Günther Scholz

Günther Scholz (8 December 1911 – 24 October 2014) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II, and was the last surviving member of the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. He later participated in the Battle of Britain and commanded Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing) during World War II. He had accumulated at least 33 "kills" during his time of service. His memoirs are documented in the book In the Skies over Europe.

Career On 1 September 1943, Scholz was promoted to Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) of JG 5 thus succeeding Oberstleutnant Gotthard Handrick. Scholz's previous position of Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 5 was backfilled by Hauptmann (captain) Heinrich Ehrler. On 1 August 1944, Scholz was given the position of Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen. In consequence of this decision, Major Ehrler again succeeded Scholz in his previous command position of Geschwaderkommodore of JG 5. At the time of his death, he was the last known surviving Lieutenant Colonel of the Wehrmacht.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Scholz was credited with 33 aerial victories. This figure includes one claim during the Spanish Civil War, eight claims during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain on the Western Front, eighteen claims during Operation Barbarossa and six further claims at the Arctic Sea of the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 2912". 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 – 3. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 –Spanish Civil War 1 19 August 1938 I-16 – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 21 –Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 2 13 May 1940 06:50 Hawk 75 east of Leuven 4 26 May 1940 09:06 Hawk 75 vicinity of Lens/Douai 3 20 May 1940 18:22 M.S.406 west of Péronne 5 26 May 1940 09:16 Hawk 75 vicinity of Lens/Douai – 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June – 5 September 1940 6 25 August 1940 20:10 Spitfire west of Folkestone 8 2 September 1940 13:55 Spitfire 7 28 August 1940 17:20 Hurricane – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Action at the Channel and over England — 5 September – 27 October 1940 9 28 September 1940 11:07 Spitfire – 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941 10 23 June 1941 11:50 SB-2 19 12 July 1941 16:00 DB-3 11 30 June 1941 12:10 DB-3 20 14 July 1941 03:30 I-16 12 30 June 1941 12:12 DB-3 21 21 July 1941 20:55 SB-3 13 30 June 1941 12:14 DB-3 22 1 August 1941 19:05 DB-3 14 6 July 1941 10:00 SB-3 east of Ostrov 23 19 September 1941 14:00 I-153 15 6 July 1941 10:07 SB-3 east of Ostrov 24 26 September 1941 16:07 MiG-1 16 7 July 1941 15:40 SB-3 25 30 September 1941 15:40 I-153 17 7 July 1941 15:41 SB-3 26 4 October 1941 08:35 I-18 (MiG-1) 18 10 July 1941 09:15 SB-3 east of Pskov 27 11 October 1941 11:10 I-26 (Yak-1) – III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 5 –Arctic Front 28 6 February 1942 11:10 P-40 31 14 July 1942 12:35 Hurricane Murmanskvicinity of Murmashi 29 24 March 1942 18:25 Hurricane 32 12 August 1942 14:30 MiG-1 PQ 36 Ost 2912 30 18 May 1942 10:25 Hurricane west of Murmansk 33 18 August 1943 16:24 P-40 west of Cap Korabelnyj

Awards German Cross in Gold on 8 September 1942