Gustav Frielinghaus

Gustav Frielinghaus
Born5 March 1912
Osnabrück
Died11 September 1963(1963-09-11) (aged 51)
Düsseldorf
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Service years?-1945
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 3, JGr Süd, EJG 1
CommandsIV./JG 3
ConflictsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gustav Frielinghaus (5 March 1912 – 11 September 1963) 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. Frielinghaus was credited with 74 aerial victories during World War II.

Military career

In May 1942, II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) was stationed at Plzeň for rest and refit before it was relocated to the Eastern Front on 18 May 1942. Too late to participate in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula, it was located on the left wing of Army Group South, assigned to an airfield at Chuguyev in the Kharkov area where they arrived on 19 May.[1]

Mediterranean theater

As part of the Luftwaffe plan to expand its fighter force, a fourth Gruppe was to be added to every Geschwader. This was achieved by transferring some of the other Gruppen's personnel and equipment. This created the nucleus of a newly formed Gruppe. IV. Gruppe of JG 3 was officially created on 1 June 1943 at Neubiberg Airfield and placed under command of Major Franz Beyer while Frielinghaus was given command of 11. Staffel.[2] The Gruppe was initially equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6, some carrying a pair of 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons installed in conformal gun pods under the wings. In mid-June, the Gruppe was ordered to Italy to fight in the Mediterranean theater.[3]

On 11 July, IV. Gruppe of JG 3 was ordered to an airfield at Ramacca, Sicily. There, the Gruppe supported German forces defending against the Allied invasion of Sicily.[4] Due to the advancing Allied forces, the airfield had to be abandoned on 15 July, forcing the Gruppe to retreat to Leverano.[5] The next day, Frielinghaus claimed two Supermarine Spitfire fighters shot down in the combat area south and south-southwest of Licata.[6] On 13 July, Frielinghaus claimed a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter shot down southwest of Caltanissetta.[7] On 20 August, Frielinghaus claimed a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter shot down east of Gaeta.[8] On 9 September, Frielinghaus was shot down and wounded in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 18861—factory number) in aerial combat near Orta Nova. In consequence, command of 11. Staffel was passed on to Leutnant Hermann Schmied.[9]

On 1 May 1944, Frielinghaus was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 3. He succeeded Leutnant Leopold Münster who temporarily had led the Gruppe after its former commander Hauptmann Hermann Freiherr von Kap-herr was killed in action. Frielinghaus took command at Gardelegen Airfield. Since Frielinghaus was still convalescing from injuries sustained in December 1943, Frielinghaus led the Gruppe from the ground while Münster continued to lead in the air.[10]

Later life

Frielinghaus died on 11 September 1963 at the age of 50 in Düsseldorf, Germany.[11]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Frielinghaus was credited with 74 aerial victories.[12] Spick also lists him with 74 aerial victories claimed in approximately 500 combat missions.[13] 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 one further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes 61 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and eight over the Western Allies.[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[15]
Eastern Front — 4 February – May 1943
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[16]
Mediterranean theater — 1 July – 9 September 1943
67 12 July 1943 11:09 Spitfire 30 km (19 mi) south of Licata[17] 71 28 August 1943 16:05 P-38 35 km (22 mi) southwest of Ischia[17]
68 12 July 1943 11:16 Spitfire 30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Licata[17] 72 30 August 1943 12:29 P-38 southwest of Ischia[17]
69 13 July 1943 18:11 P-38 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Caltanissetta[17] 73 2 September 1943 13:38 P-38 PQ 14 Ost 31474[17]
70 20 August 1943 13:49 P-38 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Gaeta[17]
15 km (9.3 mi) south Gallio 		74 2 September 1943 13:42 P-38 PQ 14 Ost 31487[17]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant in the Stab IV./Jagdgeschwader 3.[22]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 135.
  2. ^ Prien 1996, p. 1.
  3. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 4–5.
  4. ^ Prien 1996, p. 7.
  5. ^ Prien 1996, p. 9.
  6. ^ Shores et al. 2018, pp. 183–191.
  7. ^ Shores et al. 2018, pp. 192–201.
  8. ^ Shores et al. 2018, pp. 300–302.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2010, pp. 133, 139.
  10. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, pp. 210–211.
  11. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 65.
  12. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1615.
  13. ^ Spick 1996, p. 237.
  14. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 344–346.
  15. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 345–346.
  16. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 346.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2010, p. 136.
  18. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 64.
  19. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 80.
  20. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 124.
  21. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 187.
  22. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 320.

Bibliography

  • 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 (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • 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 (1996). IV./Jagdgeschwader 3—Chronik einer Jagdgruppe—1943 – 1945 [IV./Jagdgeschwader 3—Chronic of a Fighter Group—1943 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-36-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard (2003). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: II./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-1774-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
  • 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.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried; Thomas, Andy (2018). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome: 14 May, 1943 – 5 June 1944. Vol. 4. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-911621-10-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2013). Aces of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet". Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 116. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-298-6.
  • 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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