Peter Düttmann

Peter "Bonifazius" Düttmann (23 May 1923 – 9 January 2001) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 152 aerial victories achieved in 398 combat missions, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Born in Gießen, Düttmann grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. In 1940, he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe where he was trained as a fighter pilot. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in May 1943. Flying with this wing, Düttmann claimed his first aerial victory on 21 May 1943 over a Soviet Air Forces fighter aircraft. Following his 91st aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944. He claimed his 100th aerial victory on 25 September and was appointed squadron leader of 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 52 in December. He led this squadron until the end of World War II. Düttmann died on 9 January 2001 in Echterdingen.

Early life and career Düttmann was born on 23 May 1923 in Gießen, at the time in People's State of Hesse in the Weimar Republic. His father was surgeon Dr. Erich Düttmann. Following flight training, Düttmann was transferred to the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group East) in southern France. In February 1943, Düttmann and other flight students of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost under the leadership of Oberleutnant Walter Krupinski were based at La Leu Airfield near La Rochelle, France. There, Düttmann flew the Arado Ar 96. On some of his flights, he was joined by members of the Kriegsmarine U-boat force who were made aware how easily a surfaced U-boat could be spotted from the air.

World War II Following completion of flight and fighter pilot training, Düttmann joined 5. Staffel (5th squadron), Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on 7 May 1943. At the time, this squadron led by Leutnant Helmut Haberda who was killed in action on 8 May. Command of 5. Staffel was then temporarily given to Leutnant Josef Zwernemann who passed on command to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Batz on 26 May. The squadron was subordinated to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 52 under the command of Hauptmann Helmut Kühle. II. Gruppe was based at Anapa and was fighting in the Battle of the Caucasus on the Eastern Front. Düttmann served with the same unit until the end of the war and soon became one of their most successful pilots, flying with Heinz Ewald and Heinz Sachsenberg. He claimed his first aerial victory on 21 May 1943 over a Polikarpov Po-2, also known as a U-2, in the vicinity of Krasnodar.

On 11 July 1943, Düttmann ditched his Bf 109 G-4 southeast of Anapa in the Black Sea after being hit by return fire form a formation of Douglas Boston medium bombers. In the early hours of 26 July, 15 Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, escorted by Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter aircraft, headed for German shipping off of Anapa. The Soviet flight was intercepted over sea and scattered. During this engagement, German pilots claimed ten aerial victories, five Il-2s and five Yak-1s, including an Il-2 and Yak-1 shot down by Düttmann. One of the aerial victories claimed by Düttmann was also 5. Staffels 500th aerial victory to date. On 6 August, Düttmann was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class .

Following aerial combat on 9 August 1943, he force landed his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 19623—factory number) in no-man's land and was posted missing for 17 hours. On the 23 August 1943, his Bf 109 G-6 was again hit by anti-aircraft artillery resulting in a forced landing west of Nikolajewka. on 17 August, Düttmann received the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold and the Iron Cross 1st Class on 25 August. By end-1943, he was credited with 25 aerial victories. On 23 January 1944, Düttmann's Bf 109 G-6 was damaged three times in combat. At 08:00, during takeoff at Baherove, his aircraft was hit in the engine by a strafing Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. Later at 09:03, his Bf 109 G-6 was hit in aerial combat by a Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft resulting in a forced landing. At 14:45, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft artillery causing engine fire in flight. Nevertheless, he managed to return to his airfield and made a deadstick landing at Baherove.

On 28 February 1944, 4. and 5. Staffel was ordered to Grammatikowo located near Sovietskyi. On 13 March, the Gruppe returned to Baherove where they stayed for six days before again moving to Grammatikowo. On shuttle flight flown on 18 March, Düttmann's Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15992) suffered engine failure, resulting in a forced landing at Aissul. He scored a further 18 kills in March 1944, 22 in April and 14 in May 1944. Düttmann became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 11 April 1944 over the Kerch Peninsula. On 14 April, II. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Cape Chersonesus located at the Sevastopol Bay. On 15 April, he received the German Cross in Gold . On 7 May 1944, he claimed nine aerial victories to take his score to 91. Suffering from combat fatigue he was sent on leave at the end of May and returned in September 1944. During this period, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944.

Retreat through Hungary Düttmann claimed his 100th aerial victory on 25 September 1944. He was the 92nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. On 1 November 1944, Düttmann, flying Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 167238), was involved in a ground accident at Ferihegy Airfield, killing his wingman Unteroffizier Heinrich Wester. Low on fuel, Wester had landed his Bf 109 G-14 (Werknummer 782775) first, the engine seized due to lack of fuel, leaving him sitting on the runway. Düttmann, who landed next, did not see Wester and crashed into his aircraft, killing him instantly.

On the 13 November 1944, he was shot down by an Il-2 rear gunner and bailed out at 1000 feet, landing behind enemy lines, but managing to reach German lines. The same happened to him on the 3 March 1945 due to AA damage and he returned a day later. On 23 December 1944, Düttmann was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 52. He replaced Hauptmann Heinrich Sturm who was killed in a flying accident the day before. On 1 March 1945, this squadron was renamed 6. Staffel of JG 52. On 24 April 1945, Düttmann claimed the destruction of a M4 Sherman tank southwest of Cham.

Later life Düttmann died on 9 January 2001 at the age of in Echterdingen, Germany.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Düttmann was credited with 152 aerial victories. Obermaier also lists Düttmann with 152 aerial victories claimed in 398 combat missions, 21 of which were ground support missions. Both Spick and Weal state that his total of aerial victories was 150 claimed in 398 combat missions, plus two tanks destroyed which were counted as additional victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 147 aerial victory claims, plus 45 further unconfirmed claims, including one North American P-51 Mustang. All of his confirmed victories were claimed on the Eastern Front. The authors Daniel and Gabor Horvath compared Soviet enemy loss reports to Düttmann's claims over Hungary. In the timeframe 16 October 1944 to 20 March 1945, Düttmann claimed 42 aerial victories, while the authors found 11 matching Soviet losses, a corroboration of 26%.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 96453". 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 – 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 1 21 May 1943 15:48 U-2 PQ 34 Ost 96453, northeast of Krasnodar 17 6 September 1943 15:56 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 60314, north-northwest of Taranovkanorth of Taranovka 4 June 1943 18:30 La-5 vicinity of Krymskaja 7 September 1943 09:35 Yak-1 vicinity of Taranovka 2 10 June 1943 14:43 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75173 southwest of Noworossijsi 18 8 September 1943 05:13 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 50521, east of Karlivkaeast of Karlivka 3 10 July 1943 07:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66893, south of Wesselowka 13 September 1943 16:45 Yak-9 vicinity of Merefa 4 11 July 1943 11:53 Boston PQ 34 Ost 75353, southeast of Anapalake south of Anapa 21 September 1943 17:00 Il-2 m.H. south-southwest of Kozelets 5 22 July 1943 12:04 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 76852, east of Varenikovskaya 23 September 1943 17:40 P-40 west of Pereiaslav 6 22 July 1943 17:01 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 75234, west of Krymskajavicinity of Krymsk 19 25 September 1943 10:48 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 10131, southwest of Pereiaslavsouthwest of Pereiaslav 7 23 July 1943 06:14 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 75265, southwest of Krymskajasouthwest of Krymsk 20 26 September 1943 17:23 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 1013, southwest of Pereiaslavsouthwest of Pereiaslav 8 23 July 1943 06:20 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 86773, northeast of Krymskajanortheast of Krymsk 2 October 1943 11:52 LaGG-3 vicinity of Cherkasy 9 26 July 1943 06:18 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 76774, southeast of Blagoweschtschenskojelake south of Blagoweschtschenskaja 2 October 1943 11:57 LaGG-3 vicinity of Cherkasy 10 26 July 1943 06:27 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75144, southwest of Anapalake west of Anapa 3 October 1943 10:25 P-39 Michailowka 7 August 1943 11:25 Il-2 m.H. Werenskowskaja 9 October 1943 13:10 Yak-1 south of Tamenj 8 August 1943 07:30 Il-2 m.H. west of Belgorod 21 10 October 1943 15:38 Yak-1 PQ 4932, northwest of Werchnedneprowsksouth of Borodajewka 11 8 August 1943 18:30 Boston PQ 35 Ost 50683, west of Nizacha west of Pavlovka 30 November 1943 09:59 Yak-1 southeast of Kolonka 12 11 August 1943 18:03 Boston PQ 35 Ost 51514, west of PavlovkaNizacha ? 28 December 1943 09:25 P-39 Cape Taulen 13 15 August 1943 11:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51374, east of Krinitschnojeeast of Kinitzeknoje 22 28 December 1943 10:57 Yak-1 west of Cape Tusla 14 17 August 1943 05:56 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51312, north of Mosgowojnorth of Mockorroj 23 29 December 1943 12:23 LaGG-3 west-northwest of Cape Khroniwest of Cape Khroni 15 17 August 1943 06:07 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51374, south of Borodskojeeast of Borowskoje 24 29 December 1943 12:33 Yak-7 southeast of Kerch 16 17 August 1943 09:02 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 41434, northeast of Bazaiwschtschinanortheast of Baratschina 25 29 December 1943 12:50 P-39 south of Opassnajasouth of Apannaja 19 August 1943 06:20 Yak-1 vicinity of Achtyrka 30 December 1943 13:45 P-39 east of ApassnajaOpermeja 23 August 1943 13:30 Il-2 m.H. northeast of Marinowka – 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 1 January – May 1944 26 3 January 1944 08:17 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 66813, west of Cape Tuslawest of Cape Tusla 56 5 April 1944 13:11 La-5 southwest of Kerch 27 3 January 1944 08:25 P-39 south of Apassnaja 57 5 April 1944 17:26 Il-2 north of Katerles 4 January 1944 13:05 P-39 west of Cape Tusla 58 5 April 1944 17:30 P-40 city center of Kerch 9 January 1944 09:00 Yak-1 southwest of Eltigen 59 5 April 1944 17:31 P-40 northwest of Kerch 10 January 1944 06:55 Yak-1 west of Kerch 60? 6 April 1944 11:29 Yak-1 southeast of Perekop 10 January 1944 09:40 Il-2 m.H. north east of Kolonka 61 8 April 1944 16:29 Yak-1 east of An-Najman 10 January 1944 14:05 P-39 northeast of Cape Khroni 62 9 April 1944 10:09 Il-2 m.H. northwest of An-Najman 28 15 January 1944 07:21 Il-2 m.H. north of Cape Tarchan 63 9 April 1944 10:12 Il-2 m.H. west of An-Najman 29 17 January 1944 06:41 Il-2 m.H. northwest of Bakssy 10 April 1944 07:50 Yak-7 southeast of Perekop 30 21 January 1944 11:41 P-40 southwest of Eltigen 64 10 April 1944 08:49 Yak-7 Tschumak 5 February 1944 11:40 P-39 south of Kolonka 65 10 April 1944 17:47 Yak-7 north of An-Najman 6 February 1944 07:40 P-39 southeast of Kolonka 11 April 1944 06:05 Yak-7 vicinity of Perekop 7 February 1944 14:20 Yak-1 north of Cape Khroni 66♠ 11 April 1944 06:19 Yak-7 west of Michailowka 31 10 February 1944 09:26 Yak-1 west of Bakssyvicinity of Bulganek 67♠ 11 April 1944 10:50 Yak-7 Nowo Ivanovka 32 10 February 1944 12:00 LaGG-3 east of Apassnajavicinity of Kolonka 68♠ 11 April 1944 10:54 Yak-7 northwest of Dzhankoi 33 12 February 1944 08:52 Yak-1 east of Majak 69♠ 11 April 1944 10:56 P-39 northeast of Kakankut 34 13 February 1944 07:28 P-39 southeast of Apassnaja 70♠ 11 April 1944 10:59 Il-2 m.H. vicinity of Dzhankoi 35 13 February 1944 15:07 P-39 east of Gorkom 71♠ 11 April 1944 14:53 Yak-7 southwest of Dzhankoi 36 14 February 1944 11:27 P-39 east of Kolonka 13 April 1944 08:23 Il-2 m.H. Bachtschasanj 15 February 1944 09:27 P-39 southwest of Kossa TuslaCape Tusla ? 13 April 1944 08:27 Yak-7 vicinity of Simferopol 15 February 1944 09:29 P-39 south-southeast of Kossa TuslaCape Tusla 15 April 1944 09:15 Il-2 m.H. west of Sevastopol 37 26 February 1944 12:24 P-40 east of Kerch 72 17 April 1944 13:46 Yak-7 west of Belbek 29 February 1944 09:25 P-40 south of Iljitsch 73 17 April 1944 13:47 Il-2 m.H. north of Belbek 38 1 March 1944 08:03 P-40 east of Apassnaja 18 April 1944 06:30 Yak-9 northwest of Sevastopol 39 2 March 1944 09:55 Yak-1 Adshin Uschkaj ? 22 April 1944 17:00 Boston vicinity of Balaklava 40 11 March 1944 16:22 Yak-1 south of Michailkowka 74 23 April 1944 06:17 Yak-7 west-northwest of Belbek 41 12 March 1944 07:45 P-40 Kamysch Burun 75 24 April 1944 17:00 Boston west of Balaklava 42 12 March 1944 07:52 P-40 northern Kerch 76 24 April 1944 17:28 Boston east-southeast of Sevastopol 43 13 March 1944 08:35 Il-2 east of Feodosia 77 25 April 1944 14:12 Yak-7 northwest of Balaklava 44 14 March 1944 13:00 LaGG-3 southwest of Saporoshkaja 78 1 May 1944 13:54 Yak-9 west of Belbek 45 16 March 1944 10:10 Il-2 m.H. south of Bakssy 79 1 May 1944 14:04 Yak-9 west of Akhis 46 16 March 1944 10:11 Il-2 m.H. northeast of Bakssy 80 6 May 1944 15:58 Yak-7 west of Belbek 47 16 March 1944 10:12 Il-2 m.H. southeast of Bakssy 81 6 May 1944 15:59 Yak-7 south-southwest of Belbek 48 16 March 1944 10:13 P-40 southwest of Bakssy 82 6 May 1944 16:00 Yak-7 southeast of Belbek 49 17 March 1944 09:18 LaGG-3 east of Feodosia 83♠ 7 May 1944 12:21 Yak-9 southeast of Balaklava 50 17 March 1944 09:20 LaGG-3 east of Feodosia 84♠ 7 May 1944 12:24 P-40 north of Balaklava 51 17 March 1944 09:21 LaGG-3 east of Feodosia 85♠ 7 May 1944 12:26 P-40 north-northeast of Balaklava 52 17 March 1944 09:23 LaGG-3 east of Feodosia 86♠ 7 May 1944 16:55 P-40 northeast of Balaklava 53 26 March 1944 09:23 Il-2 m.H. south of Sacharowka 87♠ 7 May 1944 17:03 Yak-7 north of Balaklava 54 26 March 1944 16:07 Yak-1 northwest of Tschigary 88♠ 7 May 1944 17:05 Il-2 m.H. northwest of Balaklava 55 26 March 1944 16:08 Yak-1 south of Tschigary 89♠ 7 May 1944 17:07 Yak-7 south of Balaklava 3 April 1944 10:02 Yak-7 south of Cape Takyl 90♠ 7 May 1944 17:08 Yak-7 north of Balaklava 3 April 1944 10:03 Yak-7 southeast of Cape Takyl 91♠ 7 May 1944 17:10 Il-2 m.H. west-southwest of Balaklava – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — September – November 1944 92 17 September 1944 17:25 IAR 80 south of Thorenburg 110 21 October 1944 10:56 Yak-11 south-southeast of Szolnok 93 17 September 1944 17:35 He 111 north of Frata 111 21 October 1944 10:58 Yak-11 south of Szolnok 94 19 September 1944 17:45? Yak-11 south of Thorenburg 112 23 October 1944 15:34 Il-2 m.H. southeast of Szolnok 95 19 September 1944 17:46 Yak-11 south-southwest of Thorenburg 113 30 October 1944 13:21 MiG-3 west of Nyíregyháza 96 23 September 1944 10:40 Yak-9 east of Thorenburg 114 30 October 1944 13:24 MiG-3 south-southeast of Nyíregyháza 97 24 September 1944 11:40 La-5 northwest of Ceanul 115 31 October 1944 08:21 Il-2 m.H. southeast of Szolnok 98 24 September 1944 11:42 La-5 east of Moinești 116? 31 October 1944 14:15 Il-2 m.H. east of Cegléd 99 24 September 1944 14:20 La-5 east-southeast of Thorenburg 117 31 October 1944 14:17 Il-2 m.H. southeast of Cegléd 100 24 September 1944 14:27 La-5 south of Tureni 118 31 October 1944 14:19 Il-2 m.H. north of Nagykőrös 101 25 September 1944 09:35 IAR 80? south of Thorenburg 119♠? 1 November 1944 14:02 Yak-9 east of Kecskemét 102 25 September 1944 09:37 IAR 80 southwest of Thorenburg 120♠ 1 November 1944 14:03 Yak-9 north of Kecskemét 103 25 September 1944 09:46? IAR 80 south of Thorenburg 121♠ 1 November 1944 14:05 Yak-9 south-southwest of Abony 104 25 September 1944 11:30 La-5 north-northeast of Thorenburg 122♠ 1 November 1944 14:06 Yak-9 south of Nagykőrös 105 16 October 1944 15:50 La-5 southwest of Derecske 123♠ 1 November 1944 14:09 Il-2 east of Kecskemét 106 16 October 1944 15:54 La-5 south of Derecske 124 7 November 1944 16:05 La-5 north-northeast of Abony 107 18 October 1944 13:30 Yak-9 north of Mikepércs 125 13 November 1944 09:02 Yak-11 south-southwest of Tápiószele 108 18 October 1944 13:34 Yak-9 northeast of Mikepércs 126 13 November 1944 09:05 Yak-11 south-southwest of Tápiószele 109 19 October 1944 09:21 Yak-7 west-northwest of Debrecen 127 13 November 1944 12:20 Il-2 m.H. north of Jászberény 19 October 1944 18:00? La-5 northwest of Szolnok – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 1 March – 8 May 1945 128 8 March 1945 16:24 Yak-3 southwest of Aba 138 19 March 1945 14:56 Yak-3 north of Stuhlweißenburg 129 8 March 1945 16:27 Yak-3 south of Aba 139 19 March 1945 15:03 La-5 south-southwest of Stuhlweißenburg 130 9 March 1945 13:51 La-5 east of Káloz 20 March 1945 14:05 P-51 west-southwest of Veszprém 131 9 March 1945 13:53 Il-2 m.H. east of Káloz 140 5 April 1945 13:32 Il-2 m.H. west of Götzendorf 11 March 1945 13:23 Yak-9 southwest of Sebedražie 141 5 April 1945 13:33 Il-2 m.H. southwest of Götzendorf 11 March 1945 13:26 Yak-9 south of Polgárdi 142 9 April 1945 08:53 Boston Mödling 132 11 March 1945 15:21? Yak-9 southeast of Káloz 143 9 April 1945 08:54 Boston northeast of Mödling 133 14 March 1945 12:55 Boston north of Aba 144 10 April 1945 12:23 Yak-3 east of Enzersdorf 16 March 1945 13:55 Il-2 m.H. south of Pákozd 145 10 April 1945 12:27 La-5 west of Enzersdorf 16 March 1945 13:56 Il-2 m.H. north of Stuhlweißenburg 146 13 April 1945 14:50 Yak-3 Vienna 134 16 March 1945 13:58 Il-2 m.H. west of Pákozd 147 13 April 1945 14:52 Yak-3 north of Simmering 135 16 March 1945 13:59 Il-2 m.H. northwest of Pákozd 148 13 April 1945 14:58 Il-2 m.H. north-northwest of Sievering 136 16 March 1945 14:01 Il-2 m.H. northeast of Pákozd 149 13 April 1945 15:03 Yak-9 west of Neuwaldegg 18 March 1945 14:05 Yak-3 southeast of Káloz 150 15 April 1945 09:12 Yak-9 east of Kostel train station 137 19 March 1945 11:52 Il-2 m.H. Stuhlweißenburg

Awards Pilot's Badge (12 February 1942) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (6 August 1943) 1st Class (25 August 1943) Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Gold (17 August 1943) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 20 March 1944 as Feldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 15 April 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52

Dates of rank 21 September 1943: Feldwebel (Technical Sergeant), effective as of 1 October 1943 1 February 1944: Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)