Hubertus von Bonin

Hubertus von Bonin (3 August 1911 – 15 December 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace listed with 77 enemy aircraft shot down.

He claimed four victories in the Spanish Civil War, and during World War II, 64 on the Eastern Front and nine on the Western Front.

Born in Potsdam, von Bonin volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War where he commanded the 3.

Von Bonin was born on 3 August 1911 in Potsdam in the Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia within the German Empire.

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.

Following service in Spain, von Bonin was posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing).

In October 1932, von Bonin attended the Military School Dresden.

Among his classmates were Werner Mölders, Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, Joachim Pötter, Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust, Arved Crüger, Gerhard Kollewe and Wolfgang Schellmann.

During the course of the Spanish Civil War, he claimed four Republican fighter aircraft shot down, including a Curtiss P-36 Hawk on 6 March which was J/88's 314th and last aerial victory.

On 15 March 1937, I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 334 (JG 334—334th Fighter Wing) was created at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airfield and headed by Hauptmann Hubert Merhart von Bernegg.

Initially, the Gruppe was created without 3.

Staffel (3rd squadron) which was formed on 1 July and placed under the command of von Bonin.

The Gruppe was equipped with the Arado Ar 68 E. In early 1938, they received the then new Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1.

Von Bonin transferred to the Condor Legion on 30 November 1938 and command of 3.

Staffel then passed on to Hauptmann Lothar von Jansen.

Von Bonin replaced Hauptmann Mölders, his former classmate at the Military School Dresden, as Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of the 3.

Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) on 5 December 1938.

For his service in Spain, he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern) on 14 April 1939.

After his return from Spain, von Bonin took command of the 5.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) on 28 June 1939.

He took over command from Hauptmann Herwig Knüppel who was given command of II.

Gruppe of JG 26 to which 5.

Staffel was subordinated.

At the time, II.

Gruppe was based at Düsseldorf Airfield and was equipped with the Bf 109 E-1.

On 25 August, a week before the outbreak of World War II, the Gruppe was ordered to Bönninghardt, an airfield southwest of Wesel, close to Germany's western border.

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

Based in Bönninghardt, the Gruppe initially flew fighter protection during the "Phoney War" along the Belgian and Dutch border without claiming any aerial victories.

On 1 November, II.

Gruppe was ordered to Werl where elements were split off to form the nucleus of the newly created III.

In January 1940, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).

He then served as a flight instructor before taking command of III.

Von Bonin was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 November 1942 after 51 aerial victories claimed.

His two younger 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, Eckart-Wilhelm, became a night fighter pilot with 37 aerial victories who survived the war.

In July 1943, he was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 54.

Von Bonin was killed in action in aerial combat on 15 December 1943 near Haradok.

Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front.

Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group).