Hubertus von Bonin (3 August 1911 – 15 December 1943) was a German
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
military aviator during the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...
and
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, a
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 co ...
listed with 77 enemy aircraft shot down. He claimed four victories in the Spanish Civil War, and during World War II, 64 on the
Eastern Front and nine on the
Western Front.
Born in
Potsdam
Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...
, von Bonin volunteered for service with the
Condor Legion
The Condor Legion (german: Legion Condor) was a unit composed of military personnel from the air force and army of Nazi Germany, which served with the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legio ...
during the Spanish Civil War where he commanded the 3. ''
Staffel'' (3rd squadron) of
''Jagdgruppe'' 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group). Following service in Spain, von Bonin was posted to
''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing). In January 1940, he was appointed ''
Gruppenkommandeur
''Gruppenkommandeur'' is a Luftwaffe position (not rank), that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. A ''Gruppenkommandeur'' usually has the rank of Major or ''Oberstleutnant'' (Lieutenant Colonel), and commands ...
'' (group commander) of I. ''
Gruppe'' (1st group) of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). He then served as a flight instructor before taking command of III. ''Gruppe'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front. Von Bonin was awarded the
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' ...
on 17 November 1942 after 51 aerial victories claimed. In July 1943, he was appointed ''
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 K ...
'' (wing commander) of JG 54. Von Bonin was
killed in action in aerial combat on 15 December 1943 near
Haradok
Haradok ( be, Гарадок, - russian: Городок, Gorodok, pl, Horodek) is a town in the Vitebsk Region of Belarus with the population of 34,700 people. Approximately 14,000 people reside in the town itself around 30,000 people reside wit ...
.
Early life and career
Von Bonin was born on 3 August 1911 in
Potsdam
Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...
in the
Province of Brandenburg
The Province of Brandenburg (german: Provinz Brandenburg) was a province of Prussia from 1815 to 1945. Brandenburg was established in 1815 from the Kingdom of Prussia's core territory, comprised the bulk of the historic Margraviate of Brandenburg ...
of the
German Empire
The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...
. He was the son of Bogislaw von Bonin and his wife Mathilde, a daughter of
Adolf von Bülow. His older brother,
Bogislaw served in the
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
and later in the ''Amt Blank'', a predecessor of the
Federal Ministry of Defence
The Federal Ministry of Defence (german: Bundesministerium der Verteidigung, ), abbreviated BMVg, is a top-level federal agency, headed by the Federal Minister of Defence as a member of the Cabinet of Germany. The ministry is headquartered at ...
. His two younger brothers also served in the
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
, Jürgen-Oskar was
killed in action on 8 February 1942 while serving as an observer in a ''Tansportgeschwader'' (air transport wing). Another brother,
Eckart-Wilhelm, became a night fighter pilot with 37 aerial victories who survived the war.
In October 1932, von Bonin attended the
Military School
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned. ...
Dresden
Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth larg ...
. Among his classmates were
Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders (18 March 1913 – 22 November 1941) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot, wing commander, and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. He became the first pilot in aviation history to shoot down 100 ...
,
Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn (20 October 1910 – 24 June 1953) was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 68 enemy aircraft shot down in 497 combat missions. ...
,
Joachim Pötter,
Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust
Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust (17 April 1913 – 27 March 1991) was an officer in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded the 27th Bomber Wing. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak L ...
,
Arved Crüger
Arved Crüger (25 June 1911 – 22 March 1942) was a Luftwaffe wing commander during World War II and Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient. He married the German movie actress Carola Höhn in 1941. He was appointed ''Geschwaderkommodore' ...
,
Gerhard Kollewe Gerhard is a name of Germanic origin and may refer to:
Given name
* Gerhard (bishop of Passau) (fl. 932–946), German prelate
* Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg (1292–1340), German prince, regent of Denmark
* Gerhard Barkhorn (1919–19 ...
and
Wolfgang Schellmann. On 15 March 1937, I. ''
Gruppe'' (1st group) of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 334 (JG 334—334th Fighter Wing) was created at
Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airfield and headed by ''Hauptmann'' Hubert Merhart von Bernegg. Initially, the ''Gruppe'' was created without 3. ''
Staffel'' (3rd squadron) which was formed on 1 July and placed under the command of von Bonin. The ''Gruppe'' was equipped with the
Arado Ar 68
The Arado Ar 68 was a German single-seat biplane fighter developed in the mid-1930s. It was among the first fighters produced when Germany abandoned the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles and began rearming.
Design and development
Designe ...
E. In early 1938, they received the then new
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War an ...
D-1.
Von Bonin transferred to the
Condor Legion
The Condor Legion (german: Legion Condor) was a unit composed of military personnel from the air force and army of Nazi Germany, which served with the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legio ...
on 30 November 1938 and command of 3. ''Staffel'' then passed on to ''Hauptmann'' Lothar von Jansen. Von Bonin replaced ''Hauptmann'' Mölders, his former classmate at the Military School Dresden, as ''
Staffelkapitän
''Staffelkapitän'' is a position (not a rank) in flying units ( ''Staffel'') of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a ''Staffelkapitän'' is of '' Oberstleutnant'' or ''Major'' rank.
In the ...
'' (Squadron Leader) of the 3. ''Staffel'' of
''Jagdgruppe'' 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) on 5 December 1938. During the course of the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...
, he claimed four
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
fighter aircraft shot down, including a
Curtiss P-36 Hawk on 6 March which was J/88's 314th and last aerial victory. For his service in Spain, he was awarded the
Spanish Cross
The Spanish Cross (german: Spanien-Kreuz) was an award of Nazi Germany given to German troops who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for nationalist general, later Spanish caudillo, Francisco Franco.
History
With the outbreak o ...
in Gold with Swords () on 14 April 1939.
After his return from Spain, von Bonin took command of the 5. ''Staffel'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) on 28 June 1939. He took over command from ''Hauptmann'' Herwig Knüppel who was given command of II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 26 to which 5. ''Staffel'' was subordinated. At the time, II. ''Gruppe'' was based at
Düsseldorf Airfield and was equipped with the Bf 109 E-1. On 25 August, a week before the outbreak of World War II, the ''Gruppe'' was ordered to Bönninghardt, an airfield southwest of
Wesel
Wesel () is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.
Geography
Wesel is situated at the confluence of the Lippe River and the Rhine.
Division of the city
Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighove ...
, close to Germany's western border.
World War II
World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces
invaded Poland. Based in Bönninghardt, the ''Gruppe'' initially flew fighter protection during the "
Phoney War
The Phoney War (french: Drôle de guerre; german: Sitzkrieg) was an eight-month period at the start of World War II, during which there was only one limited military land operation on the Western Front, when French troops invaded Germa ...
" along the Belgian and Dutch border without claiming any aerial victories. On 1 November, II. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to
Werl
Werl (; Westphalian: ''Wiärl'') is a town located in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Geography
Werl is easily accessible because it is located between the Sauerland, Münsterland, and the Ruhr Area. The Hellweg road ...
where elements were split off to form the nucleus of the newly created III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 26. On 1 January 1940, von Bonin was transferred and appointed ''
Gruppenkommandeur
''Gruppenkommandeur'' is a Luftwaffe position (not rank), that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. A ''Gruppenkommandeur'' usually has the rank of Major or ''Oberstleutnant'' (Lieutenant Colonel), and commands ...
'' (Group Commander) of the I. ''Gruppe'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). He replaced ''Major'' Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel who was transferred. On 10 May, German forces launched the attack on France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands which became the
Battle of France
The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of French Third Rep ...
. At the time, I. ''Gruppe'' was based at
Eutingen im Gäu
Eutingen is a municipality in the district of Freudenstadt in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in E ...
near
Horb am Neckar
Horb am Neckar is a town in the southwest of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river, between Offenburg to the west (about away) and Tübingen to the east (about away). It has around 25,000 inhabitants, of whom ...
patrolling the German front along the
Upper Rhine
The Upper Rhine (german: Oberrhein ; french: Rhin Supérieur) is the section of the Rhine between Basel in Switzerland and Bingen in Germany, surrounded by the Upper Rhine Plain. The river is marked by Rhine-kilometres 170 to 529 (the sc ...
and
Alsace
Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...
. According to Mathews and Foreman, von Bonin claimed his first aerial victory of World War II the following day, which was not confirmed. Without seeing much further action, I. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to
Vitry-en-Artois Airfield on 28 May where they fought in the
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk (french: Bataille de Dunkerque, link=no) was fought around the French port of Dunkirk (Dunkerque) during the Second World War, between the Allies and Nazi Germany. As the Allies were losing the Battle of France on ...
. On 5 June, German forced launched ''
Fall Rot
''Fall Rot'' (Case Red) was the plan for a German military operation after the success of (Case Yellow), the Battle of France, an invasion of the Benelux countries and northern France. The Allied armies had been defeated and pushed back in th ...
'' (Case Red), the second phase of the conquest of France. I. ''Gruppe'' supported the left wing of
Army Group B
Army Group B (German: ') was the title of three German Army Groups that saw action during World War II.
Operational history
Army Group B first took part in the Battle of France in 1940 in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The second formation of ...
's advance. On 6 June, the ''Gruppe'' moved to an airfield at
Cramont
Cramont () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
Geography
Cramont is situated on the D166 road, some northeast of Abbeville.
History
In 1524, the troops of Charles Quint, Holy Roman Emperor and king of ...
, approximately east-northeast of
Abbeville
Abbeville (, vls, Abbekerke, pcd, Advile) is a commune in the Somme department and in Hauts-de-France region in northern France.
It is the chef-lieu of one of the arrondissements of Somme. Located on the river Somme, it was the capital of ...
. Two days later, von Bonin shot down two
''Armée de l'Air'' (French Air Force)
Bloch MB.150
The Bloch MB.150 (later MB.151 to MB.157) was a French fighter aircraft developed and produced by '' Société des Avions Marcel Bloch''. It featured an all-metal construction, complete with a retractable undercarriage, low cantilever wing and ...
fighters near
Pontoise
Pontoise () is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the " new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.
Administration
Pontoise is the official ''préfecture'' (capital) of the Val-d'Oise ''dépa ...
.
On 18 June, I. ''Gruppe'' was withdrawn from the combat area of Army Group B and ordered to
Châteaudun Airfield
Châteaudun () is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It was the site of the Battle of Châteaudun during the Franco-Prussian War.
Geography
Châteaudun is located about 45&nb ...
before moving to
Eindhoven Airfield in the Netherlands on 26 June for a period of rest and equipment overhaul. The following day, a
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
(RAF) flight of
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company (Bristol) which was used extensively in the first two years of the Second World War, with examples still being used as trainers until ...
bombers was intercepted, and four bombers were claimed shot down, including three by von Bonin. The ''Gruppe'' stayed in Eindhoven until 15 July when they moved to
Schiphol Airfield. On 26 July, the unit was ordered closer to the
English Channel
The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" (Cotentinais) or ( Jèrriais), (Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kana ...
and was then based at an airfield near
Campagne-lès-Guines
Campagne-lès-Guines (, literally ''Campagne Lès, near Guînes, Guines'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department in the Nord-Pas de Calais region of France.
Geography
A farming village located 10 ...
to participate in
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...
. On 25 August, von Bonin was credited with the destruction of a RAF
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Grif ...
fighter. He claimed a further Spitfire and a
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–40s which was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was overshadowed in the public consciousness by ...
fighter east of
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea (), commonly referred to as Southend (), is a coastal city and unitary authority area with borough status in southeastern Essex, England. It lies on the north side of the Thames Estuary, east of central London. It is bordered ...
on 5 September while escorting Luftwaffe bombers attacking RAF ground targets. Von Bonin was credited with his last aerial victory over the RAF on 11 September when he claimed a Spitfire shot down north of
Dungeness
Dungeness () is a headland on the coast of Kent, England, formed largely of a shingle beach in the form of a cuspate foreland. It shelters a large area of low-lying land, Romney Marsh. Dungeness spans Dungeness Nuclear Power Station, the hamlet ...
. On 23 September, I. ''Gruppe'' was withdrawn from the English Channel and ordered to
Jever Airfield where the ''Gruppe'' was again replenished. At Jever, the ''Gruppe'' flew fighter patrols over the
German Bight
The German Bight (german: Deutsche Bucht; da, tyske bugt; nl, Duitse bocht; fry, Dútske bocht; ; sometimes also the German Bay) is the southeastern bight of the North Sea bounded by the Netherlands and Germany to the south, and Denmark and ...
.
On 29 April 1941, von Bonin had a
taxiing
Taxiing (rarely spelled taxying) is the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or pushback where the aircraft is moved by a tug. The aircraft usually moves on wheels, but the term also includes aircra ...
accident in his Bf 109 (''Werknummer'' 2055—factory number) while based at Wesermünde, present-day part of
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven (, , Low German: ''Bremerhoben'') is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany.
It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Riv ...
. The aircraft sustained 10% damage.
Eastern Front and instructor
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa (german: link=no, Unternehmen Barbarossa; ) was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and many of its Axis allies, starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during the Second World War. The operation, code-named after ...
, the German invasion of the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
, began on 22 June 1941. In the fortnight prior, JG 54 had been moved to an airfield in Lindenthal near Rautenberg,
East Prussia
East Prussia ; german: Ostpreißen, label=Low Prussian; pl, Prusy Wschodnie; lt, Rytų Prūsija was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and again from 1878 (with the Kingdom itself being part of the German Empire from 187 ...
, present-day Uslowoje in
Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast (russian: Калинингра́дская о́бласть, translit=Kaliningradskaya oblast') is the westernmost federal subject of Russia. It is a semi-exclave situated on the Baltic Sea. The largest city and administr ...
. Tasked with supporting
Army Group North
Army Group North (german: Heeresgruppe Nord) was a German strategic formation, commanding a grouping of field armies during World War II. The German Army Group was subordinated to the ''Oberkommando des Heeres'' (OKH), the German army high comma ...
in its advance through the
Baltic states
The Baltic states, et, Balti riigid or the Baltic countries is a geopolitical term, which currently is used to group three countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All three countries are members of NATO, the European Union, the Eurozone, ...
towards
Leningrad
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
, the unit began combat operations shortly afterwards. On 30 June, von Bonin was transferred to take command of
''Jagdfliegerschule'' 4, the fighter pilot school in
Fürth
Fürth (; East Franconian: ; yi, פיורדא, Fiurda) is a city in northern Bavaria, Germany, in the administrative division (''Regierungsbezirk'') of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the t ...
. Command of I. ''Gruppe'' passed on to ''Hauptmann''
Erich von Selle
This is a list of fighter aces in World War II from Germany. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. It is relatively certain that 2,500 German fighter pilot ...
.
![III-JG52-ins](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/III-JG52-ins.svg)
On 1 October 1941, he then took command of the III. ''Gruppe'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front. At the time of his posting to JG 52, III. ''Gruppe'' was based at
Poltava
Poltava (, ; uk, Полтава ) is a city located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine. It is the capital city of the Poltava Oblast (province) and of the surrounding Poltava Raion (district) of the oblast. Poltava is administratively ...
and supporting the
17th Army in its assault on
Kharkov
Kharkiv ( uk, Ха́рків, ), also known as Kharkov (russian: Харькoв, ), is the second-largest city and municipality in Ukraine. , leading up to the
First Battle of Kharkov
The First Battle of Kharkov, so named by Wilhelm Keitel, was the 1941 battle for the city of Kharkov, Ukrainian SSR, during the final phase of Operation Barbarossa between the German 6th Army of Army Group South and the Soviet Southwestern F ...
. Under his leadership, III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 52 became the most successful fighter unit of the Luftwaffe. Von Bonin claimed his first aerial victory with JG 52 on 29 April 1942. That day, he shot down a
Yakovlev Yak-1
The Yakovlev Yak-1 (russian: Яковлев Як-1) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. The Yak-1 was a single-seat monoplane with a composite structure and wooden wings; production began in early 1940.Angelucci and Matricardi 197 ...
fighter. III. ''Gruppe'' had just relocated to Zürichtal, a small village at the
Inhul
The Inhul ( uk, Інгул) is a left tributary of the Southern Bug (Boh) and is the 14th longest river of Ukraine. It flows through the Kirovohrad and Mykolaiv regions.
It starts near the village of Rodnykivka, Oleksandriia Raion in Kirovohr ...
in the former German settlement west of
Feodosia
uk, Феодосія, Теодосія crh, Kefe
, official_name = ()
, settlement_type=
, image_skyline = THEODOSIA 01.jpg
, imagesize = 250px
, image_caption = Genoese fortress of Caffa
, image_shield = Fe ...
in the
Crimea
Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a pop ...
. On 12 May, III. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to relocate to an airfield named Kharkov-
Rogan
Rogan is an Irish surname, deriving from the Irish ''Ó Ruadhagáin'', which can be loosely translated to mean "red-haired."
History
The clan is descended from one of the septs of Airgíalla, Oriel which originated in Counties Armagh and Monagha ...
, east of Kharkov where they participated in the
Second Battle of Kharkov
The Second Battle of Kharkov or Operation Fredericus was an Axis counter-offensive in the region around Kharkov against the Red Army Izium bridgehead offensive conducted 12–28 May 1942, on the Eastern Front during World War II. Its objectiv ...
. Over the next weeks, III. ''Gruppe'' was moved several times. On 19 May, the ''Gruppe'' moved to
Barvinkove
Barvinkove () or Barvenkovo () is a city in Izium Raion of Kharkiv Oblast of Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Barvinkove urban hromada, one of the communities of Ukraine. locally referred to as Barvinkove Population:
History
Barvinkove ...
where they stayed until 12 June mostly fighting over the encircled Soviet forces in the
Izium
Izium or Izyum ( uk, Ізюм, ; russian: Изюм) is a city on the Donets River in Kharkiv Oblast (province) of eastern Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Izium Raion (district). Izium hosts the administration of Izium urban ...
salient. They were then ordered to
Belgorod
Belgorod ( rus, Белгород, p=ˈbʲeɫɡərət) is a city and the administrative center of Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Seversky Donets River north of the border with Ukraine. Population: Demographics
The population of Be ...
and to Grakowo, located approximately halfway between Kharkov and
Kupiansk
Kupiansk ( uk, Куп'янськ, ) is a city in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Kupiansk Raion. It is also an important railroad junction for the oblast. Kupiansk hosts the administrative offices of Kupiansk Ur ...
, on 22 June. On 26 June, III. ''Gruppe'' then moved to
Bely Kolodez where they stayed until 3 July. According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, von Bonin claimed seven aerial victories between 9 May to 30 June which were not documented.
On 28 June, German forces had launched
Case Blue
Case Blue (German: ''Fall Blau'') was the German Armed Forces' plan for the 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia between 28 June and 24 November 1942, during World War II. The objective was to capture the oil fields of the Cauca ...
, the strategic summer offensive in
southern Russia
Southern Russia or the South of Russia (russian: Юг России, ''Yug Rossii'') is a colloquial term for the southernmost geographic portion of European Russia generally covering the Southern Federal District and the North Caucasian Federal ...
. On 7 July,
Army Group A
Army Group A (Heeresgruppe A) was the name of several German Army Groups during World War II. During the Battle of France, the army group named Army Group A was composed of 45½ divisions, including 7 armored panzer divisions. It was responsible ...
began their advance towards the oil fields in the
Caucasus
The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historically ...
. On 13 August, III. ''Gruppe'' had reached
Mineralnye Vody
Mineralnye Vody (Min-Vody) ( rus, Минеральные Воды (Мин-Воды), p=mʲɪnʲɪˈralʲnɨjə ˈvodɨ, mʲɪn ˈvodɨ; lit. ''mineral waters'') is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town in Stavropol Krai, Russia, located a ...
in the
North Caucasus
The North Caucasus, ( ady, Темыр Къафкъас, Temır Qafqas; kbd, Ишхъэрэ Къаукъаз, İṩxhərə Qauqaz; ce, Къилбаседа Кавказ, Q̇ilbaseda Kavkaz; , os, Цӕгат Кавказ, Cægat Kavkaz, inh, ...
region. In mid-August, von Bonin was ordered to detach a small ''Kommando'' (commando) under the command of ''Oberleutnant''
Hermann Graf
Hermann Graf (24 October 1912 – 4 November 1988) was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. He served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. He became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 200 aerial victories—that is, 200 ...
. On 23 August, von Bonin claimed a
Polikarpov I-16
The Polikarpov I-16 (russian: Поликарпов И-16) is a Soviet single-engine single-seat fighter aircraft of revolutionary design; it was the world's first low-wing cantilever monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear to attain ope ...
fighter and a
Douglas A-20 Havoc
The Douglas A-20 Havoc (company designation DB-7) is an American medium bomber, attack aircraft, Intruder (air combat), night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II.
Designed to meet an Army Air Corps requirement f ...
, also known as a Boston, taking his total to 19 aerial victories. On 27 August, III. ''Gruppe'' reached an airfield named Gonschtakowka located north-northeast of
Mozdok
Mozdok (russian: Моздо́к; os, Мæздæг, ''Mæzdæg''; Kabardian: Мэздэгу) is a town and the administrative center of Mozdoksky District of North Ossetia – Alania, Russia, located on the left shore of the Terek River, n ...
on the
Terek. There, von Bonin claimed two
Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3
The Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 (Лавочкин-Горбунов-Гудков ЛаГГ-3) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. It was a refinement of the earlier LaGG-1 and was one of the most modern aircraft available to the Sov ...
fighters and a Boston bomber shot down on 30 August. On the next two days, he shot down one LaGG-3 fighter on each day taking his total to 24. On 2 September, von Bonin was credited with a
Polikarpov I-153
The Polikarpov I-153 ''Chaika'' (Russian ''Чайка'', "Seagull") was a late 1930s Soviet biplane fighter. Developed as an advanced version of the I-15 with a retractable undercarriage, the I-153 fought in the Soviet-Japanese combats in Mong ...
fighter and two Boston bombers.
On 19 September, III. ''Gruppe'' reached an airfield named Soldatskaya, west of Mozdok. The ''Gruppe'' would remain here until 1 January 1943 but would also use airfields at Mozdok and
Digora
Digora (russian: Дигора́; os, Дигорæ, ''Digoræ'') is a town and the administrative center of Digorsky District of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Russia, located on the Ursdon River (left tributary of the Terek), northw ...
. He was awarded the
German Cross
The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repe ...
in Gold () on 27 October 1942. On 1 November, von Bonin became an "
ace-in-a-day" claiming a La-5, a MiG-3, and two LaGG-3 fighters plus an Il-2 ground attack aircraft, taking his total to 46 aerial victories. On 13 December, von Bonin claimed two Yak-1 fighters, his last aerial victories of 1942, taking his total to 56. A week later, on 21 December, von Bonin received the
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' ...
(). Von Bonin claimed his next aerial victories in late April 1943. III. ''Gruppe'' had been ordered to
Taman
Taman may refer to: Places
*Taman Peninsula, a peninsula in southern Russia
**Taman Bay, an inlet of the Strait of Kerch off the peninsula
**Taman, Russia, a rural locality located on the peninsula
** Port of Taman, a seaport on the Peninsula
* ...
on the
Kuban
Kuban (Russian language, Russian and Ukrainian language, Ukrainian: Кубань; ady, Пшызэ) is a historical and geographical region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Pontic–Caspian steppe, ...
on 1 April. On 29 April, he shot down two LaGG-3 fighters. His last claim with JG 52 was filed on 29 May when he shot down a LaGG-3 fighter.
Wing commander and death
![JG-54 Emblem](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/JG-54_Emblem.svg)
On 5 July 1943, ''Oberstleutnant''
Hannes Trautloft
Johannes "Hannes" Trautloft (3 March 1912 – 11 January 1995) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, and general in the postwar German Air Force. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 58 enemy ai ...
, the ''
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 K ...
'' (wing commander) of JG 54, was transferred to the staff of the
''General der Jagdflieger'' (General of Fighters), an office held by ''Generalmajor''
Adolf Galland
Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland (19 March 1912 – 9 February 1996) was a German Luftwaffe general and flying ace who served throughout the Second World War in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western Front and in the Defen ...
. In consequence, von Bonin was transferred and assumed command of JG 54 on 6 July 1943. At the time, the
''Geschwaderstab'' (headquarters unit) of JG 54 was based at
Siversky
Siversky (russian: Си́верский) is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement) in Gatchinsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, on the bank of the Oredezh River. Its population was
The banks of the Oredezh River through Siversky a ...
and subordinated to
''Luftflotte'' 1 (Air Fleet 1), supporting
Army Group North
Army Group North (german: Heeresgruppe Nord) was a German strategic formation, commanding a grouping of field armies during World War II. The German Army Group was subordinated to the ''Oberkommando des Heeres'' (OKH), the German army high comma ...
. Prior to this posting, von Bonin had just recently married. Further south, German forces had launched
Operation Citadel
Operation Citadel (german: Unternehmen Zitadelle) was a German offensive operation in July 1943 against Soviet forces in the Kursk salient, proposed by Generalfeldmarschall Fritz Erich Georg Eduard von Manstein during the Second World War on ...
on 5 July, the failed attempt to eliminate the Kursk salient that initiated the
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk was a major World War II Eastern Front engagement between the forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in the southwestern USSR during late summer 1943; it ultimately became the largest tank battle in history. ...
. In support of this offensive, JG 54 moved to
Oryol
Oryol ( rus, Орёл, p=ɐˈrʲɵl, lit. ''eagle''), also transliterated as Orel or Oriol, is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast situated on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow. It is part of the Central Fed ...
on 9 July, fighting on the northern pincer of ''Generaloberst''
Walter Model
Otto Moritz Walter Model (; 24 January 1891 – 21 April 1945) was a German field marshal during World War II. Although he was a hard-driving, aggressive panzer commander early in the war, Model became best known as a practitioner of defen ...
's
9th Army.
In October, the ''Geschwaderstab'' moved to
Vitebsk
Vitebsk or Viciebsk (russian: Витебск, ; be, Ві́цебск, ; , ''Vitebsk'', lt, Vitebskas, pl, Witebsk), is a city in Belarus. The capital of the Vitebsk Region, it has 366,299 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-largest ci ...
. On 15 December, von Bonin claimed two Il-2 ground attack aircraft shot down northeast of Gorodok, present-day
Haradok
Haradok ( be, Гарадок, - russian: Городок, Gorodok, pl, Horodek) is a town in the Vitebsk Region of Belarus with the population of 34,700 people. Approximately 14,000 people reside in the town itself around 30,000 people reside wit ...
. Von Bonin had attacked a flight of six Il-2 ground attack aircraft and their fighter escort. In this encounter, he was shot down and killed in action in his
Focke Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, nicknamed ''Würger'' ("Shrike") is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. Along with its well-known counterpart, th ...
A-5 (''Werknummer'' 2600) east of Gorodok. Command of JG 54 initially remained vacant until ''Oberstleutnant''
Anton Mader
Anton Mader (7 January 1913 – 19 February 1984) was a German pilot during World War II. He claimed 86 victories and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He commanded the fighter wing ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 in 1944.
Early li ...
was appointed ''Geschwaderkommodore'' on 28 January 1944.
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
According to Spick, von Bonin was credited with 77 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number combat missions. This figure includes four aerial victories during the Spanish Civil War, nine during the Battle of France and Britain and further 64 aerial victories on the Eastern Front. Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the
German Federal Archives
The German Federal Archives or Bundesarchiv (BArch) (german: Bundesarchiv) are the National Archives of Germany. They were established at the current location in Koblenz in 1952.
They are subordinated to the Federal Commissioner for Culture and t ...
and found documentation for 65 aerial victory claims. This number includes four claims during the Spanish Civil War, eight over the
Western Allies
The Allies, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed during the Second World War (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy ...
, and 53 on the Eastern Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = ''Planquadrat''), for example "PQ 44283". The Luftwaffe grid map () covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15
minutes
Minutes, also known as minutes of meeting (abbreviation MoM), protocols or, informally, notes, are the instant written record of a meeting or hearing. They typically describe the events of the meeting and may include a list of attendees, a state ...
of
latitude
In geography, latitude is a coordinate that specifies the north– south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is given as an angle that ranges from –90° at the south pole to 90° at the north pol ...
by 30 minutes of
longitude
Longitude (, ) is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east–west position of a point on the surface of the Earth, or another celestial body. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek letter l ...
, an area of about . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 × 4 km in size.
Awards
*
Spanish Cross
The Spanish Cross (german: Spanien-Kreuz) was an award of Nazi Germany given to German troops who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for nationalist general, later Spanish caudillo, Francisco Franco.
History
With the outbreak o ...
in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939)
*
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...
(1939) 2nd and 1st class
*
German Cross
The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repe ...
in Gold on 27 October 1942 as ''
Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
'' in the III./''Jagdgeschwader'' 52
*
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' ...
on 21 December 1942 as ''
Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
'' and ''
Gruppenkommandeur
''Gruppenkommandeur'' is a Luftwaffe position (not rank), that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. A ''Gruppenkommandeur'' usually has the rank of Major or ''Oberstleutnant'' (Lieutenant Colonel), and commands ...
'' of the III./''Jagdgeschwader'' 52
Notes
References
Citations
Bibliography
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External links
Hubertus von Bonin @ Ritterkreuzträger 1939–45
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonin, Hubertus Von
1911 births
1943 deaths
Condor Legion personnel
German World War II flying aces
Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II
People from the Province of Brandenburg
German military personnel of the Spanish Civil War
Recipients of the Gold German Cross
Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Aviators killed by being shot down
Military personnel from Potsdam