Klaus Bretschneider
Oberleutnant

Klaus Bretschneider
 

    Klaus Bretschneider was born on 4 May 1920 at Berlin-Stieglitz. He was posted to 5./JG 300 in July 1943. He obtained his first victory on the night of 5/6 September 1943. By April 1944, he had, as a “Wilde Sau” night fighter flying single-engined interceptors, achieved 14 night victories during 20 combats. On 19 July 1944, Bretschneider was appointed Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 300. He also achieved success during the day intercepting USAAF four-engined bombers. His best day came on 7 October 1944 when he attacked a group of B-17s. He downed two bombers in one attack and rammed a third. He was later found safe, hanging in his parachute from a tree, on the edge of an 8 meters deep ravine. On 18 November 1944 he received the Ritterkreuz for 31 victory.

Bretschneider in the cockpit of Rauhbautz VII
Klaus Bretschneider in the cockpit of his Fw 190A-8/R2 W.Nr. 682 204 "Red 1", Rauhbautz VII. with his mechanic Obgfr. Schmidt.

    On 24 December 1944, Bretschneider was killed when attacking a group of four-engined bombers around Kassel. Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8/R8 (W.Nr. 682 204) “Red 1” was hit by a Mustang, probably from 357th FG, USAAF, over Hausen, near Oberaula in Hessen, and crashed.
    Klaus Bretschneider shot down 34 enemy aircraft, 14 of them at night. Included in his 20 day-victories were 17 four-engined heavy bombers.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / comments
1.
5/6.9.1943
-
 Viermot 5./JG 300  
2.
22.9.1943
-
 Lancaster 5./JG 300  
3.
23.9.1943
-
 Viermot 5./JG 300  
4.
3.10.1943
-
 Halifax 5./JG 300  
5.
4.10.1943
-
 Lancaster 5./JG 300  
6.
16.12.1943
-
 Lancaster 5./JG 300  
7.
29.12.1943
-
 Viermot 5./JG 300  
8.
29.1.1944
-
 Viermot 5./JG 300  
9.
18.3.1944
-
 Viermot 6./JG 300  
10.
25.3.1944
0:27
 Viermot 6./JG 300 N Krefeld, 5000m
11.
25.3.1944
0:41
 Viermot 6./JG 300 N Krefeld, 4500m 
12.
31.3.1944
0:35
 Viermot 6./JG 300 Stuttgart area
13.
23.4.1944
-
 Viermot 5./JG 300  
14.
23.4.1944
-
 Viermot 5./JG 300  
15.
20.6.1944
-
 B-17 5./JG 300  
16.
21.6.1944
-
 P-51 5./JG 300  
17.
26.6.1944
9:37
 B-24 Stab II./JG 300 Tulln area, 6000m
-
26.6.1944
9:42
 B-24 e.V. Stab II./JG 300 Tulln area, 6000m
18.
7.7.1944
9:35
 B-24 Stab JG 300 Calbe / Magdeburg area, 6000m
19.
18.7.1944
10:46
 P-51 Stab JG 300 Füssen area, 7000m
20.
19.7.1944
11:35
 P-38 Stab JG 300 S München, 5500m
21.
20.7.1944
11:10
 B-17 5./JG 300 Zwickau area, 6500m
22.
27.7.1944
9:57
 B-24 5./JG 300 Székesfehervar, 7200m
23.
6.8.1944
12:19
 B-17 5./JG 300 SW Berlin,8700m
24.
22.8.1944
10:05
 B-24 5./JG 300 Nagykanisza Mura, 7500m
25.
24.8.1944
12:48
 B-24 HSS 5./JG 300 Jindrichuv Hradec area
26.
11.9.1944
12:35
 B-24 5./JG 300 Salzgitter, 1500m
27.
12.9.1944
11:31
 B-17 5./JG 300 Eberswalde, 8000m
28.
12.9.1944
11:33
 B-17 HSS 5./JG 300 Eberswalde, 8000m
29.
27.9.1944
10:52
 P-51 5./JG 300 S Eisenach, 7000m
30.
28.9.1944
12:53
 B-17 5./JG 300 Hildesheim, 8500m
31.
7.10.1944
12:05
 B-17 5./JG 300 Artern area
32.
7.10.1944
12:06
 B-17 HSS 5./JG 300 Artern area
33.
7.10.1944
12:07
 B-17 5./JG 300 Artern area / rammed
34.
17.12.1944
11:55
 B-24 5./JG 300 Prossnitz area

Victories : 34
Awards : Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (1944)
                Ritterkreuz (18 November 1944)
Units : JG 300

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