Günther Josten

Infobox Military Person
name=Günther Josten
born=birth date|1921|11|7|df=y
died=dda|2004|7|7|1921|11|7|df=y
placeofbirth=Rhynern in Hamm
placeofdeath=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (to 1945)
flagicon|West Germany West Germany
serviceyears=1940-1945
rank=Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht)
Oberst (Bundeswehr)
branch=)
commands= 3./JG 51, IV./JG 51, JG 71
unit=JG 51, JG 71
battles=World War II
*Operation Barbarossa
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=

Günther Josten (7 November 1921 – 7 July 2004) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak LeavesFellgiebel] during World War II. He was born in Rhynern, in the city of Hamm in the Province of Westphalia.

Biography

He joined the Luftwaffe in January 1940 and was transferred to the Jagdgruppe Drontheim on November 1 1941. At the end of August 1942 he was reassigned to 3./JG 51 on the Eastern front. On February 23 1943 he claimed his first aerial victory. On July 10 1943 he scored multiple times for his claims 8 to 10. Three days later on July 13 he shot down 5 Il-2 Sturmoviks for victories 12 to 16. All in all he claimed 19 victories in July and 30 in August. After a successful September with 26 victories he was transferred to Luftkriegsschule Fürstenfeldbruck. He returned to his Staffel on February 3 1944. Two days later he claimed two Bostons and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as Oberfeldwebel.

He claimed his 90th victory on May 2 1944 and was promoted to Leutnant. On September 18 1944 he took command of his 3./JG 51. On September 20 he reached the century mark. His 123. aerial victory was a Boeing B-17 on a supply mission to Warsaw. By October 26 his score had reached 139 claims. His 150th kill was claimed on February 16 1945. On March 28 1945 Oberleutnant Josten was awarded the 810th "Oak Leaves" to the Knight's Cross for 161. aerial victories. He was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of IV./JG 51 on April 18 1945. His last seven aerial victories were claimed on April 25 1945.

Josten flew 420 combat missions, was never shot down, and was officially credited with shooting down 178 enemy aircraft. His brother, Reinhard Josten, also served in the Jagdgeschwader 51 and was killed in action on 21 April 1942.

Later life

After World War II, Günther Josten rejoined the military service in the Bundeswehr and succeeded Erich Hartmann as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 71. It was under his command that Jagdgeschwader 71 reequipped the Canadair Sabre with the U.S.-made Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. Oberst Josten retired on 31 March 1981.

Awards

* German Cross in Gold (17 October 1943)
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (5 February 1944)
** 810. Oak Leaves (28 March 1945)

References

*cite web|title=das-ritterkreuz.de|work=Günther Josten|url= http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php4?modul=search_result_det&wert1=2807&searchword=Josten| accessdate=17 June| accessyear=2007
*cite web | title=Lexikon der Wehrmacht|work=Günther Josten|url= http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/J/JostenG.htm|accessdate=17 June| accessyear=2007
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.