Wikipedia

Georg Michalek

Georg Michalek
Born17 June 1913
Vienna, Austria-Hungary
Died2 September 1992(1992-09-02) (aged 79)
São Paulo, Brazil
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Years of service?–1945
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 3
Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe West
CommandsI./JG 3
Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe West
JG 108
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Georg Michalek (17 June 1913 – 2 September 1992) was a 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. During his career Georg Michalek was credited with between 59 and 62 aerial victories.

Early life

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Michalek was born 17 June 1913, in Vienna, then the capital of Austria-Hungary.[1] Mickalek was attached to the Austrian Air Force in 1935 as a Leutnant in an anti-aircraft regiment.[2] After the Anschluss in March 1938, he became a member of Jagdgeschwader 138 (JG 138—138th Fighter Wing), in the German Luftwaffe.[3] In March 1938, the Luftwaffe initiated the formation of a single Gruppe (group) at Wien-Aspern Airfield. On 1 April, this unit became the newly formed I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 138 also referred to as the "Wiener-Jagdgruppe" ("Vienna fighter group"), largely staffed with former Austrian Air Force personnel. On 1 November, the Gruppe was re-designated and became I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 134 (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing), and again renamed on 1 May 1939, becoming the I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing). Initially equipped with the Fiat CR.32 while 3. Staffel received the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B.[4] At the start of World War II, Michalek was serving in Jagdgeschwader 52.[3]

World War II

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On 15 July 1941, Michalek was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). He succeeded Oberleutnant Karl Faust who had been killed in action three days before.[5]

In recognition of 37 aerial victories claimed, Michalek was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes) on 4 November 1941 and at the same time promoted to Hauptmann (captain).[6]

Group commander

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On 15 January 1942, I. Gruppe of JG 3 became the II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1. In consequence a new I. Gruppe of JG 3 was created on 1 March 1942.[7] This new I. Gruppe was created from the Ergänzungsgrupp, the supplementary training group of JG 3 at Wiesbaden Airfield and placed under command of Michalek.[8] Command of 4. Staffel was thus passed on to Oberleutnant Walther Dahl.[9] Initially equipped with the older versions of the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Gruppe received a full complement of factory new Bf 109 F-4 trop aircraft in late March. The Gruppe continued their training until 20 April when they began relocating to the Eastern Front in preparation for Case Blue, the German strategic summer offensive in southern Russia.[10]

In August 1942, Michalek was posted to a fighter pilot school.[11] In consequence, command of I. Gruppe went to Hauptmann Klaus Quaet-Faslem.[12]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to Obermaier, Michalek was credited with at least 59 aerial victories, including six over the Western Allies.[13] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 49 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[14]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 92114". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[15]

Chronicle of aerial victories
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 –
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 1 November 1941
12 16 July 1941 18:45 R-Z[16] 25 12 August 1941 18:15 I-153 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Kyiv[17]
13 20 July 1941 15:40 I-153[16] 26 17 August 1941 09:05 DB-3[17]
14 21 July 1941 18:45 I-153[16] 27 21 August 1941 17:50 DB-3[18]
15 23 July 1941 11:25 DB-3[16] 28 22 August 1941 09:51 R-5[19]
16 26 July 1941 06:35 I-153[17] 29 22 August 1941 09:52 R-5 west of Dnjepropetrowsk[19]
17 26 July 1941 11:15 V-11[17] 30 22 August 1941 09:55 R-5[19]
18 31 July 1941 12:15 I-16 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Kyiv[17] 31 25 August 1941 11:10 SB-3[19]
19 3 August 1941 13:15 I-153[17] 32 31 August 1941 13:02 V-11[19]
20 8 August 1941 14:40 DB-3[17] 33 1 September 1941 16:40 SB-3[19]
21 9 August 1941 09:50 DB-3[17] 34 6 September 1941 16:48 SB-3 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Koteberda[19]
22 9 August 1941 09:53 DB-3[17] 35 18 October 1941 13:12 I-61[20]
23 11 August 1941 16:18 Pe-2[17] 36 19 October 1941 12:38 Pe-2[20]
24 11 August 1941 16:20 Pe-2[17] 37 22 October 1941 10:22 I-16[20]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –
Eastern Front — 6 January – August 1942
38 8 May 1942 12:06 MiG-3[21] 51 5 July 1942 06:30 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 92114, Gnesdowka[22]
39 2 June 1942 14:34 I-153[21] 52 5 July 1942 19:04 Yak-4[22]
40 11 June 1942 06:45 Il-2[21] 53 7 July 1942 18:37 Yak-1[22]
41 11 June 1942 12:15 Su-2[21] 54 8 July 1942 18:45 LaGG-3[22]
42 22 June 1942 15:36 MiG-3[23] 55 8 July 1942 18:55 LaGG-3[22]
43 22 June 1942 18:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 70232[23] 56 9 July 1942 05:02 LaGG-3[22]
44 22 June 1942 18:27 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 70232[23] 57 22 July 1942 13:25 Il-2 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Lisow[24]
45 23 June 1942 19:20 LaGG-3 north of Kupjansk[23] 58 22 July 1942 13:32 MiG-1 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Ssurowikino[24]
46 23 June 1942 19:23 LaGG-3 south of Monatschiwowka[23] 59 22 July 1942 13:37 MiG-1[24]
47 28 June 1942 13:04 Yak-4 PQ 35 Ost 72272[23] 60 23 July 1942 12:39 Il-2[24]
48 28 June 1942 19:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 72124[23] 61 23 July 1942 12:41 Il-2[24]
49 4 July 1942 14:45 LaGG-3 western edge of Voronezh[22] 62 23 July 1942 12:45 Il-2[24]
50 5 July 1942 06:25 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 92184, Gnesdowka[22]

Awards

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 188.
  2. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 217.
  3. ^ a b c Dixon 2023, p. 148.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 263.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2003, pp. 105, 118.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 45.
  7. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 403.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 44–45.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 83.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 47–48.
  11. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 149.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 94.
  13. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 168.
  14. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 847–848.
  15. ^ Planquadrat.
  16. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 111.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2003, p. 112.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 113.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2003, p. 114.
  20. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 116.
  21. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 97.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 99.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 100.
  25. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 311.
  26. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 543.
  27. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 146.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  • 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.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: 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.
  • 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; Stemmer, Gerhard (2002). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: Stab and I./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-1681-4.
  • 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 (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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis December 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • 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.