Albert Brunner

Albert Brunner (17 July 1918 – 7 May 1943) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Brunner claimed 53 aerial victories, all over the Eastern Front.[1] The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Albert Brunner
His grave, 1st from the right
Born	17 July 1918 Mergentheim
Died	7 May 1943 (aged 24) Petsamo, Finland
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1940–1943
Rank	Oberfeldwebel (staff sergeant)
Unit	Jagdgeschwader 5
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Brunner was killed in action on 7 May 1943 near Petsamo, Finland. Following combat with Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters, he was forced to bail out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 14802—factory number) approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) southwest of Groß Venedigerberg, a German name for a hill east of Pechenga. Too low for his parachute to fully deploy, he fell to his death.[2] His victor may have been Leytenant Nikolai Andreevich Bokii. Posthumously, Brunner was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 July 1943.[3]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Brunner was credited with 53 aerial victories claimed in 135 combat missions, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[4] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and also state that he was credited with 53 aerial victory claims.[5]

Chronicle of aerial victories
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[5] Eastern and northern Norway, and Finland — 6 December 1941 – 31 December 1942
1	29 May 1942	23:20	Hurricane	20 km (12 mi) south of Nautsi[6][7]	4	18 July 1942	—	P-40	20 km (12 mi) north of Murmansk[8][9]
2	24 June 1942	—	Hurricane	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Kola[10][9]	5	19 July 1942	—	P-40	10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Shonguy[8][9]
3	7 July 1942	—	Hurricane	6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of Murmansk[10][9]	6	19 July 1942	—	Hurricane	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Kola[8][9]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Brunner claimed three undocumented aerial victories in July and August 1942.[11] These claims are neither listed by Mombeek nor by Matthews and Foreman.[12][13]
10	22 August 1942	—	P-39[14][15]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Brunner claimed two undocumented aerial victories in August and September 1942.[11] These claims are neither listed by Mombeek nor by Matthews and Foreman.[14][13]
13	5 September 1942	—	unknown[14][15]		14	5 September 1942	—	unknown[14][15]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Brunner claimed twelve to fifteen undocumented aerial victories in January to April 1943.[16] These claims are neither listed by Mombeek nor by Matthews and Foreman.[17][13]
	23 March 1942	14:20	P-40[18]	vicinity of Shonguy[19]	46	13 April 1943	—	P-40	10 km (6.2 mi) east of Murmansk[20]
39	4 April 1943	—	Hurricane[18][19]		47	19 April 1943	—	P-40	3 km (1.9 mi) east of Murmansk[20]
40	4 April 1943	—	P-40[19]	vicinity of Pechenga	48	17 April 1943	—	P-40	17 km (11 mi) east of Kolo[20]
41	4 April 1943	—	P-40[19]	vicinity of Pechenga	49	22 April 1943	—	P-51	5 km (3.1 mi) east of Murmansk[20]
42	4 April 1943	—	P-40[19]	vicinity of Pechenga	50	22 April 1943	—	P-40	10 km (6.2 mi) east of Murmansk[20]
43	13 April 1943	—	Hurricane[19]	vicinity of Murmashi	51	29 April 1943	—	P-39[20]
44	13 April 1943	—	Hurricane[19]	vicinity of Murmashi	52	30 April 1943	—	P-40[20]
45	13 April 1943	—	Hurricane[20]	vicinity of Murmashi	53	7 May 1943	—	P-39[20]	east of Pechenga

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 12 April 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot[21]
• German Cross in Gold on 4 June 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 5[22]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 July 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 5[23][24]

References

Citations

1. Stennman & Keskinen 2015, p. 25.
2. Prien et al. 2012, p. 232.
3. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 164.
4. Obermaier 1989, p. 95.
5. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 164–165.
6. Mombeek 2011, p. 261.
7. Prien et al. 2006, p. 424.
8. Mombeek 2011, p. 264.
9. Prien et al. 2006, p. 426.
10. Mombeek 2011, p. 263.
11. Prien et al. 2006, p. 431.
12. Mombeek 2011, pp. 264–265.
13. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 165.
14. Mombeek 2011, p. 265.
15. Prien et al. 2006, p. 429.
16. Prien et al. 2012, p. 230.
17. Mombeek 2011, pp. 267–269.
18. Mombeek 2011, p. 269.
19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 225.
20. Prien et al. 2012, p. 226.
21. Patzwall 2008, p. 59.
22. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 64.
23. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 147, 488.
24. Scherzer 2007, p. 248.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
• Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
• Mombeek, Eric (2011). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 4 [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 4]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-930546-05-6.
• 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.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—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/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
• 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.
• Stennman, Kari; Keskinen, Kalevi (2015). Luftwaffe over Finland. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-78438-155-4.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945