Hubertus von Bonin

Hubertus von Bonin (born 3 August 1911, Potsdam – 15 December 1943) was a German Second World War fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe. A flying or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] Bonin is credited with shooting down 77 enemy aircraft. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. He also claimed four victories in Spain during the civil war. His commands included Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54–54th Fighter Wing).

Hubertus von Bonin
Hubertus von Bonin in the Second World War
Born	(1911-08-03)3 August 1911 Potsdam
Died	15 December 1943(1943-12-15) (aged 32) near Haradok
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1938–43
Rank	Oberstleutnant
Unit	JG 51, JG 52 , JG 54
Commands held	III./JG 52, JG 54
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II
Awards	Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin

Military career

Bonin transferred to the Condor Legion in the fall of 1938, replacing Werner Mölders as Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of the 3./Jagdgruppe 88 on 5 December 1938. During the course of the Spanish Civil War he claimed four republican fighter aircraft shot down, for which he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. After his return from Spain, Bonin took command of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) and was made Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). He claimed his first aerial victory of the Second World War on 11 May 1940. By mid September 1940 he had claimed eight British fighter aircraft and bombers. For three months, from 1 July 1941, he served with Jagdfliegerschule 4 (fighter pilot training school Nr. 4). He then took command of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) on the Eastern Front. He claimed his thirtieth aerial victory on 17 November 1942 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after 51 aerial victories. He was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 54 on 6 July 1943.[2]

Bonin was killed in action on 15 December 1943 near Vitebsk, in a fight with Soviet P-39 Airacobras.[3] Bonin's brother, Jürgen-Oskar von Bonin, was killed in action while serving as an observer in a transport Geschwader. Another brother, Major Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin, also a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient, was a night fighter ace with 37 kills who survived the war.

Awards

• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords
• German Cross in Gold on 27 October 1942 as Major in the III./JG 52[4]
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 December 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 52[5]

References

Citations

1. Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
2. Obermaier 1989, p. 91.
3. Weal 2001, p. 107.
4. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 51.
5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 139.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
• Weal, John (1998). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Russian Front. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-518-0.
• Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9.
• Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten (Aviation Elite Units). London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.

External links

• Hubertus von Bonin @ Ritterkreuzträger 1939–45

Military offices
Preceded by Oberst Hannes Trautloft	Commander of Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz 6 July 1943 – 15 December 1943	Succeeded by Oberstleutnant Anton Mader