Wolf-Udo Ettel

Wolf-Udo Ettel (26 February 1921 – 17 July 1943) was a German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace and a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Ettel is listed with 124 aerial victories—that is, 124 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in over 250 missions. He was killed in action by anti-aircraft artillery on 17 July 1943 over Fascist Italy.

Early life and schooling Ettel was born on 26 February 1921 in Hamburg in the Weimar Republic. He was the son of a representative of the Junkers aircraft manufacture. Due to his father's work, the family lived in Teheran and in Colombia where he attended the German school. Following his parents' divorce and return to Germany in 1934, he and his two younger brothers attended the Potsdam National Political Institutes of Education (Nationalpolitische Erziehungsanstalt—Napola) which was a secondary boarding school founded under the recently established Nazi state. The goal of the Napola schools was to raise a new generation for the political, military and administrative leadership of Nazi Germany.

World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 15 November 1939, Ettel volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe. Following various training courses, he attended blind flying school in January 1941 and passed his A/B pilot license at Prenzlau. He then attended a Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot training school) based in Paris, France. In September 1941, he was posted to a Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe (supplementary fighter group), a fighter pilot training unit based in Denmark.

On 10 April 1942, Leutnant Ettel was posted to 4. Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), a II. Gruppe (2nd group) squadron. At the time, II. Gruppe had been placed under the overall command of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) and was based at San Pietro Clarenza, Sicily, flying combat missions during the Siege of Malta.

Eastern Front On 5 May 1942, Adolf Hitler issued his directive No. 41 which summarized his orders for the summer campaign in the Soviet Union and resulted in Case Blue, the Wehrmacht plan for the 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia. In preparation for this campaign, II. Gruppe was moved to the Eastern Front, arriving in Pilsen from Sicily on 27 April. The Gruppe was then placed under the command of Hauptmann Kurt Brändle and refit for the summer campaign. After three weeks of rest, II. Gruppe, as part of the VIII. Fliegerkorps, was placed on the left wing of Army Group South and ordered to relocate to an airfield at Chuguyev, first elements arriving on 19 May. On 24 June, II. Gruppe moved to Shchigry, a forward airfield approximated east of Kursk close to the front lines. That day, Ettel claimed his first two victories when he shot down two Ilyushin Il-2 "Shturmovik" ground-attack aircraft.

He, himself, was shot down approximately north Voronezh on 10 July while destroying a Soviet-flown Douglas Boston bomber, his seventh claim in total. He bailed out of his damaged Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 "White 1" (Werknummer 8383—factory number) behind Soviet lines, swam across the Don River and returned to his unit four days later. On 24 July 1942, he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Iron Cross 1st Class on 2 August. Ettel claimed his 20 aerial victory on 9 August, his 30th on 7 October, and was awarded the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots on 23 October. Three further claims were filed on 31 October, his last victories in 1942, leading to the presentation of the German Cross in Gold in December 1942.

Following the German loss in the Battle of Stalingrad, 4. Staffel was relocated to the Kuban bridgehead on 5 April. During the months of intensive operations, Ettel claimed 28 Soviet aircraft shot down in March and 36 more in April, including five shot down on 11 April, an "ace-in-a-day" achievement. On 28 April 1943, Ettel claimed his 100th aerial victory. He was the 38th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. In early May, II. Gruppe was moved to Kharkiv, from where they operated over the combat area east of Belgorod, operating in this area from 2 to 6 May. On 6 May, the Gruppe claimed twelve aerial victories, including four by Ettel, taking his total to 104.

On 11 May, Ettel claimed his 120th victory, his last on the Eastern Front, but was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, resulting in a forced landing of his Bf 109 G-4 (Werknummer 19 453) between the front lines, west of Anastassiewskaja. During his return to German held territory, Ettel came under heavy rifle fire from Soviet infantry but escaped unharmed. That same night Ettel led a Wehrmacht patrol to his damaged aircraft to salvage important equipment. Ettel was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 June. The presentation was made by General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland while Ettel was on vacation in Berlin.

Mediterranean Theatre and death Promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant), Ettel was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the newly created 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing), a squadron of III. Gruppe JG 27, at the time based in Tanagra, Greece. While based at Tanagra, III. Gruppe was reequipped with a full contingent of the Bf 109 G-4 and G-6 series. In June, the Gruppe familiarized themselves with the new aircraft, flying training missions. At the end of June, III. Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Argos in Peloponnese. There, the unit was tasked with flying combat air patrol mission over the Aegean Sea. The Allied invasion of Sicily resulted in the relocation of III. Gruppe to Brindisi in southern Italy on 14 July 1943.

III. Gruppe flew its first missions in support of the German ground forces southeast of Catania, Sicily on 15 July. Because of the distance to the target area, the Bf 109s had to be equipped with drop tanks. The flight engaged in aerial combat north of Mount Etna where Ettel claimed his first aerial victory in the Mediterranean Theatre over a Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft. The next day, he claimed another Spitfire shot down. At around noon that day, he claimed two United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) B-24 Liberator bombers shot down.

On 17 July 1943, III. Gruppe was again tasked with flying ground support missions against British forces in the vicinity of Catania. In the vicinity of Lentini, the Gruppe lost five of ten dispatched fighters to anti-aircraft fire, among them Ettel who was shot down and killed in action. His Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 18 402) crashed northeast of Lago di Lentini. Ettel was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 31 August 1943, the 289th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored. He was buried at the German cemetery at Motta Sant'Anastasia in an unmarked grave.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Ettel was credited with 124 aerial victories. Obermaier also lists Ettel with 124 victories claimed in over 250 missions. Of his 120 claims on the Eastern Front, 21 were Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft. He claimed four victories over Sicily, which included two USAAF four-engine bombers.

Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 121 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 118 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and three on the Western Front, including two four-engined bomber.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 29323". 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 "Udet" –Eastern Front — 26 April 1942 – 3 February 1943 1 24 June 1942 14:13 Il-2 18 7 August 1942 17:47 LaGG-3 east of Klischewskij 2 24 June 1942 14:17 Il-2 19 9 August 1942 05:26 Il-2 Kalach 3 28 June 1942 16:07 Il-2 20 9 August 1942 05:35 Il-2 east of Kalach west of Pitomnik 4 30 June 1942 12:45 Yak-1 21 19 August 1942 04:58 MiG-1 northeast of Ssadki 5 9 July 1942 13:18 Yak-1 22 21 August 1942 13:35 I-180 (Yak-7) northeast of Businowka south of Pitomnik 6 9 July 1942 13:30 Il-2 23 13 September 1942 06:55 LaGG-3 east of Rzhev 7? 10 July 1942 04:30 Boston north of Voronezh 24 13 September 1942 07:10 Yak-1 southwest of Zubtsovsouth of Michailowka 8 24 July 1942 06:16 Hurricane north-northeast of Oblivskaya 25 15 September 1942 09:13 Il-2 southeast of Zubtsovsouth of Michailowka 9 24 July 1942 13:25 Il-2 north of Mukownin 26 15 September 1942 09:16 Il-2 northeast of Rzhev 10 24 July 1942 13:31 Il-2 southwest of Ssirotinskaja 27 23 September 1942 07:08 LaGG-3 east of Torshok 11 26 July 1942 03:55 LaGG-3 east of Kalach 28 23 September 1942 07:15 MiG-1 orthwest of Stariza 12 26 July 1942 08:15 Il-2 Morosowskij 29 7 October 1942 15:58 LaGG-3 east of Soroga 13 26 July 1942 08:17 Il-2 Kalach 30 7 October 1942 16:00 LaGG-3 south of Ostashkov 14 28 July 1942 09:40 U-2 PQ 29323 31 31 October 1942 16:00 Il-2 Pressljanka southeast of Tazinskaja 15 28 July 1942 09:48 MiG-1 east of Tschernomarow west of Shutow 31 October 1942 16:40 LaGG-3 16 30 July 1942 07:10 MiG-1 east-northeast of Kalach northwest of Kalach 32 31 October 1942 16:50 Il-2 east of airfield Ulgy 17 5 August 1942 04:37 LaGG-3 north of Plodowitoje – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 33 12 February 1943 14:10 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 79232, east of Liman 77 17 April 1943 11:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75424, southeast of Novorossiysk 34 13 February 1943 15:30 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 79132, southwest of Golaja-Dolina northwest of Slavansk 78 17 April 1943 11:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75432, southeast of Novorossiysk 35 22 February 1943 13:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88661, southwast of Pokrovskoye north of Taganrog 79? 17 April 1943 11:43 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85343, northwest of Gelendzhik 36 5 March 1943 09:00 U-2 PQ 34 Ost 98334, vicinity of Platowo north-northeast of Sinjawka 80 18 April 1943 10:05 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 75462, south of Kabardinkavicinity of Leprasorium 37 9 March 1943 08:30 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 88463, north of Matwejewkurgan south-southeast of Jalisawehnino 81 18 April 1943 18:50? LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 7545, south of Novorossiyskvicinity of Kabardinka 38 9 March 1943 15:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 98523, southwest of Nowo-Strojenka north of Sinjawka 82 22 April 1943 14:01 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 7546, south of NovorossiyskBlack Sea, southwest of Kabardinka 39 12 March 1943 06:50 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 70323, east of the Bulazelowka train station west of Kupiansk 83 22 April 1943 14:08 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 7546, southeast of Novorossiyskvicinity of Novorossiysk 40 13 March 1943 06:20 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 70761, east of Sswjatogorskaja southeast of Izium 84 22 April 1943 14:11 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 7546, southeast of Novorossiysk 41 13 March 1943 06:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 70841, west of Nowossjolowka north-northeast of Krasnyi Lyman 85 22 April 1943 14:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85143, southeast of Krymskaja 42 16 March 1943 14:25 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 70423, southeast of Kupiansk east of Kupiansk 86 23 April 1943 05:30 U-2 PQ 34 Ost 7545, southern edge of Novorossiyskvicinity of Novorossiysk 43 17 March 1943 10:50 Boston PQ 35 Ost 70463, west of Tabajewka east-southeast of Kupiansk 87 23 April 1943 17:02 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 7543, east of Novorossiyskvicinity of Novorossiysk 44 18 March 1943 15:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61853, northeast of Repokrytaja south-southwest of Vovchansk 88 23 April 1943 17:07 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 7546, southeast of Novorossiyskvicinity of Novorossiysk 45 19 March 1943 06:15 LaGG-3 PQ 35 OSt 71761, east of Olchowatka east-southeast of Bely Kolodez 89 23 April 1943 17:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 7546, southeast of Novorossiyskvicinity of Novorossiysk 46 19 March 1943 06:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 71724, east of Prikolnotoje train station east of Bely Kolodez 90 24 April 1943 05:36 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 85142, west of Abinskajawest of Abinsk 47 19 March 1943 14:15 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61873, southeast of Nepokrytaja east-northeast of Kharkov 91 24 April 1943 05:37 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 85142, west of Abinskajawest of Abinsk 48 19 March 1943 14:27 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 35 Ost 60221, western edge of Bolshaja Babka northeast of Malinovka 92 24 April 1943 05:42 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 85149, west of AchtyrskajaAbinsk - Achtyrskaja 49 20 March 1943 08:43 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 98833, south of Rostov-on-Don east of Rostov-on-Don 93 26 April 1943 12:19 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 95113, southeast of Krasnodar 50 20 March 1943 15:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 80693, western edge of Starobilsk 94 26 April 1943 17:05 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 95173, east of Kalushskajasouthwest of Abinsk 51 21 March 1943 14:57 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 98812, west of Rostov-on-Don west of Rostov-on-Don 95 26 April 1943 17:20 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 85231, west of Krasnodarvicinity of Tochtamukaj 52 21 March 1943 15:00 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 98734, north of Asov north of Asov 96 28 April 1943 12:25 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8511, northwest of Abinskajavicinity west of Abinsk 53 25 March 1943 07:49 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88264, northeast of Kubyshewovicinity of Jalisawehino 97 28 April 1943 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8511, east of Krymskajavicinity of Mertschskaja 54 25 March 1943 07:50 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88264, northeast of Kubyshewovicinity of Jalisawehino 98 28 April 1943 12:40 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8511, east of Krymskajavicinity of Mertschskaja 55 25 March 1943 13:30 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 98842, southwest of Bataysk east of Asov 99 28 April 1943 12:42 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8677, northeast of Krymskajavicinity of Mertschskaja 56 25 March 1943 13:55 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 98841, west of Bataysk east of Asov 100 6 May 1943 13:30 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 71863, west of Dolgoje west of Urazovo 57 26 March 1943 07:52 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 98672, west of airfield Rostov-on-Don northwest of Rostov 101 6 May 1943 13:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 71864, southwest of Valuyki west of Urazovo 58 27 March 1943 11:15 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 98842, west of Bataysk east of Asov 102 6 May 1943 13:37 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 81741, southwest of Valuyki west of Aleksejevka 59 27 March 1943 11:20 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 98813, west of Rostov-on-Don west of Asov 103 6 May 1943 14:00 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 71851, south-southeast of Olchowatka west of Urazovo 60 27 March 1943 11:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 98673, west of Rostov-on-Don northwest of Rostov 104 7 May 1943 18:35 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75262, south of Krymskajavicinity of Krymsk 61 28 March 1943 10:35 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 35 Ost 71782, southeast of Bolschoje-Burluk south-southeast of Bely Kolodez 105 8 May 1943 11:51 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75233, west of Krymskajavicinity of Krymsk 62 28 March 1943 13:12 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 81714, southwest of Valuykivicinity of Valuyki 106 8 May 1943 11:52 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75234, west of Krymskajavicinity of Krymsk 63 28 March 1943 13:15 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 81713, west of Valuykivicinity of Valuyki 107 8 May 1943 12:05 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75231, south of Kijewskojevicinity of Krymsk 64 2 April 1943 06:42 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 98371, east of Matwejewkurgan north of Sinjawka 108 8 May 1943 12:09 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75263, southwest of Krymskajavicinity of Krymsk 65♠ 11 April 1943 09:35 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85322, northeast of Gelendzhikvicinity of Erwanskaja 109 9 May 1943 08:35 Boston PQ 34 Ost 75294, east-southeast of Novorossiysk southwest of Krymsk 66♠ 11 April 1943 09:37 P-39 PQ 85321, northeast of Gelendzhikvicinity of Erwanskaja 110 9 May 1943 18:07 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75234, southern edge of Krymskajavicinity of Krymsk 67♠ 11 April 1943 09:40 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85122, southwest of Mingrelskajavicinity of Erwanskaja 111 9 May 1943 18:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75234, easternern edge of Krymskajavicinity of Krymsk 68♠ 11 April 1943 13:55 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75184, south of Anapa over sea 112♠ 10 May 1943 09:40 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76831, northeastern edge of Anatassijewskaja west of Slavyanskaya 69♠ 11 April 1943 14:05 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75392, southwest of NovorossiyskBlack Sea, southwest of Novorossiysk 113♠ 10 May 1943 15:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85173, southwest of Abinskajasouthwest of Abinsk 70 12 April 1943 10:25 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86853, east of Marjanskajaeast of Marianskaja 114♠ 10 May 1943 15:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85171, southwest of Abinskajasouthwest of Abinsk 71 12 April 1943 10:35 P-40 PQ 34 Ost 86592, south of Iwanowskajavicinity of Iwanowskaja 115♠ 10 May 1943 15:37 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85144, southeast of Abinskajasouthwest of Abinsk 72 15 April 1943 15:30 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86892, northern edge of Krasnodarvicinity of Marianskaja 116♠ 10 May 1943 15:50 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85123, northeast of Abinskajavicinity of Sswobodnyj 73 15 April 1943 16:12 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85344, northeast of Gelendzhikvicinity of Leprasorium 117♠ 10 May 1943 15:55 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85114, east of Krymskajavicinity of Mertschskaja 74 15 April 1943 16:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85343, northwest of Gelendzhikvicinity of Leprasorium 118 11 May 1943 16:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 86721, southeast of Slavyansk-na-Kubanisoutheast of Slavyansk-na-Kubani 75 16 April 1943 14:47 P-40 PQ 34 Ost 85114, east of Krymskaja 119 11 May 1943 16:37 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 86712, south of Slavyansk-na-Kubanivicinity of Slavyansk-na-Kubani 76 16 April 1943 14:55 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85782, west of Mingrelskaja – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –Mediterranean Theatre — July 1943 120 15 July 1943 12:12 Spitfire southeast of Noto 122 16 July 1943 12:50 B-24 southeast of Potenza 121 16 July 1943 08:10 Spitfire? north of Augusta 16 July 1943 12:55 B-24 southwest of Bari

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (24 July 1942) 1st Class (2 August 1942) Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold (23 October 1942) Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 25 June 1943 as Leutnant and pilot German Cross in Gold on 23 December 1942 as Leutnant in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 1 June 1943 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" 289th Oak Leaves on 31 August 1943 (posthumously) as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 27