Peter Düttmann

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class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: #B0C4DE; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" | Peter Düttmann
colspan="2" style="background-color: #B0C4DE; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" |
colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; line-height: 1.5em;" | File:Peter Düttmann.png
Düttmann as a Leutnant
Nickname Bonifaz, sometimes Bonifazius
Birth date 23 May 1923(1923-05-23)
Place of birth Gießen, Provinz Oberhessen, People's State of Hesse, German Reich
Death date 9 January 2001 (aged 77)
Place of death Echterdingen near Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Allegiance File:Flag of the NSDAP (1920–1945).svg National Socialist Germany
Service/branch File:Luftwaffe eagle.png Luftwaffe
Years of service 1940–1945
Rank Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit JG 52
Commands held 5./JG 52 (6./JG 52)
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Peter "Bonifaz" Düttmann (23 May 1923 – 9 January 2001) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht, fighter ace (Flieger-As) and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. He is credited with 152 confirmed (plus 42 further unconfirmed) aerial victories (Luftsiege) achieved in 398 combat missions (Feindflüge), all of which claimed on the Eastern Front flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109. On one occasion, he achieved nine aerial victories in a single day ("ace in a day" for the second time on 7 May 1944). He in turn was forced down a total of 19 times, mostly by anti-aircraft guns.

Military career

File:Dissertation of Erich Düttmann, 1918.png
Dissertation of Erich Düttmann, 1918
File:Peter Düttmann in Italien bei Mailand in Venegone, c. 2000.png
Düttmann in Italy near Milan in Venegone, 2000

In 1933, Düttmann joined the Hitlerjugend (Motor-HJ). In 1940, he passed the Abitur at the humanistic Gymnasium in Kaiserslautern, where his family had moved to. He first wanted to join the Panzerwaffe, but then decided to become a pilot. He received his normal basic, then flight training (Fliegerschule). Afterwards, Düttmann was transferred to the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group East) in southern France based at La Leu Airfield near La Rochelle. Under the leadership of Oberleutnant Walter Krupinski, Düttmann flew the Arado Ar 96. On some of his flights, he was joined by members of the Kriegsmarine's U-Boot force who were made aware how easily a surfaced U-boat could be spotted from the air.

On 7 May 1943, “Bonifaz” joined 5./JG 52 on the Eastern Front. At the time, this squadron led by Leutnant Helmut Haberda who was killed in action on 8 May. Command of 5. Staffel was then temporarily given to Leutnant Josef Zwernemann who passed on command to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Batz on 26 May. Düttmann developed into one of the most successful junior pilots there. Soon he formed an indestructible trio with Heinz Ewald and Heinz "Heino" Sachsenberg. On 21 May 1943, he achieved his first aerial victory. On 9 August 1943, he belly-landed in no-man's land and was posted missing for 17 hours. On the 23 August 1943, his machine caught fire while belly-landing after Soviet Anti-Aircraft damage. By the end of the year he had reached 25 aerial victories. In the months of March to April 1944 his number of successes climbed steadily upwards, in March it was 18, in April 22 and in May up to the awarding of the Knight's Cross 14, including 9 aerial victories on 7 May 1944 alone (83rd to 91st). Düttmann became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 11 April 1944 over the Kerch Peninsula. Suffering from combat fatigue he was sent on leave at the end of May and returned in September 1944. During this period, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 9 June 1944. Düttmann claimed his 97th to 100th aerial victory on 24 September 1944.[1] He was the 92nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

DÜTTMANN, Peter (“Bonifaz”). (DOB: 23.05.23 in Giessen). (R, DKG). (n.d.) trf to Erg.JGr. Ost on completion of training. 05.43 assigned to 5./JG 52. 21.05.43 Uffz., 5./JG 52. 10.06.43 Uffz., 5./JG 52. 11.07.43 Lt., 5./JG 52 WIA - Bf 109 G-4 ditched SE of Anapa after combat with a Boston. 26.07.43 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt? - Bf 109 G-4 made wheeled landing at Gostagajewskaja after hits resulted in a fire. 09.08.43 Lt., 6./JG 52 unhurt? - Bf 109 G-4 belly-landed after air combat between Kharkov and Belgorod, Pl.Qu. 61894. 18.08.43 Lt., 6./JG 52 unhurt? - Bf 109 G-6 (Black 10) hit by infantry fire E of Akhtyrka in the area of Kharkov. 23.08.43 Lt., 6./JG 52 WIA - Bf 109 G-6 AA hit, belly landed 5 km W of Nikolayevka. 08.09.43 Lt., 6./JG 52 unhurt? - Bf 109 G-6 hit by fire from a Il-2, glide-landing at Karlowka a/f. 15.09.43 Lt., 6./JG 52 unhurt? - Bf 109 G-6 hit by heavy AA, glide-landed at Poltawa/f. 01.10.43 Lt., 6./JG 52 unhurt? - Bf 109 G-6 hit by heavy AA crashed in area of Saporoshje. 11.10.43 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt? - Bf 109 G-6 AA hit in the oil tank, glided for 25 minutes then glide (crashed?) landed at Beresowka a/f. 29.12.43 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt? - Bf 109 G-6 damaged in the radiator after combat, glided back to Bagerovo a/f. 23.01.44 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 hit by a Il-2 in the motor, landed safely at base; then hit three times by Aircobras, glided back to Bagerovo; later that day, hit by AA and glided back again. 01.02.44 Fhj.Fw., promo to Lt. 13.03.44 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 hit in motor and oil tank by an Il-2 crash-landed at Bagerovo due to a connecting rod failure. 18.03.44 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 hit in the motor, belly-landed in the area of Aissul/Crimea. 20.03.44 Fw., awarded the Ehrenpokal. 07.04.44 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 hit in the motor during combat with a Yak-7, glided to land at Karankut a/f. 08.04.44 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 hit by infantry fire, glided back to Karankut. 09.04.44 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 hit in the oil tank by an Il-2, glided back to Karankut. 15.04.44 Fhj.,Fw., awarded DKG, 5./JG 52. 01.05.44 Lt., 6./JG 52. 26.05.44 Lt., 5./JG 52 unhurt - Bf 109 G-6 blacked-out during an exercise flight, belly-landed at Zilistea a/f. 09.06.44 Lt., awarded Ritterkreuz, 5./JG 52. 09.09.44 Lt., 6./JG 52. 16.10.44 Lt., 6./JG 52. 01.11.44 Lt., 6./JG 52 WIA during combat over Budapest - Bf 109 G-6 (Yellow 4) collided on the ground with another Bf 109 at Feryhegy a/f. 07.11.44 Lt., 6./JG 52. 13.11.44 Lt., 6./JG 52 WIA - Bf 109 G-6 (Yellow 4) hit by Il-2, bailed out in Pl.Qu. 9849, SW of Jászbrény/Hungary. 23.12.44 Lt., appt Staka 5./JG 52 (to 08.05.45). 21.01.45 Lt., 4.(Südost)/Fl.Üb.G. 1 WIA - a/c flipped over om landing at Malacky a/f. 03.03.45 Lt., 6./JG 52 WIA/MIA - Bf 109 G-10/U4 (Black 1 + 11) hit by AA and force-landed behind the lines 18 km ESE Gárdony/Hungary - returned 23 hours later. 24.04.45 Lt., 6./JG 52 fate unknown - Bf 109 G-10/U4 (Black 1) hit by ground fire from tanks, emergency wheels up landing at Hörsching. Credited with 398 combat missions and 152 air victories, plus another 42 unconfirmed and at least 2 tanks. Shot/forced down 19 times.[2]

On the 13 November 1944, he was shot down by an Il-2 rear gunner and bailed out at 1000 feet, landing behind enemy lines, but managing to reach German lines. The same happened to him on the 3 March 1945 due to AA damage and he returned a day later. On 23 December 1944, Düttmann was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 52. He replaced Hauptmann Heinrich Sturm who was killed in a flying accident the day before. On 1 March 1945, this squadron was renamed 6. Staffel of JG 52. On 24 April 1945, Düttmann claimed the destruction of a M4 Sherman tank 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Cham. His last 12 kills were achieved from 3 to 15 April 1945 against Russian pilots during the Battle of Vienna.[3] Düttmann was credited with 152 aerial victories, among them eight Douglas DB-7/A-20 "Boston" of the Red Air Force.

Family

Peter was the son of surgeon Dr. med. Erich Düttmann (b. 1888), a veteran of WWI and an expert for tuberculosis. His uncle was Prof. Dr. med. Gerhard Düttmann (b. 3 July 1890), first in Gießen, later in Essen, in WWII as Oberstarzt "Advisory Surgeon of the Wehrmacht" and chief doctor (Chefarzt) of the Elisabeth-Krankenhaus Essen (1932 to 1960; his successor was Dr. Gisbert Borger) as well as member of the "Gießener Hochschulgesellschaft" in the post-war time, receiving the Great Federal Cross of Merit (Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz) in 1961.

Promotions

  • Flieger
  • Gefreiter
  • Unteroffizier
  • 21 September 1943 Feldwebel with effect from 1 October 1943
  • 24 September 1943 War Officer Candidate (Kriegs-Offizier-Anwärter; Kr.O.A.) with effect from 20 September 1943
  • Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel
  • 1 February 1944 Leutnant (War Officer; Kr.O.)

Awards and decorations

Writings

  • Düttmann, Peter (2002). Wir kämpften in einsamen Höhen (de). Leipzig, Germany: Kunst- & Verlagsbuchbinderei.

Further reading

  • John Weal: Bf109 Aces of the Russian Front, Osprey, Oxford 2003

Gallery

  • Peter Düttmann III.png
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-4 5.-JG 52 Black 12 Peter Düttmann Russia May 1943.png
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10 U4 Erla 5.-JG52 Black 1 Peter Düttmann WNr 610583 Germany 1945.png
  • Peter Düttmann II.png
  • Walter Wolfrum and Peter Düttmann in Italy, 2000.png
  • Peter Düttmann, grave.png

External links

References

  1. ↑ Letter of appreciation (Anerkennungsschreiben)
  2. ↑ Henry L. deZeng IV and Douglas G. Stankey: Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries, 2023
  3. ↑ Peter Düttman (Archive)
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