Date of birth:

April 26th, 1904 (Strasbourg, Germany)

Date of death:

June 10th, 1986 (Andechs, Germany)

Nationality:

German

13.12.1919: began apprenticeship at Quin AG
00.10.1922: to France and the USA for studies
01.02.1924: began pilot training in Kassel and Erefeld
01.08.1926: joined the Heer
08.08.1926: began pilot training with DVS Stettin, then at Schleissheim and Staaken
01.02.1928-00.06.1929: became an instructor with DVS Schleissheim
00.06.1929-00.10.1931: became a flight instructor at the secret training base at Lipezk
00.00.1932-00.00.1934: appointed Staka of the Reklamestaffel at Berlin-Staaken
00.00.1934: transferred to the Infantrieschule in Dresden
01.02.1934: transferred to Inf.Rgt. 10
01.01.1935: promoted to Oberleutnant and transferred to the Luftwaffe as an instructor with Fliegerschule Cottbus
01.04.1935: appointed Leiter of the Blindfluglehrgang of the Flugschule Celle-Wesendorf
01.07.1935: promoted to Hauptmann
00.08.1937-31.03.1938: appointed Kdr., BFS Celle
01.04.1938: transferred to I./ KG 255
00.00.1939: with KG 51
00.09.1939: with Stab/ 10. Fl.-Div.
00.09.1939-01.10.1939: appointed Staka Fernaufklärungsstaffel Ob.d.L.
30.09.1939-00.04.1940: appointed Staka 1./ KG 40
26.04.1940-00.12.1940: appointed Kdr., I./ KG 40
01.08.1940: promoted to Major
03.10.1940: mentioned in official despatches
21.10.1940: Major, awarded Ritterkreuz, Kdr. I./ KG 40
20.11.1940: transferred to Lw.Führungsstab
01.03.1941-00.08.1941: Major, appointed Kommodore KG 40
00.09.1941-26.03.1945: appointed Kdr., Kdo. d. Erprobungsstellen d. Lw. and concurrently Kdr., Erprobungsstelle Rechlin
01.04.1942: promoted to Oberstleutnant
01.10.1943: promoted to Oberst

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major (Squadron Leader)

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 40

Awarded on:

October 21st, 1940

Awarded for his command of the I./Kampfgeschwader 40 during its operations against Allied shipping. Starting from when Petersen took over the Gruppe (26.04.1940) up until October 1940 the Gruppe managed to sink 103000 GRT of enemy shipping and damage a further 25000 GRT during its operations over the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 3rd, 1940

A group of a bomber wing under the command of Major Petersen, who particularly distinguished themselves earlier in the Norwegian campaign, in recent weeks on long sorties carried out in all weathers conditions, which often went far into the Atlantic, has sunk about 90 000 brt merchant shipping and severely damaged over 40 000 brt often in low-level attacks on heavily guarded convoys.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 20th, 1941

A group of a bomber wing under the leadership of Major Petersen and later by Captain Fliegel destroyed since mid-April 1940, in restless and daring attacks against British supply shipping near England reaching far into the Atlantic, a total of 109 merchantships totalling 636 000 brt and severly damaged another 63 ships with bomb hits.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - URBANKE, AXEL & KAISER, JOCHEN, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger, Luftfahrtverlag-Start, 2011.