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Günther Radusch
Günther Radusch (11 November 1912 – 29 July 1988) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander. As a fighter ace, he claimed 65 enemy aircraft shot down in over 140 combat missions. He claimed one victory in the Spanish Civil War. During World War II, he was credited with 64 aerial victories in Defense of the Reich all of which claimed at night and includes the destruction of 57 four-engined bombers. Born in Schwetz, Radusch volunteered for military service in the ''Reichsheer'' of the Weimar Republic in 1931. In parallel, he was accepted for flight training with the ''Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule'', a covert military-training organization, and at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school. Following flight training, he served with ''Jagdgeschwader'' 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) and volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War where he claimed one aerial victory. For his service in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Åšwiecie
Świecie (; german: Schwetz) is a town in northern Poland with 25,968 inhabitants (2006), situated in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999); it was in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998. It is the capital of Świecie County. Location Świecie is located on the west bank of river Vistula at the mouth of river Wda, approximately north-east of Bydgoszcz, 105 kilometers south of Gdańsk and 190 kilometers south-west of Kaliningrad. History A fishermen's village existed at the site of the present-day town in the Early Middle Ages. The area became part of the emerging Polish state in the 10th century. The name of the town comes from the Polish word ''świecić'', which means "shine". During the period of the fragmentation of Poland, Świecie became the residence of Pomeranian Duke Grzymisław, when in 1198 the St. Mary's church was erected there. Grzymisław's duchy included part of Gdańsk Pomerania with prominent towns of Starogard Gdański and Lubiszewo Tczewskie, as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fighter Ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually considered to be five or more. The concept of the "ace" emerged in 1915 during World War I, at the same time as aerial dogfighting. It was a propaganda term intended to provide the home front with a cult of the hero in what was otherwise a war of attrition. The individual actions of aces were widely reported and the image was disseminated of the ace as a chivalrous knight reminiscent of a bygone era. For a brief early period when air-to-air combat was just being invented, the exceptionally skilled pilot could shape the battle in the skies. For most of the war, however, the image of the ace had little to do with the reality of air warfare, in which fighters fought in formation and air superiority depended heavily on the relative availability ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 2 (NJG 2) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter and night intruder wing during World War II. Background Night fighter operations did form part of Wehrmacht war games during 1935 and 1936. Luftwaffe Service Regulation No. 16 mentioned night fighting only in Section 253. The regulation stipulated in vague language, that night fighting zones should be established so that night fighters and anti-aircraft artillery did not interfere with each other's operations. The regulation foresaw the use of Search lights in cooperation with pilots. Any hindrance to offensive air forces caused by "restrictive measures" was to be avoided. The prevailing attitude to night fighting left commanders on the ground to carry out research on their own; the first occurred in Berlin, by ''Luftkreiskommando'' II from May to November 1936. The ''Oberkommando der Luftwaffe'' did order experiments with searchlights and aircraft from the summer, 1937. In 1939 several night fighter ''staffel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knight's Cross Of The Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight's Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of military valour. Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the : the (army), the (navy) and the (air force), as well as the , the Reich Labour Service and the (German People storm militia), along with personnel from other Axis powers. The award was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the onset of the German invasion of Poland. The award was created to replace the many older merit and bravery neck awards of the German Empire. A higher grade, the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, was instituted in 1940. In 1941, two higher grades ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 5 (NJG 5) was a Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 5 was formed on 30 September 1942 in Döberitz. Operational history On 1 October 1942, 3./NJG 1 was redesignated 1./NJG 5. In March and April 1943, General Josef Kammhuber ordered IV./NJG 5 to Rennes, France to protect the German U-boat bases. The group was relocated to the Eastern Front again and redesignated as I./ ''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 100 (I./NJG 100). Western Front ''Oberleutnant'' Walter Borchers was made ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III./NJG 5 on 22 April 1943, leading the ''Gruppe'' until March 1944. On the night of 27/28 April, Wilhelm Johnen in a Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 performed an emergency landing at the Swiss airfield at Zürich-Dubendorf. Johnen and his crew were interned, and the Luftwaffe employed extensive political manoeuvring to ensure the Bf 110, equipped with the still secret SN-2 radar, was kept from close Allied examination and returned intact. At the end o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geschwaderkommodore
{{unreferenced, date=May 2019 ''Geschwaderkommodore'' (short also ''Kommodore'') is a ''Luftwaffe'' position or appointment (not rank), originating during World War II. A ''Geschwaderkommodore'' is usually an OF5-rank of ''Oberst'' (colonel) or Kapitän zur See (naval captain). A ''Geschwaderkommodore'' will command a ''Geschwader'' (Wing), which in turn contains ''Gruppen'' (Groups) each commanded by a '' Gruppenkommandeur'' (Group Commander). See also * Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945) Between 1933 and 1945, the organization of the Luftwaffe underwent several changes. Originally, the German military high command, for their air warfare forces, decided to use an organizational structure similar to the army and navy, treating the ... Luftwaffe Air force appointments German Air Force ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
1 (NJG 1) was a German night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 1 was formed on 22 June 1940 and comprised four (groups). NJG 1 was created as an air defence unit for the Defence of the Reich campaign; an aerial war waged by the against the bombing of the German Reich by RAF Bomber Command and the United States Air Force. In 1941 airborne radar was introduced with radar operators, and standardised in 1942 and 1943. Consequently, a large number of German night fighter aces existed within NJG 1. NJG 1 operated all of the major twin-engine night fighters produced by German industry during the war. It fought in notable campaigns, such as the Battle of the Ruhr and Battle of Berlin. By the end of the war, lack of fuel, technical setbacks, lack of training and advances by the Allied powers rendered the night force ineffective from August 1944 until the end of the war in May 1945. NJG 1 was the most successful night fighter wing and had claimed some 2,3 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Night Fighter
A night fighter (also known as all-weather fighter or all-weather interceptor for a period of time after the Second World War) is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility. Night fighters began to be used in World War I and included types that were specifically modified to operate at night. During the Second World War, night fighters were either purpose-built night fighter designs, or more commonly, heavy fighters or light bombers adapted for the mission, often employing radar or other systems for providing some sort of detection capability in low visibility. Many night fighters of the conflict also included instrument landing systems for landing at night, as turning on the runway lights made runways into an easy target for opposing intruders. Some experiments tested the use of day fighters on night missions, but these tended to work only under very favourable circumstances and were not widely successful. Avionics systems were greatly mini ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zerstörergeschwader 1
''Zerstörergeschwader'' 1 (ZG 1—1st Destroyer Wing) (lit. ''destroyer wing'') was a Luftwaffe heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft-wing of World War II. Formation ''Zerstörergeschwader'' 1 (ZG 1—1st Destroyer Wing) was formed with two ''Gruppen'' (groups) before the war. Initially, no '' Geschwaderstab'' (headquarters unit) nor III. ''Gruppe'' (3rd group) was formed. I. ''Gruppe'' (1st group) was formed by renaming II(s). ''Gruppe'' (2nd group) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 132 "Richthofen" (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing) to I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Zerstörergeschwader'' 141 (ZG 141—141st Destroyer Wing) on 1 November 1938 flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 single engine fighter. On 1 May 1939, I. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 141 became I. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 1. During this entire time, the ''Gruppe'' was commanded by ''Major'' Joachim-Friedrich Huth. This unit was initially based at Jüterbog- Damm until it was moved to Mackfitz, present-day Makowice in north-western Poland ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jagdgeschwader 134
''Jagdgeschwader'' 134 (JG 134) "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing prior to World War II. JG 134 was formed on 4 January 1936 with III. ''Gruppe'' in D̦beritz. The ''Geschwader'' was given the honorific name Horst Wessel on 24 March 1936. II ''Gruppe'' was formed on 15 March 1936 in Werl and was followed by the ''Geschwaderstab'' and I. ''Gruppe'' on 1 April 1936 in Dortmund. It would later become one of the premier ''Zersțrer'' wings of the Luftwaffe, as ''Zersțrergeschwader 26''. Commanding officers ''Kommodore'' * ''Oberstleutnant'' Kurt-Bertram von D̦ring, 15 March 1936 Р1 November 1938 ''Gruppenkommandeure'' ;I. ''Gruppe'' * ''Major'' Josef Kammhuber, 15 March 1936 Р1 March 1937 * ''Oberstleutnant'' Hermann Frommherz, 1 March 1937 Р1 November 1938 ;II. ''Gruppe'' * ''Major'' Theo Osterkamp, 15 March 1936 РNovember 1937 * ''Major'' Friedrich Vollbracht, November 1937 Р1 November 1938 ;III. ''Gruppe'' * ''Major'' Oska ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lipetsk Fighter-pilot School
The Lipetsk fighter-pilot school (german: Kampffliegerschule Lipezk), also known as WIWUPAL from its German codename ''Wissenschaftliche Versuchs- und Personalausbildungsstation'' "Scientific Experimental and Personnel Training Station", was a secret training school for fighter pilots operated by the German ''Reichswehr'' at Lipetsk, Soviet Union, because Germany was prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles from operating an air force and sought alternative means to continue training and development for the future ''Luftwaffe''. It is now the site of Lipetsk Air Base. Background The Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, prohibited Germany from operating any form of air force after the country had lost the First World War. Initially, it also prohibited the production and import of any form of aircraft to the country. In 1922, the clause on civilian aircraft was dropped and Germany was able to produce planes again, followed in 1923 with the country regaining control of its air ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Covert Operation
A covert operation is a military operation intended to conceal the identity of (or allow plausible deniability by) the party that instigated the operation. Covert operations should not be confused with clandestine operations, which are performed in secret and meant to stay secret. Covert operations aim to secretly fulfill their mission objectives without anyone knowing who sponsored or carried out the operation, or in some cases, without anyone knowing that the operation has even occurred. Impact According to a 2018 study by University of Chicago political scientist Austin Carson, covert operations may have the beneficial effect of preventing escalation of disputes into full-blown wars. He argues that keeping military operations secret can limit escalation dynamics, as well as insulate leaders from domestic pressures while simultaneously allowing them communicating their interest to the adversary in keeping a war contained. He finds that covert operations are frequently detec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
