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Bönsch, Herbert (NJG 2)

Date of birth:
December 4th, 1913 (Dresden/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
August 1st, 1942 (near Poortugaal-Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn
Plot: AZ. Row: 7. Grave: 170.
Nationality:
German

Biography

Herbert Bönsch was killed over Poortugaal near Rotterdam, the Netherlands on August 1st, 1942 in an air battel with a Handley Page Halifax of No. 76 Squadron.

Promotions:
00.00.1939: Oberleutnant
00.07.1942: Hauptmann
00.00.1943: Major (posthumously) - RDA 01.08.1942

Career:
February 20th, 1940: Staka, Zerstörerstaffel, Kampfgeschwader 30
April 09th, 1940: Staka, Zerstörerstaffel, KG 30
April 16th, 1940: Staka, Zerstörerstaffel, Kampfgeschwader 30, downed a "Roc" by Norway
May 16th, 1940: Staka, Zerstörerstaffel, Kampfgeschwader 30, downed a Skua southeast of Narvik
July 01st, 1940-September 11th, 1940: Staka, 4. Staffel, Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
October 01st, 1940-November 01st, 1941: Staka, 1./ NJG 2
February 15th, 1941-February 16th, 1941: Staka, 1./ NJG 2, unhurt when Ju 88 C-2 Werknummer 0239 coded 'R4+FH' belly-landed at Gilze-Rijen after combat and downing his 3rd, a Blenheim at Waddington
February 26th, 1941-February 27th, 1941: his 4th victory, a Blenheim at Scampton
March 01st, 1941-March 02nd, 1941: Oblt., 1./ NJG 2, his 5th, another Blenheim at Scampton
June 06th, 1941: Oblt., 1./ NJG 2
June 16th, 1941-June 17th, 1941: his 6th, a Wellington 120 km East of Harwich
June 17th, 1941-June 18th, 1941: his 7th, a Wellington 115 km East of Cromer
June 22nd, 1941-June 23rd, 1941: his 8th, a Wellington 75 km North East of Great Yarmouth
July 31st, 1941-August 01st, 1941: his 9th, a Halifax II of RAF Squadron Nr. 76 damaged over southern Holland, making it back to the East Anglia coat, crashing at Chelmsford
November 01st, 1941-July 01st, 1942: transferred to Geschwaderstab, Nachjagdgeschwader 2
May 10th, 1942: damaged Ju 88C-2 Werknummer 0744 when performing an emergency landing at Dresden
July 01st, 1942-August 08th, 1942: Kdr., III. Gruppe, NJG 2
July 31st, 1942-August 01st, 1942: Kdr., Stab, III. Gruppe, NJG 2, KIA with Ju 88C-6 Werknummer 360.152 coded 'R4+AD' when crashed 10 km South of Rotterdam at Portugaal, Holland due to combat with Halifax II BB195 "MP-B" of RAF 76th Squadron - remaining crew (all KIA):
-Feldwebel Otto Botcher, Bordfunker;
-Oberfeldwebel/Unteroffizier August Willie/Willi (o23.08.1909), Bordschütze.
Pilot credited with at least 9 victories

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
2. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Nachtjagdgeschwader 2, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
August 4th, 1942
posthumously awarded
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Sources

Photo