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Günther Radusch

German flying ace

Died when: 75 years 261 days (908 months)
Star Sign: Scorpio

 

Günther Radusch

Günther Radusch (11 November 1912 – 29 July 1988) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander.As a fighter ace, he claimed 65 enemy aircraft shot down in over 140 combat missions.

He claimed one victory in the Spanish Civil War.During World War II, he was credited with 64 aerial victories in Defense of the Reich all of which claimed at night and includes the destruction of 57 four-engined bombers.

Born in Schwetz, Radusch volunteered for military service in the Reichsheer of the Weimar Republic in 1931.In parallel, he was accepted for flight training with the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule, a covert military-training organization, and at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school.

Following flight training, he served with Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) and volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War where he claimed one aerial victory.

For his service in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords.At the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, Radusch served with Zerstörergeschwader 1 and was appointed a squadron leader in June 1940.

This unit became the nucleus of the newly created night fighter wing Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.He claimed his first nocturnal aerial victory on the night of 9/10 April 1941.

In August 1943, Radusch was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commande) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5.Following his 25th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 August 1943.

In February 1944, Radusch was given command of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 and received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 6 April 1944 after 58 nocturnal aerial victories.

In October, he was appointed commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3, a position he held until the end of World War II.After the war, Radusch reentered military service in the Bundeswehr in 1958 and retired 1971.

Radusch died on 29 July 1988 in Nordstrand, West Germany.


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