Gustav Sprick

Gustav Sprick
Nickname “Micky”
Born 29 November 1917
Biemsen, Germany
Died 28 June 1941
Holque, France
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1935–1941
Rank Oberleutnant
Unit JG 26
Battles/wars

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

Gustav "Micky" Sprick (29 November 1917 – 28 June 1941) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Sprick was credited with 31 victories in 192 missions. All his victories were recorded over the Western front.

Contents

Military career

At the beginning of World War ІІ, Sprick was posted to JG 26 on 23 September 1939. Leutnant Sprick shot down his first enemy aircraft on 10 May 1940, a Dutch Fokker T-5 twin-engined bomber over Breda during the Battle of France. Sprick was very successful during the French campaign having accrued nine victories by the fall of France. However, on 14 June he was shot down, near Évreux, by Royal Air Force (RAF) Hurricane fighters after claiming one of their number. He gained 11 victories in the Battle of Britain. He was one of the leading aces of the battle.

He was awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knights Cross) on 1 October after gaining his 20th victory. By the end of 1940 his score had increased to 24.

While engaged in a dogfight with RAF Spitfires the right wing of his Bf 109 F-2 collapsed and he plunged to his death near Holque, France.

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ^ Fellgiebel 2001, p. 406.
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.
  • 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.

External links