Английская Википедия:Heinz Strüning
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Infobox military person Heinz Strüning (13 January 1912 – 24 December 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 56 nocturnal aerial victories claimed in 280 combat missions.[Note 1]
All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command. He was shot down and killed in action on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1944.
Early life and career
Strüning was born on 13 January 1912 in Neviges, at the time in the Rhine Province of the German Empire. He was the son of electrician Karl Strüning. Following graduation from the Realgymnasium—a secondary school built on the mid-level Realschule—in Langenberg he began his vocational education as a merchant. In March 1935, he joined the Luftwaffe and was trained as a pilot.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Refn
Holding the rank of Unteroffizier, he was posted to 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing), named after the Nazi martyr Horst Wessel, on 2 August 1939.Шаблон:Sfn[Note 2]
World War II
World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Flying with ZG 26, he flew several patrol missions on the Western Front during the Phoney War period. On 9 April 1940, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Weserübung, the German assault on Denmark and Norway. Two days later, Strüning was reassigned to the Zerstörrerstaffel of Kampfgeschwader 30 (KG 30—30th Bomber Wing). Until 9 June, he flew escort missions in support of the German troops at Narvik. For his service in Norway, he was awarded the Iron Cross second Class (Шаблон:Lang) on 15 July 1940. On 1 August 1940, Strüning was promoted to Feldwebel (sergeant).Шаблон:Sfn
Night fighter career
Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight, Royal Air Force (RAF) attacks shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign.Шаблон:Sfn By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector named a Himmelbett (canopy bed) would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers. In 1941, the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar. This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942.Шаблон:Sfn
In July 1940, elements of (Z)KG 30 were trained and converted to flying night fighter missions. These elements then became the 4. Staffel in the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of the newly created Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing). On 11 September, II. Gruppe of NJG 1 was reassigned and became the I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2—2nd Night Fighter Wing), subsequently Strünning became a pilot of 1./NJG 2.Шаблон:Sfn Kammhuber had created I./NJG 2 with the idea of utilizing the Junkers Ju 88 C-2 and Dornier Do 17 Z as an offensive weapon, flying long range intruder (Шаблон:Lang) missions into British airspace, attacking RAF airfields. Until October 1941, I. Gruppe operated from the Gilze-Rijen Air Base.Шаблон:Sfn
With this unit, Strüning flew 66 intruder missions over England at night,Шаблон:Sfn and claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 23 November 1940 over a Vickers Wellington bomber Шаблон:Convert west of Scheveningen.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Two days later, he received the Iron Cross first Class (Шаблон:Lang). For his service in Norway, he was presented the Narvik Shield on 30 January 1941.Шаблон:Sfn On the evening of 15 February 1941, Strüning claimed a Lockheed Hudson Шаблон:Convert east of Great Yarmouth and a Wellington Шаблон:Convert east-northeast of Southend-on-Sea.Шаблон:Sfn Following his fifth aerial victory, he received the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Шаблон:Lang) on 12 June 1941. On 1 July 1941, Strüning was promoted to Oberfeldwebel (Master Sergeant).Шаблон:Sfn He claimed his ninth and last intruder aerial victory on 13 October 1941 over a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in the vicinity of Upwood over England.Шаблон:Sfn
In the timeframe 24 October 1940, the date of I. GruppeШаблон:'s first aerial victory, to 12 October 1941, the intruder Gruppe claimed approximately 100 RAF aircraft destroyed, additionally further aircraft were damaged as well as RAF ground targets attacked. This came at the expense of 26 aircraft lost. In October 1941, Hitler ordered the intruder operations stopped as he was skeptical of the results. The unit was then ordered to Catania, Sicily in the Mediterranean theater of operations.Шаблон:Sfn Strüning however stayed at Gilze-Rijen and was transferred to the Ergänzungsjagdgruppe, a supplementary unit of NJG 2.Шаблон:Sfn
In November 1941, he was transferred to 7./NJG 2. With this unit, Strüning gained 15 victories until mid-September 1942. He received the German Cross in Gold (Шаблон:Lang) in July 1942, after his 19th claim. In mid September 1942 he was promoted to Leutnant and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Шаблон:Lang) in October 1942. Strüning is then transferred to 2./NJG 1 in May 1943.
Staffelkapitän and death
Strüning was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 August 1943.Шаблон:Sfn On 15 August, he was then appointed Staffelkapitän of 3. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing). On 23 August 1943, Strüning claimed a Lancaster shot down Шаблон:Convert east of Eindhoven.Шаблон:Sfn
Strüning coordinated the introduction of the new Heinkel He 219 "Uhu". With this aircraft, Strüning downed three bombers on the night of 31 August 1943, a Halifax Шаблон:Convert west of Mönchengladbach.Шаблон:Sfn On 22 June 1944, he shot down three RAF bombers. Strüning was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Шаблон:Lang) on 20 July 1944.
On 7 October, Helmut Lent, the Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 3, died of wounds sustained in a flying accident the day before. Lent's state funeral was held in the Reich Chancellery, Berlin, on Wednesday 11 October 1944. Strüning, together with Oberstleutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs, Major Rudolf Schoenert, Oberstleutnant Günther Radusch, Hauptmann Karl Hadeball and Hauptmann Paul Zorner, formed the guard of honor.Шаблон:Sfn On 15 November, Strüning again participated in a guard of honor. He and Leutnant Karl Schnörrer, Oberst Gordon Gollob, Major Georg Christl, Major Rudolf Schoenert, Major Josef Fözö formed the guard of honor at Walter Nowotny funeral at the Zentralfriedhof in Vienna. Nowotny had been killed in action on 8 November 1944. The eulogy was delivered by Generaloberst Otto Deßloch.Шаблон:Sfn
At about 6 pm on 24 December 1944 his Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (Werknummer 740 162—factory number) G9+CT was shot down by 10-kill ace F/L R.D. Doleman and F/L D.C. Bunch of No. 157 Squadron RAF in a de Havilland Mosquito Intruder while he tried to attack a Lancaster bomber over Cologne.Шаблон:Sfn He bailed out but struck the tail of his plane and fell to his death. His body was found two months after his death.Шаблон:Sfn Strüning was buried at the Ostfriedhof (eastern cemetery) in Westönnen in field X, grave 14.Шаблон:Sfn
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
During his career, Hauptmann Heinz Strüning had made 280 combat missions (250 at night), and claimed 56 victories at night (including two Mosquitoes).
Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 56 nocturnal victory claims.Шаблон:Sfn Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Strüning with 56 aerial victories claimed in 280 combat missions.Шаблон:Sfn
Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Serial No./Squadron No. |
– 1. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –Шаблон:Sfn | |||||
1 | 23 November 1940 | 18:40 | Wellington | Шаблон:Convert west of ScheveningenШаблон:Sfn | |
2 | 15 February 1941 | 09:15 | Hudson | Шаблон:Convert east of Great YarmouthШаблон:Sfn | |
3 | 15 February 1941 | 19:58 | Wellington | Шаблон:Convert east-northeast of Southend-on-SeaШаблон:Sfn | |
4 | 7 May 1941 | 02:08 | Wellington | PeterboroughШаблон:Sfn | Wellington R3227/No. 11 Operational Training Unit RAFШаблон:Sfn |
5 | 9 May 1941 | 23:30 | Wellington | over the North SeaШаблон:Sfn | |
6 | 5 July 1941 | 01:57 | Wellington | vicinity of Bircham NewtonШаблон:Sfn | |
7 | 19 August 1941 | 01:20 | Blenheim | vicinity of GranthamШаблон:Sfn | |
8 | 19 August 1941 | 02:00 | Blenheim | vicinity of GranthamШаблон:Sfn | |
9 | 13 October 1941 | 22:20 | B-17 | vicinity of UpwoodШаблон:Sfn | |
– Ergänzungsjagdgruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –Шаблон:Sfn | |||||
10 | 26 January 1942 | 22:35 | WhitleyШаблон:Sfn | ||
11 | 29 April 1942 | 01:15 | Boston | Шаблон:Convert southeast of NoordschansШаблон:Sfn | |
12 | 9 May 1942 | 01:02 | StirlingШаблон:Sfn | ||
13 | 20 May 1942 | 00:56 | StirlingШаблон:Sfn | Stirling DJ977/No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn | |
14 | 31 May 1942 | 00:27 | BostonШаблон:Sfn | Manchester L7429/No.49 Conversion Flight RAFШаблон:Sfn | |
15 | 2 June 1942 | 03:10 | B-24Шаблон:Sfn | ||
16 | 2 June 1942 | 03:25 | WellingtonШаблон:Sfn | Stirling R9318/No. 15 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn | |
17 | 6 June 1942 | 03:35 | StirlingШаблон:Sfn | ||
18 | 20 June 1942 | 03:27 | WellingtonШаблон:Sfn | ||
19 | 26 June 1942 | 01:13 | B-24Шаблон:Sfn | ||
– 8. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –Шаблон:Sfn | |||||
20 | 22 July 1942 | 01:45 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert south of UtrechtШаблон:Sfn | |
21 | 26 July 1942 | 02:30 | Wellington | northeast of AmersfoortШаблон:Sfn | |
22 | 30 July 1942 | 03:55 | WellingtonШаблон:Sfn | ||
23 | 10 September 1942 | 22:50 | Wellington | Шаблон:Convert northeast of HelmondШаблон:Sfn | |
24 | 16 September 1942 | 23:34 | WellingtonШаблон:Sfn | Stirling DF550/No. 142 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn | |
– 2. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –Шаблон:Sfn | |||||
25 | 14 May 1943 | 01:49 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert north of BreskensШаблон:Sfn | |
26 | 14 May 1943 | 02:26 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert west of WalcherenШаблон:Sfn | Halifax W7935/No. 102 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
27 | 24 May 1943 | 02:14 | Stirling | Шаблон:Convert south of UtrechtШаблон:Sfn | Stirling BK783/No. 75 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
28 | 26 May 1943 | 02:33 | Wellington | LoosduinenШаблон:Sfn | Wellington HE228/No. 192 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
29 | 28 May 1943 | 01:54 | Mosquito | Шаблон:Convert southeast of GoudaШаблон:Sfn | |
30 | 17 June 1943 | 02:06 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert northwest of EuddorpШаблон:Sfn | |
31 | 22 June 1943 | 02:02 | LancasterШаблон:Sfn | Lancaster ED885/No. 156 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn | |
32 | 23 June 1943 | 02:39 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert east of UtrechtШаблон:Sfn | Halifax DT700/No. 77 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
33 | 25 June 1943 | 02:49 | Lancaster | Шаблон:Convert west of SchouwenШаблон:Sfn | Lancaster LM327/No. 97 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
34 | 25 June 1943 | 02:56 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert west-northwest of SchouwenШаблон:Sfn | Halifax JD250/No. 51 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
35 | 25 June 1943 | 03:02 | Stirling | Шаблон:Convert west of SchouwenШаблон:Sfn | Stirling BK628/No. 90 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
– 3. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –Шаблон:Sfn | |||||
36 | 14 July 1943 | 01:40 | Halifax | Venlo railway stationШаблон:Sfn | Halifax BB323/No. 419 Squadron RCAFШаблон:Sfn |
37 | 23 August 1943 | 01:43 | Lancaster | Шаблон:Convert east of EindhovenШаблон:Sfn | Lancaster ED701/No. 103 SquadronШаблон:Sfn |
38 | 31 August 1943 | 03:20 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert west of MönchengladbachШаблон:Sfn | Halifax LK894/No. 434 (Bluenose) Squadron RCAFШаблон:Sfn |
39 | 31 August 1943 | 03:45 | Halifax | west of MönchengladbachШаблон:Sfn | Stirling EH938/No. 75 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
40 | 31 August 1943 | 03:45 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert west-southwest of MönchengladbachШаблон:Sfn | Halifax HR739/No. 158 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
41 | 1 September 1943 | 01:05 | Halifax | BrandenburgШаблон:Sfn | |
42 | 25 March 1944 | 00:30 | four-engined bomber | 230° from DortmundШаблон:Sfn | Lancaster LM471/No. 576 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
43 | 11 May 1944 | 00:15 | Lancaster | Шаблон:Convert northeast of BrugesШаблон:Sfn | Halifax LV985/No. 427 Squadron RCAFШаблон:Sfn |
44 | 13 May 1944 | 00:48 | Halifax | Шаблон:Convert south-southeast of BrusselsШаблон:Sfn | Halifax MZ629/No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron RCAFШаблон:Sfn |
45 | 22 May 1944 | 01:32 | Lancaster | north of FessenhoutШаблон:Sfn | Lancaster LL951/No. 460 Squadron RAAFШаблон:Sfn |
46 | 23 May 1944 | 01:14 | Lancaster | vicinity of GiessenШаблон:Sfn | |
47 | 25 May 1944 | 00:47 | Halifax | vicinity of LeopoldsburgШаблон:Sfn | Halifax HX352/No. 429 Squadron RCAFШаблон:Sfn |
48 | 25 May 1944 | 01:15 | Viermot | Off OstendШаблон:Sfn | |
49 | 3 June 1944 | 00:36 | Halifax | Schouwen IslandШаблон:Sfn | |
50 | 6 June 1944 | 02:30 | Mosquito | Noord BrabantШаблон:Sfn | Mosquito NS950/No. 515 SquadronШаблон:Sfn |
51 | 17 June 1944 | 01:07 | four-engined bomber | beacon "Gorilla"Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Refn | |
52 | 17 June 1944 | 01:13 | four-engined bomber | beacon "Gorilla"Шаблон:Sfn[Note 3] | |
53 | 22 June 1944 | 01:13 | Lancaster | VenloШаблон:Sfn | |
54 | 22 June 1944 | 01:17 | B-17 | vicinity of MaastrichtШаблон:Sfn | B-17 SR382/No. 214 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
55 | 22 June 1944 | 02:30 | four-engined bomber | beacon "Hamster"Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Refn | |
56 | 19 July 1944 | 01:55 | Mosquito | Шаблон:Convert west of BerlinШаблон:Sfn | Mosquito MM136/No. 571 Squadron RAFШаблон:Sfn |
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (15 July 1940)Шаблон:Sfn
- 1st Class (25 November 1940)Шаблон:Sfn
- Narvik Shield (30 January 1941)Шаблон:Sfn
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 12 June 1941 as Feldwebel in a NachtjagdgeschwaderШаблон:Sfn
- German Cross in Gold on 10 July 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the Ergänzungsstaffel/Nachtjagdgeschwader 2Шаблон:Sfn
- Wound Badge in Black (10 September 1943)Шаблон:Sfn
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Night Fighter in Gold with Pennant (31 May 1944)Шаблон:Sfn
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 29 October 1942 as Leutnant of the Reserves and pilot in the 3./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Refn
- 528th Oak Leaves on 20 July 1944 as Hauptmann of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän of the 3./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Refn
Dates of rank
1 August 1940: | Feldwebel (Technical Sergeant)Шаблон:Sfn |
1 July 1941: | Oberfeldwebel (Master Sergeant)Шаблон:Sfn |
1 August 1942: | Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)Шаблон:Sfn |
1 August 1943: | Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant)Шаблон:Sfn |
1 April 1944: | Hauptmann (Captain)Шаблон:Sfn |
Notes
References
Citations
Bibliography
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Шаблон:Top German World War II night fighter aces Шаблон:Subject bar
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