# Josef Jennewein

Josef Jennewein (21 November 1919 – 27 July 1943) was a German alpine skier and world champion. During World War II, he served first in the Wehrmacht and then in the Luftwaffe, and was credited with 86 air victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

## Early life and sports career

Jennewein was born on 21 November 1919 at St Anton in the Tyrolean Alps, Austria. He became a world champion in the combined event in Zakopane in 1939, and received silver medals in slalom and in downhill. In 1941 Jennewein participated at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1941 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy and won gold medals in downhill and the combined event. In 1946, the results were cancelled by the FIS because of the limited number of participants from only German-friendly countries during World War II.

## World War II

Jennewein joined the Luftwaffe as a fighter pilot and was posted to 4. Einsatzstaffel of Jagdfliegerschule 5 (JFS 5—5th Fighter Pilot School). In June 1941, most of the Luftwaffe fighter units were transferred east in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union launched on 22 June 1941. To augment the remaining fighter units fighting on the Western Front, JFS 5 was tasked with creation of a fourth squadron named 4. Einsatzstaffel — action or combat squadron — in June 1941. The Einsatzstaffel was placed under the command of Oberleutnant Fülbert Zink. In early July, the Einsatzstaffel transferred to Octeville-sur-Mer, north of Le Havre. There, 4. Einsatzstaffel was subordinated to the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) and flew fighter protection in the area of Le Havre. Initially, 4. Einsatzstaffel was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 and E-7, later with the Bf 109 F-1 and F-2.
On 20 September 1941, the Royal Air Force (RAF) flew three "Circus" operations named No. 100A, 100B and 100C, against various targets in northern France. Circus No. 100A headed for the Hazebrouck marshalling yards, "Circus" No. 100B attacked the Abbeville marshalling yards, and Circus 100C targeted the shipyards at Rouen. Following the days actions, pilots on both sides overclaimed the number of aerial victories. That day, flying his fourth combat mission, Jennewein claimed three Supermarine Spitfire fighters shot down near Fécamp. On 15 October, the RAF flew "Ramrod" No. 69 mission against the Le Havre docks. Twelve Bristol Blenheim bombers from Westhampnett, escorted by Spitfire fighters from No. 234 Squadron, were intercepted by Bf 109 Luftwaffe fighters. In this encounter, Jennewein claimed the destruction of a Spitfire fighter and a Blenheim bomber.

### Eastern Front

On 28 January 1942, Jennewein was posted to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) and transferred on the Eastern Front. At the time, 2. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Friedhelm Höschen who was transferred in March and handed command of the Staffel to Leutnant Erwin Fleig. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 51 and was based at Staraya Russa. By the end of July 1942, when he was posted to serve as a flight instructor, he had added 12 Russian aircraft to his tally. He returned to 2./JG 51 before the end of the year, starting a surprising sequence of multiple victories. On 18 January 1943, as a Feldwebel, flying a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 as a wingman of Leutnant Joachim Brendel, he attacked a formation of nine Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers from 202 BAP, in the area of Velikiye Luki, and claimed five kills in five minutes (Brendel claimed three, actual Soviet losses were six).
On 27 July 1943, Jennewein claimed his 86th and last aerial victory when he shot down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. Shortly after, he was posted as missing in action when his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 550182 —factory number) was shot down by another Il-2 in aerial combat northwest of Mtsensk.

## Summary of military career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Jennewein was credited with 86 aerial victories. Spick also lists Jennewein with 86 aerial victories, including five during the Battle of Britain and further 81 on the Eastern Front, claimed in 271 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces - Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 83 aerial victory claims. This number includes five on the Western Front and 78 on the Eastern Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 44234". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km$^2$). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.
Chronicle of aerial victories :
| This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Jennewein 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 and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Unit | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Unit |
| – Claims with Jagdfliegerschule 5 in the West – 1 July 1942 – 31 December 1941 ||||||||||||
| 1 | 20 September 1941 | — | Spitfire | northwest of Fécamp | 4.(Eins.)/JFS 5 | 4 | 15 October 1941 | — | Spitfire | Le Havre | 4.(Eins.)/JFS 5 |
| 2 | 20 September 1941 | — | Spitfire | northwest of Fécamp | 4.(Eins.)/JFS 5 | 5 | 15 October 1941 | — | Blenheim | Le Havre | 4.(Eins.)/JFS 5 |
| 3 | 20 September 1941 | — | Spitfire | northwest of Fécamp | 4.(Eins.)/JFS 5 | | | | | | |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" on the Eastern Front – 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942 ||||||||||||
| 6 | 21 March 1942 | 07:05 | I-61 (MiG-3) | | 2./JG 51 | 9 | 5 April 1942 | 06:10 | I-61 (MiG-3) | | 2./JG 51 |
| 7 | 29 March 1942 | 10:55 | I-61? | | 2./JG 51 | 10 | 5 April 1942 | 06:40 | I-61 (MiG-3) | | 2./JG 51 |
| 8 | 30 March 1942 | 12:00 | I-17 (MiG-1) | | 2./JG 51 | | | | | | |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" on the Eastern Front – Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 ||||||||||||
| 11 | 3 June 1942 | 19:22 | MiG-1 | | 2./JG 51 | 14 | 3 July 1942 | 13:25 | MiG-3 | | 2./JG 51 |
| 12 | 11 June 1942 | 07:57 | Yak-1 | | 2./JG 51 | 15 | 11 July 1942 | 06:00 | MiG-3 | PQ 44234 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Zhizdra | 2./JG 51 |
| 13 | 2 July 1942 | 15:00 | LaGG-3 | | 2./JG 51 | | | | | |
| According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Jennewein claimed one undocumented aerial victory in the timeframe 29 May an 15 September 1942. ||||||||||||
| 17 | 26 July 1942 | 14:50 | Pe-2 | | 2./JG 51 | 22♠ | 18 January 1943 | 08:03 | Pe-2 | PQ 07783 | 2./JG 51 |
| 18 | 10 January 1943 | 13:30? | Il-2 | PQ 01564 | 2./JG 51 | 23♠ | 18 January 1943 | 08:05 | Pe-2 | PQ 07783 | 2./JG 51 |
| 19 | 16 January 1943 | 08:15 | MiG-3 | PQ 17712, Velikiye Luki 35 km (22 mi) east-northeast of Toropa | 2./JG 51 | 24♠ | 18 January 1943 | 08:06 | Pe-2 | PQ 07793 | 2./JG 51 |
| 20♠ | 18 January 1943 | 08:01 | Pe-2 | PQ 07741 | 2./JG 51 | 25 | 27 January 1943 | 09:15 | MiG-3 | PQ 17724 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Toropa | 2./JG 51 |
| 21♠ | 18 January 1943 | 08:02 | Pe-2 | PQ 07741 | 2./JG 51 | 26 | 30 January 1943 | 08:40 | Pe-2 | PQ 63151 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Orel | 2./JG 51 |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" on the Eastern Front – Eastern Front — 4 February – 27 July 1943 ||||||||||||
| 27 | 22 February 1943 | 05:51 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 64473 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Arsenyevo | 2./JG 51 | 57 | 16 May 1943 | 04:25 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 63844 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zolotukhino | 2./JG 51 |
| 28 | 22 February 1943 | 06:06 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64611 20 km (12 mi) north of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 | 58 | 22 May 1943 | 04:25 | P-39 | PQ 35 Ost 63574 20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Trosna | 2./JG 51 |
| 29 | 22 February 1943 | 06:20 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64612 20 km (12 mi) north of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 | 59? | 22 May 1943 | — | P-39 | | 2./JG 51 |
| 30♠ | 23 February 1943 | 10:40 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 44292 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Zhizdra | 2./JG 51 | 60? | 28 May 1943 | 17:47 | La-5 | east of Orel | 1./JG 51 |
| 31♠ | 23 February 1943 | 10:42 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 54123 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Sukhinichi | 2./JG 51 | 61 | 30 May 1943 | 07:25 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63553 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Maloarkhangelsk | 1./JG 51 |
| 32♠ | 23 February 1943 | 10:45 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 54114 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Sukhinichi | 2./JG 51 | 62 | 2 June 1943 | 04:25 | P-39 | PQ 35 Ost 63553 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Maloarkhangelsk | 1./JG 51 |
| 33♠ | 23 February 1943 | 10:48 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 54111 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Sukhinichi | 2./JG 51 | 63 | 2 June 1943 | 11:15 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 63534 vicinity of Maloarkhangelsk | 1./JG 51 |
| 34♠ | 23 February 1943 | 10:55 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 54143 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Zhizdra | 2./JG 51 | 64 | 13 July 1943 | 18:45 | La-5 | southeast of Mtsensk | 1./JG 51 |
| 35♠ | 24 February 1943 | 10:41 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 44252 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Zhizdra | 2./JG 51 | 65 | 13 July 1943 | 19:00 | La-5 | southwest of Grinow | 1./JG 51 |
| 36♠ | 24 February 1943 | 10:43 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 44251 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Zhizdra | 2./JG 51 | 66 | 14 July 1943 | 19:25 | LaGG-3 | east of Mitejewo | 1./JG 51 |
| 37♠ | 24 February 1943 | 13:40 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 64611 20 km (12 mi) north of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 | 67 | 14 July 1943 | 19:40 | LaGG-3 | east of Gilkowa | 1./JG 51 |
| 38♠ | 24 February 1943 | 13:42 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64613 20 km (12 mi) north of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 | 68 | 16 July 1943 | 07:10 | La-5 | northwest of Baryomsky | 1./JG 51 |
| 39♠ | 24 February 1943 | 13:45 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64611 20 km (12 mi) north of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 | 69 | 17 July 1943 | 08:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 54725 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kozelsk | 2./JG 51 |
| 40♠ | 24 February 1943 | 13:51 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64621 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 | 70 | 17 July 1943 | 16:30 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 55858 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Kozelsk | 2./JG 51 |
| 41♠ | 24 February 1943 | 13:53 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64633 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Lipitsy | 2./JG 51 | 71 | 17 July 1943 | 19:00 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 54642 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Znamenskoye | 2./JG 51 |
| 42 | 9 March 1943 | 11:10 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44223 25 km (16 mi) north of Zhizdra | 2./JG 51 | 72 | 18 July 1943 | 14:32 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 54812 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Znamenskoye | 2./JG 51 |
| 43 | 10 March 1943 | 15:55 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 55713 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Sukhinichi | 2./JG 51 | 73 | 18 July 1943 | 14:34 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 54643 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Znamenskoye | 2./JG 51 |
| 44 | 21 March 1943 | 06:25 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 45363 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Spas-Demensk | 2./JG 51 | 74 | 19 July 1943 | 09:30 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 64881 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Znamenskoye | 2./JG 51 |
| 45 | 23 March 1943 | 11:05 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 53591 15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Dmitriyev-Lgovsky | 2./JG 51 | 75 | 20 July 1943 | 14:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 64864 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 |
| 46 | 27 March 1943 | 09:08 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 53484 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Kromy | 2./JG 51 | 76 | 20 July 1943 | 14:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 64876 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Zalegoshch | 2./JG 51 |
| 47♠ | 6 May 1943 | 13:30 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64762 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Zalegoshch | 2./JG 51 | 77♠ | 21 July 1943 | 13:25 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 63164 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Orel | 2./JG 51 |
| 48♠ | 6 May 1943 | 13:31 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64762 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Zalegoshch | 2./JG 51 | 78♠ | 21 July 1943 | 13:27 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 63165 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Orel | 2./JG 51 |
| 49♠ | 6 May 1943 | 13:32 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64763 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Zalegoshch | 2./JG 51 | 79♠ | 21 July 1943 | 13:28 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 63243 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Zalegoshch | 2./JG 51 |
| 50♠ | 6 May 1943 | 13:38 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64844 20 km (12 mi) south of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 | 80♠ | 21 July 1943 | 13:29 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 63247 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Zalegoshch | 2./JG 51 |
| 51♠ | 6 May 1943 | 13:42 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64813 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Mtsensk | 2./JG 51 | 81♠ | 21 July 1943 | 13:30 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63251 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Zalegoshch | 2./JG 51 |
| 52 | 8 May 1943 | 04:30 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 54731 vicinity of Znamenskoye | 2./JG 51 | 82 | 24 July 1943 | 13:30 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 63271 20 km (12 mi) south of Zalegoshch | 2./JG 51 |
| 53 | 8 May 1943 | 07:34 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 63324 vicinity of Glazunowka | 2./JG 51 | 83 | 26 July 1943 | 10:38 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 63145 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Orel | 2./JG 51 |
| 54 | 8 May 1943 | 07:38 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63321 vicinity of Glazunowka | 2./JG 51 | 84 | 26 July 1943 | 10:44 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 53296 15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Kromy | 2./JG 51 |
| 55 | 8 May 1943 | 07:41 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63324 vicinity of Glazunowka | 2./JG 51 | 85 | 26 July 1943 | 11:10 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63189 vicinity of Zmiyekka | 2./JG 51 |
| 56 | 12 May 1943 | 08:01 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63761 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Zolotukhino | 2./JG 51 | 86 | 27 July 1943 | 11:25 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 54464 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Bolkhov | 2./JG 51 |

### Awards

* Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
* Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 1 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot
* German Cross in Gold on 12 April 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 December 1943 (posthumously) as Leutnant and pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"