Kosch, Benno (Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg")

Date of birth:: March 12th, 1900 (Rovereto/Welsch-Tirol, Austrian Empire)
Date of death:: June 16th, 1975 (Sankt Johann/Tirol, Austria)
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

18.10.1920: entered the Austrian Army (Art.)
10.11.1921-23.02.1922: served with the Grenzschutz, Hungarian frontier
08.08.1923: promoted to Leutnant
01.01.1928: promoted to Oberleutnant
22.06.1932: promoted to Hauptmann
00.00.1932: began flight training
00.00.1933: trained as a pilot and as an observer
01.11.1935: Kdr., Aufklärungsgeschwader I
30.06.1937: Kdt. Wien-Aspern Fliegerhorst
00.02.1938: Hptm., Kdt., Fl.Tel. Kp. of the Austrian Air Force
00.03.1938: Hptm., Kdr., Aufklärungsgeschwader Nr.1 of the Austrian Air Force
15.03.1938: transferred to the Luftwaffe then assigned to LG with a rank of Major
01.05.1939-07.09.1940: Major, Kdr. I./ KG 152 (II./ KG 1)
19.07.1940: promoted to Oberstleutnant
07.09.1940: Kdr., II./ KG 1, severely WIA in combat with fighters during the raid on London - He 111 H-2 coded 'V4+FU' or 'V4+AC'
01.10.1940: Obstlt., Kdr. II./ KG 1 awarded Ritterkreuz
25.11.1940: Kommodore KG 26
01.02.1941-26.08.1942: Obstlt., Kommodore KG 55
01.04.1942: promoted to Oberst
27.08.194202.01.1943: Oberst, Kdr., Kampfbeobachterschule 2 Bug auf Rügen
and Kdt., Fl.H.Kdtr. Bug auf Rügen
03.01.1943-01.02.1943: Fliegerführer 2 Tunis
05.05.1943-30.06.1943: in Luftflotte 2 area, transferred to Luftflotte 1 for further assignment
01.07.1943: Lw.-Kdo. Südost
30.09.1943-01.01.1944: Fliegerführer Kreta
01.01.1944: assigned to Führerreserve Ob.d.L. – had temporary duty assignments in various higher staff positions through most of 1944
00.01.1944: assigned to Stab/ Lg.Kdo. Westfrankreich
29.03.1944: acting Kdt., Koflug 8/ XII
00.12.1944-28.01.1945: Kdt., Koflug 4/ XII
12.02.1945-08.05.1945: Oberst, Kdt. Koflug 2/ III Oels or 20/ III
08.05.1945: Oberst (Kr.O.), POW in Norway
00.00.1946: Lagerführer at Grizedale, 'Austrian POW Camp No 1'

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: September 7th, 1940

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Wing Commander)
Unit:: Kommandeur, II. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg"
Awarded on:: October 1st, 1940

The following newspaper article (dated 29.10.1940) describes why Kosch received the Knight’s Cross…

“Oberstleutnant Kosch has led his bomber Gruppe from success to success right from the very outbreak of the war, and in this capacity he has provided a shining example of courage for his crews. His Gruppe was particularly successful in its operations against the Albert Marth airfield, the Potez factory, the main aviation department Paris-Monterne and the port facilities at Le Havre, Cherbourg, Brest, Lorient and Bordeaux. The Gruppe was able to destroy 80 aircraft on the ground.

Later, during the attacks against England, Oberstleutnant Kosch went on to lead his Gruppe against its assigned targets with bitter determination despite the very strong enemy fighter defenses. A notable case of this was during an attack on London. During this attack the other aircraft in Oberstleutnant Kosch’s Kette were put out of action, while he personally received two bullet wounds in the shoulder and one in the head. Despite this he fearlessly kept up his attack until his engine was also shot up. After dropping his bombs onto the southern part of London he succeeded in landing his damaged aircraft safely at his airbase despite encountering powerful enemy fighter attacks en-route.”