Alfred Druschel

Infobox Military Person
name=Alfred Druschel
born=birth date|1917|2|4|df=y
died=death date and age|1945|1|1|1917|2|4|df=y


caption=Alfred Druschel
placeofbirth=Bindsachsen, District Büdingen
placeofdeath=near Aachen
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1936-1945
rank=Oberst
commands=2.(S)/LG 2, I./SG 1
unit=LG 2, SG 1, SG 4
battles=World War II
*Invasion of Poland (1939)
*Battle of France
*Battle of Britain
*Eastern front
*Unternehmen Bodenplatte
awards=Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
laterwork=

Oberst Alfred Druschel (born 4 February, 1917 in Bindsachsen, District Büdingen; Killed in action on 1 January, 1945 near Aachen in Unternehmen Bodenplatte) was a German Luftwaffe combat pilot and Flying ace during World War II. He was the first combat pilot to be honored with the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Military career

He joined the Luftwaffe in April 1936 and trained as an observer at the Kampffliegerschule at Tutow and Fassberg. In July 1938, Druschel was posted to "Fliegergruppe 20", which was renamed II.(Schl)/LG 2 in November 1938. He served with 4./LG 2 during the invasion of Poland and the battle of France, flying the Henschel Hs 123 biplane. The unit spearheaded many of the crucial battles during these campaigns. Druschel was awarded the iron cross 2nd class in September 1939 and the Iron Cross 1st class in May 1940.

Druschel became "Staffelkapitän" of 4.(S)/LG 2 in September 1940, leading the unit on fighter-bomber missions against targets in England and on shipping in the Channel.

In April 1941, 4.(S)/LG 2 operated over southern Yugoslavia and Greece and took part during the invasion of Russia. "Oberleutnant" Druschel was awarded the Ritterkreuz in August 1941 for 7 aerial victories and for flying over 200 missions. He operated over the Eastern front until October 1943 with 4.(Schl)/LG 2 and from autumn 1941 as "Staffelkapitän", 2./SG 1.

In early 1942 he became "Gruppenkommandeur" of I./SG 1 and by October 1943 was "Geschwaderkommodore" of SG 1. Hauptmann Druschel was awarded the Oakleaves in September 1942 for 600 combat missions and the Swords in February 1943 for over 700 combat missions.

In October 1943, Druschel was appointed "Inspizient der Tag-Schlachtfliegerverbände". He was promoted to Oberstleutnant in April 1944, and made "Kommodore" of SG 4 based in the west in December 1944.

On 1 January 1945, Druschel participated in Unternehmen Bodenplatte, the attack on the Allied airfields in the Netherlands and Belgium. Accompanied by JG 2, SG 4, Druschel led an attack on St Trond in Belgium. He became separated from his formation following a heavy flak attack and remains missing to this day in the area south of Aachen.

Alfred Druschel was officially credited with seven aerial victories claimed in over 800 combat missions, he mainly flew ground support missions in Henschel Hs 123, Bf 109 and Fw 190 fighter-bombers [For a list of Luftwaffe ground attack aces see "List of German World War II Ground Attack aces"] .

Awards

* Wound Badge in Black
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "800"
* Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds
* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
* Iron Cross
** 2nd Class (27 September 1939)
** 1st Class (21 May 1940)
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
** Knight's Cross (21 August 1941)
** Oak Leaves (3 September 1942)
** Swords (19 February 1943)

References

*cite web|title=Aces of the Luftwaffe|work=Alfred Druschel|url=http://www.luftwaffe.cz/druschel.html|accessdate=8 June|accessyear=2007
*cite web|title=das-ritterkreuz.de|work=Alfred Druschel|url=http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php4?modul=search_result_det&wert1=1136&searchword=druschel|accessdate=8 June|accessyear=2007
*cite web|title=Lexikon der Wehrmacht|work=Alfred Druschel|url=http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/D/DruschelA.htm|accessdate=8 June|accessyear=2007
* Berger, Florian. "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.