Josef Fözö

Josef "Joschko" Fözö (7 November 1912 – 4 March 1979) 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.

Early life and career Fözö was born on 7 November 1912 in Vienna, the capital of Austria. He joined the Austrian Luftstreitkräfte before transferring to the Luftwaffe in 1938. From the summer of 1938 until March 1939, Fözö flew with 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 during the Spanish Civil War in support of Nationalist forces, claiming three aerial victories. During his service in Spain, 3.Staffel was first commanded by Oberleutnant Werner Mölders, and then by Oberleutnant Hubertus von Bonin. Fözö, who flew 147 combat missions in Spain, was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords.

On 24 June 1939, the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe High Command) ordered the formation Jagdgeschwader 71 (JG 71—71st Fighter Wing). On 15 July, two Staffeln were created at Schleißheim Airfield from elelements of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). Fözö was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2. Staffel which was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1. In preparation for war on 26 August, JG 71 was ordered to Fürstenfeldbruck Airfield to provide fighter protection for Munich and then to Böblingen Airfield on 29 August.

World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 3 October, the creation of II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) from JG 71 was ordered. Formation began on 16 October and was completed on 1 November at Fürstenfeldbruck Airfield. In consequence, Fözö's 2. Staffel of JG 71 became the 4. Staffel of JG 51.

Fözö claimed his first aerial victory on 16 April 1940 when he shot down a tethered balloon during the "Phoney War" period preceding the Battle of France. On 8 July 1940, he claimed the Supermarine Spitfire of Squadron Leader Desmond Cooke shot down. Cooke was the commanding officer of Royal Air Force (RAF) No. 65 Squadron who was killed in action that day. On 13 July during the Kanalkampf phase of the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe attacked convoy CW 5 which had left the Port of Dover. On this mission, Fözö and his wingman, Unteroffizier Ernst Buder engaged a formation of B Flight of No. 56 Squadron led by Flight Lieutenant John Coghlan. In this encounter, Fözö was credited with two Hawker Hurricane fighters shot down. On 31 July a Spitfire of No. 74 Squadron flown by Pilot Officer Harold Gunn, who was killed. Three kills were claimed on 16 August, a Hurricane of No. 501 Squadron (F/L Stoney killed) on 18 August.

On 24 August, Fözö may have damaged and claimed shot down Pilot Officer James Lockhart from No. 85 Squadron northwest of Dover. Lockhart managed to crash land his Hurricane at Hawkinge and was hospitalized.

Another Spitfire was claimed on 26 August (of No. 616 Squadron; F/O Moberly killed).

On 20 February 1941, Fözö was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 51. He replaced Hauptmann Günther Matthes who was transferred. Command of 4. Staffel was thus passed on to Oberleutnant Erich Hohagen.

War against the Soviet Union On 2 July 1941, Fözö was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 22 aerial victories claimed. On 11 July, Fözö was badly injured in a take-off accident at Stary Bykhaw in Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 12836—factory number). In consequence, command of II. Gruppe was temporarily passed on to Hauptmann Hubertus von Bonin.

Following his convalescence, Fözö was given command of I. Gruppe of JG 51, replacing Hauptmann Wilhelm Hachfeld who was transferred. The Gruppe was based at Rjelbitzi airfield, located north of Dno and west-southwest of Soltsy on the northern bank of the Shelon. On 24 May, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Tuleblya, located southwest of Lake Ilmen between Staraya Russa and Dno. Here on 31 May, Fözö was severely injured in a landing accident when his Bf 109 F-2 (factory number 8086) flipped over on the muddy landing strip. In consequence, Fözö had to be replaced by Hauptmann Heinrich Krafft as commander of I. Gruppe.

On recovery Fözö was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 108, a training unit, in June 1944. He led the unit until 29 January 1945.

Later life Fözo committed suicide on 4 March 1979 at the age of in Vienna, Austria.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to Obermaier, Fözö was credited with 27 aerial victories, three of which during the Spanish Civil War and 15 over the Western Allies and nine on the Eastern Front. He flew 517 combat missions, including 147 in Spain. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 23 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This number includes three claims during the Spanish Civil War, 11 on the Western Front, and nine on the Eastern Front.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location Spanish Civil War – 3. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 –Spanish Civil War — September 1938 – January 1939 1 18 September 1938 I-16 3 17 January 1939 I-16 2 31 October 1938 I-16 World War II – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –"Phoney War" — 1 November 1939 – 9 May 1940 1? 16 April 1940 15:55 tethered balloon west of Breisach – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 20 February 1941 2 8 July 1940 16:45 Spitfire north of Dover 9? 16 August 1940 Hurricane east of Dover 3 13 July 1940 19:26 Hurricane west of Cap Gris-Nez 10 16 August 1940 18:05 Spitfire east of Dover 4 13 July 1940 19:30 Hurricane west of Cap Gris-Nez 11? 18 August 1940 Hurricane east of Ramsgate 5 31 July 1940 16:55 Spitfire northwest of Dover 12 24 August 1940 09:35 Hurricane northwest of Dover 6 8 August 1940 12:35 Spitfire southeast of Folkestone 13 26 August 1940 13:15 Spitfire Canterbury 7 15 August 1940 16:17 Hurricane east of Burnham-on-Crouch 14 15 October 1940 09:32 Hurricane London 8? 16 August 1940 Hurricane east of Dover – Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 –At the Channel and over England — 20 February – 7 June 1941 15 9 April 1941 12:00 Spitfire north of Mardyck – Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 11 July 1941 16 29 June 1941 19:25 I-16 21 1 July 1941 14:30 I-16 17 30 June 1941 10:35 R-10 (Seversky) 22 2 July 1941 14:32 SB-2 18 30 June 1941 10:40 DB-3 23 9 July 1941 15:15 I-16 airfield Subowa 19 30 June 1941 16:45 DB-3 24 11 July 1941 17:05 DB-3 20 30 June 1941 17:30 TB-6

Awards Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 2 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 51

Publications