Seeking info on 1940 career of Zerstörer pilot Oblt. Günther Tonne of 6./ZG1 (renamed 9./ZG76 during July 1940).

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

As far as I know, the only dated victory claims for this pilot were:

1) 8.6.40 Swiss Bf109
2) 11.7.40 British Spitfire

Plus an unknown number of possible additional victories during the WC of 1940, and 5 more reported victories with details unknown during the Battle of Britain. This would bring his total to at least 7 during the period in question, and very likely more. His RKT Bio says that he had a total of 8 victories in the West, so one may be unaccounted for here.

What else do we know about him from the 1940 period? Anybody have any photos of him or his a/c?

Regards,

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Larry

This is all that I have been able to uncover on this Zerstörer ace. Not much that I can add regarding his victory list or his activities during 1940 but for what it is worth I hope it may help you somewhat. Any comments or correction will be greatly appreciated.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5EI7UZ22

Horrido!

Leo

[Evgeny Velichko]

Originally Posted by Larry Hickey

...His RKT Bio says that he had a total of 8 victories in the West, so one may be unaccounted for here....

Larry - pls keep in mind that Tonne had claims in early 1941, still in "West" - in Norway.

[Larry Hickey]

Leo,

Thanks for the downloadable info on Tonne. It was helpful, but we still have the problem of the missing victories. Please update me if you find out any new info. Do you have similar info on other key zerstörer pilots from III./ZG76, such as Lt. Richard Marchfelder, Lt. Rolf Hermichen, Fw Herbert Kutscha and Obfw Harras Matthes?

Regards,

[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have in our files:

TONNE, Günther (Günter).
(DOB: 21.05.16 in Frankfurt/O.).
1935 entered service with the Marine and trf to the Luftwaffe in 1937.
01.08.39 Oblt., in RLM pool.
09.39 in II./ZG 1.
26.06.40 now in III./ZG 76 (formerly II./ZG 1).
11.07.40 Oblt. in 9./ZG 76.
24.04.41 Oblt. and Staka 6./SKG 210 (to 04.01.42).
05.10.41 Oblt., awarded Ritterkreuz, Staka in I./SKG 210.
04.01.42 Oblt., appt Staka 6./ZG 1 (to 04.02.42).
03.42 appt Kdr. II./ZG 1 (to 08.42).
c.12.42 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./SKG 10 (to 01.01.43).
01.01.43 Hptm., appt Kommodore SKG 10 (to 15.07.43).
01.02.43 promo to Maj.
15.07.43 – KIA in crash at Reggio di Calabria when his engine quit shortly after take-off.
24.10.44 Maj., posthumously awarded Eichenlaub (No. 632), Kommodore SKG 10.
Credited with c.20 air victories in 300+ combat missions.

Checking the Kracker Archiv, he has:

Tonne, Günther. Maj. - born 5/21/1916 in Frankfurt/Oder - 20 victories - II./ZG-1, ZG-76, II./SKG-210, Kdr II./ZG-1 (2/42), Kdr SKG-10, Kdr SKG-210 Bf 110C & Me 210 in ZG-1, Fw 190A-5 Werk # 0234 in SKG-10(lost 7/15/43)RK(10/5/41)-EL(10/24/44 Post.), EK 1 & 2, Destroyer Operational ClaspKIFA in Werk # 0234 on take off on 15 July, 1943 due to engine failure at Reggio (Vibo Valentia). Buried Cassino It., 8/788 (Rosseels). About 300 missions. Exact number of victories unknown, probably 20, including 7 over the English Channel in 1940. A Blenheim on 18 April, 1941 while in ZG-76 (Rosseels). The Bowers/Lednicer Ace Pilot List also indicates 15 victories, possibly as high as 20. One known victory, his 5th, a Spitfire on 26 April, 1941, while in 3/JG-53; no location. Photo


That's about all we can find without drudging through the Tony Woods material.

Good luck.

HLdZ
DGS

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Larry

I am glad that you found the Tonne thumbnail biography useful to some extent. The vast majority of these types of potted biographies that I have are of those aces that were awarded the Ritterkreuz and above due to the relative lack of information regarding the others. In all honesty what I have on Hermichen is not much more than what Katcha has already posted on his web site except for a somewhat updated victory list which I know you already are aware of. In regards to Leutnant Richard Marchfelder I can only add that he apparently claimed 10 victories before he and his Bordfunker Obergefrieter Herbert Jentzsch were shot down in Bf 110 C-4 "2N + CC" (W.Nr. 3267) northeast of Chichester and taken prisoner on 16 August 1940. I have read that he was the victim of S/Ldr Sandy Johnstone (eight confirmed and four probable victories) of 602 Sqn, RAF. Concerning Leutnant Harras Matthes I can only add that he was born on 15 May 1914, apparently claimed six victories while serving with ZG 1, ZG 76 and NJG 1 and was killed when he suffered a heart attack following the crash on take-off of his Bf 110 D-3 (W.Nr. 4227) at Deelen on 18 February 1941. The one fellow that you mentioned that I can add somewhat more to is Hauptmann Herbert Kutscha but I doubt that what I have will come as a great revelation to you.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SAQU17O1

Horrido!

Leo

[Peter Kassak]

Larry,
the downloadable info was from Petr Kachas Luftwaffe Experten web page: Here is link to Hermichen bio:
http://www.luftwaffe.cz/hermichen.html
and Peters page: www.luftwaffe.cz

[Evgeny Velichko]

Larry - on the photo of Bf110E of 6./SKG210, S9+GP, crashed in december 1941, of Oblt. Tonne, there is 18 victory bars, only 5 of them - roundels. All others are stars. So, Tonne could have only 5 confirmed victories in the west, while some of his claims during western campaign were denied and were not painted on his a/c. Same situation as with Kaldrack.