Walter Engel
Hauptmann
Walter Engel was born on 1 May 1919 at Dresden.
Engel was posted to 4.(F)/14 on 23 May 1940. On 18 December 1942, he was
transferred to III./KG 3. There then followed moves to IV.(Erg)/KG 3 on
21 February 1943 and II./KG 3 on 26 October 1943. Engel had performed reconnaisance,
pathfinder and target illumination missions during this period. On 30 May
1944, Engel was transferred to KG 4. Engel then underwent training as a
night-fighter pilot. On 24 September 1944, he was posted to I./NJG 5. On
1 November, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./NJG 5. He gained his
first victory on the night of 14/15 December over the Eastern front. On
each of the nights of 20/21 December and 22/23 December, Engel claimed
four Russian bombers shot down. Engel was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 28
February 1945. In the last weeks of the war, Engel was shot down twice,
both times baling out successfully.
Walter Engel was credited with 10 victories in 266
missions, including 159 long-range reconnaisance missions, 80 bombing missions
and 27 night-fighter missions. Included in his victory total are nine victories
recorded over the Eastern front.
|
No
|
Date
|
Time
|
Unit
|
A/c
Type
|
Location
/ Comments
|
|
1
|
14-15.12.1944
|
-
|
3./NJG
5 |
E/a |
- |
|
2
|
18.12.1944
|
22:11
|
3./NJG
5 |
Viermot |
N
Gotenhafen |
|
3
|
20.12.1944
|
18:40
|
3./NJG
5 |
DB-3F |
NC-6 |
|
4
|
21.12.1944
|
0:51
|
3./NJG
5 |
DB-3F |
E
Memel |
|
5
|
21.12.1944
|
1:01
|
3./NJG
5 |
DB-3F |
NE
Memel |
|
6
|
21.12.1944
|
1:07
|
3./NJG
5 |
DB-3F |
E
Memel |
|
7
|
22.12.1944
|
17:17
|
3./NJG
5 |
PS-84 |
LB-6 |
|
8
|
22-23.12.1944
|
17:39
|
3./NJG
5 |
DB-3F |
LC-5 |
|
9
|
22-23.12.1944
|
17:50
|
3./NJG
5 |
DB-3F |
KC-9 |
|
10
|
22-23.12.1944
|
18:17
|
3./NJG
5 |
B-25 |
KE-4 |
Victories : 10
Awards : Ehrenpokal (8 December 1941)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (1 October 1944)
Ritterkreuz (28 February 1945)
Units : Aufkl. Gr. 14, KG 3, KG 4, NJG 5
