Ralph von Rettberg
Born1 March 1911
Bad Homburg
Died25 February 2004(2004-02-25) (aged 92)
Munich
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1931–1945
RankOberst (colonel)
UnitZG 26, ZG 1
Commands heldII./ZG 26
Zerstörergeschwader 1
Zerstörergeschwader 2
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ralph von Rettberg (1 March 1911 – 25 February 2004) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander. As a fighter ace, he claimed eight enemy aircraft shot down.

Early life and career

On 7 April 1931, he began his pilot training at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (DVS—German Air Transport School) at Schleißheim. He and 29 other trainees were part of Kameradschaft 31 (camaraderie of 1931), abbreviated "K 31". Among the members of "K 31" were future Luftwaffe staff officers Bernd von Brauchitsch, Günther Radusch, Günther Lützow, Wolfgang Falck and Hannes Trautloft. von Rettberg graduated from the DVS on 19 February 1932.[1]

On 1 March 1937, von Rettberg was appointed adjutant to Oberst Kurt-Bertram von Döring, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing).[2] On 1 April 1938, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel (1st squadron), a squadron of I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 134, which was based at Dortmund and commanded by Oberstleutnant Hermann Frommherz who was succeeded by Hauptmann Karl Kaschka on 1 February 1939.[3] On 1 November 1938, I. Gruppe was renamed to I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 142 (ZG 142—142nd Destroyer Wing), a unit which became the I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing) on 1 May 1939. In consequence, von Rettberg commanded the 1. Staffel of ZG 142, and later the 1. Staffel of ZG 26. The Gruppe was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1 fighter.[4] During the prelude of World War II in August 1939, I. Gruppe of ZG 26 deployed to an airfield at Varel.[5]

World War II

On Friday 1 September 1939, German forces invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe. I. Gruppe of ZG 26 was tasked with patrolling the North Sea. In October, the Gruppe began equipping with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 C heavy fighter. In December, I. Gruppe was moved to Lippstadt.[6] Von Rettberg was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of ZG 26 on 1 April 1940.[7] He let this unit during the Battle of France, Battle of Britain and the Invasion of Yugoslavia.[8]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Rettberg is credited with approximately eight aerial victories. This number includes three claims on the Eastern Front and five on the Western Front.[9]

Awards

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Braatz 2005, pp. 28, 50.
  2. ↑ Prien et al. 2000, p. 333.
  3. ↑ Prien et al. 2000, pp. 338–339.
  4. ↑ Prien et al. 2000, p. 338.
  5. ↑ Prien et al. 2000, p. 339.
  6. ↑ Prien et al. 2001, p. 552.
  7. ↑ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1035.
  8. 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 186.
  9. ↑ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1035–1036.
  10. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 356.
  11. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 624.
  12. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 375.

Bibliography

  • Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow [God or an Airplane – Life and Death of Fighter Pilot Günther Lützow] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-6-8.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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, UK: 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.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941–1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • 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 (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
  • 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 (2012) [1999]. Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer Aces of World War 2. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-753-5.
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