Heinz “Pietzsch” Bretnütz was born on 24 January 1914 at Mannheim. From autumn 1938 until March 1939, Leutnant Bretnütz served with 2. J 88 in Spain. He gained two victories in the Spanish Civil War to record J 88’s 266th and 278th victories. On 6 June 1939, Bretnütz was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern. On his return to Germany, Bretnütz was posted to 6./JG 53. He claimed his first victory of World War 2 on 25 September 1939, when he shot down a French Curtiss Hawk fighter near Bienwald. On 31 March 1940, he shot down two French Morane fighters near Saargemünd to record his fourth and fifth victories.
Bretnütz was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 53 on 24 June 1940. During the Battle of Britain, he was to become one of the most successful German fighter pilots. On 20 October, he shot down a RAF Hurricane fighter to record his 20th victory in World War 2 but received damage to his Bf 109 E-1 (W.Nr. 4112) “Black <<” necessitating an emergency landing at St Inglevert in France. Hauptmann Bretnütz was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 22 October for 20 aerial victories and 12 balloons shot down. On 10 October 1940, Bretnütz was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 53. He recorded his 30th victory of World War 2 on 3 May 1941. Bretnütz led II./JG 53 during the invasion of Russia. He had 34 victories to his credit at this time.

    On 22 June 1941, Bretnütz shot down a Russian SB-2 twin-engine bomber. His Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 6674) “Chevron Triangle” was hit in the engagement however, necessitating an emergency landing in the area of the front lines between Erzvilkas and Nemaksciai. Badly wounded, he was rescued by farmers who hid him from retreating Russian troops. He was finally handed over to advancing German troops on 26 June. Hospitalised, he had his left leg amputated but died of complications from the operation on 27 June.
    “Pietzsch” Bretnütz was credited with 35 victories in 244 missions. He recorded 2 victories during the Spanish Civil War and one over the Eastern front. Additionally, he claimed 12 balloons shot down.
 

No	Date	Time	A/c Type	Unit	Location / Comments
1	6.11.1938	-	I-15	2. J/88	Spain / 266th victory J/88
2	28.12.1938	-	SB-2	2. J/88	Spain / 278th victory J/88
-	20.9.1939	9:55	Baloon	6./JG 53
3	25.9.1939	12:20	Curtiss	6./JG 53	S Bienwald
-	30.9.1939	-	Battle	6./JG 53	not confirmed
4	31.3.1940	15:55	Morane	6./JG 53	SW Saargemünd / Morane 406 of GC III/7, Armée de l’Air
5	31.3.1940	15:57	Morane	6./JG 53	SW Saargemünd / Morane 406 of GC III/7, Armée de l’Air
6	31.3.1940	20:00	Wellington	6./JG 53	probably wrong identification
7	12.5.1940	12:00	Potez 63	6./JG 53	Luxembourg / Po 63-11 (Nr 444) of GR I/22, Armée de l’Air, 3 POW
8	21.5.1940	11:14	Potez 63	6./JG 53	E Montmédy / Po 63 (Nr 630) of GAO 518, Armée de l’Air, 1 killed
9	25.5.1940	20:02	Morane	6./JG 53
10	7.6.1940	7:05	Bloch 151	6./JG 53	E Compiegne
11	8.8.1940	17:15	Spitfire	6./JG 53	S Swanage / Spitfire of 152 Sqn, RAF
12	13.8.1940	18:45	Spitfire	6./JG 53
13	16.8.1940	14:36	Hurricane	6./JG 53
14	16.8.1940	14:37	Hurricane	6./JG 53
15	5.9.1940	-	E/a	6./JG 53
16	6.9.1940	10:16	Hurricane	6./JG 53
17	7.9.1940	-	E/a	6./JG 53
18	15.9.1940	-	Hurricane	6./JG 53
19	5.10.1940	12:40	Hurricane	6./JG 53
20	11.10.1940	8:55	Spitfire	II./JG 53
21	12.10.1940	17:33	Spitfire	II./JG 53
22	20.10.1940	16:25	Hurricane	II./JG 53	London
23	28.10.1940	-	E/a	II./JG 53
24	7.11.1940	-	Spitfire	II./JG 53
25	8.11.1940	17:37	Spitfire	II./JG 53
26	11.11.1940	13:15	Hurricane	II./JG 53
27	15.11.1940	14:10	Lysander	II./JG 53	Lysander of 4 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O Empson
28	30.11.1940	15:25	Hurricane	II./JG 53
29	1.12.1940	-	Spitfire	II./JG 53
30	19.3.1941	17:25	Spitfire	II./JG 53	Bexhill-Hailsham / Spitfire II of 610 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt Hale
31	10.4.1941	19:10	Blenheim	II./JG 53	E Southend
32	3.5.1941	17:03	Spitfire	II./JG 53	S Dungeness / Spitfire of 1 PRU, RAF flown by P/O Panton
33	4.5.1941	12:53	Lysander	II./JG 53	5km E Deal
34	17.5.1941	19:18	Hurricane	II./JG 53	Hurricane of 71 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O Kolendorski
35	22.6.1941	-	SB-2	II./JG 53

Victories : 35
Awards : Ritterkreuz (22 October 1940)
Units : J/88, JG 53