Günther Radusch

Günther Radusch
Günther Radusch
Nickname(s)	"Fips"
Born	11 November 1912 Schwetz
Died	29 July 1988 (aged 75) Nordstrand
Allegiance	Nazi Germany  West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe German Air Force
Years of service	1934–45 1958–71
Rank	Oberst
Unit	J/88, ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2, NJG 5
Commands held	NJG 5
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Defense of the Reich
Awards	Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Günther Radusch (11 November 1912 – 29 July 1988) was a German pilot in the Luftwaffe pilot during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Radusch is credited with 65 aerial victories. He claimed one victory during the Spanish Civil War, the remaining 64 victories were all claimed at night in over 140 combat missions, including the destruction of 57 four-engine bombers.

Radusch, an glider pilot as a student, joined the military service of the Heer before transferring to the Luftwaffe.^[1] Radusch and nine others, among them Günther Lützow, Wolfgang Falck and Hannes Trautloft, were recommended for training at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in the Soviet Russia.^[2] He was sent to Spain as part of the Condor Legion in October 1936.^[3] He claimed his only aerial victory in the Spanish Civil War on 22 April 1937. Together with fellow pilot Franz Heilmayer of 2./Jagdgruppe 88 they each claimed one Polikarpov I-15 shot down, one of which was flown by Felipe del Río Crespo, a seven victory flying ace.^[4] Radusch also tested the Heinkel He 112 5-1 under combat conditions in Spain.^[5] For his services in Spain he received the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords.^[1]

Awards

• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords^[1]
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur^[6]
• German Cross in Gold on 13 February 1943 as Major in the II./NJG 3^[7]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 29 August 1943 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./NJG 3^[8]
  • 444th Oak Leaves on 6 April 1944 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 5^[8]

References

Citations

1. Obermaier 1989, p. 63.
2. Braatz 2005, pp. 28–51.
3. Forsyth 2011, p. 25.
4. Forsyth 2011, p. 58.
5. Forsyth 2011, p. 33.
6. Patzwall 2008, p. 166.
7. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 364.
8. Scherzer 2007, p. 610.

Bibliography

• Braatz, Kurt (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow (in German). NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 3-9807935-6-7.
• Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
• 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.