Bernd Gallowitsch

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Bernd Gallowitsch
Born23 February 1918
Vienna, Austria
Died23 December 1983(1983-12-23) (aged 65)
Vienna, Austria
Allegiance Federal State of Austria (to 1938)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1936–1945
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 51, JG 7, JG 1
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other workairline pilot

Bernd Gallowitsch (23 February 1918 – 23 December 1983) 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. Bernd Gallowitsch was credited with 64 aerial victories, and the destruction of 23 tanks in 480 combat missions.

Military career[edit]

Gallowitsch was born on 23 February 1918 in Vienna, the capital of Austria-Hungary. Following flight training,[Note 1] Gallowitsch was posted to Kampfgruppe 100 (KGr. 100—100th Combat Group) in December 1939.[2] He then received training as a fighter pilot and was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) in June 1940.[3] On 7 September, the Luftwaffe launched Operation Loge during the Battle of Britain, a 65-day air offensive against London. That day, Gallowitsch claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down.[4] On 12 October, I. Gruppe of JG 77 flew three fighter-bomber missions to London. On the 10:30 to 11:40 mission, the Gruppe engaged in aerial combat with Hawker Hurricane fighters over the English coast near Hastings. During this encounter, Gallowitsch claimed one of the Hurricane fighters shot down.[5]

On 21 November, I. Gruppe of JG 77 was redesignated and became the IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). Consequently, Gallowitsch became a member of 10. Staffel of JG 51. On 7 December, the Gruppe was withdrawn from the English Channel, relocating to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield for a period of rest and replenishment.[6] When on 1 March 1941, Major Friedrich Beckh was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of IV. Gruppe of JG 51, Gallowitsch was made his regular wingman. Gallowitsch had good eyesight and compensated for Beckh's inabilities.[7] The assignment was based on a recommendation made by Prof. Dr. Paul Robert Skawran, a psychologist who had studied fighter pilot aptitudes and combat readiness with JG 51 at the time.[8] On 9 February 1941, IV. Gruppe returned to France, then based at an airfield near Le Touquet and to Marquise on 16 April. There, Gallowitsch claimed a Spitfire fighter shot down on 6 May east of Dover and a Hurricane fighter on 21 May east of Deal. The Gruppe was withdrawn from the English Channel and relocated to Mönchengladbach on 7 June for a brief period of replenishment.[9]

Operation Barbarossa[edit]

On 15 June, IV. Gruppe of JG 51 began transferring east and was located at an airfield named Krzewicze, located approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Brest-Litovsk. On 22 June, German forces launched Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.[10] JG 51 was subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps), which as part of Luftflotte 2 (Air Fleet 2). JG 51 area of operation during Operation Barbarossa was over the right flank of Army Group Center in the combat area of the 2nd Panzer Group as well as the 4th Army.[11]

In 1945, he was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 1 "Oesau" (JG  1—1st Fighter Wing) flying the Heinkel He 162, a single-engine, jet-powered fighter aircraft.[12] On 1 May, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel of JG 1, taking over command from Hauptmann Wolfgang Ludewig.[13]

Later life[edit]

Following World War II, Gallowitsch worked as a pilot for Austrian Airlines. On 3 June 1966, the front landing gear of the Vickers Viscount Franz Schubert malfunctioned during landing at Salzburg Airport, consequently the propellers touched the ground. Due to Gallowitsch action, a fatal accident was prevented.[14] Gallowitsch died on 28 December 1983 at the age of 65 in Vienna, Austria.[15]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Gallowitsch was credited with 64 aerial victories.[16] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 48 aerial victory claims plus two further unconfirmed clams. With the exception of four aerial victories claimed over the Western Allies, all other aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.[17]

Chronicle of aerial victories
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[18]
Over England and on the English Channel — 25 August – 20 November 1940
1 7 September 1940
—
 Spitfire[19]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Gallowitsch claimed one further aerial victory in the timeframe 7 September to 12 October 1940. In this timeframe, seven claims are listed with no-name, one which was attributed to Gallowitsch.[20] This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[18]
3 12 October 1940 11:22 Hurricane[21]
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[18]
Over England and on the English Channel — 21 November 1940 – 7 June 1941
4 6 May 1941 14:15 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Dover[22] 5 21 May 1941 18:05 Hurricane 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Deal[22]

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[1]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 117.
  3. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 159.
  4. ^ Prien 1992, pp. 381–382.
  5. ^ Prien 1992, p. 407.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2002, pp. 97–98.
  7. ^ Braatz 2009, p. 299.
  8. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 84.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2002, pp. 100, 106.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 319.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 206.
  12. ^ Forsyth 2016, pp. 77–78, 86.
  13. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 1612.
  14. ^ Leitich 1986, p. 158.
  15. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 160.
  16. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  17. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 368–369.
  18. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 368.
  19. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 104.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2002, pp. 104–106.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 105.
  22. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 106.
  23. ^ Dixon 2023, pp. 159–160.
  24. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 82.
  25. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 191.
  26. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 326.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Aders, Gebhard; Held, Werner (1993). Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente [Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle - Reports - Experiences - Documents] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-01045-1.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2009). Werner Mölders - Die Biographie [Werner Mölders - The Biography] (in German). Moosburg (Germany): NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9811615-3-3.
  • 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 (2016). He 162 Volksjäger Units. Combat Aircraft. Vol. 118. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1459-3.
  • Leitich, Friedrich (1986). Städt. Flugplatz Salzburg Airport 60 Jahre — Geschichte der Luftfahrt im Raume Salzburg [City Salzburg Airport 60 Years — Aviation History in the Salzburg Area] (in German). Salzburg, Austria: Verlag Alfred Winter. ISBN 978-3-85380-052-2.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • 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. (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 (1992). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 1—1934–1941 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 1—1934–1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-19-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter (1996). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11—Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945—Teil 3—1944–1945 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11—Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945—Volume 3—1944–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-25-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). 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 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • 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.
  • 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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