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Peter Kalden

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Peter Kalden
Born(1923-08-17)17 August 1923
Wittenberge, Germany
Died11 June 1996(1996-06-11) (aged 72)
Friedrichsdorf, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
UnitJG 51
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Peter Kalden (17 August 1923 – 11 June 1996) was a German World War II fighter ace, attached to Jagdgeschwader 51. Depending on source, he was credited with 69 or 84 aerial victories.

Career

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Kalden was born on 17 August 1923 in Wittenberge in the Province of Brandenburg of the Weimar Republic.[1]

On 2 May 1944, Kalden was wounded in combat when he was shot down in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 140356—factory number) near Kurovichi.[2]

On 1 August, Kalden was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). He replaced Oberleutnant Heinz Venth who had been reported as missing in action on 16 July.[3] On 15 August, as part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe, 10. Staffel was re-designated and became the 13. Staffel while 11. Staffel became the 14. Staffel of JG 51. Consequently, Kalden then commanded 13. Staffel.[4]

Kalden was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 6 December 1944. The presentation was 11 days later by Generalmajor Robert Fuchs.[5] On 11 March 1945, Kalden attacked Soviet armor near Neustadt in Westpreußen, present-day Wejherowo. On this mission, he was shot down in his Bf 109 G-14 (Werknummer 511439) by Soviet anti-aircraft artillery resulting in a crash landing near Danzig, present-day Gdańsk, and was taken prisoner of war.[1][6] Command of 13. Staffel then briefly went to Leutnant Engel before Leutnant Kurt Tanzer was given command on 12 April.[7]

Later life

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Kalden died on 11 June 1996 at the age of 72 in Friedrichsdorf, Germany.[6]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Kalden was credited with 69 aerial victories.[8] Spick lists him with 84 aerial victories claimed in 538 combat missions.[9] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 69 aerial victory claims, plus further fifteen unconfirmed and undated claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[10]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 63251". 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.[11]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  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
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[12]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
1 13 July 1943 13:38 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 63251[13]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Zalegoshch 		7 3 October 1943 08:48 La-5 northeast of Orlik[14]
2 14 July 1943 15:52 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 35 Ost 54412[13]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Dudorovskiy 		8 3 October 1943 08:50 La-5 north of Orlik[14]
3 17 July 1943 04:14 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63214[13]
vicinity of Zalegoshch 		9 24 October 1943 11:28 Yak-9 southeast of Petrovo[14]
4 31 July 1943 09:31?[Note 2] LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54488[13]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Bolchov 		10 30 November 1943 12:04 P-39 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Malaya-Wolaska[15]
5 14 September 1943 14:32 Yak-1 north of Pologi[16] 11 11 December 1943 11:06 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 39511[15]
35 km (22 mi) west of Borovichi
6 20 September 1943 13:30 La-5 northeast of Dnipropetrovsk[16] 12 17 December 1943 11:22 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29825[15]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[12]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 July 1944
13 5 January 1944 12:09 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 90732[17]
65 km (40 mi) east of Vinnytsia 		24 2 May 1944 05:49 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 50126[18]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Brody
14 10 January 1944 11:18 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 80682[17]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Vinnytsia 		25 2 May 1944 05:50?[Note 3] Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 50131[18]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Brody
15 10 January 1944 11:22 Yak-1 PQ 25 Ost 80681[17]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Vinnytsia 		26 7 July 1944 10:07 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 55449[19]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Yukhnov
16 10 January 1944 11:24 Yak-1 PQ 25 Ost 80683[17]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Vinnytsia 		27 7 July 1944 14:53 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 55476[19]
30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Yukhnov
17 11 January 1944 15:03 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 80662[17]
30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Vinnytsia 		28 16 July 1944 07:53 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 50318[19]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Zolochiv
18 12 January 1944 09:38 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 90549[20]
40 km (25 mi) south-southeast of Koziatyn 		29 18 July 1944 19:28 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 50383[19]
25 km (16 mi) west of Tarnopol
19 24 January 1944 11:13 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 80431[20]
vicinity of Koziatyn 		30 19 July 1944 13:43 R-5 PQ 25 Ost 40135[19]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Zolochiv
20 1 February 1944 09:29 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 09134[20] 31 20 July 1944 13:03 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 40123[19]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Lviv
21 7 April 1944 17:55 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 50712[18]
25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Berezhany 		32 21 July 1944 16:31 Boston PQ 25 Ost 30233[19]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Zolochiv
22 16 April 1944 13:43 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 50389[18]
25 km (16 mi) west of Tarnopol 		33 21 July 1944 16:38 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 40113[19]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Lviv
23 2 May 1944 05:48 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 50122[18]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Brody 		34 23 July 1944 10:08 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 30225[19]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Żółkiew
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[12]
Eastern Front — 1–34 August 1944
35 2 August 1944 08:17 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 25433[19]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Blumenfeld 		37 8 August 1944 12:31 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36548[19]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Nemakščiai
36 4 August 1944 07:54 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36599[19]
30 km (19 mi) west of Kėdainiai 		38 13 August 1944 19:36 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 24613[21]
45 km (28 mi) northeast of Łomża
– 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[22]
Eastern Front — 15 August – 31 December 1944
39 16 August 1944 17:23 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 26628[21]
vicinity of Nemakščiai 		53 13 October 1944 13:14 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 13545, Jabłonna[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Warsaw
40 17 August 1944 15:06 Yak-1 PQ 25 Ost 25283[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Blumenfeld 		54 13 October 1944 15:57 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 13518, Radzymin[23]
20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw
41 17 August 1944 17:23 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 26628[21]
vicinity of Nemakščiai 		55 14 October 1944 11:14 Boston PQ 25 Ost 13722[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Warsaw
42 1 September 1944 10:54?[Note 4] Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 13559[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Warsaw 		56 14 October 1944 16:07 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 13517[23]
20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw
43 1 September 1944 10:58 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13583[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Warsaw 		57 14 October 1944 16:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 03663[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Warsaw
44 1 September 1944 13:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13528[21]
25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Warsaw 		58 14 October 1944 16:09 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 03666[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Warsaw
45 4 September 1944 17:16 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13221[21]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Ostrołęka 		59 15 October 1944 09:29 Boston PQ 25 Ost 13517[23]
20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw
46 1 October 1944 16:11 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 13595[23]
25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Warsaw 		60 15 October 1944 13:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 03499[23]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Warsaw
47 7 October 1944 12:57 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 13357[23]
25 km (16 mi) east of Nasielsk 		61 19 October 1944 08:42 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 13348[23]
20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk
48 7 October 1944 13:02 Boston PQ 25 Ost 13651[23]
25 km (16 mi) east of Nasielsk 		62 19 October 1944 08:44 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 13379[23]
20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk
49 7 October 1944 13:12 Boston PQ 25 Ost 13343[23]
20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk 		63 19 October 1944 08:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 13349[23]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Nasielsk
50 10 October 1944 13:13 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25 Ost 13517[23]
20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw 		64 21 October 1944 16:11 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13372[24]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Nasielsk
51?[Note 5] 13 October 1944 09:26 P-39 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Modlin[25] 65 24 October 1944 08:54 Boston PQ 25 Ost 03457[23]
30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Modlin
52 13 October 1944 09:29 Boston PQ 25 Ost 13512[23]
20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw
– 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[25]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 11 March 1945
66 19 January 1945
—
 unknown 68 24 January 1945
—
 unknown
67 24 January 1945
—
 unknown 69 24 January 1945
—
 unknown

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:21.[12]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 05:46.[12]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:53.[12]
  5. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock.[23]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 13./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders".[28]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 142.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 488.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2022, pp. 477, 489.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 464.
  5. ^ Weal 2007, p. 77.
  6. ^ a b c Dixon 2023, p. 186.
  7. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 251.
  8. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
  9. ^ Spick 1996, p. 235.
  10. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 605–607.
  11. ^ Planquadrat.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 606.
  13. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 151.
  14. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 155.
  15. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 156.
  16. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 154.
  17. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 480.
  18. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 482.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2022, p. 484.
  20. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2022, p. 481.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2022, p. 485.
  22. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 606–607.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Prien et al. 2022, p. 486.
  24. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 487.
  25. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 607.
  26. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 113.
  27. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 249.
  28. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 429.
  29. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 217.

Bibliography

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  • Aders, Gebhard; Held, Werner (1993). Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente [Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle – Reports – Experiences – Documents] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-01045-1.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • 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 (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • 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; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/I—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/I—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-26-0.
  • 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.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 76. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
  • 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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