Joachim Brendel

Joachim Brendel (27 April 1921 – 7 July 1974) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Brendel was credited with 189 aerial victories—that is, 189 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. All but six of his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces on the Eastern Front in more than 950 combat missions, including 162 ground support missions.

Born in Ulrichshalben, Brendel joined the military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1939. Following flight training, he was posted to 2. Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). He flew his first combat missions in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, and claimed his first aerial victory on 29 June 1941. There, after 101 aerial victories, he was presented with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943. In July 1944, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 51 "Mölders". Following his 153rd aerial victory, Brendel was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 14 January 1945. He continued flying operationally until the end of World War II. He died on 7 July 1974 in Cologne, West Germany.

Early life and career Brendel, the son of a police Hauptmann (captain), was born on 27 April 1921 in Ulrichshalben, present-day a borough of Ilmtal-Weinstraße, at the time in Thuringia of the Weimar Republic. After attending a Gymnasium, a secondary school, and graduating with his Abitur (diploma), he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 15 November 1939. Following fighter pilot training, he was posted to 2. Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in early 1941.

World War II World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. JG 51, under the command of Oberst Werner Mölders, was preparing for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union which was launched on 22 June 1941. On 29 June, Brendel claimed his first aerial victory. On 1 July, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and two days later he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class .

Brendel then flew a number of ground support missions, was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class on 21 April 1942. On 8 December, he claimed his 10th victory on his 225th combat mission. He claimed his 20th victory on 24 February 1943 and received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 15 March 1943. On 25 May, Brendel was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of JG 51s 1. Staffel (1st squadron), replacing Oberleuntant (First Lieutenant) Hans Boos who had been killed in a mid-air collision on 21 April. His number of aerial victories claimed increased to 30 on 5 May, and on 17 May he was awarded the German Cross in Gold . On 10 June, Brendel claimed his 40th opponent shot down and was promoted to Oberleuntant on 1 July.

On the first day of the Battle of Kursk, 5 July 1943, Brendel claimed two Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down on the northern flank of the attack. His wingman, Unteroffizier Oskar Romm was credited with the destruction of a third Il-2. The next day, Brendel led his 1. Staffel in an attack against 15 Douglas A-20 Havoc bombers from the 221 Bomber Aviation Division. Brendel claimed one bomber destroyed but the fighter escort from 282 Fighter Aviation Division successfully engaged the German fighters.

Brendel became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 12 July 1943, claiming aerial victories 53 to 57. On 28 July, Brendel was shot down and wounded in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer''' 470002—factory number) by Soviet anti artillery behind enemy lines. He managed to return to German held territory. On 1 October 1943, he was promoted to Hauptman with a rank age dated to 1 April 1944. On 22 November, Brendel claimed six aircraft shot down on his 551st combat mission, taking his total to 101 aerial victories. For this achievement he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross that day. He was the 60th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

Group commander On 29 July 1944, Brendel claimed a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter shot down in the vicinity of Białystok. His opponent may have been Kapitan Vladimir Shchegolev from the 162nd Fighter Aviation Regiment, a fighter ace credited with 14 individual and three shared victories who was killed in action that day. On 1 September 1944, Brendel was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 51. He succeeded Hauptmann Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber in this function who was transferred. Command of 1. Staffel was briefly passed to Leutnant Gerhard Mai before Leutnant Kurt Dombacher was given command of the Staffel on 10 September.

Flying with III. Gruppe on 16 October 1944, Brendel achieved his 150th victory on his 792nd combat mission. Following his 153rd victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 14 January 1945, the 697th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored. He continued flying on the Eastern Front, claiming his 174th and 175th victory on 4 March 1945. End of March, he was ordered to Berlin where the presentation of the Oak Leaves was made at the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM— Ministry of Aviation) in Berlin by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring.

On 18 February 1945, III. Gruppe claimed six aerial victories during the battle of the Courland Pocket, including four by Brendel. Two days later, he claimed three further victories. He claimed his last victory on the 25 April 1945, finishing the war with 189 victories and emerged as JG 51 highest claiming fighter pilot on the Eastern Front, including over 90 heavily armored Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.

Later life He died on 7 July 1974 in Cologne, West Germany and was buried in Salzburg, Austria.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Brendel was credited with 189 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 178 aerial victory claims, plus 13 further unconfirmed claims. This number includes one claim over a United States Army Air Forces flown B-17 Flying Fortress, and 177 Soviet Air Forces piloted aircraft on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 07813". 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 – 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941 1 29 June 1941 18:20 DB-3 – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942 2 31 March 1942 14:55 I-61 (MiG-3) 4 29 April 1942 18:55 MiG-3 Lake Dechino 3 5 April 1942 11:05 Il-2 Demyansk – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 5 7 May 1942 10:35 Il-2 west of Demyansk 12 6 January 1943 10:44 Pe-2 PQ 07813 6 3 July 1942? 13:28 Il-2 13 6 January 1943 10:57 Pe-2 PQ 07851 7 6 July 1942 19:25 MiG-3 14 6 January 1943 11:00 Pe-2 PQ 07822 8 9 July 1942 04:20 MiG-3 15 16 January 1943 08:16 MiG-3 PQ 17712, Velikiye Luki west-southwest of Toropa 9 12 July 1942 09:00 MiG-3 16 18 January 1943 08:02 Pe-2 PQ 07743 10 8 December 1942 13:00 Il-2 PQ 26192, Bely 17 18 January 1943 08:05 Pe-2 PQ 07741 11 14 December 1942 10:42 MiG-3 southwest of Belyi 18 18 January 1943 08:09 Pe-2 PQ 06131 – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –Eastern Front — 4 February 1943 – 31 December 1943 19 24 February 1943 09:12 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54122 south-southwest of Sukhinichi 28 21 March 1943 16:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 53763vicinity of Perwoawgustowskiy 20 24 February 1943 09:15 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54131 south of Sukhinichi 29 15 April 1943 09:28 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 64832 south of Mtsensk 21 7 March 1943 14:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 36432 west-northwest of Dunigo 30 5 May 1943 07:00 R-5 PQ 35 Ost 62141 northwest of Kursk 22 9 March 1943 07:27 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63244 south of Zalegoshch 31 6 May 1943 13:30 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 64754 northeast of Oryol 23 9 March 1943 07:32 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63433 east-southeast of Zmiyovka 32 7 May 1943 05:05 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63121 east of Oryol 24 18 March 1943 06:40 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 53562 southeast of Dmitrovsk-Orlovsky 33 7 May 1943 05:15 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63181vicinity of Zmiyovka 25 18 March 1943 06:42 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 53543 south-southwest of Dmitrovsk-Orlovsky 34 8 May 1943 07:49 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63644 southeast of Maloarkhangelsk 26 18 March 1943 06:44 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 53822 northeast of Dmitriyev-Lgovsky 35 11 May 1943 13:30 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 53632vicinity of Trosna 27 21 March 1943 06:23 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 45521 northeast of Utrikowo – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –Eastern Front — 4 February 1943 – 31 December 1943 36 28 May 1943 11:24 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63151 southeast of Oryol 68 25 July 1943 12:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 53427 west of Kromy 37 5 June 1943 09:35 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 44454 east-southeast of Dyatkovo 69 25 July 1943 12:33? Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 53425 west of Kromy 38 8 June 1943 19:11 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54892 northwest of Oryol 70 28 July 1943 10:35? Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 54657 west-southwest of Belyov 39 8 June 1943 19:12 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54864 north-northwest of Oryol 71 28 July 1943 10:37 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 54654 west-southwest of Belyov 40 10 June 1943 19:37 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 44472 southeast of Dyatkovo 72 28 July 1943 10:39 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 54643, southwest of Bolkhov northeast of Znamenskoye 41 10 June 1943 19:49 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 45893 west-southwest of Sukhinichi 73 15 September 1943 08:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 16697, southeast of Lake Akitovskoye 42 5 July 1943 08:52 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63694 east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk 74 15 September 1943 17:05 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 25496, west of Yelnya 43 5 July 1943 08:54 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 73571 west-southwest of Livny 75 17 September 1943 07:18 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 35374, Wilkowa 44 6 July 1943 05:39 Boston PQ 35 Ost 53653 southwest of Trosna 76 17 September 1943 10:43 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 35318, Wjawka 45 6 July 1943 13:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63553 west of Maloarkhangelsk 77 17 September 1943 13:48 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 25622, west of Chamino 46 7 July 1943 08:20 Boston PQ 35 Ost 53593 south-southwest of Trosna 78 19 September 1943 15:42 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 25476, west of Schozokowo 47 8 July 1943 03:51 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63741 southeast of Fatez 79 20 September 1943 13:20 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 25619, OlchowskijYelnya 48 8 July 1943 03:58 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63573 south-southeast of Trosna 80 5 October 1943 15:10 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 15525, Lenino 49 9 July 1943 05:40 Il-2? PQ 35 Ost 63553 west of Maloarkhangelsk 81 6 October 1943 11:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 06172 south-southeast of Nevel 50 9 July 1943 05:41 LaGG-3? PQ 35 Ost 63552 west of Maloarkhangelsk 82 6 October 1943 15:15 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 06149 south-southeast of Nevel 51 9 July 1943 05:44 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63523 west-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk 83 12 October 1943 11:20 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 05696, Gorki 52 11 July 1943 03:55 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63581 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 84 13 October 1943 08:55 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 15512, DajewoLajewo?? 53♠ 12 July 1943 05:46? Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 63226 east of Zalegoshch 85 13 October 1943 13:00 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 15355, Litowka 54♠ 12 July 1943 05:48 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 63231 east of Zalegoshch 86 20 October 1943 15:00 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 03877, Uborow 55♠ 12 July 1943 05:54 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 64897 east-northeast of Zalegoshch 87 20 October 1943 15:15 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 03888, Prud 56♠ 12 July 1943 19:40 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 54277 southwest of Kozelsk 88 21 October 1943 10:10 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 02251 northwest of Ossijaki 57♠ 12 July 1943 19:46 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 54278 southwest of Kozelsk 89 21 October 1943 12:28 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 02211 south-southeast of Rechytsa 58 13 July 1943 09:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 63228 east of Zalegoshch 90 22 October 1943 13:43 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 02244, Kortschewka 59 13 July 1943 11:47? Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 63264 east-southeast of Zalegoshch 91 25 October 1943 11:15 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 03872 south-southeast of Rechytsa 60 14 July 1943 14:37 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 54172 east-northeast of Zhizdra 92 6 November 1943 07:30 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 01391, northwest of Kiev 61 17 July 1943 10:23 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 53636vicinity of Trosna 93 6 November 1943 14:35 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 01743, Malowilowka 62 17 July 1943 19:05? MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54632 west of Bolkhov 94 11 November 1943 09:40 Il-2 northeast of Bila Tserkva 63 19 July 1943 12:03 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 64814 south of Mtsensk 95♠ 22 November 1943 09:05 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 03493 north of Gomel ? 19 July 1943 12:30 LaGG-3 96♠ 22 November 1943 09:07 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 13371 northeast of Gomel 64 20 July 1943 09:20 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 64875 north of Zalegoshch 97♠ 22 November 1943 12:05 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 13577, southwest of Klimovka 65 21 July 1943 18:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64811 south of Mtsensk 98♠ 22 November 1943 12:25 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 03496, northeast of Kostyukovka 66 22 July 1943 13:02 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63133 west of Zalegoshch 99♠ 22 November 1943 12:27 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 03436, Logatino 67 22 July 1943 13:10 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 63135 west of Zalegoshch 100♠ 22 November 1943 12:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 13377 northeast of Gomel – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 August 1944 101 10 January 1944 14:30 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost N/06749 southwest of Liozna 115 7 August 1944 08:30 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/22312 northeast of Dęblin 102 12 January 1944 09:58 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/96831 northwest of Kamary 116 14 August 1944 17:22 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost N/12328 southeast of Garwolin 103 12 January 1944 10:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost N/05126 south-southeast of Kamary 117 16 August 1944 08:36 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost N/24765 east-southeast of Lomza 104 12 January 1944 10:36 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost N/06788 southeast of Kamary 118 16 August 1944 14:20 La-5 PQ 25 Ost N/24791 southeast of Lomza 105 12 January 1944 13:50 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost N/05162 east-southeast of Kamary 119 18 August 1944 16:40 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost N/13392 northeast of Warsaw 106 5 February 1944 14:28 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost N/93337 south of Parichi 120 20 August 1944 12:42 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost N/13523, northeast of Warsaw north of Gerdauen 107 8 April 1944 09:38 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/42676 northwest of Kovel 121 21 August 1944 16:22 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/13522, northeast of Warsaw north-northeast of Warsaw 108 30 April 1944 13:47? Il-2 PQ 25 Ost N/42871 south-southwest of Kovel 122 22 August 1944 08:25 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost N/23128 northeast of Ostrov 109 23 June 1944 10:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost N/05421 north-northeast of Orsha 123 22 August 1944 08:42 Yak-9? PQ 25 Ost N/23129 northeast of Ostrov 24 June 1944 10:36 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost N/05427 south-southeast of Byerazino 124 24 August 1944 11:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost N/24745 south of Lomza 110 24 June 1944 10:50 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost N/05382 north-northeast of Orsha 125 24 August 1944 14:37 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost N/13264 north of Ostrov 111 30 June 1944 17:50? La-5 PQ 25 Ost N/94313 north-northwest of Orsha 126 25 August 1944 06:57 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost N/13529, northeast of Warsaw north-northeast of Warsaw 112 9 July 1944 07:15? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/54744 north of Oryol 127 25 August 1944 07:14 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost N/13521, northeast of Warsaw north-northeast of Warsaw 113 19 July 1944 17:50 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost N/32816 northeast of Cholm 128 26 August 1944? 08:45 LaGG-3? PQ 25 Ost N/13254 north of Ostrov 114 29 July 1944 10:05 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/34746vicinity of Białystok 129? 28 August 1944 14:11 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost N/13245 – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 – 130 16 September 1944 16:55 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 27516 north-northwest of Telsche 14 January 1945 unknown 131 16 September 1944 16:58 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 27556 north of Telsche 18 February 1945 unknown vicinity of Heiligenbeil 132 17 September 1944 15:56 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 27556 west-southwest of Mitau 18 February 1945 unknown vicinity of Heiligenbeil 133 17 September 1944 16:12 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 27556 west-southwest of Mitau 18 February 1945 unknown vicinity of Heiligenbeil 134 22 September 1944 10:27 Boston PQ 25 Ost 27491 south-southwest of Tukkum 18 February 1945 unknown vicinity of Heiligenbeil 135 24 September 1944 08:29 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 37362 19 February 1945 unknown 136 5 October 1944 15:27 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 27883 east-northeast of Telsche 19 February 1945 unknown 137 5 October 1944 15:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 27739 north-northeast of Telsche 20 February 1945 unknown 138 6 October 1944 11:44 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36345 north-northeast of Nemakščiai 20 February 1945 unknown 139 6 October 1944 11:58 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36377 northeast of Nemakščiai 20 February 1945 unknown 140 9 October 1944 14:38 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 26725vicinity of Tauroggen 21 February 1945 Il-2 141 13 October 1944 15:34 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 25267 north of Trakehnen 21 February 1945 Il-2 142♠ 14 October 1944 12:05 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 25228 northeast of Blumenfeld 21 February 1945 Il-2 143♠ 14 October 1944 14:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 16173 east of Neusiedel 21 February 1945 P-39 144♠ 14 October 1944 14:46 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 16157 north of Memel 23 February 1945 unknown 145♠ 14 October 1944 14:47 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 16155 southeast of Polangen 174 4 March 1945 Il-2 146♠ 14 October 1944 15:05 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 16326 southeast of Polangen 175 4 March 1945 Il-2 147 16 October 1944 09:59 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 25256 east of Memel 176 8 March 1945 14:32 Pe-2 148 16 October 1944 10:02 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 25261 northeast of Blumenfeld 177 9 March 1945 12:00+ unknown 149 18 October 1944 09:46 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 25484 northeast of Blumenfeld 178 9 March 1945 12:00+ unknown 150 20 October 1944 10:06 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 25243 east-southeast of Gumbinnen 18 March 1945 unknown 151 22 October 1944 12:36 Yak-3 PQ 25 Ost 25367 east of Trakehnen 18 March 1945 unknown 152 24 October 1944 12:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 25511 east of Rautenberg 18 March 1945 unknown 153 14 December 1944 12:18 Yak-3 north of Gumbinnen 189 25 April 1945 Yak-9

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (3 July 1941) 1st Class (21 April 1942) Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 15 March 1943 as Leutnant and pilot German Cross in Gold on 17 May 1943 as Leutnant in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 51 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 22 November 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" 697th Oak Leaves on 14 January 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader'' 51 "Mölders"