Hubertus von Bonin
Hubertus von Bonin
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Hubertus von Bonin in the Second World War
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Born | Potsdam |
3 August 1911
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. near Haradok |
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/ |
Luftwaffe |
Years of service | 1938–43 |
Rank | Oberstleutnant |
Unit | JG 51, JG 52 , JG 54 |
Commands held | III./JG 52, JG 54 |
Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War
World War II |
Awards | Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Relations | Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin |
Hubertus von Bonin (born 3 August 1911, Potsdam – 15 December 1943) was a German Second World War fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe. A flying or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] Bonin is credited with shooting down 77 enemy aircraft. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. He also claimed four victories in Spain during the civil war. His commands included Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing).
Military career
Bonin transferred to the Condor Legion in the fall of 1938, replacing Werner Mölders as Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of the 3./Jagdgruppe 88 on 5 December 1938. During the course of the Spanish Civil War he claimed four republican fighter aircraft shot down, for which he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. After his return from Spain, Bonin took command of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) and was made Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). He claimed his first aerial victory of the Second World War on 11 May 1940. By mid September 1940 he had claimed eight British fighter aircraft and bombers. For three months, from 1 July 1941, he served with Jagdfliegerschule 4 (fighter pilot training school Nr. 4). He then took command of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) on the Eastern Front. He claimed his thirtieth aerial victory on 17 November 1942 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) after 51 aerial victories. He was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 54 on 6 July 1943.[2]
Bonin was killed in action on 15 December 1943 near Vitebsk, in a fight with Soviet P-39 Airacobras.[3] His father, Luftwaffe Oberst Bogislaw von Bonin (not to be confused with Oberst i. G. Bogislaw von Bonin), was taken prisoner of war in March 1945 and has been declared missing ever since. Bonin's brother, Jürgen-Oskar von Bonin, was killed in action while serving as an observer in a transport Geschwader. Another brother, Major Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin, also a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient, was a night fighter ace with 37 kills who survived the war.
Awards
- Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords
- German Cross in Gold on 27 October 1942 as Major in the III./JG 52[4]
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 December 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 52[5]
References
Citations
Bibliography
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External links
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by
Oberst Hannes Trautloft
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Commander of Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz 6 July 1943 – 15 December 1943 |
Succeeded by Oberstleutnant Anton Mader |
- Use dmy dates from March 2011
- 1911 births
- 1943 deaths
- Condor Legion personnel
- German World War II flying aces
- German military personnel killed in World War II
- People from Potsdam
- People from the Province of Brandenburg
- Recipients of the Spanish Cross
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Aviators killed by being shot down