Georg Michalek


Georg Michalek was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. During his career Georg Michalek was credited with between 59 and 62 aerial victories.

Early life

Michalek was born 17 June 1913, in Vienna, then the capital of Austria-Hungary. Mickalek was attached to the Austrian Air Force in 1935 as a Leutnant in an anti-aircraft regiment. After the Anschluss in March 1938, he became a member of Jagdgeschwader 138, in the German Luftwaffe. In March 1938, the Luftwaffe initiated the formation of a single Gruppe at Wien-Aspern Airfield. On 1 April, this unit became the newly formed I. Gruppe of JG 138 also referred to as the "Wiener-Jagdgruppe", largely staffed with former Austrian Air Force personnel. On 1 November, the Gruppe was re-designated and became I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 134, and again renamed on 1 May 1939, becoming the I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76. Initially equipped with the Fiat CR.32 while 3. Staffel received the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B. At the start of World War II, Michalek was serving in Jagdgeschwader 52.

World War II

On 15 July 1941, Michalek was appointed Staffelkapitän of 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3. He succeeded Oberleutnant Karl Faust who had been killed in action three days before.
In recognition of 37 aerial victories claimed, Michalek was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 November 1941 and at the same time promoted to Hauptmann.

Group commander

On 15 January 1942, I. Gruppe of JG 3 became the II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1. In consequence a new I. Gruppe of JG 3 was created on 1 March 1942. This new I. Gruppe was created from the Ergänzungsgrupp, the supplementary training group of JG 3 at Wiesbaden Airfield and placed under command of Michalek. Command of 4. Staffel was thus passed on to Oberleutnant Walther Dahl. Initially equipped with the older versions of the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Gruppe received a full complement of factory new Bf 109 F-4 trop aircraft in late March. The Gruppe continued their training until 20 April when they began relocating to the Eastern Front in preparation for Case Blue, the German strategic summer offensive in southern Russia.
In August 1942, Michalek was posted to a fighter pilot school. In consequence, command of I. Gruppe went to Hauptmann Klaus Quaet-Faslem.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Michalek was credited with at least 59 aerial victories, including six over the Western Allies. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 49 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference, for example "PQ 35 Ost 92114". The Luftwaffe grid map covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Awards