Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin

Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin (14 November 1919 – 11 January 1992) was a German World War II night fighter pilot who served in the Luftwaffe. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] He is credited with shooting down 37 enemy aircraft claimed during 150 combat missions.

Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin
Born(1919-11-14)14 November 1919
Potsdam
Died11 January 1992(1992-01-11) (aged 72)
Hamburg-Eimsbüttel
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1937–45
RankOberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel)
UnitNJG 1
Commands heldII./NJG 1
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
RelationsBogislaw von Bonin
Hubertus von Bonin

Early life and career

Von Bonin was born on 14 November 1919 in Potsdam in the Province of Brandenburg of the Weimar Republic. He was the son of Bogislaw von Bonin and his wife Mathilde, a daughter of Adolf von Bülow. His older brother, Bogislaw served in the Army and later in the Amt Blank, a predecessor of the Federal Ministry of Defence. Two of his brothers also served in the Luftwaffe, Jürgen-Oskar was killed in action on 8 February 1942 while serving as an observer in a Tansportgeschwader (air transport wing). Another brother, Hubertus, became a fighter pilot and wing commander with 77 aerial victories and was also killed in the war.[2] Von Bonin entered military service with the Luftwaffe in 1937 and was trained as a night fighter pilot.[3]

Night fighter career
A map of part of the Kammhuber Line. The 'belt' and night fighter 'boxes' are shown.

Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight, RAF attacks shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign.[4] By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector named a Himmelbett (canopy bed) would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers. In 1941, the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar. This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942.[5]

In October 1940, von Bonin was posted to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing).[3] This squadron was part of II. Gruppe (2nd group) of NJG 1 commanded by Major Walter Ehle.[6]

"Wheels Down" incident

The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) targeted the German aircraft industry on 17 August 1943 in the Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission. Two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from the 4th Bombardment Wing had been forced to leave their formation on their way to Regensburg. The B-17 "Picklepuss" piloted by Captain Robert M. Knox from the 100th Bomb Group headed back to England when it came under attack by three Messerschmitt Bf 110 night fighters south of Aachen. Von Bonin, accompanied by Oberleutnant Walter Barte and Leutnant Hans Witzke had taken off from Sint-Truiden—Saint-Trond in the French pronunciation—to intercept any stragglers to and from the target area. Von Bonin shot down the B-17 on his first attack but one of his engines was also hit be the left waist gunner. While six of the ten crew members of the B-17 were killed in action, von Bonin landed safely on one engine at Saint-Trond.[7]

Following this engagement, controversy arose whether Knox had lowered his landing gear to signal surrender. Apparently, a B-17 had lowered its landing gears and had then shot down one of the escorting Luftwaffe fighters, becoming the "Wheels Down" incident.[8]

Group commander

On 18 November 1943, von Bonin was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of NJG 1. He succeeded Major Walter Ehle who was killed in action.[6] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 5 February 1944 after 31 aerial victories.[9] In October 1944, he became Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 102 (NJG 102—102nd Night Fighter Wing).[10]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, von Bonin was credited with 37 aerial victories claimed in roughly 150 combat missions. Two of his claims were over four-engined bombers during daytime operations, the other 35 were claimed during nocturnal missions.[2] Aders and Spick list him with 39 aerial victories claimed in approximately 150 combat missions.[11][12] Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 37 nocturnal victory claims.[13] Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Von Bonin with 33 aerial victories, plus four further unconfirmed claims.[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories

  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Von Bonin an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This along with the ! (exclamation mark) indicates a daytime aerial victory.

Claim Date Time Type Location Serial No./Squadron No.
– 6. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –[15]
1 11 May 1941 02:20 Wellington Tönningen[16]
2 12 May 1941 02:20 Blenheim 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Sankt Peter-Ording[16]
3 15 July 1941 01:40 Wellington east of Zwolle[17] R1613/No. 214 Squadron RAF[18]
4 7 April 1942 02:38 Manchester[19] Manchester L7470/No. 61 Squadron RAF[20]
5 3 June 1942 02:41 Wellington 10 km (6.2 mi) north-northwest of Brussels[21] Wellington DV786/No. 156 Squadron RAF[22]
6 9 June 1942 02:38 Halifax 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Brussels[21]
7 26 June 1942 01:38 Blenheim 16 km (9.9 mi) north of Tirlemont[23] Blenheim Z6084/No. 13 Squadron RAF[24]
8 30 July 1942 03:17 Wellington 50 km (31 mi) east of Antwerp[25] Wellington Z1316/No. 142 Squadron RAF[26]
9 5 October 1942 22:38 Wellington northeast of Maastricht[27] Wellington BJ729/No. 419 Squadron RCAF[28]
10 12 March 1943 21:40 Halifax 4–5 km (2.5–3.1 mi) north-northwest of Amerika[29]
13 26 May 1943 01:36 Wellington 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Maastricht[30] Wellington HF488/No. 199 Squadron RAF[31]
14 30 May 1943 00:43 Wellington[32]
15 12 June 1943 01:47 Halifax Oye-Plage, northeast of Liège[32]
16 22 June 1943 01:50 Stirling 18 km (11 mi) southeast of Eindhoven[33]
17 31 July 1943 00:57 Halifax Mariaweiler[34]
18![Note 1] 17 August 1943 11:45 B-17 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Aachen[36]
19![Note 1] 17 August 1943 15:07 B-17 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of Aachen[36]
20 31 August 1943 00:45 Halifax[37]
21 7 September 1943 00:45 Halifax southwest of Munich[38]
22 7 September 1943 00:47 Halifax southwest of Munich[38]
23 3 November 1943 19:30 Lancaster southwest of Gangelt[39]
24 19 November 1943 19:30 Lancaster northeast of Ronse[40]
25♠ 26 November 1943 02:20 Halifax north of Prüm[40]
26♠ 26 November 1943 02:42 Halifax southeast of Darmstadt[40]
27♠ 26 November 1943 02:45 Lancaster 12 km (7.5 mi) Brandau, south of Darmstadt[40] Lancaster JB221/No. 97 Squadron RAF[41]
28♠[Note 1] 26 November 1943 19:24 Lancaster south-southwest of Liège[42] Lancaster DV285/No. 101 Squadron RAF[43]
29♠[Note 1] 26 November 1943 19:30 Halifax Hermeskeil[42]
30 20 December 1943 19:26 Halifax Mayen[44]
31 20 December 1943 19:45 Halifax Dachsenhausen[44]
32 20 February 1944 05:40 Lancaster 12 km (7.5 mi) north of Dessau[45]
33 24 February 1944 21:36 four-engined bomber Brieg[46]
34 24 February 1944 21:48 four-engined bomber Marling[46]
35 15 March 1944 22:10 four-engined bomber southeast of Saint-Dizier[47]
36 15 March 1944 22:41 four-engined bomber northeast of Lure[48]
37 22 June 1944 01:14 Lancaster 18 km (11 mi) east-southeast of Turnhout[49] Lancaster ME782/No. 630 Squadron RAF

Awards

Notes
  1. According to Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, this claim was unconfirmed while Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945 confirm this claim.[15][35]

References

Citations
  1. Spick 1996, pp. 3, 4.
  2. Obermaier 1989, p. 91.
  3. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 120.
  4. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 9.
  5. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 27.
  6. Aders 1978, p. 227.
  7. Middlebrook 2019, pp. 341–342.
  8. Middlebrook 2019, p. 342.
  9. Bowman 2015, p. 117.
  10. Aders 1978, p. 231.
  11. Aders 1978, p. 233.
  12. Spick 1996, p. 245.
  13. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, pp. 20–190.
  14. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 120–121.
  15. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 121.
  16. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 20.
  17. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 25.
  18. Bowman 2015, p. 118.
  19. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 37.
  20. Chorley 1998, p. 61.
  21. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 44.
  22. Wellington DV786.
  23. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 47.
  24. Chorley 1998, p. 133.
  25. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 52.
  26. Chorley 1998, p. 168.
  27. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 60.
  28. Wellington BJ729.
  29. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 71.
  30. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 82.
  31. Wellington HF488.
  32. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 84.
  33. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 88.
  34. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 99.
  35. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, pp. 102, 130.
  36. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 102.
  37. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 109.
  38. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 112.
  39. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 125.
  40. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 129.
  41. Lancaster JB221.
  42. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 130.
  43. Lancaster DV285.
  44. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 133.
  45. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 150.
  46. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 151.
  47. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 154.
  48. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 155.
  49. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 190.
  50. Patzwall 2008, p. 55.
  51. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 51.
  52. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 139.
  53. Scherzer 2007, p. 233.

Bibliography
  • Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. London: Janes. ISBN 978-0-354-01247-8.
  • Bowman, Martin (2015). The Wellington Bomber. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-78383-176-0.
  • Chorley, W. R (1998). Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: Aircraft and crew losses: 1942. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 978-0-9045-9789-9.
  • 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.
  • Foreman, John; Mathews, Johannes; Parry, Simon (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.
  • Mathews, 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.
  • Middlebrook, Martin (2019) [1983]. The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission: The American Raids on 17 August 1943. Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-84884-760-6.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Accident description for Lancaster DV285 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 14 April 2022.
  • Accident description for Lancaster JB221 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 14 April 2022.
  • Accident description for Wellington BJ729 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 14 April 2022.
  • Accident description for Wellington DV786 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 14 April 2022.
  • Accident description for Wellington HF488 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 14 April 2022.
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