Günter Fink (17 March 1918 – 15 May 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. Günter Fink was killed on 15 May 1943 after engaging in aerial combat with B-17 bombers. During his career he was credited with 46 aerial victories, all on the Eastern Front.
Günter Fink | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 March 1918 Berlin |
| Died | 15 May 1943 (aged 25) south of Helgoland |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | ?–1943 |
| Rank | Hauptmann (Captain) |
| Unit | JG 54 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Summary of career
editAerial victory claims
editMathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 48 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[1]
Awards
edit- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[2]
- Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 3 August 1942 as Oberleutnant and pilot[3]
- German Cross in Gold on 27 October 1942 as Oberleutnant in the III./Jagdgeschwader 54[4]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 54[5][6]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 310–311.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 9.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 76.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 113.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 180.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 307.
Bibliography
edit- 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.
- 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.
