Rolf Jung

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Rolf Jung
Rolf Jung II.jpg
Rolf Jung I.jpg
Birth name Rudolf Jung
Birth date 10 March 1912(1912-03-10)
Place of birth Bodenrod, Kreis Friedberg, Provinz Oberhessen, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire
Allegiance  National Socialist Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Luftwaffe eagle.jpg Luftwaffe
Years of service 1935–1945
Rank Major
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Iron Cross
Relations ∞ 1939 Hedwig Blum
Other work Managing director of an insurance branch (Frankfurter Allianz A.G., Lindheim, Kreis Büdingen)

Rudolf "Rolf" Jung (b. 10 March 1912) was a German officer of the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht, finally Major of the Luftwaffe in WWII. It is very possible that 1st Lieutenant Erich Jung (b. 17 June 1922; d. 16 April 2016), also a night fighter flying ace with 30 victories (Luftsiege) and recipient of the German Cross in Gold, was his younger brother.

Life

B-17 of the USAAF shot down by Rolf Jung
Secret report of the Kriegsmarine: Sinking of the hospital ship "Stuttgart" on 9 October 1943
Büdingen, Brunostraße 14

From Easter 1918 to 1921, Rolf Jung attended the Volksschule in Höchst (Odenwald). From Easter 1921 to 1925, he attended the Gymnasium in Büdingen and from Easter 1925 to 1930 the Oberrealschule in Friedberg. He achieved his Abitur on 11 February 1930. He then worked until January 1931 and began studies of aviation technology, mathematics and natural sciences in Darmstadt (Technische Hochschule zu Darmstadt) and Gießen. As such, he joined a patriotic fraternity (Burschenschaft). His scars (known in academic fencing as a Schmiss) on his left cheek testify to his courage in duels (Mensuren). On 21 September 1931, he received his civilian pilot's license (B2 for land aircraft and K1) in Stuttgart.

After his studies, he already knew he was to join the military, he received flight training at the commercial flying school Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (German Commercial Pilot School; DVS) in Würzburg from 1 June to 31 December 1934. Because he was good and experienced, he attended the flight instructor course at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule Cottbus from 1 January to 31 March 1935.

Military

On 10 April 1935, Jung joined the Kriegsmarine as an officer candidate with the Naval School in Flensburg-Mürwik. On 20 April 1935, he was sworn in to Adolf Hitler. On 1 September 1935 (another source states on 27 April 1936), he was officially transferred to the Luftwaffe and was commanded to the Air War School in Berlin-Gatow (until 1 April 1936 still under the camouflage name "DVS Groß Glienicke"). On 12 May 1936, he received the M.K.F. 1, the military driver's license Class I for motorcycles. From 15 to 30 June 1936, he was commanded to the II. S.S.O, the II. Battalion of the Baltic Sea Naval Base Division (II. Abteilung der Schiffsstammdivision der Ostsee).

On 1 July 1936, he was commanded as an instructor to the II. M.A.A., the II. Sailor Artillery Battalion, training flying naval artillery observers. On 1 October 1936, he was transferred as a pilot to the III. Group of the bomber wing Kampfgeschwader 155 in Schwäbisch Hall. On 1 March 1937, he was commanded to Ingolstadt where the II. Group of the bomber wing Kampfgeschwader 355 was being formed (completed on 1 April 1937). From 18 October to 27 November 1937, 2nd Lieutenant attended a course at the Blindflugschule 1 (blind or instrument flight school 1) in Brandis. On 1 March 1938, he was transferred to the II. Group/Kampfgeschwader 157 "Boelcke".

He volunteered for the Spanish Civil War as a member of the Condor Legion. On 4 April 1938 with effect from 15 March 1938, he was transferred 1st Squadron of the K/88 (Kampfgruppe 88). On 14 September 1938 with effect from 11 September 1938, after returning home, Jung was transferred to the II. Group of the bomber wing Kampfgeschwader 355 and took part in the liberation of the Sudetenland. On 1 August 1939, he was appointed commander of a transport squadron of the new II. Group/Kampfgeschwader z. b. V. 2. On 1 October 1939, he was appointed commander of the technical company of the FFS C 3, the pilot school at the airfield in Alt-Lönnewitz near Falkenberg an der Elster, about 90 km south of Berlin.

On 11 February 1940, he was commanded to the fighter pilot school Jagdfliegerschule 1, Lehrgang Z 1 (heavy fighter course) in Werneuchen where he was to be trained on Bf 110. He left Alt-Lönnewitz on 8 March 1940 and reported to the course leader on 9 March 1940 at 9:00 a.m. On 1 May 1940, he was transferred to the destroyer squadron of the bomber wing Kampfgeschwader 30. On 1 July 1940, the destroyer squadron of KG 30 was transferred to the night fighter wing in Düsseldorf in order to become a part of the new II. Group/Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 equipped with Junkers Ju 88 C. On 7 September 1940, II./NJG 1 would be I. Group/Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 stationed at Gilze en Rijen (Netherlands). Jung was promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) in 1941. As such, he was appointed commander of the 2nd Squadron. In late 1941, he was promoted to commander of the I. Group/NJG 2. On 9 October 1943, he was promoted to Major.

On 1 January 1944, he was transferred to the 2nd Fighter Division (Stade), on 7 February 1944, he was appointed Chief of Operations (Ia) of the 2nd Fighter Division (2. Jagddivision) under Max-Josef Ibel. On 31 August 1944 (another source states 1 April 1944[1]), he was appointed commander of the III. Group/Nachtjagdgeschwader 101 under Herbert Sewing (1913–2007) who would become pastor (Pfarrer) after the war and then Brigadegeneral of the Bundeswehr years later. On 20 October 1944, he was appointed commander of the I. Group/Nachtjagdgeschwader 101. The 1st Group of the Night Fighter Wing 101 was based in Ingolstadt-Manching at the beginning of 1945. It was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110, the Dornier Do 217 and the Junkers Ju 88. On 15 March 1945, the group was disbanded.

Nachtjagd (example)

In the early morning hours of 9 October 1943, five Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" (from altogether 378 bombers from VIII Bomber Command) from Thurleigh Airfield (just North of the village) were returning from a bombing attack on Gotenhafen (Gdingen) in Pomerania. The USAAF B-17 Gs belonged to the 368th Bomb Squadron/306th Bomb Group/VIII Bomber Command and were accompanied by the 40th Combat Bomb Wing. Overall, the attack was meager; five auxiliary vessels and eight merchant ships were destroyed or sank, four merchant ships were damaged. Dock C was also destroyed. The Americans seriously damaged one German hospital ship, the "Stuttgart".

Still burning, the "Stuttgart" (13,387 GRT), a former passenger steamer and since 23 August 1939 a hospital ship and as such placed under the protection of the Hague Convention, was towed into port. 48 people died in the cowardly attack, among them doctors and nurses. The ship was no longer salvageable and was sunk by boats of the 3rd Security Flotilla with 25 rounds of 8.8 cm shells on the orders of the Naval Group Command East (Marineoberkommando Ost) to the Coastal Commander Center. Later, two bow anchors were salvaged and brought to Oslo for the former Norwegian passenger ship and, since 1940, German supply ship "Stavangerfjord". The American government officially regretted the shelling of the hospital ship, but claimed that they were targeting "warships" in the vicinity of the "Stuttgart".

On the return flight, the enemy was attacked by German Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 night fighters of I. Group/NJG 2 lead by wing commodore Lieutenant Colonel Karl Theodor Hülshoff (1909–1989). A B-17 G (Serial No. 42-37718, coded BO-H) piloted by 1st Lieutenant Roy C. Ranck Jr. was attacked by Rolf Jung flying Bf 110 G-4 (Werknummer: 5,677). He hit the B-17 G in the left hand engines which started smoking. Lieutenant Ranck had to leave the formation and headed north. Again the B-17 G was attacked and this time right waist gunner Sergeant Douglas R. Farris was hit in the chest and died instantly[2] while left waist gunner Staff Sergeant Fred H. Nabors was hit in the legs.

Once again, Jung with his crew of flight engineer Oberfeldwebel Heinz Lüttringshaus and radio operator Oberfeldwebel Theo Schürks prepared to attack but, Jung was a gentleman and knight of the skies, refrained from doing so due to the landing gear of the B-17 coming down. When the enemy plane was over the island of Samsø, three miles NNE of Tranebjerg (Denmark), the crew abandoned the aircraft by parachute and at 14:58, the B-17 G crashed at the edge of Alstrup village a few meters away from the house of Widow Signe Jensen. When the bomber hit the ground petrol from the aircraft set the house on fire and only at the last moment did neighbors manage to rescue the old lady from the flames. Also the nearby farm “Alstrupgaard” was set on fire and burned down. Jungs Bf 110 G-4 had been hit by return fire from the B-17 G which had rendered most of the instruments unserviceable. Jung chose to land at Kiel-Holtenau Airfield, but had to belly land the Bf 110 G-4 due to the landing gear not operating. After the landing, he counted more that 50 bullet holes in the aircraft. The Americans were taken prisoner of war, five on the same day, including Ranck, the other four, who had been hiding, on 12 October 1943.[3][4]

In the same night, other USAAF Bombardment Squadrons attacked Marienburg and Anklam. All-in-all, 9 October 1943 was very successful for the Luftwaffe. In night and daytime missions, 67 Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" were shot down[5] (28 of them were involved in the attack on Gotenhafen). One of them by wing commodore Lieutenant Colonel Hülshoff, his 11th victory, who shot down a B-17 F of the 427th Bombardment Squadron flown by 2nd Lieutenant Bernard J. Clifford returning from Anklam. The No. 3 engine was on fire and feathered. When the wheels were let down the fighter attacks ceased. The B-17 crashed in the Baltic Sea south of Lolland, Denmark. The entire crew of ten men were killed in action.

Family

Rolf was the son of Volksschule teacher Karl Jung and his wife Anna, née Wienold. In 1938, he was engaged to Hedwig Blum (b. 31 December 1913), daughter of the master baker Johann Blum in Geislingen. Hedwig received her Aryan certificate (Ariernachweis) on 18 November 1938 (Rudolf had received his on 17 March 1938) and the couple received their permission to marry on 23 January 1939. In the 1950s, he was living in Lindheim (Im Schlag 23), in the 1960s, in Büdingen (Brunostraße 14).

Promotions

  • 10 April 1935 Offizieranwärter (Officer Candidate)
  • 1 October 1935 Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter (Officer Candidate with Lance Corporal rank)
  • 1 December 1935 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
  • 1 April 1936 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
  • 22 October 1936 Oberfähnrich (Senior Officer Cadet) with effect from 1 October 1936
  • 20 April 1937 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) with effect from 1 April 1937 and Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 April 1935 (496)
  • 1 June 1938 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
    • 30 October 1938 received new Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 December 1937 (14)
  • 1 March 1941 Hauptmann with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 December 1940
  • 9 October 1943 Major with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 March 1943

Awards and decorations

References

  1. ↑ Source: BArch PERS 6/149767
  2. ↑ Right waist gunner Farris was retrieved from the wreck and cremated. On 31 October 1943, his urn was set down in Besser cemetery. On 30 April 1948, it was retrieved and evacuated to the American cemetery at Neuville en Condron in Belgium by the US military. It was later brought back to the USA.
  3. ↑ B 17G 42-37718 crashed Alstrup, Samsø on 9/10-1943 (Archive)
  4. ↑ All nine of the crew were sent to Germany for one and a half years as POWs. The officers were sent to Stalag Luft III Sagan where they stayed until January 1945 when they were moved to Stalag VIIA Moosburg an der Isar in Bavaria.
  5. ↑ WWII B-17 claims
  6. ↑ Jung, Rolf
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