Otto Fönnekold

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Otto Fönnekold
Otto Fönnekold I.jpg
Birth date 15 February 1920(1920-02-15)
Place of birth Hamburg, German Reich
Death date ⚔ 31 August 1944 (aged 24)
Place of death Deutsch-Budak (Ssaß-Budak), Siebenbürgen
Allegiance  National Socialist Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe eagle.jpg Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939–1944
Rank 1st Lieutenant
Unit JG 52
Commands held 5./JG 52
Battles/wars World War II
Awards German Cross in Gold
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Otto Fönnekold (15 February 1920 – 31 August 1944) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht, finally 1st Lieutenant of the Luftwaffe and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He was a fighter pilot and flying ace with 136 confirmed and three unconfirmed aerial victories (Luftsiege) – including three Boston bombers, two Supermarine Spitfires, 21 Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters and three USAAF North American P-51 Mustang fighters – in over 600 combat missions (Feindflüge).[1]

Life

After graduating from school, Fönnekold joined the Luftwaffe where he received extensive flight[2] and fighter pilot training, was promoted to Unteroffizier (NCO) and was posted to 5th Squadron/Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing), based on the Eastern Front, on in October 1942.

He claimed his first aerial victory on 7 September 1942 during Case Blue, the German strategic 1942 summer offensive in southern Russia. He was promoted to Feldwebel (Sergeant) and later to Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel (Sergeant Officer Cadet). On 12 January 1944, Fönnekold was credited with his 100th and 101th aerial victories and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944, one week before his best friend Helmut Lipfert. In 1944, after receiving the Knight's Cross, he was promoted to Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) and received rank seniority (RDA) from 1 October 1943.

On 8 April 1944, Soviet forces launched the Crimean offensive, forcing the Germans to evacuate the Crimea. By this date, Fönnekold had accumulated 116 aerial victories. On 19 April 1944, he was appointed commander (Staffelkapitän) of the 5th Squadron/JG 52 when its former commander, Wilhelm Batz (237 aerial victories), was appointed commander of the III. Group/JG 52. On 30 May 1944, he became ace in a day, shooting down seven Soviet-flown P-39s and a Yak-1. On 9 July 1944, Leutnant Fönnekold was WIA for the first (and apparently only) time during a dogfight with several Yak-9s over Jassy, Romania.

Death

On 29 August 1944, II. Group/JG 52 relocated to an airfield at Budak, present-day Budacu de Sus (Budacu de Jos). Fönnekold claimed three United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) North American P-51 Mustang fighters shot down near Luieriu (Lövér) on 31 August 1944.[3] Out of fuel, he had to return to the airfield. During his landing approach at Ssaß-Budak he was attacked by strafing P-51 fighters. One of the .50 caliber projectiles penetrated his heart. Nevertheless, he touched down his plane smoothly, taxied out his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 441931) "Black 9" and died.[4] Fönnekold was ceremoniously buried on the cemetery at Ssaß-Budak. On 1 September 1944, he was posthumously promoted to 1st Lieutenant (Oberleutnant).[5] He was succeeded by Heinrich Sturm (158 aerial victories; ⚔ 22 December 1944) as commander of 5th Squadron/II. Group/JG 52.

Awards and decorations

Gallery

  • Leutnant der Reserve Helmut Lipfert II.jpg
  • Leutnant der Reserve Helmut Lipfert.jpg
  • Otto Fönnekold with his trustworthy mechanics.jpg
  • Otto Fönnekold II.png
  • Otto Fönnekold IV.jpg
  • 3 September 1944 Otto Fönnekold buried in Deutsch-Budak (Budacu de Jos).jpeg

References

  1. ↑ Ernst Obermaier: Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945], Verlag Dieter Hoffmann, Mainz 1989
  2. ↑ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.
  3. ↑ Bernd Barbas: Die Geschichte der II. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 2nd Group of Fighter Wing 52], 2005
  4. ↑ Otto Fönnekold, Traditionsgemeinschaft Jagdgeschwader 52 e. V.
  5. ↑ FÖNNEKOLD, Otto, in: Luftwaffe Career Summaries
  6. ↑ Fönnekold, Otto
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