Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier

Unit:

Flugzeugführer

Awarded on:

February 22nd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier

Unit:

4. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Unit:

Flugzeugführer 7. / Schlachtgeschwader 10

Awarded on:

January 14th, 1945

Orzegowski’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel Orzegowski has outstandingly distinguished itself over the course of flying 600 combat missions against the Soviet Union.

His youthful energy and aggressiveness (combined with his superb flying capabilities) have enabled him to swiftly progress to Kettenführer and then Schwarmführer. He consistently strikes his targets from very close range, and strives solely for the complete annihilation of the foe. His boldness does not wane even when put up against fierce fighter or AA defenses.

Although he has been shot down by fighters and AA guns several times, his offensive spirit and devotion to duty remain unbroken. His ruthlessly executed low level attacks (particularly against suddenly identified AA positions) makes him an inspiring example of a formation leader for his younger comrades.

The following achievements (all rendered after being awarded the German Cross in Gold) are particularly worthy of note:

1. On the 25.04.1943 he achieved a direct hit against a cargo train at the Primorsko-Achtarskaja train station. On the same day he achieved another direct hit against a warehouse in Sadki.

2. On the 09.05.1943 he destroyed an artillery battery south of Kryleskaja via a direct hit.

3. On the 01.06.1943 he scored a number of hits against grounded aircraft at the Grosnoje airfield.

4. On the 04.08.1943 he destroyed 3 tanks via direct hits.

5. On the 15.08.1943 he destroyed a bridge near Katschewe via a direct hit, and thereby prevented a swift enemy pursuit action in the area.

6. On the 16.08.1943 he eliminated a heavy AA battery near Kharkov via a direct hit. This enabled the other German aircraft in his unit to accurately deliver their bombloads.

7. On the 21.09.1943 he scored a direct hit on an armoured ferry near Torenzy.

8. On the 01.10.1943 he shot down a LaGG-3 whilst flying a Ju 87.

9. On the 03.11.1943 he shot down a LaGG-5 whilst flying a Ju 87.

10. On the 29.11.1943 he knocked out a medium AA battery northwest of Cherkassy via a direct hit.

11. On the 23.04.1944 he shot down a Liberator bomber south of Wiener-Neustadt with his Fw 190.

12. On the 23.07.1944 he silenced a medium AA battery during the combat around Lvov.

13. On the 30.07.1944 he destroyed a heavy AA battery in the Baranow area via a direct hit.

14. On the 04.08.1944 he disrupted the enemy’s traffic across the Vistula river near Baranow by destroying a ferry via a direct hit.

15. On the 20.10.1944 he scored multiple direct hits against grounded aircraft located at the Soviet airfield south of Carvasz.

Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel Orzegowski is a bold and reliable pilot, and I believe him worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

The following attachment details the total amount of materiel that Orzegowski had been credited with destroying by the time the award recommendation was written…

“Sum of Successes:

- 31 tanks destroyed via direct hits
- 10 tanks immobilized
- 83 trucks
- 65 horse-drawn wagons
- 1 armoured train destroyed via a direct hit
- 1 ammunition train
- 3 armoured cars
- 2 bridges destroyed via direct hits
- 2 heavy, 1 light and 2 medium AA batteries
- 2 direct hits against fuel depots (major fires started)
- 3 direct hits against 2 supply warehouses
- 1 direct hit against a food depot
- 1 factory hall and 1 factory facility
- 3 anti-tank guns
- 1 field guns
- Direct hits against railway facilities in Waluiki, Rostov and Primosko-Achtarskaja
- Hits against bunkers in Sevastopol
- Direct hits against the oil tanks along the Volga (near Stalingrad)
- Hits against port facilities of Novorossiysk and Tuapse
- Direct hits against field positions
- 3 aircraft shot down (1 Liberator, 1 LaGG-3 and 1 LaGG-5).”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 22nd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 12th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 4th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 15th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 21st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 5th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1943