Günther Radusch

Günther Radusch
Günther Radusch
Nickname(s)	"Fips"
Born	(1912-11-11)11 November 1912 Schwetz
Died	Nordstrand
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht) Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr)
Years of service	1934–45 1958−71
Rank	Oberst
Unit	J/88, ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2, NJG 5
Commands held	II./NJG 3, 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 aircraft pilot, the sixth highest-scoring night fighter flying ace in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Günther 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.

Career

Radusch, an enthusiastic glider pilot as a student, joined the military service of the Heer before transferring to the Luftwaffe. Radusch and nine others, among them Günther Lützow, Wolfgang Falck and Hannes Trautloft, were recommended for Sonderausbildung (special training) at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in Russia. He was sent to Spain as part of the Condor Legion in October 1936 as a Leutnant. He claimed his only aerial victory in the Spanish Civil War on 22 April 1937. Together with fellow pilot Feldwebel 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. Radusch also tested the Heinkel He 112 5-1 under combat conditions in Spain. For his services in Spain he received the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern).

Awards

• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur
• German Cross in Gold on 13 February 1943 as Major in the II./NJG 3
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
• 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
  • 444th Oak Leaves on 6 April 1944 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 5

References

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.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Major Fritz Schäffer	Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 2 August 1943 – 3 February 1944	Succeeded by Major Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld
Preceded by Major Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein	Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 4 February 1944 – 8 February 1945	Succeeded by Major Paul Semrau