Knights of the Battle of Britain by Chris Goss

Author:Chris Goss [Chris Goss]
Language: eng
Format: epub

At the end of July 1942, he was posted to the Eastern Front, his last victory with II./JG 26 being his eighty-third, on 20 June 1942. He was posted to JG 51 and took over from Major Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, who had been badly injured in an accident on 26 June 1942. Müncheberg’s first kill with his new Geschwader came on 3 August 1942 and by 27 September, his total had risen to 116, and he was awarded the Schwerter on 9 September 1942, after his 103rd kill. During this short period with JG 51, he was apparently shot down twice (other records say he returned with a damaged aircraft) but there is no evidence to support this. On 1 October, he was posted to command JG 77 in North Africa, with the rank of Major, his first kill with his new Geschwader being a Spitfire on 9 November. On 10 December 1942, he force-landed his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2, Werk Nummer 10725 near Arco Philaenorum, Libya, after his engine had been damaged in combat with Curtiss P-40s of 57th Fighter Group, during which he had shot down his 119th aircraft; it has been suggested he was attacked by Flight Lieutenant Robert Smith of 112 Squadron. On 23 March 1943, he shot down his 135th aircraft, a Spitfire of the 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, flown by Captain Theodore R. Sweetland, which either exploded, or the American pilot deliberately rammed his attacker. His Bf 109 G-6, Werk Nummer 16381 then crashed south-west of Maknassy, Tunisia, and although he managed to bale out, he was very badly injured and died on the way to a field hospital. He was originally buried at El Aouina and was later moved to Tunis, but he now lies in the German Military Cemetery at Bordj-Cedria. Sweetland is still recorded as missing in action.

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