Anton Benning

Dr. Anton Benning
Born 15 May 1918 (1918-05-15) (age 93)
Hakenberg
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1938–1945
Rank Leutnant
Unit JG 106
JG 301
Battles/wars

World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Dr. Anton Benning (born 15 May 1918) was a German 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 was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Contents

Career

Benning joined the Luftwaffe in 1938 and was initially posted as a flying instructor. As a transport pilot flying the Junkers Ju 52, he took part in supplying the Stalingrad pocket in early 1943, before retraining as a single engined fighter pilot with Jagdgeschwader 106 (JG 106). In June 1943 Oberfeldwebel Benning was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 302 (JG 302) to operate as a "Wilde Sau" night fighter. He was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 301 (JG 301) as a Leutnant, before becoming Staffelkapitän of the 1./JG 301. He received the Ritterkreuz on in April 1945. Benning was credited with 28 victories (inc. 18 four engined bombers), all on the Western Front.

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 110.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
  • 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 0-8041-1696-2.

External links