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Fritz Dinger

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Fritz Dinger
Born20 August 1915
Ottweiler
Died27 July 1943(1943-07-27) (aged 27)
Scalea, Italy
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service1939–1943
RankOberleutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 53
Commands4./JG 53
Battles / warsWorld War II
Awards

Fritz Dinger (20 August 1915 – 27 July 1943) was born into an aristocratic German family. Fritz enlisted into the German Luftwaffe in 1939 and would later end up becoming an ace. Fritz was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

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Dinger was born on 20 August 1915 in Ottweiler in the Kingdom of Prussia within the German Empire.[1] Following flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 1] Dinger was posted to the 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing).[3] At 14:45 on 16 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain, Dinger was shot down in aerial combat with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and crashed his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 into the sea in a location 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Cherbourg.[4]

The bulk of the Geschwader's air elements were moved via Jever, in northern Germany, to Mannheim-Sandhofen on 8 June 1941. There the aircraft were given a maintenance overhaul prior to moving east. The II. Gruppe was transferred to Neusiedel in East Prussia, present-day Malomožaiskojė in Kaliningrad Oblast in Russia, between 12–14 June.[5]

Operation Barbarossa

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On 22 June the Geschwader crossed into Soviet airspace in support of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union which opened the Eastern Front.[6]

Following aerial combat on 5 October 1941, Dinger made a forced landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 7187—factory number) at Sologubovka, located 70 kilometers (43 miles) southeast of Saint Petersburg.[7] That day, his unit had flown its final missions in the area of Shlisselburg. The Gruppe then relocated to the Western Front where it arrived at Leeuwarden in the Netherlands on 12 October.[8] While based at Leeuwarden, Dinger claimed his twelfth aerial victory when he shot down a RAF Bristol Blenheim bomber on 27 October.[9] On 2 December 1941, II. Gruppe moved to the Mediterranean theater and where then based at Comiso airfield during the siege of Malta.[10]

Squadron leader and death

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In October 1942, Dinger was transferred to take command of 4. Staffel of JG 53. He succeeded Oberleutnant Wilhelm Hobirk who had led the Staffel for two months after its former commander, Oberleutnant Gerhard Michalski had been transferred in August.[11]

On an early morning mission flown on 27 July 1943, Dinger claimed his 67th aerial victory. Following this mission, the airfield at Scalea came under an Allied bombing attack. Dinger was hit in the back of his head by shrapnel, killing him instantly.[12] In consequence, Hauptmann Willi Krauss replaced him as commander of 4. Staffel.[13]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bachnik was credited with 67 aerial victories.[14] Obermaier also list him with 67 aerial victories, 41 of which on the Eastern Front and 25 over the Western Allies in the Mediterranean theater, claimed in over 600 combat missions.[1] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 64 aerial victory claims. This number includes 37 claims on the Eastern Front and 27 over the Western Allies, including one four-engined heavy bomber.[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 49442". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) 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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[16]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock without an explicit sequence number.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[17]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 4 October 1941
# 4 July 1941 16:46 SB-3[18] # 7 July 1941 10:45?[Note 2] SB-3[19]
# 4 July 1941 16:48 SB-3[18] # 10 July 1941 09:03 SB-3[19]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Dinger claimed two undocumented aerial victories in the timeframe 22 June to 10 October 1941.[20] These two claims are not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[17]
6 25 August 1941 13:42 I-18 (MiG-1)[19] 9 29 August 1941 18:46 I-16[21]
7 29 August 1941 15:57 I-16?[21][Note 3] 11 28 September 1941 16:09 Pe-2[22]
8 29 August 1941 16:22 V-11 (Il-2)[21]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[17]
Netherlands — 12 October – 15 December 1941
12 27 October 1941 15:08 Blenheim 6 km (3.7 mi) northwest of Texel[23]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[15]
Mediterranean Theater — 25 November 1941 – July 1942
13 22 February 1942 12:05 Hurricane[24] 16 7 July 1942 06:56 Spitfire[25]
14 22 April 1942 10:30 Hurricane[26] 17 10 July 1942 10:41 Spitfire[27]
15 15 June 1942 18:25 Spitfire 50 km (31 mi) southwest of Gozo[25] 18 13 July 1942 13:30 Spitfire[27] 5–10 km (3.1–6.2 mi) south of Kalafrana
?[Note 4] 2 July 1942 07:48 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of La Valletta[17]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[29]
Eastern Front — August – 27 September 1942
19 18 August 1942 17:23 Il-2 west of Schintow[30]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Dinger claimed two undocumented aerial victories in the timeframe August to September 1942.[31] These two claims are not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[17]
# 19 August 1942 11:30 Pe-2 east of Kusserow[30] # 10 September 1942 14:03 LaGG-3 PQ 49442[32]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
# 19 August 1942 11:31 LaGG-3?[Note 5] east of Kusserow[30] # 11 September 1942 14:43 Yak-1 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast Kotluban train station[33]
# 19 August 1942 17:47 Il-2 PQ 40774[30]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Gumrak 		# 13 September 1942 06:40 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 49432[33]
35 km (22 mi) east of Stalingrad
# 21 August 1942 17:30 LaGG-3 PQ 4074[34]
35 km (22 mi) north-northwest of Gumrak 		# 13 September 1942 06:58 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 49273[33]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Stalingrad
# 25 August 1942 11:06 MiG-1 PQ 49252[35]
25 km (16 mi) east of Stalingrad 		# 15 September 1942 09:36 Il-2 PQ 49243[36]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Stalingrad
# 30 August 1942 08:11 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 49533[35]
30 km (19 mi) south of Stalingrad 		# 15 September 1942 09:37 Il-2 PQ 49212[36]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Stalingrad
# 30 August 1942 08:58 Il-2 PQ 49164[35]
vicinity of Grebenka 		# 16 September 1942 09:45 La-5 PQ 4945[36]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
# 30 August 1942 09:00 Il-2 PQ 49162[35]
vicinity of Grebenka 		# 23 September 1942 06:40 La-5 PQ 4072[31]
35 km (22 mi) north of Grebenka
# 31 August 1942 09:00 Il-2 PQ 49473[37]
30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Stalingrad 		# 23 September 1942 16:40 Yak-1 PQ 4064[31]
55 km (34 mi) north-northeast of Grebenka
# 3 September 1942 09:43 Il-2 PQ 49422[37]
25 km (16 mi) east of Stalingrad 		# 24 September 1942 07:06 MiG-1 PQ 4075[31]
30 km (19 mi) north of Gumrak
# 3 September 1942 15:10 Yak-1 PQ 40701[37]
40 km (25 mi) north of Gumrak 		46 25 September 1942 10:48?[Note 6] MiG-1 PQ 4924[31]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Stalingrad
# 6 September 1942 10:15?[Note 7] LaGG-3 PQ 5933[37]
55 km (34 mi) east of Stalingrad 		47 25 September 1942 10:52 Il-2 PQ 4087[31]
# 7 September 1942 11:24 Il-2 PQ 40751[37]
30 km (19 mi) north of Gumrak 		48 25 September 1942 16:32 Yak-1 PQ 4052[31]
65 km (40 mi) north of Gumrak
# 7 September 1942 15:54 Il-2 PQ 40782[32]
20 km (12 mi) north of Gumrak
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[29]
Mediterranean Theater — October 1941 – 31 December 1942
49 16 October 1942 08:25 Spitfire[38] 3–5 km (1.9–3.1 mi) east of Żonqor Tower 52 4 December 1942 15:52 Boston 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Mateur[39]
50 4 December 1942 11:31 P-38 2 km (1.2 mi) south Ferryville[39] 53 5 December 1942 12:31?[Note 8] B-25 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Cap Blanc[39]
51 4 December 1942 15:50 Boston 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Mateur[39]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[29]
Mediterranean Theater — 1 January – 27 July 1943
54 22 March 1943 13:55 Boston PQ 13 Ost 0873[28]
Cape San Vito 		61 7 July 1943 17:18 P-40 35 km (22 mi) west of Marsala[40]
55 5 April 1943 09:13 P-38 40 km (25 mi) north of Zembra[28]
40 km (25 mi) north of Feccabra 		62 8 July 1943 12:25 B-17 20 km (12 mi) south of Agrigento[40]
56 18 April 1943 19:02 P-40 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Ras el Almas[28] 63 8 July 1943 16:18 P-40 west of Sciacca[40]
57 19 April 1943 15:57 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Zembra[28] 64 9 July 1943 07:43 P-40 3 km (1.9 mi) north-northeast of Sciacca[40]
58 25 April 1943 13:59 Spitfire 30 km (19 mi) south of Hammamet[28] 65?[Note 9] 18 July 1943 07:45 Spitfire Catania[40]
?[Note 4] 22 May 1943 18:44 Spitfire[29] 66 24 July 1943 12:55 B-26 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Stromboli[40]
59 4 June 1943 07:56 Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) north of La Valetta[28] 67 27 July 1943 09:25 P-40 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Cesarò[40]
60 6 July 1943 15:22 Spitfire 1 km (0.62 mi) west Pozallo[40]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:46.[17]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1.[17]
  4. ^ a b This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[25][28]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[29]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:49.[29]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:11.[29]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:30.[29]
  9. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[29]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 101.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 297.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 234.
  5. ^ Prien 1997, p. 252.
  6. ^ Prien 1997, p. 260.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 139.
  8. ^ Prien 1997, p. 300.
  9. ^ Prien 1997, p. 320.
  10. ^ Prien 1997, p. 333.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 134.
  12. ^ Prien 1998, p. 646.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2011, p. 118.
  14. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
  15. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 222–223.
  16. ^ Planquadrat.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 222.
  18. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 131.
  19. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 133.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 137.
  21. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 134.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 135.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 108.
  24. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 143.
  25. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 146.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 144.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 148.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2011, p. 123.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 223.
  30. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 29.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 38.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 33.
  33. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 35.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 30.
  35. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 31.
  36. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 36.
  37. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 32.
  38. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 149.
  39. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2004, p. 150.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2011, p. 124.
  41. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 298.
  42. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 66.
  43. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 86.
  44. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 161.
  45. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 273.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • Nietrug, Gerd (2004). Die Ritterkreuzträger des Saarlandes 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Saarland 1939 – 1945] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-93-5.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen (1997). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader March 1937 – May 1942. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0175-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1998). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader May 1942 – January 1944. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0292-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2011). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1 bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-00-0.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
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