Georg Michalek

Georg Michalek (17 June 1913 – 2 September 1992) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. During his career Georg Michalek was credited with between 59 and 62 aerial victories.

Early life

Michalek was born 17 June 1913, in Vienna, then the capital of Austria-Hungary.^[1] Mickalek was attached to the Austrian Air Force in 1935 as a Leutnant in an anti-aircraft regiment.^[2] After the Anschluss in March 1938, he became a member of Jagdgeschwader 138 (JG 138—138th Fighter Wing), in the German Luftwaffe.^[3] In March 1938, the Luftwaffe initiated the formation of a single Gruppe (group) at Wien-Aspern Airfield. On 1 April, this unit became the newly formed I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 138 also referred to as the "Wiener-Jagdgruppe" ("Vienna fighter group"), largely staffed with former Austrian Air Force personnel. On 1 November, the Gruppe was re-designated and became I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 134 (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing), and again renamed on 1 May 1939, becoming the I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing). Initially equipped with the Fiat CR.32 while 3. Staffel received the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B.^[4] At the start of World War II, Michalek was serving in Jagdgeschwader 52.^[3]

World War II

On 15 July 1941, Michalek was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). He succeeded Oberleutnant Karl Faust who had been killed in action three days before.^[5]

In recognition of 37 aerial victories claimed, Michalek was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes) on 4 November 1941 and at the same time promoted to Hauptmann (captain).^[6][7]

Group commander

On 15 January 1942, I. Gruppe of JG 3 became the II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1. In consequence a new I. Gruppe of JG 3 was created on 1 March 1942.^[8] This new I. Gruppe was created from the Ergänzungsgrupp, the supplementary training group of JG 3 at Wiesbaden Airfield and placed under command of Michalek.^[9] Command of 4. Staffel was thus passed on to Oberleutnant Walther Dahl.^[10] Initially equipped with the older versions of the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Gruppe received a full complement of factory new Bf 109 F-4 trop aircraft in late March. The Gruppe continued their training until 20 April when they began relocating to the Eastern Front in preparation for Case Blue, the German strategic summer offensive in southern Russia.^[11]

In August 1942, Michalek was posted to a fighter pilot school.^[12] In consequence, command of I. Gruppe went to Hauptmann Klaus Quaet-Faslem.^[13]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Michalek was credited with at least 59 aerial victories, including six over the Western Allies.^[14] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 49 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.^[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 92114". 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 km²). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 by 4 km (1.9 by 2.5 mi) in size.^[16]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class^[3]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 November 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3^[26][27]
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 18 May 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän^[28]

References

Citations

1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 188.
2. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 217.
3. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 148.
4. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 263.
5. ^ Prien et al. 2003, pp. 105, 118.
6. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 45.
7. ^ Weal 2013, p. 85.
8. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 403.
9. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 44–45.
10. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 83.
11. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 47–48.
12. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 149.
13. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 94.
14. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 168.
15. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 847–848.
16. ^ Planquadrat.
17. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 111.
18. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 112.
19. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 113.
20. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 114.
21. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 116.
22. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 97.
23. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 99.
24. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
25. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 100.
26. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 311.
27. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 543.
28. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 146.

Bibliography

• Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
• Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
• 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.
• Mathews, Andrew Johannes & Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
• 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. (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.
• Prien, Jochen & Stemmer, Gerhard (2002). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: Stab and I./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-1681-4.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis December 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
• 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.
• Weal, John (2013). Aces of Jagdgeschwader 3 'Udet'. Vol. 116. Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-298-6.