Rolf Pingel
Rolf Pingel | |
---|---|
Born | 1 October 1913 Kiel |
Died | 4 April 2000 Lollar | (aged 86)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ‹See Tfd›![]() |
Years of service | 1934–45 |
Rank | Major (major) |
Unit | Condor Legion JG 53 JG 26 |
Commands | III./JG 53 I./JG 26 |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Rolf Pingel (1 October 1913 – 4 April 2000) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. He is credited with six aerial victories during the Spanish Civil War and further 22 aerial victories on the Western Front of World War II. He flew about 550 combat missions, including approximately 200 in Spain.
Born in Kiel, Pingel grew up in the Weimar Republic. He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe and was trained as a fighter pilot. During the Spanish Civil War, he volunteered for service in the Condor Legion. In Spain, he claimed his first aerial victory on 5 June 1937. For his service in Spain, he was decorated with the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. During World War II, Pingel claimed his first victory on 10 September 1939 as a squadron leader of 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53–53rd Fighter Wing). In August 1940, Pingel was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) where he became a group commander. There, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 September 1940. On 10 July 1941, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 was damaged in combat, resulting in a forced landing near St Margaret's at Cliffe and was captured by the British Home Guard. He was released in 1947 as a prisoner of war. Pingel died on 4 April 2000 in Lollar, Germany.
Early life and career
[edit]Pingel was born 1 October 1913 in Kiel, at the time in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia.[1] In 1935, he began his flight training at Kitzingen Airfield, and was then posted to the Jagdfliegerschule at Schleißheim. After he completed his flight training, he was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134–134th Fighter Wing) in March 1937.[2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Legion-Condor-Badge-2nd-Squadron-Fighter-Group-88.jpg/130px-Legion-Condor-Badge-2nd-Squadron-Fighter-Group-88.jpg)
During the Spanish Civil War, Pingel volunteered for service with the Condor Legion, a unit composed of volunteers from the Luftwaffe and from the Army which served with the Nationalists. There, he was assigned to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) under the command of Oberleutnant Günther Lützow.[3] 2. Staffel was the first squadron to be fully equipped with the then new Messerschmitt Bf 109.[4] On 8 July, during the Battle of Brunete, Pingel led a flight three aircraft (Kette) from 2. Staffel on a fighter escort mission for bombers from Kampfgruppe 88 and reconnaissance aircraft from Aufklärungsgruppe 88. Near Aranjuez, the flight encountered five bombers heading for Ávila. In this encounter, Pingel was credited with the destruction of a Tupolev SB-2 bomber.[5] Four days later, he was credited with the destruction of another SB-2 bomber and an escorting Polikarpov I-16 fighter.[6] On 16 July near Fuenlabrada, Pingel shot down another I-16 fighter.[6] Pingel was credited with his sixth and last aerial victory in Spain on 22 August during the Battle of Santander, claiming yet another I-16.[7] He was later awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern) on 14 April 1939 for his service in the Spanish Civil War.[8]
Following his return from Spain, Pingel was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2.(leichte Jäger) Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 334 (JG 334–334th Fighter Wing) on 1 October 1938. This squadron was part of I. Gruppe of JG 334 under the command of Major Hans-Hugo Witt. This unit was renamed on 1 November and was then referred to as 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 133 (JG 133–133rd Fighter Wing). On 1 April 1939, it was again renamed, becoming the 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53–53rd Fighter Wing).[9] In early 1939, the Gruppe started replacing the Bf 109 D-1 with the newer Bf 109 E-1 and E-3 variant, completing the change by March. During the following months, the pilots trained aerial gunnery at Wangerooge Airfield. At the time of the German mobilization on 26 August, the Gruppe was based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim.[10]
World War II
[edit]World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Still based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, I. Gruppe patrolled western German border between Trier and Saarbrücken during the "Phoney War".[11] Pingel claimed his first aerial victory of World War II on 10 September when he shot down a French ANF Les Mureaux 113 near Ensdorf. On 30 September he was credited with the destruction of a Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairey Battle west of Saarbrücken.[12] The Battle belonged to No. 150 Squadron of the Advanced Air Striking Force on a mission to Saarbrücken.[13] At the end of October, the Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Kirchberg to make room at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim for the newly created III. Gruppe of JG 53.[11]
On 5 June, German forces launched Fall Rot (Case Red), the second phase of the conquest of France. That day, Hauptmann Werner Mölders was shot down in combat in the vicinity of Compiègne and taken prisoner of war. Pingel was transferred from 2. Staffel and temporarily took command of III. Gruppe.[14] On 11 June, JG 53 supported the fighting at the Aisne and near Reims where Pingel shot down two Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters.[15] Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940 Mölders returned to III. Gruppe only to be transferred to take command of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). Hauptmann Harro Harder was officially appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe and Pingel returned to take command of 2. Staffel.[16]
With Jagdgeschwader 26
[edit]On 22 August, the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, appointed Major Adolf Galland as Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing). Göring was convinced that the Luftwaffe's failure to defeat the RAF Fighter Command was caused by the lack of aggressiveness on behalf of the Luftwaffe fighter pilots. In consequence, Göring reassigned every Geschwaderkommodore position to younger and more successful men.[17] Galland shared Göring's opinion, and as a first measure had Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe, Hauptmann Kurt Fischer replaced by Pingel.[18]
Pingel claimed his first aerial victories with JG 26 on 29 August. In terms of aerial victories claimed, it was I. Gruppe's most successful mission so far, for the loss of one of their own, the Gruppe claimed five RAF fighters. Pingel accounted for two Spitfire fighters, shot down near Dungeness.[19] On 14 September, two members of JG 26 received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), Oberleutnant Joachim Müncheberg and Pingel. At the time, twenty aerial victories were the requirement for a Knight's Cross nomination. Pingel had not yet reached this figure. Caldwell assumes that Pingel, in parts, received this award for his leadership skills.[20]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Captured_Me_109F-2_at_Duxford_1941.jpg/220px-Captured_Me_109F-2_at_Duxford_1941.jpg)
On 28 September, Pingel shot down a No. 249 Squadron Hawker Hurricane near Maidstone but his Bf 109 E-4 (Werknummer 3756—factory number) was badly damaged, forcing Pingel to ditch off the English coast near Hastings and be rescued by the Seenotdienst (sea rescue service).[21][22] He claimed his last aerial victory in 1940 on 5 November. In combat with the No. 12 Group's Duxford Wing, Pingel claimed a No. 19 Squadron Spitfire shot down east of Gravesend.[23]
On 22 June 1941, the RAF flew "Circus" No. 18 targeting Hazebrouck with six Bristol Blenheim bombers, escorted by Spitfires from No. 609 and No. 611 Squadron. Defending against this attack, Pingel claimed his 20th aerial victory, a Spitfire shot down west of Dunkirk.[24] On 10 July, the RAF sent three Short Stirling bombers as part of "Circus" No. 42 to Chocques. The Luftwaffe dispatched fighters from JG 2 and JG 26 to intercept the bombers and escorting fighters but failed to make contact until the RAF attack force was already returning to England. Pingel, in pursuit of one of the Stirlings, followed the bomber into English airspace where he attacked the bomber. He damaged the tail section of the bomber but his Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 12764) was hit by the defensive fire of the bomber. He then came under attack of a Spitfire which resulted in him making a forced landing near Dover and St Margaret's at Cliffe.[25][26] He was taken prisoner by a detachment of Home Guard. He was released in 1947.
Pingel's aircraft, the Bf 109 F–2, was returned to flying condition by the RAF and allocated the serial number ES906. It was briefly flown for evaluation testing until it crashed near Fowlmere on 20 October 1941, killing its Polish pilot Flight Officer Marian J. Skalski.[27]
Summary of career
[edit]Aerial victory claims
[edit]According to Obermaier, Pingel flew 550 combat missions, 200 of which during the Spanish Civil War. He was credited with 28 aerial victories, six in the Spanish Civil War and another 22 in World War II.[1] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 27 aerial victory claims. This number includes six claims during the Spanish Civil War, and further 21 over the Western Allies of World War II.[28]
Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Caldwell, Forsyth, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
| |||||||||
Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
Spanish Civil War | |||||||||
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 –[8] Spanish Civil War — July – December 1938 | |||||||||
1?[Note 1] | 5 June 1937 | —
|
I-15[29] | San Julián de Musques | 4 | 12 July 1937 | —
|
I-16[29] | |
2 | 8 July 1937 | —
|
SB-2[29] | 5 | 16 July 1937 | —
|
I-16[29] | ||
3 | 12 July 1937 | —
|
SB-2[29] | 6 | 22 August 1937 | —
|
I-16[29] | ||
World War II | |||||||||
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[8] "Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940 | |||||||||
1 | 10 September 1939 | 14:15 | Mureaux 113 | Ensdorf[12] | 2 | 30 September 1939 | 11:50 | Battle | west of Saarbrücken[12] |
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[8] Battle of France — 10 May – 5 June 1940 | |||||||||
3 | 14 May 1940 | 11:20?[Note 2] | MB.151 | south of Sedan[30] | 5 | 14 May 1940 | 16:30 | Battle | Sedan[30] |
4 | 14 May 1940 | 11:22 | MB.151 | south of Sedan[30] | 6 | 26 May 1940 | 10:55 | Hurricane[30] | |
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[8] Battle of France — 5–20 June 1940 | |||||||||
7 | 11 June 1940 | 11:55?[Note 3] | M.S.406 | Reims-Épernay[31] | 8 | 11 June 1940 | 12:10 | M.S.406 | southwest of Épernay[31] |
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[8] At the Channel and over England — 26 June – 21 August 1940 | |||||||||
9?[Note 4] | 15 August 1940 | —
|
Hurricane[32] | 10 | 18 August 1940 | 15:32 | Spitfire[32] | ||
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[33] At the Channel and over England — 22 August 1940 – 21 June 1941 | |||||||||
11 | 29 August 1940 | 20:06 | Spitfire | Dungeness[34][35] | 16 | 28 September 1940 | 14:40 | Hurricane | Maidstone[34][22] |
12 | 29 August 1940 | 20:07 | Spitfire | Dungeness[34][36] | 17 | 5 November 1940 | 17:05 | Spitfire | east of Gravesend[37][38] |
13 | 31 August 1940 | 18:45 | Spitfire | south of London[34][39] | 18 | 16 June 1941 | 16:35 | Blenheim | southeast of Boulogne[37][40] |
14 | 7 September 1940 | 19:25 | Spitfire | Tonbridge[34][41] | 19 | 16 June 1941 | 16:52 | Spitfire | south of Dungeness[37][40] |
15 | 14 September 1940 | 16:50 | Hurricane | southeast of Maidstone[34][20] | |||||
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[33] At the Channel and over England — 22 June – 10 July 1941 | |||||||||
20 | 22 June 1941 | 16:10 | Spitfire | west of Dunkirk[42][43] | 22 | 2 July 1941 | 12:50 | Spitfire | south of Dunkirk[42][44] |
21 | 27 June 1941 | 21:43 | Spitfire | Roubaix[42][45] |
Awards
[edit]- Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939)[8]
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[46]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 September 1940 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[47][48]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 180.
- ^ Goss 2018, p. 96.
- ^ Braatz 2005, p. 147.
- ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 56.
- ^ Forsyth 2011, pp. 64–65.
- ^ a b Forsyth 2011, p. 66.
- ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 78.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 969.
- ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 232.
- ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 230.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2001a, p. 361.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2001a, p. 368.
- ^ Prien 1997, p. 45.
- ^ Prien et al. 2001b, pp. 347, 349–350.
- ^ Prien 1997, p. 121.
- ^ Prien 1997, p. 123.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 60.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 61.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 64–65.
- ^ a b Caldwell 1996, p. 73.
- ^ Prien et al. 2002a, p. 294.
- ^ a b Caldwell 1996, p. 78.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 85–86.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 139–140.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 149–150.
- ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 521.
- ^ Saunders 2014, p. 163.
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 969–970.
- ^ a b c d e f g Forsyth 2011, p. 105.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2001b, p. 327.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2001b, p. 357.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2002b, p. 201.
- ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 970.
- ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2002a, p. 291.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 64.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 65.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002a, p. 292.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 86.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 66.
- ^ a b Caldwell 1996, p. 135.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 72.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 512.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 140.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 146.
- ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 143.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 28.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 340.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 596.
Bibliography
[edit]- Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow [God or an Airplane – Life and Death of Fighter Pilot Günther Lützow] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-6-8.
- Caldwell, Donald L. (1996). The JG 26 War Diary: Volume One 1939–1942. London, UK: Grubstreet. ISBN 978-1-898697-52-7.
- Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
- 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.
- Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 99. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8.
- Goss, Chris (2018). Knights of the Battle of Britain — Luftwaffe Aircrew Awarded the Knight's Cross in 1940. Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52672-651-3.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton-on-Thames, UK: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
- 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.
- Prien, Jochen (1997). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader March 1937 – May 1942. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-0175-9.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen—9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen—10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 3—Action in Denmark and Norway—9 April to 30 November 1940—The Campaign in the West—10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-63-2.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
- Saunders, Andy (2014). Arrival of Eagles : Luftwaffe Landings in Britain 1939-1945. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-909808-39-3.
- 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.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- 1913 births
- 2000 deaths
- Military personnel from Kiel
- Military personnel from the Province of Schleswig-Holstein
- German World War II flying aces
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Spanish Civil War flying aces
- German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom
- Shot-down aviators
- Condor Legion personnel