Helmut Bennemann

Infobox Military Person
name=Dr. med. dent. Helmut Bennemann
lived=birth date|1915|3|16|df=y — death date and age|2007|11|17|1915|3|16|df=y
placeofbirth=Wanne-Eickel
placeofdeath=Bad Sassendorf


caption=Helmut Bennemann
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=
rank=Oberstleutnant
commands=I./JG 52, JG 53
unit=JG 52, JG 53
battles=World War II
awards="Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross"
laterwork=dentist

Dr. med. dent. Helmut Bennemann (16 March 1915 – 17 November 2007) was a German Oberstleutnant.

During World War II Bennemann served in the German Luftwaffe claiming 93 aerial victories in over 400 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern front. His commands included Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 53 fighter wing.

World War II

Helmut Bennemann held the position of Adjutant of I./JG 52 in June 1940. He claimed his first aerial victory on 26 August, when he shot down a RAF Supermarine Spitfire near Dover. On 15 September, Bennemann claimed three RAF Hawker Hurricane shot down to record his sixth through eighth victories. On 27 April 1941, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 52. By the time I./JG 52 was transferred to the Eastern front in September 1941, Bennemann had claimed 12 victories. On 14 June 1942, Bennemann was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 52. By the End of 1942 is score stood at 72 victories.

With his score at 88 victories, Benemann was severely wounded by the explosion of an incendiary bomb on 10 May 1943. Convalescence kept him from combat duty for some months. Bennemann was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53 on 9 November 1943, taking over command from Oberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn. On 25 April 1944, he shot down a USAAF B-24 four-engine bomber over Bologna to claim his 90th victory. However, his Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 163 314) "Black < 3" was hit by defensive fire and Bennemann was again wounded, baling out successfully. In June 1944, Bennemann led the Geschwaderstab of JG 53 on a short return to the Eastern front, to direct the supply missions for the relief of the city of Vilna. The unit departed Russia for Wunstorf near Hannover in Germany on 22 July. From August 1944, Bennemann led JG 53 on Defense of the Reich missions, initially from bases in France, then from bases in Germany. He claimed his last three victories in October 1944 to bring his final score to 93. Among his 93 victories are at leat 10 Il-2 Sturmoviks claimed over the Eastern front.

In early 1945 he participated in the conspiracy against the Reichsmarschall and chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring in what is referred to as the "Fighter Pilots Revolt".

Awards

* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (5 October 1940)
* German Cross in Gold (27 July 1942)
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (2 October 1942)

References

* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: 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.

Persondata
NAME=Bennemann, Helmut
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=German World War II fighter pilot
DATE OF BIRTH=March 16, 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH=Wanne-Eickel, Germany
DATE OF DEATH=November 17, 2007
PLACE OF DEATH=Bad Sassendorf