Fözö, Josef "Joschko"

Date of birth:: November 7th, 1912 (Vienna, Austria)
Date of death:: March 3rd, 1979 (Vienna, Austria)
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

Promotions:
?: Leutnant;
?: Oberleutnant;
?: Hauptmann;
September 1st, 1941: Major.

Career:
1937: Luftwaffe (Österreich);
1 april 1938: Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 27, Halberstadt;
1938-1939: 3. Staffel, Jagdgruppe 88, Legion Kondor;
April 1939: Staffelkapitän, 10. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 72;
July 16th, 1939: Staffelkapitän, 2. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 71;
?: Jagdfliegerschule Werneuchen;
September 1st, 1939: Staffelkapitän, 4. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 51;
February 21st, 1941: Kommandeur, II. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51;
February 21st, 1942: Ia, Jagdfliegerführer 2;
May 3rd, 1942: Kommandeur, I. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51;
November 7th, 1942: Adjutant, Jagdfliegerführer 3;
April 1st, 1943: Stab, Höheren Jagdfliegerführer West;
May 13th, 1943: Luftattaché Budapest;
August 26th, 1943: Ia, Jagdfliegerführer 3;
June 4th, 1944: mdFb, Jagdgeschwader 108;
June 30th, 1944 - January 29th, 1945: Kommandeur, I. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 108.

He was seriously injured on July 11th, 1941 to the head in an accident when taking off at Stava Bykhov with his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknr 12 836).
On May 31st, 1942 he was injured in a crash landing at Tubelja with his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknr. 8086).

In total Josef Gözö achieved 27 aerial victories over the course of 370 sorties in WWII plus another 147 in Spain. Of these 3 were during the Spanish Civil War, 15 on the Western Front and 9 on the Eastern front.

Of his victories the pilot are known for:
- July 8th, 1940: Supermarine Spitfire, No. 65 Squadron, Squadron Leader Desmond Cooke, 16.45 hrs, near Dover;
- July 13th, 1940: Hawker Hurrican, No. 56 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant John Hunter Coghlan, 16.45 hrs, 10 km West of Cap Griz Nez (damaged);
- July 13th, 1940: Hawker Hurricane, No. 56 Squadron, Sergeant Clifford Whitehead, 16.45 hrs, 10 km West of Cap Griz Nez;
- July 31st, 1940: Supermarine Spitfire, No. 74 Squadron, Pilot Officer Harold Raymond Gunn, 16.55 hrs, over the English Channel;
- August 18th, 1940: Hawker Hurricane, No. 501 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant George Edward Stoney, East of Ramsgate;
- August 24th, 1940: Supermarine Spitfire, No. 610 Squadron, Sergeant Stanley John Arnfield, 9.35 hrs, Northwest of Dover;
- August 26th, 1940: Supermarine Spitfire, No. 616 Squadron, Flying Officer George Edward Moberley, 13.15 hrs, near Dover.

Off his own planes known are:
- Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3, (Werknr. 1133) "Weisse 1", 4./JG51;
- Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknr 12 836), II./JG51;
- Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknr. 8086), I./JG51.