Georg Michalek

Georg Michalek (17 June 1913 – 2 September 1992) was a 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. During his career Georg Michalek was credited with between 59 and 62 aerial victories.

Early life Michalek was born 17 June 1913, in Vienna, then the capital of Austria-Hungary. Mickalek was attached to the Austrian Air Force in 1935 as a Leutnant in an anti-aircraft regiment. After the Anschluss in March 1938, he became a member of Jagdgeschwader 138 (JG 138—138th Fighter Wing), in the German Luftwaffe. In March 1938, the Luftwaffe initiated the formation of a single Gruppe (group) at Wien-Aspern Airfield. On 1 April, this unit became the newly formed I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 138 also referred to as the "Wiener-Jagdgruppe" ("Vienna fighter group"), largely staffed with former Austrian Air Force personnel. On 1 November, the Gruppe was re-designated and became I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 134 (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing), and again renamed on 1 May 1939, becoming the I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing). Initially equipped with the Fiat CR.32 while 3. Staffel received the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B. At the start of World War II, Michalek was serving in Jagdgeschwader 52.

World War II On 15 July 1941, Michalek was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). He succeeded Oberleutnant Karl Faust who had been killed in action three days before.

In recognition of 37 aerial victories claimed, Michalek was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 November 1941 and at the same time promoted to Hauptmann (captain).

Group commander On 15 January 1942, I. Gruppe of JG 3 became the II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1. In consequence a new I. Gruppe of JG 3 was created on 1 March 1942. This new I. Gruppe was created from the Ergänzungsgrupp, the supplementary training group of JG 3 at Wiesbaden Airfield and placed under command of Michalek. Command of 4. Staffel was thus passed on to Oberleutnant Walther Dahl. Initially equipped with the older versions of the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Gruppe received a full complement of factory new Bf 109 F-4 trop aircraft in late March. The Gruppe continued their training until 20 April when they began relocating to the Eastern Front in preparation for Case Blue, the German strategic summer offensive in southern Russia.

In August 1942, Michalek was posted to a fighter pilot school. In consequence, command of I. Gruppe went to Hauptmann Klaus Quaet-Faslem.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to Obermaier, Michalek was credited with at least 59 aerial victories, including six over the Western Allies. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 49 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 92114". 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 – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 1 November 1941 12 16 July 1941 18:45 R-Z 25 12 August 1941 18:15 I-153 west of Kyiv 13 20 July 1941 15:40 I-153 26 17 August 1941 09:05 DB-3 14 21 July 1941 18:45 I-153 27 21 August 1941 17:50 DB-3 15 23 July 1941 11:25 DB-3 28 22 August 1941 09:51 R-5 16 26 July 1941 06:35 I-153 29 22 August 1941 09:52 R-5 west of Dnjepropetrowsk 17 26 July 1941 11:15 V-11 30 22 August 1941 09:55 R-5 18 31 July 1941 12:15 I-16 south of Kyiv 31 25 August 1941 11:10 SB-3 19 3 August 1941 13:15 I-153 32 31 August 1941 13:02 V-11 20 8 August 1941 14:40 DB-3 33 1 September 1941 16:40 SB-3 21 9 August 1941 09:50 DB-3 34 6 September 1941 16:48 SB-3 north of Koteberda 22 9 August 1941 09:53 DB-3 35 18 October 1941 13:12 I-61 23 11 August 1941 16:18 Pe-2 36 19 October 1941 12:38 Pe-2 24 11 August 1941 16:20 Pe-2 37 22 October 1941 10:22 I-16 – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –Eastern Front — 6 January – August 1942 38 8 May 1942 12:06 MiG-3 51 5 July 1942 06:30 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 92114, Gnesdowka 39 2 June 1942 14:34 I-153 52 5 July 1942 19:04 Yak-4 40 11 June 1942 06:45 Il-2 53 7 July 1942 18:37 Yak-1 41 11 June 1942 12:15 Su-2 54 8 July 1942 18:45 LaGG-3 42 22 June 1942 15:36 MiG-3 55 8 July 1942 18:55 LaGG-3 43 22 June 1942 18:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 70232 56 9 July 1942 05:02 LaGG-3 44 22 June 1942 18:27 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 70232 57 22 July 1942 13:25 Il-2 northeast of Lisow 45 23 June 1942 19:20 LaGG-3 north of Kupjansk 58 22 July 1942 13:32 MiG-1 east of Ssurowikino 46 23 June 1942 19:23 LaGG-3 south of Monatschiwowka 59 22 July 1942 13:37 MiG-1 47 28 June 1942 13:04 Yak-4 PQ 35 Ost 72272 60 23 July 1942 12:39 Il-2 48 28 June 1942 19:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 72124 61 23 July 1942 12:41 Il-2 49 4 July 1942 14:45 LaGG-3 western edge of Voronezh 62 23 July 1942 12:45 Il-2 50 5 July 1942 06:25 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 92184, Gnesdowka

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 November 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 18 May 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän