On June 22, 1941, in 1:30 AM the captain of 5/JG54 Hubert Muterix had been drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. He slowly walked to the BF-109 of this friend Ioham Wandel. "Don't be upset, Dworf", he said to his friend which had been thinking about something, "Hunting would be fun". ("Dwarf" was Wandel's nick.- Y.C.)
Thirty minutes after that Muterix already give the final instructions to pilots of 5th "shraffel". Survival equipment already had been in the right place inside the German equipment. Bf-109's were ready, they were fueled and armed. Mechanics were making final checks before the flight. Exactly in 3:00 AM pilots took their places in the cockpits. Engines started to work...
In 3:25 AM Luftwaffe penetrated Soviet air space and attack strategic objects on territory of European Russia, including 68 air fields of Western, Kiev, and Baltic military distracts as well as air fields of Northern, Baltic, and Black Sea fleets.
Everything went smooth as it should have by a plan called Blitzkrieg. It had been tested in Poland and had been well tuned up in France where more than 1,000 British and French aircraft were destroyed on the ground. In France it totally paralyzed defense of British and French aviation.
By the time of the attack on USSR German pilots had rich experience of air combat. Pilots flew their aircraft as masters. They really well combined maneuvers and gunnery. They also used the most modern tactics. At the same time combat training of Soviet Air Force was a weak place.
In first air fights Soviet pilots often made mistakes which only can be explain by the lack of combat experience. Lack of experience in commanding of large groups of fighters had effectively reduced effectiveness of the Soviet pilots. Function of the leader where over as soon as aircraft entered fight. After that Soviet aircraft fought individually or in pairs with little cooperation with other pilots.
Lack of radio reduced effectiveness of combat groups even farther. Soviet pilots were often forced to use hand signs, aircraft controls, or signal rockets to communicate with other pilots. Of course, it does not help to create organized fight and often confused pilots.
The main problem with Soviet Air Force was use of groups of three aircraft, instead of two. This was old tactics in which leader and his wingman attack enemy while third pilot protects them. This tactics was used in Soviet Air Force from 1920's when the firepower of one fighter was not sufficient to bring down enemy bomber, while fight between fighters was rare event and considered to be secondary job. Use of the three aircraft formation also looked great on military parades. In combat this formation proved to be ineffective and during heavy maneuvering there were constant threat that aircraft would collide. Most often the wing of three aircraft simply "disintegrated" in combat.
Still, average level of the preparness of Soviet pilots was high. Despite numerous prohibiting orders which were put into place for the sake of lowering number of accidents and consumption of fuel, pilot training was good and majority of pilots could perform all the most difficult maneuvers of air combat. Soviet pilots were also trained to fly in most difficult weather conditions and fly very low near the ground. Soviet pilots also knew capabilities of their aircraft. Even in first day of war Soviet pilots demonstrated their style of combat. Soviet pilots preferred very energetic, cruel fight to the end. While German pilots preferred rational and simple well learned maneuvers, Soviet pilots liked to pull high G's, head to head, and knife fights on low altitude.
Elite fighter unit JG54 "Grunherz" - "Greet heart", which entered war on June 22, 1941, considered by German historians the best Luftwaffe unit of W.W.II. The "Grunherz" particularly known for its lowest level of losses among all Luftwaffe fighter units in WWII.(Through as you see losses were HIGH. - Y.C.). Even so, the month after the war on the Eastern Front started, "Grunherz" commander Major Trautloft issued order: "We could tolerate the hobby of many of our friends to dog fight with "rats" and "ivans". Knights competitions are not for Eastern Front. We just should win".
This order was written not on empty space. By July 22, exactly a month after start of the war, 37 out 112 pilots of JG54 were killed or missing and there were no trend toward lowering of the losses.
Captain of 5/JG54 Hubert Muterix also made the same point as commander. He said: "Do not corner the "rat", if you do, "rat" would have nothing else to do but sink its teeth into your throat".
As it happened, majority of JG54 pilots which died in the first month of war did not had much victories. Telling about them, as well as all pilots of JG54 makes no sense, as well as talking about all JG54 pilots which did not come from their missions in 1941-1945. It is impossible to do in such article anyway.
Very soon qualitative edge of the "Grunherz" began to change. More and more aces, commanders or different ranks, and other pilots which were admired and loved in JG54 were lost in combat on the Eastern Front. This is story about those pilots.
First serious punch to the reputation of JG54 had been delivered on July 30th, 1941. On this day commander of Group III Arnold Ligniz(25 victories) did not return to his home field. He become the victim of his own curiosity. When city of Leningrad become in range of Bf-109, pilots of "Grunherz, which saw a lot of other cities from the air, could not resist and not to visit Leningrad. On this day Ligniz and Lieutenant Ervin Leikauf took initiative into their own hands. They crossed the front line and flew to the center of the city. Above the river Neva German pilots began to turn and at that moment couple of Migs attack both German fighters from the direction of sun. Lieutenant Leikauf, which was called "snake" for his style of flying, manage to excape the hits of Soviet guns. He roll and turn only to discover that plane of his commanders falling to the ground in flames. Ligniz manage to excape the cockpit, but he fall on the roof of the house, and then fall down to the street. Two days later he died in Soviet military hospital. This group victory over German ace was scored by pilots of 7th IAP, Captain Polyakov and Lieutenant Shamin. First serious punch to the reputation of JG54 had been delivered on July 30th, 1941. On this day commander of Group III Arnold Ligniz(25 victories) did not return to his home field. He become the victim of his own curiosity. When city of Leningrad become in range of Bf-109, pilots of "Grunherz, which saw a lot of other cities from the air, could not resist and not to visit Leningrad. On this day Ligniz and Lieutenant Ervin Leikauf took initiative into their own hands. They crossed the front line and flew to the center of the city. Above the river Neva German pilots began to turn and at that moment couple of Migs attack both German fighters from the direction of sun. Lieutenant Leikauf, which was called "snake" for his style of flying, manage to excape the hits of Soviet guns. He roll and turn only to discover that plane of his commanders falling to the ground in flames. Ligniz manage to excape the cockpit, but he fall on the roof of the house, and then fall down to the street. Two days later he died in Soviet military hospital. This group victory over German ace was scored by pilots of 7th IAP, Captain Polyakov and Lieutenant Shamin.
On September 11, 1941, JG 54 lost another great pilot from Group 1, funny and friendly Hubert Muterix(43 victories), which was hunting on the East only for short period of time. Bf-109 of Muterix had been shot down from point blank range by the pilot of 191st IAP Lieutenant Novikov. It happened 5 km south from the lake Ladoga. Fait had been cruel to Muterix: his most important "rat" of his life he did not even saw. After Muterix plane was damaged by Soviet pilot, he attempt to turn and run a way. He lost control of his BF-109 and crush to his death.
(By October of 1941, more than 70% of Luftwaffe aircraft which started the war on the Eastern Front where lost in combat with Soviets. Through Soviet losses where higher than German, the German losses where still enormous. German losses where much higher than losses during Battle of Britain. - Y.C.)
On December 17, 1941, leader of the Group I, Julius fon Cella(15 kills) had become a POW in Soviet hands. His BF-109 had been shot down by a pilot of 154 IAP Captain Petr Pokrushev in the area of Novoi' Ladogi. During interrogation in the headquarters of the Leningrad Military district Julius fon Cella acted very honorably. He answered on all questions of the Soviet General Novikov and at the end asked Soviet General to give his personal hand gun to the Soviet pilot which shot down him. This gun is currently displayed in the museum of the Defense of Leningrad.
(Article don't say what was JG54 losses in 1941. But it seams that they were around 70 pilots, as JG54 lost about 98 pilots in not full years of 1941 and 1945. - Y.C)
On February 14, 1942, in the area of city Velikie Luki had been shot down and killed new commander of Group I, Franz Ekkerle(62 victories). From the four BF-109's of JG54 which were involved in fighting with Hurricanes of 191 IAP, not a single one return to their home base in Relbizy.
Who shot down those German aircraft is impossible to tell. Soviet pilots report to shot down only two German aircraft. Individual victory was credited to the Lieutenant Kuznitsov and group victory was given to Lutenants Loi'ko and Aravin.
On March 12, 1942, two fighters from staff "shraffel" did not comeback from the "free hunting". On noon, leader of the pair Heinz Bartling(67 victories) contacted the base and said that he is 10 km South of Shliselburg over the Ladoga lake.
After that Germans knew nothing about what happened to those two pilots. They were assumed MIA, but what happened to them is known to Russians. The commander of the 3 group of 4 GIAP Lieutenant Vasilii Golubev had been known as "fighter of the fighters". He fought from the start of the war and by 12th of March, 1942, he already scored 8 victories against German BF-109s and 2 against Finnish Hawks.
Golubev studied the methods of the German pilots. Starting from Fenruary, 1942, Golubev always return home well behind the main group of the Soviet fighters. While falling behind Gulobev turn controls of the aircraft so it looked like he is damaged Soviet aircraft with wounded pilots just trying to make it home. On march 12, 1942, his trick worked. When Golubev was close to his home fields in Vystav, he noticed two dots just below the cloud cover. Soon he could so German fighters fast approaching him. "Hunters found his "pray". But the there were no victorious "Horrido".
When Bf-109's close to the distance of a 1,000 meters, Golubev turn his I-16 toward German fighters. Situation changed dramatically. The leader of the German pair, Bartling, did not even noticed when from the "hunter" he become a "pray".
Gulbev shot down BF-109 in head to head fight. Bf-109 went into flames and crush on the Gulobev's home base. The wingman Leishte try to separate from the fight by going vertical, using energy of his BF-109. But Golubev manage to turn his I-16 and used his RS-82 rockets to damage German fighter. Lieutenant Leishte was wounded by rockets. He manage to land his fighter on the Soviet field. Few minutes after landing he died.
On April 3, 1942, JG54 lost two Austrian pilots from Group II, Lieutenant Arnoold Kauer(37 victories) and his twin brother Lieutenant Eugen Kauer(6 victories). In the fight with Hurricanes from 485th IAP, both German pilots were shot down. Older brother Arnold had ejected and was captured by Soviet troops. Younger Eugen was killed. victories were credited to the Soviet Major Zimin and Captain Lazarev.
On may 16, already known to us Lieutenant Golubev from 4th GIAP, had the toughest fight while leading group of 5 I-16. The fight was over "Road of Life", the road on the ice of Ladoga Lake by which Soviets transported food to the starving people of Leningrad. 81 German bombers and fighters bombed the road while Golubev and 4 other Soviet fighters try to scare Germans away. Golubev said later: "If we shoot at every German aircraft which appeared in our sights, we would wasted whole ammo in less than 3 minutes. Because of that Soviet pilots try to scare German air planes by imitating raming of the German aircrafts.
Even so, Golubev was credited in his fight with destruction of the German bomber and fighter. For his bravery and initiative, all five Soviet pilots received medals, while Golubev received Hero of the Soviet Union.
The fighter which Golubev destroyed had been again from "Grunherz". To the "Grunherz" base in Gatchina did not return commander of the Group III, Lieutenant Hakon fon Bulow(61 victories). It was a shock for JG54, considering the nobility status of the pilots.
On May 17, 1942 in fight with LaGG's of the 3rd IAP in the area of Kronhtadta JG54 lost two more pilots from staff "shraffel". Those pilots were Gerhard Lautenshpager(31 victories) and Lieutenant Ossi Unterlehner(27 victories). While two Soviet fighters of the Lieutenants Kaberov and Kostylev received serious damage from guns of Bf-109's, the victory was behind the Soviet pilots.
On May 22, 1942, pilot of Group II, Lieutenant Otto-Bruno Lozert(47 victories), which was Austrian and son one of the best aces of WWI, had been presumed MIA. No one from the 8 JG54 pilots which were involved in fight with Soviet Il-2's and LaGG's could not say what happened to their friend.
But leader of the 4 Soviet LaGG-3 fighters from the 41 IAP, Lieutenant Sukov had photographed fall of Bf-109 he shot down. German fighter went into spiral dive, fall in the forest, and exploded.
Hero of the Soviet Union Marshal of Aviation Zimin remembers: "At the start of the summer of 1942 in our area of the front we began to encounter very skilled German aces flying BF-109F. Those German fighters started fight with 2 or 4 aircraft, but they were very proficient with radio and they quickly increased their strength and attack from different directions very aggressively.
On June 17, 1942, all 12 BF-109G-2 from 5/JG54 took off from their base in Relbizy in groups of 2 or 4 for "clearing" the air for the attack of Ju-87's. Commanding of the whole group through radio was given to Ioham "Dworf" Vandel.
At the same day 7 Hurricanes from the 485 IAP had been patrolling the area around village Ramushevo and covered Soviet ground forces. Soon Soviet pilots discovered large group of Ju-87 which was covered by 4 BF-109's and attack them. 5 Ju-87 were destroyed, but Zimin's group was forced to defend themselves from 16 enemy fighters from the two highest scoring Groups of Luftwaffe. Even being outnumbered, Soviet pilots put up a good fight. Lieutenant Maks Hesse(9 victories), Lieutenant Ludwig Bauer(40 victories) and Welhelm Hubner(? victories) did not return to JG54 home base at Relbizy. They were all killed. One fighter from JG51 "Melders" was shot down as well. Soviet pilots lost one Hurricane. Lieutenant Bezverchnii' crushed landed into swamp and was killed.
When 4 Soviet LaGG-3 from 41 IAP had been flying toward the front line, the LaGG-3 of Lieutenant Sukov suffered mechanical problem in the electric system. The engine of the LaGG-3 began to work with stops. The leader ordered Sukov to turn and fly home. Sukov restart his engine in the dive and at the same time he saw enemy shells in front of his aircraft. Sukov remembers: "There is no reason to hide, I was luck in the first phase of the fight." The German pilot missed and the German fighter passed the Soviet aircraft and Sukov now had the upper hand- "He turns like a master, but he could not shake me off. After about three minutes of turning I managed to put the German plane firmly into my gunsight. After that there was only a routine technique: the armament of the LaGG-3 was powerful."
On August 9, 1942, pilots of JG54 received another shock. In the fight with Soviet fighter had been shot down and killed the best Luftwaffe pilot on that period, which had been honored by all possible medals of the Third Reich, Maks-Helmut Ostermann(102 victories). His BF-109 crushed into Ilmen' Lake and sunk.
When 4 Soviet LaGG-3 from 41 IAP had been flying toward the front line, the LaGG-3 of Lieutenant Sukov suffered mechanical problem in the electric system. The engine of LaGG-3 began to work with stops. The leader ordered Sukov to turn and fly home. Sukov restart his engine in the dive and at the same time he saw enemy shells in front of his aircraft. Sukov remembers: "There is no reason to hide, I was luck in the first phase of the fight". German pilot missed and German fighter passed Soviet aircraft and Sukov now had upper hand. "He turn like a master, but he could not shake me off. After about 3 minutes of turning I manage to put German plane firmly into my sights. After the it is only routine technique: armament of LaGG was powerful".
On August 10, 1942, yet another high ranked ace of JG54 was lost. North of city of Rzhev in the fight with Hurricanes had been destroyed fighter of commander of Group II, Karl Cattiga(53 victories). German pilot leave his burning Bf-109, but was captured by Soviet troops. But this fight was also very heavy for Soviet fighters from 485th IAP. 6 Soviet Hurricanes had been fighting for 45 minutes with 12 BF-109's which were much more superior to BF-109. In this fight the best Soviet fighter from 485th IAP Major Kondratiev was killed, but for four more pilots of JG54 this fight was last. It is unknown who exactly shot down ace Karl Sattiga, but victories were credited to Major Kondratiev, Captain Gabrinez, Sergant Taranenko, and Colonel Zimin.
On September 18, 1942, in the fly book of Lieutenant Sukov had been put those words: "Combat mission, take off at 1:09 PM, LaGG-3. Leader of the group. Providing cover form Il-2's from 448th ShAP. Fight with 8 Bf-109 North or railroad station Tosno. Shot down leader of the German group, which was honored by a Knight's Cross.
On this day 6 pilots from 41st IAP had been fighting with pilots from II/JG54. First, Germans attempt to attack Il-2's, which attacked Tosno railroad station. After a while number of German fighters doubled. Even so, Soviet pilots continue to be effective fighting in pairs in vertical and horizontal fights and providing support for each other. There were no losses among Soviet Il-2's and Soviet LaGG's. Pointless attacks cost "Grunherz" one more pilot. The German box champion in the light weight Herbert Findeizen(67 victories) jumped from his burning plane and became POW.
On September 18, 1942, Captain Zelenov from the 154th IAP had intercepted lonely German BF-109 in the area of Novoi Ladogi. After short fight he damaged German fighter. The pilot from Group I, Peter Zigler(49 victories) had been wounded. He attempted to reach his home field but could not. He crashed and was killed.
On October 7, 1942, North of Ilmen Lake in the fight with Yaks from 283rd IAP was killed commander of fifth "shtaffel" Ioham Vandel(75 victories), which was also known as "Dworf" for his short heights and constant concentration. This skilled German fighter had been exhausted and killed in the 25 minute fight by Lieutenant Zaizev. It was first out of 12 Zaizev victory.
On October 25, 1942, Soviet Major Solomatin from 92nd IAP destroyed BF-109 which was "hunting" near the Budugoschi, in the area of Soviet air fields. JG54 needlessly waited for return of Bernhard Shulten(59 victories). He was killed by Solomatin.
On November 11, already known to us, but at that time Captain Sukov had been testing Yak-7B which just had been repaired. He took a risk and went to free hunt in the are of Bol'shoi Vishery. Not far a way from the front line Sukov found pair of German BF-109's which flew on the low altitude into Soviet rear. Sukov attack from behind at high speed and totally surprised germans. One BF-109 was immediately shot down. Second BF-109 turn and run back to the front line. Third holder of the Kight Cross Lieutenant Hans-Iohim Heier(53 victories) from III.JG54 become the victim of the Captain Sukov, which had traditional "100 grams of vodka" after the fight. (It looks like Sukov become the JG54 nemesis, 4 JG54 aces where killed by him, 3 of them were holders of the Knight Cross. - Y.C.)
On December 6, 1942, over the Baltic Sea, had been lost pilot from staff "shtaffel" Orbert Pheiffer(37 victories), who was champion of the World in mountain skiing. His BF-109 was shot down, after a long fight, by a Captain Sukhov from 3rd GIAP. (Don't confuse with Sukov from 41st IAP.
In 1942 "Grunherz" lost 93 pilots total. (93 from 112 is A LOT. - Y.C.)