Oberst Gustav Roedel (Rödel)
© Dan & Nick’s Collaborative Experten Biographies

[photo credits | Wikipedia]
Oberst Gustav Roedel (Rödel) was credited with 97 victories against the Western Allies and a single victory over Soviet Air Forces in over 980 combat missions.




His 98 aerial victories include 13 four-engined bombers.

“You are fighter pilots first, last, always. If I ever hear of any of you shooting at someone in a parachute, I’ll shoot you myself.”














Gustav Rödel was born on 24 October 1915 in Sachsen. In 1933 the National Socialists came to power in Germany. Rödel had to choose a military career and he applied to join the Luftwaffe in late 1935 and was accepted the following year.




There, he predominantly flew escort and close air support missions. In Spain, he was also tasked with the exhumation and identification of German dead.


In July 1939, Rödel was sent to Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21).


















On the opening day, Rödel claimed a PZL P.24. Although the claim was over a PZL P.24, it might have been a misidentified PZL P.11, the type flown by the Pursuit Brigade based at Okęcie Warszawa.




1.9.39/1708
PZL P.11 (“PZL P-24”)
Warsaw area
Lt.Col. Leopold Pamula, CO of Pursuit Brigade. Baled out WIA








Rödel was assigned as Adolf Galland’s wingman.


12.5.40/1015
Hurricane I
15km S of Luettich
87 sqn. Either L1630 of 87 sqn. Sgt. Frank V “Dinky” Howell, baled out WIA (parachute was damaged, landed heavily) or L1970 of 87 sqn. F/O John Alexander “Jack” Campbell (Canadian), KIA
Both are generally attributed to Galland, likely overclaiming, see also I/JG 21, I/JG 27 and I(J)/LG 2

“I finally got my first kill on May 12, 1940, when Gustav Roedel and I went on a mission.
I shot down (two) Hawker Hurricanes on two missions. I had about a dozen victories by the end of the French Campaign.”



Roedel claimed a Supermarine Spitfire on 2 June 1940.

2.6.40/0914
Spitfire I
W of Dunkirk
66, 266 and 611 “West Lancashire” sqns. 266 lost P/O James Walter Bryan Stevenson in N3169, Sgt. Ronald Thomas Kidman in N3092 (both KIA) and N3169 of P/O N G Bowen safe, whilst 611 sqn lost F/O R K Compton in N3064 and F/O Thomas Donald Little in N3055 (both KIA). 66 Sqn lost N3047 of F/S M W Hayman, KIA; N3028 of Sgt D A C Hunt and N3033 of Sgt. F N Robertson both baled out safely, returned. F/O Oswald St. John Pigg WIA in K9924



JG 27 transferred to the Netherlands, Belgium and France in the aftermath of the French capitulation on 25 June 1940.



In July 1940 Rödel was transferred to 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 27 for the Kanalkampf phase of the battle.





Rödel arrived over Weymouth Bay with JG 27 to cover the withdrawal of the Messerschmitt Bf 110s from Zerstörergeschwader 2. A large dogfight began at 1040 GMT as Rödel’s unit fought a withdrawal across the English Channel.




The losses were reported over Redhill, the area recorded in Rödel’s claim.





1.9.40/1505 and 1530
2 x “Spitfires”
Ashford – Folkestone
85 sqn Hurricanes? Includes V7343 of F/O A V Gowers baled out WIA, L2071/VY-O of Sgt. G B Booth WIA (DOW 7.2.41, parachute on fire when he baled out), P3150 of Philip P Woods-Scawen KIA parachute failure), P2673/VY-E of Sgt. J H M Ellis MIA and P3151/VY-Y of P/O A G Lewis damaged.






3.9.40/1120 and 1150
Spitfire and Hurricane (likely both Hurricanes)
Southend
46 sqn. Losses include P3114 of P/O P W Le Fevre damaged and P3063 of P/O H Morgan-Gray. Combat occurred over Rochford at this time. Possibly also P3064 of Sgt. G H Edworthy MIA
(versus 6 claims)
Once again, the only British losses sustained were by Hurricane squadrons. No. 46 Squadron RAF lost three Hurricanes over Southend at the time of Rödel’s claims—Sergeant G. H. Edgworthy, Pilot Officer H. Morgan-Gray and Sergeant E. Bloor were shot down by Bf 109s. Edgworthy was killed.




6.9.40/1005
Spitfire
Tunbridge Wells
Possibly Hurricane I P3363/W of 601 “City of London” sqn? F/L C R Davis (American) KIA over Tunbridge Wells at 0930 British Time
(Plus 2 more unconfirmed….)


Two pilots were severely wounded including Squadron leader Z. Krasnodebski. 43 Squadron suffered no loss.





27.9.40/1305
Hurricane
Milton Regis/Bristol (landed at Gammons Farm, Kilmington)
P3415 of 504 sqn. Sgt. C Haw unhurt, aircraft damaged

27.9.40/1618
Spitfire I (“Hurricane”)
E of London
Very likely R6622 of 92 sqn. Sgt. T G Oldfield KIA over Dartford at exactly this time
In this battle, JG 27 lost three Bf 109s to Spitfires from 19 and 222 Squadron. 222 lost one Spitfire and a severely wounded pilot and 19 Squadron two Spitfires with one wounded and killed.














In March 1941 Rödel was transferred to the Mediterranean theatre. 4./JG 27 was redeployed to Bulgaria.



On 6 April he participated in the German-led invasion of Greece after the failed Italian invasion.


15.4.41/0650
Bloch MB 151 (“Hurricane”)
W of Trikkala
24 Mira, Sminagos George Mokkas KIA
It was his 15th victory.


The Greek fighters were actually PZL P.24s. Captain Kellas of 21 Mira, Katsarellas of 22 Mira and First Lieutenant Kontogiorgos were wounded.






20.4.41/1657, 1701 and 1708
3 x Hurricanes
Athens area
33 and 80 sqns, victims include S/L Marmaduke Thomas St. John Pattle of 33 sqn (RAF’s highest scorer) KIA
Plus Sgt. Leonard Cottingham WIA (said to be hit by a rear-gunner), Ernest George Victor Wildman “Jimmie” Kettlewell baled out of V7807 and WIA in resultant heavy landing, plus F/L William Joseph “Timber” Woods in V7852 of 80 sqn. Eight losses in total and one severely damaged.














In June 1941 Rödel and 4./JG 27 were moved to East Prussia to support Army Group North and briefly posted to the Eastern Front to support Operation Barbarossa. He claimed only one victory in the Soviet Union.


25.6.41/1640
SB-3
1 AE, 128 SBAP. Kapt. Marshalkovich, Lt. Lepekhin and Starshina Komar failed to return




22/06/1941 as Oberleutnant (Staffelkapitän 4./JG 27)














In July 1941 4./JG 27 was moved to North Africa to support a German contingent, the Deutsche Afrika Korps under the command of Erwin Rommel, and remained there until November 1942.
Rödel’s staffel was operational by late summer 1941.


3.10.41/1555
P-40 Tomahawk
SW of Sidi Barrani
112 sqn. Overclaiming: only AK502 of Sgt. Ian Harper Stirrat (Australian) KIA was lost
(Schacht claimed as well)




6.10.41/0900
P-40 Tomahawk and Hurricane
Freie Jagd, SE of Sidi Omar
2 sqn SAAF. AN251 of Lt. R C W Millar KIA, AN391 of Lt. Charles Albert Whaites (survived) plus AK513 of Lt. Clement A N McGarr POW later murdered after great escape
Some overclaiming as Otto Schulz claimed 3 as well



22.11.41/1405
Blenheim
80km SE of Gazala @ 1500m
45 sqn, 4 losses (two down in flames): T2318 of Sgt. C Melly and P/O F L Rippingale both POW but Sgt J Halsall KIA, Z6439/Y of W/C J O Willis DFC, P/O L P Bourke RNZAF and Sgt M F Carthy all KIA,
Z9609 of Sgt R Wood and Sgt S B Whiteley POW but Sgt R A Turton RNZAF evaded and Z7686 of P/O C E O’Neill, Sgt L O Smith and Sgt K J Chapman all KIA
(Espenlaub, Grimm and Doye also claimed)

22.11.41/1640
P-40 Tomahawk IIB
SE of Bir Hacheim
3 sqn RAAF and 112 sqn. 112 lost Sgt. Henry George Burney, RAAF in AM390/GA-W (returned). 3 lost Sgt. Ronald Henry Simes in AM507/Z also returned whilst F/L Lindsay Eric Shaw Knowles AN410 , F/O William Kloster in AK390 and P/O Lawton “Sammy” Lees AN305/E(?) were all KIA as was F/O F Fischer in AK407. F/O H G Roberts in AN373 POW







25.11.41/1555 and 1557
2 x P-40 Tomahawk IIBs (“Hurricanes”)
N of Tobruk
3 sqn RAAF. Losses include AN343 of F/O Bruce Aitken Evans MIA, AN406 of F/O W E Jewell POW (escaped, returned), AM398 of F/O P R Bothwell WIA (DOW 26.11.41). F/O B A Evans was KIA whilst F/L Manford crashlanded safely and F/L W S Arthur’s machine was damaged
(6 claims in total)


1.12.41/1240
Hurricane II
SW of El Adem
274 sqn. Z2817 of Sgt. G W F Perse returned 3.12.41, Z2510 of Sgt. Alman MiA and Z4008 of P/O R N Weeks returned.Z5310 of Lt. W H Hoffe forcelanded, returned safely
Redlich and Niederhoefer also claimed


4.12.41/1018
Hurricane
NE of Bir el Gobi
Was this from 1 sqn SAAF? 2/Lt T A Meek forcelanded and returned the next day (attributed to an MC202)





5.12.41/1155
P-40 Tomahawk
NW of Bir el Gobi
112 and 250 sqns, losses include P/O Coles (WIA), Sgt. McWilliam returned and Sgts. James Ross Gilmour and Edmondson Peter Greenhow both shot down and KIA, plus P/O Neville Frederick Duke shot down (crashlanded in at least this instance) for the second time this day in AN337/GA-F.
AK457 of P/O Joseph Jean Sabourin (Canadian) was also damaged
(versus 5 claims in total)




6.12.41/1155
Beaufighter I
Tobruk
T3246 of 272 sqn. P/O W G Snow RAAF and Sgt. J Dalton both POW




4.1.42/0840
Hurricane
20km SE of Agedabia @ 1500m
Possibly 30 sqn, P/O F A Scott MIA
(Monska appears to have claimed him as well)




P-40s from 2 SAAF and 80 Squadron RAF were scrambled to intercept.



27.3.42/1710 and 1724
2 x P-40 Tomahawks
W of Tobruk, SW of Ain-el-Gazala
Either Hurricane of 80 sqn, or P-40 of 2 sqn SAAF. 2 sqn lost AN439/J of Lt. Smith, forcelanded and AN278/E of Lt. P D Bryant slightly damaged. 80 sqn suffered BE482 of F/S Comfort badly damaged, pilot safe
(versus 5 claims all up)



Lieutenant Bryant’s P-40 was also damaged, lightly. Flight Sergeant Comfort from 80 Squadron was also hit and his Hurricane badly damaged.


6.4.42/0823
Curtiss P-40
Between Tmimi and Martuba @ 800m
94 sqn plus 2 and 4 sqns SAAF. 94 sqn lost AK861 of F/L Douglas Frederick Ommanney Shelford KIA, 2 sqn SAAF suffered Lt. R D B Morton’s Tomahawk damaged
von Lieres und Wilkau plus Kalista also claimed




7.4.42/1543
Curtiss P-40
N of Mteifel Chebir
450 sqn RAAF. Possibly overclaiming as there was just one loss: AK774/O of F/O E T Thompson, baled out.
(Fluder and Kientsch also claimed)
Willi Kientsch appears to have fired at and claimed the same aircraft but both were credited with victories while JG 27 claimed four victories.


9.4.42/1425
Curtiss P-40
30km SW of Mteifel Chebir
Either 450 sqn RAAF, Sgt. W J Metherall baled out or 40 sqn SAAF, Lt. Johannes S Gouws POW (murdered after the Great Escape)
Lieutenants Gouws, J. P. Blaauw and D. N. Stott all survived the encounter.

2, 4 SAAF and 260 Squadron RAF lost 8 destroyed between them and another 5 damaged.


25.4.42/0955
P-40 Tomahawk
6km N of Ain-el-Gazala
2 and 4 sqns SAAF. 2 sqn lost AM464 of Lt. J O De Waal baled out returned, AK354 of Lt. H F Howard, AK475 of Lt. F J Ball KIA, AN454 of Lt R G Harrison slightly WIA, AN278 of Lt. H S McMaster was cat II damaged
4 sqn lost AK469/M of Maj. Moodie crashlanded attributed to MC202, and AK555 of Lt. Christian Knut Langaard baled out over the sea, severely burned and KIA 10.5.42 when the hospital ship he was on was sunk (attributed to Reuter due to one of his claims baling out into sea).
(8 claims in total)











Sgt. H M Laflamme, for his 40th and 41st credited victories.

23.5.42/0940
Curtiss P-40
10km N of Ras el Tin
This one said to be BG923/Z of 33 sqn. F/L Desmond Percy Wade MIA-KIA

23.5.42/0947
Curtiss P-40
40km NE of Ras el Tin @ 200m
33 sqn. Overclaiming: the only other loss was Z5654/T of Sgt. H M Laflamme badly damaged, pilot safe
(versus 4 applicable claims in total)






The P-40s attacked and claimed eight of the Ju 87s before the Bf 109s could act.
Rödel’s Gruppe arrived as the last Ju 87s were going down and attacked the South Africans. 4 SAAF lost three P-40s and two pilots captured.


4.6.42/0815
P-40 Tomahawk
3km SE of Bir Hacheim @ 4500m
4 sqn SAAF. AN393 of J Capt. Morphew WIA, AN460 of Lt. John de la Harpe Lane (rescued, attributed to Ju87 rear gunner) and AN461 of Lt. K H Lawler POW all failed to return
(Willi Kientsch claimed as well)




10.7.42/1032
Spitfire V
6km SW of El Alamein @ 3000m
DAF. 601 sqn lost BR325 near El Daba (El Dabs?) this date





The three P-40s raised his total to 45.



19.7.42/0913 and 0917
2 x Hurricane IIs
S of El Alamein/Chebel-el-Gabir/Bir Gabatte
127 sqn. Overclaiming, only two losses: BN160 of F/O M E Gardner baled out badly WIA (burned) and BE224 of F/S L D Sherwood safe
(versus 7 claims in total)






There were 6 RAF losses in total.




21.7.42/1810, 1812, 1812 and 1820
4 x Hurricane IIs
El Alamein, El Daba, El Taqa sectors
238 sqn lost “M” of F/O Colin Richard Morrison-Jones (KIA 24 Jul?), 80 sqn lost BN462 of Sgt. James Douglas Robb RNZAF. 4 sqn SAAF suffered AK817 of Lt. Van Nus slightly WIA with tailplane shot away, Lt. B Futeran was WIA, machine also damaged. 145 sqn lost AR288/C of P/O P B Laing-Meason baled out safely and 601 sqn suffered BR384 of Sgt. E G Shea damaged, pilot safe


31.8.42/1829
Spitfire V
15km SSE of El Alamein @ 3500m
Marseille and Sinner also claimed Spitfires.
Three claims for BR363 of 601 sqn? Sgt. K J Lusty MIA. Same unit appears to have lost BR470

Rödel led his four Bf 109s, shooting down one of the three claimed by his flight.

1.9.42/0701
P-40 Kittyhawk
450 sqn RAAF. Appears to be overclaiming, no losses. Or was this 2 sqn SAAF, ET575 of 2/Lt. H E Ironside KIA?

3.9.42/1020
Curtiss P-40
Deir-el-Raghil
Possibly EV365/GA-A of 112 sqn. Sgt. Desmond Ibbotson DFC and Bar, machine damaged in combat (One source says Sinner was responsible)






5.9.42/1054, 1055 and 1057
3 x Hurricane or Curtiss P-40
SSW of El Alamein
127 sqn (covering 7 sqn SAAF or 6 sqn RAF) Overclaiming, only one recorded loss, P/O Rebman crashlanded




9.10.42/0923, 0927 and 0935
3 x Spitfire or P-40 (all claimed as “P-39 Airacobras”)
Turbiya, El Daba and Sanyet Quotifiya
14 losses by WDAF this day. They include: 4 sqn, SAAF lost Lt. Shulz (Schulz?), 2sqn SAAF had two Kittyhawks badly damaged. 3 sqn, RAAF had P/O Clabburn attacked by 5 Bf109s and Sgt. Holloway (Canadian with 450 sqn) shot down and POW. 5 Sqn, SAAF lost Lts. Thornley and Murdock. 250 sqn lost P/O Rogerson and F/O Tribken’s machine was damaged (said to be by MC202) as were 3 others.


Curtiss P-40 (“P-39 Airacobra”)
SW of El Alamein
Likely ’53’ of 65th FS, 57th FG. 1/Lt. Robert M Nichols MIA-KIA by Bf109 this date



The bomber was hit by anti-aircraft artillery, fell out of formation, and was then shot down by Rödel.


22.10.42/1045
B-25 Mitchell
SW of El Alamein
“52” of 83rd BS, 12th BG. 1/Lt. J L Cleary and 3 others POW, 1 MIA. Believed hit by flak, then caught by Roedel

Rödel led II./JG 27 and they met 18 bombers and 30 P-40s.






26.10.42/1608
Curtiss P-40
SW of Sanyet Quotaifiya
260 sqn, Sgt. Hopkins or F/O Meredith POW








27.10.42/0923 and 0942
2 x P-40 Kittyhawks (the first was claimed as a “Spitfire”)
El Daba/El Hammam/El Alamein
AL177/B of 4 sqn SAAF. Lt. Humphrey WIA (crashlanded back at base, attributed to an MC202, only loss in the engagement)

27.10.42/1605
Spitfire or P-40 (“P-39 Airacobra”)
N of El Daba
64th and 65th Fighter Squadrons with Spitfires from 601 sqn. No losses, but Hurricanes from both 33 and 213 sqn were also involved losing F/S S G Brooks and BP398 of S/L R M Lloyd (243 Wing) plus P/O Gardner (of 33 sqn top flight). Sgts Bates and Marcus had their machines damaged
Rödel’s unit fought to cover the 15th and 21st Panzer Division in another assault on Outpost Snipe.









29.10.42/0905
Spitfire (“Curtiss P-40”)
Deir el Bein
Possibly a Spitfire of 92 sqn. Overclaiming, no losses



31.10.42/0952
2 x Curtiss P-40
SW of Sanyet Quotaifiya
3 likely losses at this time: 260 sqn lost Sgt. R G Mockridge KIA, definitely by Bf109. 5 sqn SAAF lost AM471/A of Lt. E W L Popham KIA collided with AM474/Z of Lt. B A Kearns forcelanded (attributed to this combat)
(Rudolf Philipp also claimed at this time)



1.11.42/0705
Kittyhawk III (“Spitfire”)
S of Sidi abd el Rahman
112 sqn. This was likely FR264/W of Sgt. R De Bourke (WIA in the shoulder)
II./JG 27 avoided the defeat at El Alamein which began with the British breakthrough on 4 November 1942














Along with the Stab staffel, II. Gruppe withdrew to Germany for resting. In February 1943 it began staging down the leg of Itaty towards Sicily.

Rödel supervised an influx of new pilots and re-equipment with Bf 109G-4s and Bf 109G-6 models to replace the depleted staffeln. Once at established strength it moved some staffeln to Trapani and operated from there.


Rödel replaced him as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 27. Rödel appointed Werner Schröer to command II Gruppe.
Subsequently, Rödel saw action over Sicily and Southern Italy in May 1943.







22.5.43/1622
P-38 Lightning
10km SE of Marettimo @ 7000m
Likely Buren J Snyder of 49th FS, 14th FG POW (definitely attributed to an enemy fighter)

22.5.43/1625
P-38 Lightning
SW of Marettimo @ 4000m
Was this John C Henry Jr of 37th FS, 14th FG KIA?
Rödel’s Geschwaderstab moved to Kalamaki in occupied Greece. Here, Rödel assumed direct control of III. Gruppe and the newly formed IV Gruppe.






20/06/1943 as Major (Kommodore JG 27)





8.10.43/1348
B-25C-20 Mitchell
20km S of Lebadeia @ 3500m
Kurt Hoppe claimed as well. These appear to be two claims for 42-64590 of 445th BS, 321st BG. 3 KIA, 2 POW and 2 evaded capture (generally attributed to Roedel)

8.10.43/1400
P-38 Lightning
N of Patras @ 2000m
82nd FG. – P-38G-10-LOs 42-13062 James P Shawver KIA (definite JG 27 victim) and 43-2332 Clayton A Bennett evaded (the latter came from 95th FS, also definitely to JG 27 over Greece)
(versus at least 8 claims)


On 13 May 1944, the command staffel moved to Wien-Seyring near Vienna.

Rödel led III. and IV. into battle with 87 Bf 109s against of formation of 92 B-24s, which formed part of the USAAF operation.




III Gruppe claimed 12 B-24s for two losses.

Rödel claimed a P-47 Thunderbolt.






3.4.44/1042
B-17 Flying Fortress
15km SSW of Budapest @ 7000m
15th AAF. 2nd BG lost B-17G-20-BO 42-31465 of 49th BS. 97th BG lost B-17F-100-BO 42-30381 of 341st BS and B-17F-105-BO 42-30436 of 414th BS. 301st BG lost B-17G-10-VE 42-39986 of 352nd BS. Crew details pending












I. Grupppe claimed seven (plus two P-51s), III. Grupppe claimed 13, IV. Grupppe claimed five, while Stab./JG 27 claimed three bombers, 2 falling to Roedel.




29.5.44/1015
B-24 Liberator
St. Poelten @ 7000m
15th AAF. 98th BG lost B-24H-15-DT 41-28825, 449th BG lost B-24H-15-FO 42-52396 “Suzan Jane” of 718th BS. Another definite loss to fighters was B-24D-145-CO 42-41176 of 513th BS, 376 BG
464th BG lost B-24H-10-DT 41-28748 “Target for Tonight”, B-24H-20-DT 41-28969 to flak and fighters plus B-24H-30-FO 42-95336 to fighters as well. 484th (?) BG lost 41-28780














During June 1944, Roedel led the wing in the Battle of Normandy, and claimed four victories over Normandy.
On 6 June 1944 Operation Overlord and the D-Day landings began. Rödel was ordered to relocate to France immediately and he arrived at Champfleury, 60 miles (95 km) southeast of Paris late on 6 June. I., III., and IV. Gruppen were now pitted against the weight of Anglo-American air power.








29.6.44/1150, 1150 and 1157
3 x Typhoon Ib (mistaken for “P-47 Thunderbolts”)
NW of Evreux
183 and 193 sqns, 146 Wing. 193 had F/O J G Brown and P/O G L Bilz both damaged. One source says 373rd FG also involved



5.7.44/2105
P-38 Lightning
SSE of Gaye/Angleure S. Sezanne (PQ BH-55) @ 3000m
Overclaiming? No 8th or 9th AAF P-38s lost at this time
This was also the last of the 82 claims submitted by the Geschwaderstab in World War II. Rödel accounted for 28 of these 82 enemy aircraft.

JG 27 could not penetrate the bomber stream, but claimed six P-51s battling escorting US fighter groups.

By mid-December another 39 pilots were dead and 14 had suffered wounds.

JG 27 was in constant action over Belgium from 16–29 December 1944 and suffered significant losses.


In this role, he also attended the meeting with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring in what became known as the “Fighter Pilots Revolt”. The meeting took place on 22 January 1945.
In April 1945, his oldest son Rüdiger, still in his infancy, was killed in an RAF raid.
He served with the 2. Jagd Division until the German surrender in May 1945.



2nd Class (17 September 1939)
1st Class (19 June 1940)





22/06/1941 as Oberleutnant (Staffelkapitän 4./JG 27)





20/06/1943 as Major (Kommodore JG 27)














On 16 March 1957, Rödel reentered military service in the West German Air Force. Following various training courses in the United States, in 1958, he was assigned to the Air Defense Division at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris.



Reproduced with permission of the copyright owners © Dan & Nick’s Collaborative Experten Biographies.
AWG Team would like to thank Dan Case & Nick Hector for their contribution and continuous support for our Project.
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