Anton Döbele

Anton Döbele (16 November 1910 – 11 November 1943) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. On 11 November 1943, Döbele was killed in a mid-air collision with an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. He was credited with 94 victories claimed in 458 combat missions. He was posthumously promoted to an officers rank and awarded the Knight's Cross on 26 March 1944.

Career Döbele was born on 16 November 1910 in Ehrensberg, present-day part of Bad Waldsee, at the time in the Kingdom of Württemberg within the German Empire. As an Unteroffizier (Staff Sergeant), he volunteered for service in the Condor Legion and participated in the Spanish Civil War with the ground staff. Following flight training, Döbele was posted to the Ergänzungsgruppe, a supplementary training group, of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in late 1940. Döbele claimed his first aerial victory on 28 July 1941 when he shot down a Chyetverikov MDR-6 aerial reconnaissance flying-boat near the island Ösel.

On 9 March 1942, the Ergänzungsgruppe of JG 54 was disbanded and the pilots were transferred to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 54. In consequence, Döbele assigned to 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of JG 54. At the time, 1. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Heinz Lange and part of I. Gruppe of JG 54, which was headed by Hauptmann Hans Philipp. The Gruppe was based at Krasnogvardeysk and was fighting in the siege of Leningrad. Here, Döbele claimed a Polikarpov I-16 fighter shot down on 17 March. Döbele then served as a fighter pilot instructor before returning to JG 54. He then joined Walter Nowotny, his wingman Karl Schnörrer, and Rudolf Rademacher, forming a team known as the "chain of devils" (Teufelskette) or the Nowotny Schwarm, which during the course of the war was credited with 524 combined aerial victories, making them the most successful team in the Luftwaffe. Following his eighth aerial victoriy claimed on 13 January 1943, Döbele was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class on 3 February.

Operation Citadel In early July, I. Gruppe of JG 54 was ordered to move to Oryol, in the southern sector of Army Group Centre, where it fought in Operation Citadel which initiated the Battle of Kursk. Subordinated to Luftflotte 6 (Air Fleet 6), the Gruppe began relocating on 2 July and arrived at the airfield name Panikowo, a makeshift airfield created for the attack on the Kursk salient, on 4 July. The next day, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Citadel and I. Gruppe supported the attack of the 9th Army on the northern sector of the salient, escorting bombers of Kampfgeschwader 4, 51 and KG 53 (KG 4, KG 51—4th, 51st Bomber Wing), as well as Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers of Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (StG 1—1st Dive Bomber Wing) to their target areas. That day, I. Gruppe claimed 59 aerial victories, including a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter by Döbele in the vicinity of Maloarkhangelsk. On 6 July, I. Gruppe targeted the airspace near Ponyri and during multiple combat missions claimed 29 aerial victories which included two Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 and three Lavochkin La-5 fighters shot down by Döbelle, making him an ace-in-a-day. The following morning, Döbele claimed a Yakovlev Yak-7 fighter shot down.

Battle at Kharkiv, Smolensk and Nevel

On 9 August, I. Gruppe was ordered south to Poltava Airfield where they were placed under the control of Luftflotte 4 (Air Fleet 4). The reason for this was a response to the successful Soviet Belgorod–Kharkiv offensive operation following the Battle of Kursk. On 11 August, Nowotny was temporarily appointed commander of I. Gruppe, a position he held until 15 September when he was officially assigned as Gruppenkommandeur. The next day, the Gruppe flew multiple combat air patrols and fighter escort for Ju 87 dive bombers in the area west of Kharkiv. That day, Döbele shot down a La-5 and a Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter. On 31 August, Döbele was awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September.

On 11 September, Döbele was nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . Five days later, Nowotny submitted a report, requesting that Döbele be promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) for bravery before the enemy. At the time, Döbele had flown 418 combat missions and had been credited with 80 aerial victories to date. On 22 September, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 54, Major Hubertus von Bonin, seconded the request, arguing that Döbele was an exceptional fighter pilot and leader.

On 23 October, during the Battle of Nevel, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Vitebsk where they supported Army Group Centre. Flying Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 (Werknummer 7082—factory number) on 11 November 1943 at 10:42, Döbele was killed in a mid-air collision with an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft east of Vitebsk. At his funeral, the guard of honour was made up of Rademacher, Schnörrer, Fritz Tegtmeier, and Otto Kittel, with Nowotny and von Bonin giving a eulogy. Posthumously, Döbele was promoted to Leutnant and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944. He is interred at the German War Cemetery at Vilnius-Vingio.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to Spick, Döbele was credited with 94 aerial victories claimed in over 458 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 93 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 25 Ost 1956". The Luftwaffe grid map covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 1. Staffel of the Ergänzungsgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941 1 28 July 1941 07:43 MBR-2? PQ 25 Ost 1956over sea, west of Ösel 2 30 July 1941 14:02 I-15 PQ 25 Ost 18461 west of Demyansk – 1. Staffel of the Ergänzungsgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 9 March 1942 4 4 February 1942 09:38 I-18 (MiG-1) northwest of Malaya Vishera – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — March 1942 – 11 November 1943 4 17 March 1942 17:57 I-16 50 7 August 1943 08:44 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54821 southwest of Bolkhov 5 30 December 1942 13:25 Yak-4 PQ 2863 51 7 August 1943 08:59 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54732 east-northeast of Karachev 6 7 January 1943 09:41 I-16 PQ 1964 52 7 August 1943 11:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54641 west-southwest of Bolkhov 7? 12 January 1943 13:33 Il-2 vicinity of Mga 53 12 August 1943 09:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41693 8 13 January 1943 13:25 Il-2 PQ 10173vicinity of Mga 54 12 August 1943 14:02 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 51343, Boromlia northwest of Grayvoron 9 23 February 1943 07:10 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10152southeast of Shlisselburg 55 14 August 1943 09:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51734 northwest of Bohodukhiv 10 7 March 1943 16:25 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 28382 southwest of Demyansk 56 15 August 1943 07:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51821 northeast of Bohodukhiv 11 15 March 1943 08:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18251 southeast of Staraya Russa 57 19 August 1943 15:44 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51511northeast of Bohodukhiv 12 15 March 1943 10:59 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18253 southeast of Staraya Russa 58 19 August 1943 15:53 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51394 southwest of Belgorod 13 17 March 1943 13:42 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18133 southeast of Staraya Russa 59 20 August 1943 09:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41454 14 19 March 1943 09:47 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10189southeast of Shlisselburg 60 20 August 1943 14:42 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51383 west-northwest of Grayvoron 15 19 March 1943 10:05 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00283 west of Mga 61 20 August 1943 14:53 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51523northeast of Bohodukhiv 16 22 March 1943 08:44 Yak-1 PQ 36 Ost 00332vicinity of Gatchina 62 21 August 1943 16:46 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51861 east of Bohodukhiv 17? 11 April 1943 18:25 Il-2 south of Leningrad 63 23 August 1943 06:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51541northeast of Bohodukhiv 18 26 April 1943 14:15? Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00181vicinity of Leningrad 64 23 August 1943 17:01 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 60154Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 19 26 April 1943 14:16 I-16 PQ 36 Ost 00181 northwest of Pushkin 65 23 August 1943 17:04 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60164Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 20? 28 April 1943 19:33 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90224 66 23 August 1943 17:10 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60273Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 21 8 June 1943 16:15 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10254 west-southwest of Shlisselburg 67 24 August 1943 07:37 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51384 west-northwest of Grayvoron 22 17 June 1943 10:55 LaGG-3 PQ 26 Ost 90241 south of Lomonosov 68 28 August 1943 11:48 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 43822 east-northeast of Sevsk 23 19 June 1943 20:53 LaGG-5 PQ 36 Ost 20121, Volkhovstroysouthwest of Volkhov 69 28 August 1943 11:52 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 43822 east-northeast of Sevsk 24 21 June 1943 15:33 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 21754, Novaya Ladoga north-northwest of Volkhov 70 1 September 1943 06:22 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 35371 northeast of Yelnya 25 21 June 1943 20:05 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 20374 west-northwest of Volkhov 71 1 September 1943 12:13 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 35343 southeast of Yelnya 26 24 June 1943 06:30 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10224 west of Volkhov 72 1 September 1943 12:17 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 35392 east of Yelnya 27 24 June 1943 06:40 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10253 west-southwest of Shlisselburg 73 2 September 1943 11:00 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35343 southeast of Yelnya 28 24 June 1943 07:02 Yak-1? PQ 36 Ost 20121, Volkhovstroywest of Volkhov 74 2 September 1943 11:08 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25494 west of Yelnya 29 5 July 1943 12:46 P-40 PQ 35 63732 south-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 75 2 September 1943 11:12 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35574 south-southwest of Yelnya 30♠ 6 July 1943 08:16 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63581 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 76 2 September 1943 15:17 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35393 east of Yelnya 31♠ 6 July 1943 14:08 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63713 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 77 6 September 1943 10:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 26881vicinity of Yartsevo 32♠ 6 July 1943 14:53 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63732 south-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 78 6 September 1943 10:51 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 26882vicinity of Yartsevo 33♠ 6 July 1943 18:34 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63862 north-northwest of Kursk 79 7 September 1943 11:33 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26673 northeast of Moschna 34♠ 6 July 1943 18:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63574 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 80 10 September 1943 13:15 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 44152 south of Kirov 35 7 July 1943 08:43 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 63712 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 81 14 September 1943 11:53 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26482 north of Yartsevo 36 7 July 1943 18:12 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63748 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 82 14 September 1943 15:32 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 44354 west of Dyatkovo 37 8 July 1943 17:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63582 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 83 13 October 1943 08:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 15543south of Lenin 38 10 July 1943 10:37 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 53833 north-northwest of Kursk 84 13 October 1943 08:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 15534northeast of Gorki 39 13 July 1943 07:30 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 64857 southeast of Mtsensk 85 15 October 1943 15:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 15642 south-southeast of Krassnyj 40? 13 July 1943 14:02 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54441 86 21 October 1943 11:17 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 03842 41 16 July 1943 08:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54766 north-northwest of Bolkhov 87 22 October 1943 14:55 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 15341 west of Krassnyj 42 18 July 1943 04:52 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54493 northwest of Bolkhov 88 29 October 1943 14:03 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 05461 43 21 July 1943 19:54 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54542 north-northwest of Karachev 89 29 October 1943 14:16 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 05453, northeast of Orsha 44 23 July 1943 12:34 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54398 west-northwest of Bolkhov 90 4 November 1943 13:17 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 97874, south of Nevel west of Nevel 45 23 July 1943 12:37 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54533 west of Bolkhov 91 4 November 1943 13:22 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 97883 west of Nevel 46 2 August 1943 16:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54653 west-southwest of Bolkhov 92 6 November 1943 14:44 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06173 47 2 August 1943 17:00 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 54633 west of Bolkhov 93 10 November 1943 09:16 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 96234 south of Nevel 48 3 August 1943 11:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54723 northeast of Woronowo 94 11 November 1943 10:38 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06723 49 4 August 1943 15:31 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 44862vicinity of Karachev 95 11 November 1943 10:42 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06762

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (March 1942) 1st Class (3 February 1943) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 31 August 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54