Joachim Brendel

Joachim Brendel (27 April 1921 – 7 July 1974) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II.

Brendel was credited with 189 aerial victories—that is, 189 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft.

All but six of his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces on the Eastern Front in more than 950 combat missions, including 162 ground support missions.

Brendel, the son of a police Hauptmann (captain), was born on 27 April 1921 in Ulrichshalben, present-day a borough of Ilmtal-Weinstraße, at the time in Thuringia of the Weimar Republic.

Staffel (1st squadron), replacing Oberleuntant (First Lieutenant) Hans Boos who had been killed in a mid-air collision on 21 April.

His number of aerial victories claimed increased to 30 on 5 May, and on 17 May he was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).

On 22 November, Brendel claimed six aircraft shot down on his 551st combat mission, taking his total to 101 aerial victories.

For this achievement he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) that day.

Born in Ulrichshalben, Brendel joined the military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1939.

Following flight training, he was posted to 2.

After attending a Gymnasium, a secondary school, and graduating with his Abitur (diploma), he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 15 November 1939.

Following fighter pilot training, he was posted to 2.

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

He flew his first combat missions in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, and claimed his first aerial victory on 29 June 1941.

Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in early 1941.

JG 51, under the command of Oberst Werner Mölders, was preparing for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union which was launched on 22 June 1941.

On 29 June, Brendel claimed his first aerial victory.

On 1 July, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and two days later he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse).

Brendel then flew a number of ground support missions, was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 21 April 1942.

There, after 101 aerial victories, he was presented with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943.

He claimed his 20th victory on 24 February 1943 and received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 15 March 1943.

On 25 May, Brendel was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of JG 51s 1.

On the first day of the Battle of Kursk, 5 July 1943, Brendel claimed two Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down on the northern flank of the attack.

His wingman, Unteroffizier Oskar Romm was credited with the destruction of a third Il-2.

The next day, Brendel led his 1.

Staffel in an attack against 15 Douglas A-20 Havoc bombers from the 221 Bomber Aviation Division.

Brendel claimed one bomber destroyed but the fighter escort from 282 Fighter Aviation Division successfully engaged the German fighters.

Brendel became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 12 July 1943, claiming aerial victories 53 to 57.

On 28 July, Brendel was shot down and wounded in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer' 470002—factory number) by Soviet anti artillery behind enemy lines.

He managed to return to German held territory.

On 1 October 1943, he was promoted to Hauptman with a rank age dated to 1 April 1944.

In July 1944, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the III.

Following his 153rd aerial victory, Brendel was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 14 January 1945.

He continued flying operationally until the end of World War II.

Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).

Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 51 "Mölders".

He was the 60th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

He died on 7 July 1974 in Cologne, West Germany.

On 8 December, he claimed his 10th victory on his 225th combat mission.

On 10 June, Brendel claimed his 40th opponent shot down and was promoted to Oberleuntant on 1 July.