was based at Malmsheim Airfield, flying missions against the fighter-bombers of the USAAF Ninth Air Force.[20] Preinfalk was killed in action on 12 December in aerial combat with a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) southwest of Graben-Neudorf. Although he managed to escape of his Bf 109 G-14/AS (Werknummer 165741—factory number) at low altitude, his parachute failed to fully deploy and he fell to his death.[21][22][23] Preinfalk was buried in the military section of the Graben-Neudorf cemetery.[24]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Preinfalk was credited with 78 aerial victories.[25] Spick also lists him with 78 aerial victories, approximately 50 of which on the Eastern Front with the remaining claims over the Western Allies, claimed in an unknown number combat missions.[26] Obermaier states that the exact number of aerial victories is uncertain, stating that he was credited with at least 78 victories, potentially 85 claims, including eight heavy bombers.[1] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 80 aerial victory claims, including 60 claims on the Eastern Front and 30 claims over the Western Allies.[27]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 82121". 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.[28]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Preinfalk an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in one day.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Unit Claim Date Time Type Location Unit
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front –[29]
Operation Barbarossa — June – December 1941
1 17 October 1941 11:17 I-16[30] 5./JG 77 2 26 October 1941 14:20 I-15[30] 5./JG 77
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front –[29]
March – April 1942
3 19 March 1942 12:02 I-15[31] 5./JG 77 5 27 April 1942 17:30 Yak-1 Yevpatoria[32] 5./JG 77
4 9 April 1942 17:45 I-16[32] 5./JG 77
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front –[29]
Kerch, Sevastopol, Izium — May/June 1942
6 9 June 1942 19:30 I-153[33] 5./JG 77 8 13 June 1942 18:31 Il-2[34] 5./JG 77
7 13 June 1942 12:20 MiG-1[34] 5./JG 77 9 14 June 1942 14:52 LaGG-3[34] 5./JG 77
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front –[27]
Summer offensive — 28 June – 7 November 1942
10 6 July 1942 14:30 Boston[35] 5./JG 77 36♠ 6 August 1942 18:08 Pe-2 PQ 82121[36]
65 km (40 mi) northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
11 9 July 1942 18:25 LaGG-3[35] 5./JG 77 37 12 August 1942 05:54 Il-2 PQ 83592[36]
50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
12 9 July 1942 18:36 MiG-3[35] 5./JG 77 38 12 August 1942 05:56 Yak-1 PQ 83863[36]
55 km (34 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
13 16 July 1942 14:15 Pe-2[37] 5./JG 77 39 12 August 1942 14:03?[Note 2] MiG-1 PQ 83812[36]
50 km (31 mi) south of Yelets 		5./JG 77
14 16 July 1942 14:20 Pe-2[37] 5./JG 77 40 12 August 1942 14:11 MiG-1 PQ 83532[36]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Yelets 		5./JG 77
15 17 July 1942 18:47 Pe-2[39] 5./JG 77 41 13 August 1942 10:52 Il-2 PQ 83673[40]
30 km (19 mi) south of Yelets 		5./JG 77
16 21 July 1942 18:41 Hurricane[39] 5./JG 77 42 18 August 1942 14:57 MiG-3 PQ 83673[41]
30 km (19 mi) south of Yelets 		5./JG 77
17 21 July 1942 19:16 Hurricane[39] 5./JG 77 43 23 August 1942 10:26 LaGG-3 PQ 92791[41]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Sloboda 		5./JG 77
18 23 July 1942 19:08 Il-2[39] 5./JG 77 44 5 September 1942 17:14 LaGG-3 PQ 82173[41]
65 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Tim 		5./JG 77
19 23 July 1942 19:14 Il-2[39] 5./JG 77 45 5 September 1942 17:20 Il-2 PQ 82151[41]
65 km (40 mi) northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
20 24 July 1942 05:36 LaGG-3[42] 5./JG 77 46 5 September 1942 17:22 LaGG-3 PQ 82121[41]
65 km (40 mi) northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
21 24 July 1942 05:48 LaGG-3[42] 5./JG 77 47 9 September 1942 15:46 Il-2 PQ 82752[43]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Sloboda 		5./JG 77
22 24 July 1942 11:25 Pe-2[42] 5./JG 77 48 13 September 1942 15:00 P-39 PQ 92114[43] 5./JG 77
23 25 July 1942 18:42 Pe-2[42] 5./JG 77 49 15 September 1942 17:03 LaGG-3 PQ 92141[44]
25 km (16 mi) north of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
24 26 July 1942 10:31 Il-2[42] 5./JG 77 50 15 September 1942 17:04 LaGG-3 PQ 92143[44]
25 km (16 mi) north of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
25 28 July 1942 06:27 MiG-3[45] 5./JG 77 51 17 September 1942 05:51 LaGG-3 PQ 92123[46]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
26 28 July 1942 18:18 P-39 PQ 92393[45]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Voronezh 		5./JG 77 52 17 September 1942 05:52 LaGG-3 PQ 92154[46]
25 km (16 mi) north of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
27 29 July 1942 06:51 MiG-1 PQ 93554[45]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Lipetsk 		5./JG 77 53 17 September 1942 05:54 Il-2 PQ 92132[46]
30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
28 31 July 1942 15:45 Il-2 PQ 82194[45]
60 km (37 mi) northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77 54 17 September 1942 05:57 Il-2 PQ 92122[46]
30 km (19 mi) north of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
29 31 July 1942 15:50 Il-2 PQ 83761[45]
60 km (37 mi) south-southwest of Yelets 		5./JG 77 55 18 September 1942 17:16 MiG-1 PQ 92173[46]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
30 5 August 1942 08:46 Hurricane PQ 83463[36]
25 km (16 mi) east of Yelets 		5./JG 77 56 18 September 1942 17:19 MiG-1 PQ 92312[46]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
31♠ 6 August 1942 10:25 Pe-2 PQ 93314[36]
25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Lipetsk 		5./JG 77 57 18 September 1942 17:24 MiG-1 PQ 92443[46]
25 km (16 mi) east of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
32♠ 6 August 1942 11:11 MiG-1 PQ 83852[36]
60 km (37 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77 58 22 September 1942 15:33 Il-2 PQ 92152[46]
vicinity of Devitsa 		5./JG 77
33♠ 6 August 1942 11:13 MiG-1 PQ 83892[36]
50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh 		5./JG 77 59 22 September 1942 15:37 LaGG-3 PQ 92352[46]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
34♠ 6 August 1942 18:05 Pe-2 PQ 82174[36]
65 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Tim 		5./JG 77 60 1 October 1942 15:38 LaGG-3 PQ 92454[46]
40 km (25 mi) east of Voronezh 		5./JG 77
35♠ 6 August 1942 18:06 Pe-2 PQ 82142[36]
65 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Tim 		5./JG 77
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Western Front –[38]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 1 January – May 1943
61?[Note 3] 26 March 1943 10:37 Spitfire 28 km (17 mi) southwest of El Hamma[47] 5./JG 77 67 7 April 1943 09:10 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Skhira[47] 5./JG 77
62 31 March 1943 18:49 P-40 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of El Guettar[47] 5./JG 77 68 20 April 1943 17:15 P-51 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Mateur[47] 5./JG 77
63 1 April 1943 10:42 Spitfire 62 km (39 mi) northwest of La Fauconnerie[47] 5./JG 77 69 21 April 1943 09:28 Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Tunis[48] 5./JG 77
64 2 April 1943 19:12 Boston 32 km (20 mi) northwest of Gafsa[47] 5./JG 77 70 21 April 1943 12:58 P-40 40 km (25 mi) east of Tunis[48] 5./JG 77
65 4 April 1943 17:17 Spitfire 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Meknassy[47] 5./JG 77 71 25 April 1943 13:05 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Majaz al Bab[48] 5./JG 77
66 6 April 1943 15:28 Spitfire 60 km (37 mi) southwest of La Fauconnerie[47] 5./JG 77
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Western Front –[38]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — May/June 1944
72 31 May 1944 17:09 Spitfire PQ 14 Ost S/2372, Tuscania[49] 1./JG 77 74 9 June 1944 09:23 P-51 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Udine[49] 2./JG 77
73 31 May 1944 17:12 Spitfire PQ 14 Ost S/2375[49] 1./JG 77
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 53 on the Western Front –[38]
Defense of the Reich — August – 12 December 1944
75 26 August 1944 15:07 P-47 PQ 05 Ost TC-4/2[50]
Rouen 		6./JG 53 79 25 November 1944 12:42 P-51 PQ 04 Ost N/AQ-6/3[51]
Haguenau 		6./JG 53
76 2 October 1944 15:07?[Note 4] P-51 PQ 04 Ost N/BN-9[50]
north of Vézelise/Nancy 		6./JG 53 80 1 December 1944 16:00 P-51 PQ 04 Ost N/AR-5, southwest of Rastatt[51] 6./JG 53
77 6 October 1944 16:53 P-47 PQ 04 Ost N/FN-5/1[51]
Thionville 		6./JG 53 81 12 December 1944 14:02 P-47 PQ 05 Ost UR-4[51]
Linkenheim 		6./JG 53
78 20 October 1944 10:50 P-47 PQ 04 Ost N/CP[51]
southwest of Strasbourg 		6./JG 53

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:05.[38]
  3. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[38]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:39.[38]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 180.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b c Dixon 2023, p. 271.
  4. ^ Prien 1993, p. 628.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2003, pp. 322, 331.
  6. ^ Prien 1993, pp. 1141–1144.
  7. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1223.
  8. ^ Prien 1994, pp. 1358–1359, 1373.
  9. ^ Shores & Massimello 2016, p. 411.
  10. ^ Shores & Massimello 2016, p. 438.
  11. ^ Prien 1994, pp. 1558–1559.
  12. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1571.
  13. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1591.
  14. ^ Prien 1995, pp. 1957, 2371.
  15. ^ Shores et al. 2018, pp. 632–633.
  16. ^ Prien 1995, pp. 1963–1964.
  17. ^ Meimberg 2002, p. 280.
  18. ^ Weal 2007a, p. 108.
  19. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1994, p. 570.
  20. ^ ManrhoPütz2010, pp. 371–372.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2019, p. 397.
  22. ^ Meimberg 2002, p. 296.
  23. ^ Weal 2007b, p. 75.
  24. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 272.
  25. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1615.
  26. ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
  27. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 978–979.
  28. ^ Planquadrat.
  29. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 978.
  30. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 331.
  31. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 300.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 301.
  33. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 300.
  34. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 301.
  35. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 303.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2006, p. 309.
  37. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 305.
  38. ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 979.
  39. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 306.
  40. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 310.
  41. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 311.
  42. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 307.
  43. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 312.
  44. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 313.
  45. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 308.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 314.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2011, p. 457.
  48. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2011, p. 458.
  49. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2021, p. 320.
  50. ^ a b Prien et al. 2019, p. 386.
  51. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2019, p. 387.
  52. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 164.
  53. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 358.
  54. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 344.
  55. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 603.

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 23 November 2023.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
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  • Manrho, John; Pütz, Ron (2010). Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0686-5.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton-on-Thames, UK: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • Meimberg, Julius (2002). Braatz, Kurt [in German] (ed.). Feindberührung: Erinnerungen 1939–1945 [Enemy Contact: Memories 1939–1945] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-1-3.
  • 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 Trophy 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 (1994). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945—Teil 1—1939–1943 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11: Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945—Volume 1—1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-21-2.
  • Prien, Jochen (1993). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 2—1941–1942 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 2—1941–1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-22-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1994). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 3—1942–1943 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 3—1942–1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-26-7.
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  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2011). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1 bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-00-0.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried; Balke, Ulf (2021). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 14—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1 bis 15.9.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 14—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 15 September 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-24-6.
  • 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; Massimello, Giovanni (2016). A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945. Volume Three: Tunisia and the End in Africa, November 1942–1943. London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-1-910690-67-3.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried; Thomas, Andy (2018). A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945, Volume Four: Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome, 14 May 1943 – 5 June 1944. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-911621-10-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2007a). Jagdgeschwader 53 "Pik-As". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 25. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-204-2.
  • Weal, John (2007b). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 76. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
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