Anton Döbele

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Template:Infobox military person Anton Döbele (16 November 1910 – 11 November 1943) was a German 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 was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. On 11 November 1943, Döbele was killed in a mid-air collision with an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, at the time of his death he was credited with 94 victories claimed in 458 combat missions. He was posthumously promoted to an officers rank and awarded the Knight's Cross on 26 March 1944.

Career

Döbele was born on 16 November 1910 in Ehrensberg, present-day part of Bad Waldsee, at the time in the Kingdom of Württemberg within the German Empire. As an Unteroffizier (Staff Sergeant), he volunteered for service in the Condor Legion and participated in the Spanish Civil War with the ground staff.[1] Following flight training,[Note 1] Döbele was posted to the Ergänzungsgruppe, a supplementary training group, of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in late 1940.[3] Döbele claimed his first aerial victory on 28 July 1941 when he shot down a Chyetverikov MDR-6 aerial reconnaissance flying-boat near the island Ösel.[1]

On 9 March 1942, the Ergänzungsgruppe of JG 54 was disbanded and the pilots were transferred to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 54.[4] In consequence, Döbele assigned to 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of JG 54. At the time, 1. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Heinz Lange and part of I. Gruppe of JG 54, which was headed by Hauptmann Hans Philipp. The Gruppe was based at Krasnogvardeysk and was fighting in the siege of Leningrad. Here, Döbele claimed a Polikarpov I-16 fighter shot down on 17 March.[5] Döbele then served as a fighter pilot instructor before returning to JG 54.[3] He then joined Walter Nowotny, his wingman Karl Schnörrer, and Rudolf Rademacher, forming a team known as the "chain of devils" (Teufelskette) or the Nowotny Schwarm, which during the course of the war was credited with 524 combined aerial victories, making them the most successful team in the Luftwaffe.[6][7] Following his eighth aerial victoriy claimed on 13 January 1943, Döbele was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 3 February.[8]

Operation Citadel

In early July, I. Gruppe of JG 54 was ordered to move to Oryol, in the southern sector of Army Group Centre, where it fought in Operation Citadel which initiated the Battle of Kursk. Subordinated to Luftflotte 6 (Air Fleet 6), the Gruppe began relocating on 2 July and arrived at the airfield name Panikowo, a makeshift airfield created for the attack on the Kursk salient, on 4 July.[9] The next day, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Citadel and I. Gruppe supported the attack of the 9th Army on the northern sector of the salient, escorting bombers of Kampfgeschwader 4, 51 and KG 53 (KG 4, KG 51—4th, 51st Bomber Wing), as well as Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers of Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (StG 1—1st Dive Bomber Wing) to their target areas. That day, I. Gruppe claimed 59 aerial victories, including a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter by Döbele in the vicinity of Maloarkhangelsk.[10] On 6 July, I. Gruppe targeted the airspace near Ponyri and during multiple combat missions claimed 29 aerial victories which included two Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 and three Lavochkin La-5 fighters shot down by Döbelle, making him an ace-in-a-day.[11] The following morning, Döbele claimed a Yakovlev Yak-7 fighter shot down.[12]

Battle at Kharkiv, Smolensk and Nevel

Scale model of Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 JG 54.

On 9 August, I. Gruppe was ordered 400 kilometers (250 miles) south to Poltava Airfield where they were placed under the control of Luftflotte 4 (Air Fleet 4). The reason for this was a response to the successful Soviet Belgorod–Kharkiv offensive operation following the Battle of Kursk.[13] On 11 August, Nowotny was temporarily appointed commander of I. Gruppe, a position he held until 15 September when he was officially assigned as Gruppenkommandeur.[14] The next day, the Gruppe flew multiple combat air patrols and fighter escort for Ju 87 dive bombers in the area west of Kharkiv. That day, Döbele shot down a La-5 and a Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter.[15] On 31 August, Döbele was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) and the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 13 September.[8]

On 11 September, Döbele was nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). Five days later, Nowotny submitted a report, requesting that Döbele be promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) for bravery before the enemy. At the time, Döbele had flown 418 combat missions and had been credited with 80 aerial victories to date.[16] On 22 September, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 54, Major Hubertus von Bonin, seconded the request, arguing that Döbele was an exceptional fighter pilot and leader.[17]

On 23 October, during the Battle of Nevel, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Vitebsk where they supported Army Group Centre.[18] Flying Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 (Werknummer 7082—factory number) on 11 November 1943 at 10:42, Döbele was killed in a mid-air collision with an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft east of Vitebsk.[19][20][Note 2] At his funeral, the guard of honour was made up of Rademacher, Schnörrer, Fritz Tegtmeier, and Otto Kittel, with Nowotny and von Bonin giving an eulogy.[23][24] Posthumously, Döbele was promoted to Leutnant and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944.[25][26] He is interred at the German War Cemetery at Vilnius-Vingio.[27]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Spick, Döbele was credited with 94 aerial victories claimed in over 458 combat missions.[28] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 93 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[29]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 25 Ost 1956". 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.[30]

Chronicle of aerial victories

Template:Legend Template:Legend

Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 1. Staffel of the Ergänzungsgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[31]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
1 28 July 1941 07:43 MBR-2?[Note 3] PQ 25 Ost 1956[32]
over sea, west of Ösel
2 30 July 1941 14:02 I-15 PQ 25 Ost 18461[32]
30 km (19 mi) west of Demyansk
– 1. Staffel of the Ergänzungsgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[31]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 9 March 1942
4 4 February 1942 09:38 I-18 (MiG-1) 8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of Malaya Vishera[33]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[29]
Eastern Front — March 1942 – 11 November 1943
4 17 March 1942 17:57 I-16[34] 50 7 August 1943 08:44 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54821[35]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Bolkhov
5 30 December 1942 13:25 Yak-4 PQ 2863[36] 51 7 August 1943 08:59 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54732[35]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Karachev
6 7 January 1943 09:41 I-16 PQ 1964[37] 52 7 August 1943 11:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54641[35]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Bolkhov
7?[Note 4] 12 January 1943 13:33 Il-2 vicinity of Mga[31] 53 12 August 1943 09:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41693[35]
8 13 January 1943 13:25 Il-2 PQ 10173[37]
vicinity of Mga
54 12 August 1943 14:02 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 51343, Boromlia[35]
45 km (28 mi) northwest of Grayvoron
9 23 February 1943 07:10 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10152[38]
southeast of Shlisselburg
55 14 August 1943 09:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51734[39]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bohodukhiv
10 7 March 1943 16:25 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 28382[40]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Demyansk
56 15 August 1943 07:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51821[39]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Bohodukhiv
11 15 March 1943 08:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18251[40]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa
57 19 August 1943 15:44 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51511[39]
northeast of Bohodukhiv
12 15 March 1943 10:59 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18253[40]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa
58 19 August 1943 15:53 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51394[39]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Belgorod
13 17 March 1943 13:42 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18133[41]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa
59 20 August 1943 09:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41454[39]
14 19 March 1943 09:47 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10189[41]
southeast of Shlisselburg
60 20 August 1943 14:42 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51383[42]
30 km (19 mi) west-northwest of Grayvoron
15 19 March 1943 10:05 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00283[41]
20 km (12 mi) west of Mga
61 20 August 1943 14:53 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51523[42]
northeast of Bohodukhiv
16 22 March 1943 08:44 Yak-1 PQ 36 Ost 00332[41]
vicinity of Gatchina
62 21 August 1943 16:46 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51861[42]
25 km (16 mi) east of Bohodukhiv
17?[Note 5] 11 April 1943 18:25 Il-2 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Leningrad[44] 63 23 August 1943 06:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51541[42]
northeast of Bohodukhiv
18 26 April 1943 14:15?[Note 6] Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00181[43]
vicinity of Leningrad
64 23 August 1943 17:01 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 60154[42]
Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda
19 26 April 1943 14:16 I-16 PQ 36 Ost 00181[43]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Pushkin
65 23 August 1943 17:04 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60164[42]
Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda
20?[Note 7] 28 April 1943 19:33 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90224[43] 66 23 August 1943 17:10 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60273[42]
Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda
21 8 June 1943 16:15 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10254[45]
30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg
67 24 August 1943 07:37 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51384[42]
30 km (19 mi) west-northwest of Grayvoron
22 17 June 1943 10:55 LaGG-3 PQ 26 Ost 90241[46]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Lomonosov
68 28 August 1943 11:48 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 43822[42]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Sevsk
23 19 June 1943 20:53 LaGG-5 PQ 36 Ost 20121, Volkhovstroy[46]
southwest of Volkhov
69 28 August 1943 11:52 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 43822[42]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Sevsk
24 21 June 1943 15:33 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 21754, Novaya Ladoga[46]
20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Volkhov
70 1 September 1943 06:22 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 35371[47]
5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Yelnya
25 21 June 1943 20:05 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 20374[46]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Volkhov
71 1 September 1943 12:13 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 35343[47]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Yelnya
26 24 June 1943 06:30 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10224[46]
40 km (25 mi) west of Volkhov
72 1 September 1943 12:17 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 35392[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Yelnya
27 24 June 1943 06:40 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10253[46]
30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg
73 2 September 1943 11:00 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35343[47]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Yelnya
28 24 June 1943 07:02 Yak-1?[Note 8] PQ 36 Ost 20121, Volkhovstroy[46]
west of Volkhov
74 2 September 1943 11:08 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 25494[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Yelnya
29 5 July 1943 12:46 P-40 PQ 35 63732[48]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
75 2 September 1943 11:12 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35574[47]
30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Yelnya
30♠ 6 July 1943 08:16 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63581[48]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
76 2 September 1943 15:17 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35393[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Yelnya
31♠ 6 July 1943 14:08 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63713[48]
40 km (25 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
77 6 September 1943 10:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 26881[47]
vicinity of Yartsevo
32♠ 6 July 1943 14:53 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63732[48]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
78 6 September 1943 10:51 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 26882[47]
vicinity of Yartsevo
33♠ 6 July 1943 18:34 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63862[48]
45 km (28 mi) north-northwest of Kursk
79 7 September 1943 11:33 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26673[47]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Moschna
34♠ 6 July 1943 18:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63574[49]
35 km (22 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
80 10 September 1943 13:15 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 44152[50]
25 km (16 mi) south of Kirov
35 7 July 1943 08:43 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 63712[49]
40 km (25 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
81 14 September 1943 11:53 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26482[50]
25 km (16 mi) north of Yartsevo
36 7 July 1943 18:12 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63748[49]
45 km (28 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
82 14 September 1943 15:32 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 44354[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Datkovo
37 8 July 1943 17:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63582[49]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
83 13 October 1943 08:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 15543[51]
south of Lenin
38 10 July 1943 10:37 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 53833[49]
55 km (34 mi) north-northwest of Kursk
84 13 October 1943 08:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 15534[51]
northeast of Gorki
39 13 July 1943 07:30 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 64857[52]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Mtsensk
85 15 October 1943 15:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 15642[51]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Krassnyj
40?[Note 7] 13 July 1943 14:02 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54441[52] 86 21 October 1943 11:17 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 03842[51]
41 16 July 1943 08:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54766[52]
20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Bolkhov
87 22 October 1943 14:55 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 15341[51]
20 km (12 mi) west of Krassnyj
42 18 July 1943 04:52 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54493[53]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bolkhov
88 29 October 1943 14:03 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 05461[54]
43 21 July 1943 19:54 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54542[53]
25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Karachev
89 29 October 1943 14:16 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 05453, northeast of Orsha[54]
44 23 July 1943 12:34 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54398[53]
40 km (25 mi) west-northwest of Bolkhov
90 4 November 1943 13:17 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 97874, south of Nevel[54]
20 km (12 mi) west of Nevel
45 23 July 1943 12:37 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54533[53]
40 km (25 mi) west of Bolkhov
91 4 November 1943 13:22 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 97883[54]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Nevel
46 2 August 1943 16:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54653[53]
20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of Bolkhov
92 6 November 1943 14:44 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06173[54]
47 2 August 1943 17:00 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 54633[35]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Bolkhov
93 10 November 1943 09:16 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 96234[54]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Nevel
48 3 August 1943 11:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54723[35]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Woronowo
94 11 November 1943 10:38 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06723[55]
49 4 August 1943 15:31 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 44862[35]
vicinity of Karachev
95 11 November 1943 10:42 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06762[55]

Awards

Notes


References

Citations


Bibliography

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 Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website.
  Christer Bergström.
 
 
  Retrieved 21 December 2023 from link

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Dixon 2023, p. 78.
  2. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Obermaier 1989, p. 101.
  4. Prien et al. 2005, p. 260.
  5. Prien et al. 2005, pp. 195, 201.
  6. Held 1998, p. 69.
  7. Spick 1996, p. 197.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Dixon 2023, p. 79.
  9. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 127, 129.
  10. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 129–130, 176.
  11. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 130, 176.
  12. Bergström 2007, p. 53.
  13. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 142–143.
  14. Prien et al. 2012, p. 165.
  15. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 143, 180.
  16. MacLean 2007, p. 110.
  17. MacLean 2007, p. 111.
  18. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 158, 166.
  19. Scutts 1992, p. 101.
  20. Prien et al. 2012, p. 193.
  21. Weal 2007, p. 49.
  22. Weal 1998, p. 92.
  23. Page 2020, p. 24.
  24. Held 1998, pp. 118–119.
  25. Weal 2001, p. 106.
  26. Prien et al. 2012, p. 160.
  27. MacLean 2007, p. 109.
  28. Spick 1996, p. 234.
  29. 29.0 29.1 Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 225–227.
  30. Planquadrat.
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 225.
  32. 32.0 32.1 Prien et al. 2003, p. 290.
  33. Prien et al. 2005, p. 263.
  34. Prien et al. 2005, p. 201.
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 35.7 Prien et al. 2012, p. 180.
  36. Prien et al. 2005, p. 96.
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 Prien et al. 2006, p. 96.
  38. Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
  39. 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 Prien et al. 2012, p. 181.
  40. 40.0 40.1 40.2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 171.
  41. 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 Prien et al. 2012, p. 172.
  42. 42.00 42.01 42.02 42.03 42.04 42.05 42.06 42.07 42.08 42.09 Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Prien et al. 2012, p. 173.
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 226.
  45. Prien et al. 2012, p. 174.
  46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 46.6 Prien et al. 2012, p. 175.
  47. 47.00 47.01 47.02 47.03 47.04 47.05 47.06 47.07 47.08 47.09 Prien et al. 2012, p. 183.
  48. 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 48.4 Prien et al. 2012, p. 176.
  49. 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 Prien et al. 2012, p. 177.
  50. 50.0 50.1 50.2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 184.
  51. 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 Prien et al. 2012, p. 186.
  52. 52.0 52.1 52.2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 178.
  53. 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 Prien et al. 2012, p. 179.
  54. 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 Prien et al. 2012, p. 187.
  55. 55.0 55.1 Prien et al. 2012, p. 188.
  56. MacLean 2007, p. 108.
  57. Patzwall 2008, p. 67.
  58. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 87.
  59. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 162.
  60. Scherzer 2007, p. 275.


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