Joachim Müncheberg
Major
 
Joachim Müncheberg
 
    Joachim Müncheberg was born on 18 December 1918 at Friedrichsdorf in the Dramburg region of Pommern. He joined the Wehrmacht as an infantryman in October 1936. In October 1938, Oberfähnrich Müncheberg transferred to the Luftwaffe. On completion of his flying training, he was posted to I./JG 234. In October 1939, Müncheberg joined III./JG 26. Leutnant Müncheberg was assigned to 10.(N)/JG26. On 23 September, he was appointed Adjutant of III./JG 26. He recorded his first victory on 7 November: a RAF Blenheim twin-engine bomber shot down near Opladen. During the invasion of France, Müncheberg claimed eight French and British aircraft shot down. Oberleutnant Müncheberg had recorded 10 victories by end of July 1940. On 22 August 1940, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 26. On 14 September 1940, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz. Müncheberg achieved his 20th victory the same day. He claimed 14 victories during the Battle of Britain. From February 1941, Müncheberg’s unit operated in the Mediterranean theatre from bases in Sicily. The unit was to achieve success out of all proportion to its size. The unit gained 52 victories without losing a single pilot. Müncheberg claimed almost half of the victories. In addition to flying missions over Malta, Müncheberg also flew over Yugoslavia in support of the German invasion of the Balkans. He claimed a JKRV Fury biplane fighter shot down near Podgorica on 6 April 1941 and claimed another as a ground victory. Müncheberg had mis-identified his victims. Both victories were, in fact, over Avia BH-33 biplane fighters. On 7 May 1941, Müncheberg was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 12) and the Italian Medagalia d’Oro. Müncheberg had 43 victories to his credit. A sojourn in Libya during June-July 1941, to support Rommel’s Afrika Korps repel the British relief of Tobruk, saw Müncheberg add a further five victories to his tally. In August 1941, 7./JG 26 was transferred to France. Müncheberg shot down a RAF Spitfire fighter near Dunkirk on 29 August to record his 50th victory. From the time he returned from North Africa until he left JG 26 in late June 1942, Müncheberg was to claim 35 victories of which 34 would be Spitfires, including his 50th victory on 29 August, his 60th on 8 December, his 70th on 26 April 1942 and his 80th on 2 June. On 19 September, Müncheberg was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26. On 22 July 1942, Müncheberg was posted to the Eastern Front to join JG 51. On 5 September, he recorded his 100th victory. On 9 September, he was awarded the Schwertern (Nr 19) following his 103rd victory. Müncheberg achieved 33 victories over Russian aircraft (84 – 116). However, Müncheberg was shot down twice during his four weeks on the Eastern Front. On 1 October 1942, Major Müncheberg was appointed Kommodore of JG 77, operating over North Africa, Sicily and Tunisia. Müncheberg added 24 victories to his victory total but had to force-land his Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 10725) following aerial combat with RAF Kittyhawk fighters on 10 December 1942. Müncheberg was killed on 23 March 1943 over Tunisia in combat with USAAF Spitfire fighters from the 52nd Fighter Group when, after shooting down one, he was in collision with a second. He crashed to his death in Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 16381).
    Joachim Müncheberg scored 135 aerial victories in over 500 missions. 102 victories were achieved over the Western Front and 33 on the Eastern Front. He shot down at least 46 Spitfire fighters.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location
Comments
1
7.11.1939
13:43
 Blenheim Stab III./JG 26 SW Opladen Blenheim I (L1325) of 57 Sqn RAF flown by P/O HR Bewley, 2 crew baled out, POW
2
11.5.1940
17:45
 Curtiss Stab III./JG 26 NNE Antwerp Hawk H 75A of GC I/4, Armée de l’Air
3
14.5.1940
18:45
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 26 E Ath Hurricane of 504 Sqn RAF
4
15.5.1940
13:00
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 26 Near Overijse Hurricane (L1645) of 3 Sqn RAF flown by Sgt JLC Williams, killed
5
29.5.1940
18:10
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 W Dunkirk Spitfire of 64, 229 or 610 Sqn, RAF
6
31.5.1940
15:35
 Lysander Stab III./JG 26 Furnes-Dunkirk -
7
31.5.1940
15:40
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 26 SW Dunkirk Hurricane of 213 or 264 Sqn, RAF
8
31.5.1940
15:45
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 26 NE Dunkirk Hurricane of 213 or 264 Sqn, RAF
9
31.5.1940
20:10
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 Channel-Dunkirk Spitfire of 609 Sqn RAF
10
28.7.1940
15:15
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 26 15km NE Dover Hurricane of 257 Sqn, RAF
11
8.8.1940
12:55
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 NE Margate Spitfire of 65 Sqn, RAF
12
14.8.1940
13:29
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 26 Folkestone-Dover Hurricane of 32 or 615 Sqn, RAF
13
15.8.1940
16:01
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 SE Dover Spitfire of 64 Sqn, RAF
14
24.8.1940
12:22
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 Ashford Hurricane of 151 Sqn, RAF
15
31.8.1940
10:00
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 NW Braintree Hurricane of 56 Sqn, RAF
16
1.9.1940
14:52
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 W Goodhurst Hurricane 79 or 85 Sqn, RAF
17
6.9.1940
10:28
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 Dungeness Hurricane of 303 Sqn, RAF
18
7.9.1940
18:45
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 SE London Spitfire of 603 Sqn, RAF
19
11.9.1940
19:25
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 E Ashford Spitfire of 66 or 92 Sqn, RAF
20
14.9.1940
17:05
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 S Maidstone Spitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF
21
17.10.1940
14:55
 Bloch 151 7./JG 26 S Faversham -
22
25.10.1940
14:40
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 Marden Spitfire of 92 Sqn, RAF
23
14.11.1940
15:32
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 SE Dover Spitfire of 66 or 74 Sqn, RAF
24
12.2.1941
16:41
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 S Siggiwi, Malta Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF
25
16.2.1941
10:38
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 Off Dingli, SW Malta Hurricane of 261 Sqn RAF, damaged
26
16.2.1941
10:45
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 E Ta Venezia, Malta Hurricane (V7731) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by F/L JAF MacLachlan, baled out wounded
27
25.2.1941
16:45
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 E St Paul’s Bay, Malta Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF
28
26.2.1941
14:06
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 S Krendi, Malta Hurricane (V7671) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by F/O FF Taylor, killed
29
26.2.1941
14:10
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 10km S Malta Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF
30
2.3.1941
10:45
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 2km W Marsa Scirocco, Malta Fulmar of 806 Sqn FAA, damaged
31
5.3.1941
17:32
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 S Hal Far, Malta Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF
32
15.3.1941
7:50
 Wellington 7./JG 26 10 km NW Gozo Is Wellington (W5644) of Reserve Flt, Stradishall, RAF
33
28.3.1941
17:32
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 10km S Gozo Is Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF
34
6.4.1941
12:05
 Fury 7./JG 26 NE Podgorica Avia BH-33E of Ind Fighter Esk, 81 (Bomber) Grupa, JKRV flown by Porucnik Milenko Milivojevic, killed
-
6.4.1941
-
 Fury 7./JG 26 Podgorica Avia BH-33E of Ind Fighter Esk, 81 (Bomber) Grupa, JKRV – ground victory
-
6.4.1941
-
 Breguet XIX 7./JG 26 Podgorica Ground victory – not confirmed
35
11.4.1941
11:31
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 SE Malta Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF
36
11.4.1941
11:53
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 SE St Paul’s Bay, Malta Hurricane (V7116) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by P/O PA Mortimer, crash-landed
37
23.4.1941
18:07
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 SE Hal Far Hurricane II (Z3032) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by F/O FM Auger, killed
-
27.4.1941
-
 Sunderland 7./JG 26 Kalafrana Bay, Malta Sunderland (L5807) of 228 Sqn, RAF – ground victory
38
29.4.1941
18:47
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 St Paul’s Bay, Malta Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF
39
1.5.1941
7:53
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 SE St Paul’s Bay, Malta Hurricane II (Z2900) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by P/O RA Innes, wounded
40
1.5.1941
7:54
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 SW Ta Venezia Hurricane II (Z3061) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by Sgt BC Walmsley, wounded
41
1.5.1941
17:15
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 SW Luqa a/f Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF
42
6.5.1941
12:22
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 NE St Paul’s Bay Hurricane II (Z3060) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by P/O CK Gray, baled out, wounded
43
6.5.1941
12:26
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 1km SW Hal Far Hurricane II (Z3059) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by Sgt RA Branson, baled out
-
25.5.1941
15:00
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 Takali Hurricane of 249 Sqn, RAF – ground victory 
-
25.5.1941
15:00
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 Takali Hurricane of 249 Sqn, RAF – ground victory
44
20.6.1941
7:55
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 20km E BuqBuq Hurricane of 1 or 2 Sqn, SAAF
45
24.6.1941
8:00
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 Lauyet Ungheila Hurricane of 6 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O JAF Sowrey
46
15.7.1941
18:40
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 SW Ras el Milh Hurricane of 73 or 229 Sqn, RAF
47
29.7.1941
17:48
 P-40 7./JG 26 50km E Bardia Tomahawk of 2 Sqn, SAAF
48
29.7.1941
17:52
 P-40 7./JG 26 40km E Bardia Tomahawk of 2 Sqn, SAAF
49
28.8.1941
19:30
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 2km N Gravelines -
50
29.8.1941
8:40
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 10km NE Dunkirk -
51
4.9.1941
17:26
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 Vollezelle -
52
4.9.1941
17:29
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 Zeggers -
53
7.9.1941
17:22
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 NW Montreuil Spitfire of 71 Sqn, RAF
54
16.9.1941
19:40
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 E Boulogne Spitfire of 306 or 315 Sqn, RAF
55
18.9.1941
16:06
 Hurricane 7./JG 26 Yvetot Hurricane of 607 Sqn, RAF
56
18.9.1941
16:15
 Spitfire 7./JG 26 Ste Helene Spitfire of 452 Sqn, RAF
57
13.10.1941
14:33
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Samer -
58
8.11.1941
13:07
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Loon Plage Spitfire of Digby Wg or 412 Sqn, RAF
59
8.11.1941
13:15
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NNE Dunkirk Spitfire of Digby Wg or 412 Sqn, RAF
60
8.12.1941
14:17
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 W Boulogne -
61
16.12.1941
16:01
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NW Dunkirk Spitfire of 411 Sqn, RAF
62
16.12.1941
16:04
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 N Gravelines Spitfire of 411 Sqn, RAF
63
13.3.1942
16:17
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Wirre Effroy Spitfire of 124 Sqn, RAF
64
24.3.1942
16:30
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NW Rue-Cambron Spitfire of 412 Sqn, RAF
65
24.3.1942
16:35
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Cambron Spitfire of 412 Sqn, RAF
66
4.4.1942
11:46
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 W Calais -
67
10.4.1942
17:50
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NW Etaples Spitfire of 340 Sqn, RAF
68
25.4.1942
16:40
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 SW Crécy -
69
25.4.1942
16:43
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 SW Rue -
70
26.4.1942
18:05
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 WNW Calais Spitfire of 485 Sqn, RAF
71
26.4.1942
18:06
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 10km W Cap Gris Nez Spitfire of 485 Sqn, RAF
72
27.4.1942
14:47
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NE Dunkirk Spitfire of Tangmere Wg or 340 Sqn, RAF
73
27.4.1942
16:06
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 N Mardyck Spitfire of 303 Sqn, RAF
74
29.4.1942
16:04
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Le Touquet Spitfire of Northolt Wg or 317 Sqn, RAF
75
30.4.1942
19:36
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 W Somme Estuary Spitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF
76
1.5.1942
19:31
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 SW Calais Spitfire of 122 or 222 Sqn, RAF
-
1.5.1942
19:40
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 5km N Calais not confirmed
77
6.5.1942
18:53
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NW Cap Gris Nez Spitfire of 303 Sqn, RAF
-
9.5.1942
13:43
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 15km S Gravelines Spitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF / not confirmed
-
9.5.1942
13:44
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 15km S Gravelines Spitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF / not confirmed
-
17.5.1942
17:35
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Guines-St Omer not confirmed
78
31.5.1942
19:37
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 S Crécy Forest Spitfire of 485 Sqn, RAF
79
31.5.1942
19:41
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Quend Plage les Pins Spitfire of 302 Sqn, RAF
80
2.6.1942
11:01
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 SW Abbeville Spitfire of 403 Sqn, RAF
81
2.6.1942
11:07
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 15km W Étaples Spitfire of 403 Sqn, RAF
82
20.6.1942
15:44
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 S Ardres Spitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF
83
20.6.1942
15:47
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 E Boulogne Spitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF
84
3.8.1942
10:32
 Pe-2 Stab/JG 51 47 591 -
85
3.8.1942
10:36
 Pe-2 Stab/JG 51 47 514 -
86
4.8.1942
10:38
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 6km ENE Sübzow -
87
5.8.1942
18:48
 LaGG-3 Stab/JG 51 47 880 -
88
9.8.1942
14:30
 MiG-3 Stab/JG 51 47 844 -
89
10.8.1942
18:40~
 Yak-1 Stab/JG 51 47 563 -
90
22.8.1942
10:25
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 761 -
91
24.8.1942
6:20
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 754 -
92
24.8.1942
6:21
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 791 -
93
25.8.1942
17:11
 Pe-2 Stab/JG 51 47 381 -
94
2.9.1942
8:23
 LaGG-3 Stab/JG 51 SW Karmanovo -
95
2.9.1942
10:52
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 SW Gshatsk -
96
2.9.1942
10:55
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 SSW Gshatsk -
97
2.9.1942
10:55
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 SSW Gshatsk -
98
3.9.1942
14:32
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 46 192 -
99
4.9.1942
17:35
 Pe-2 Stab/JG 51 S Zubtsowo -
100
5.9.1942
17:53
 P-39 Stab/JG 51 Kubinka -
101
5.9.1942
17:57
 P-39 Stab/JG 51 66 380 -
102
9.9.1942
17:08
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 733 -
103
9.9.1942
17:12
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 762 -
104
10.9.1942
7:09
 Pe-2 Stab/JG 51 47 843 -
105
10.9.1942
7:13
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 764 -
106
10.9.1942
10:35
 LaGG-3 Stab/JG 51 47 811 -
107
14.9.1942
7:35
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 762 -
108
14.9.1942
17:01
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 594 -
109
14.9.1942
17:13
 Il-2 Stab/JG 51 47 591 -
110
14.9.1942
17.VII
 Pe-2 Stab/JG 51 47 732 -
111
22.9.1942
9:25
 MiG-3 Stab/JG 51 47 612 -
112
22.9.1942
9:31
 R-5 Stab/JG 51 47 611 -
113
26.9.1942
12:23
 LaGG-3 Stab/JG 51 47 522 -
114
26.9.1942
16:08
 LaGG-3 Stab/JG 51 47 572 -
115
27.9.1942
6:59
 LaGG-3 Stab/JG 51 47 592 -
116
27.9.1942
7:03
 LaGG-3 Stab/JG 51 47 612 -
117
9.11.1942
15:07
 Spitfire Stab/JG 77 E Buq Buq Spitfire V of 92 Sqn, RAF flown by F/Sgt Blades
-
9.11.1942
-
 Spitfire w.b. Stab/JG 77 - -
118
27.11.1942
7:32
 Spitfire Stab/JG 77 - Spitfire of 1 Sqn, SAAF flown by Lt Marshall
119
10.12.1942
15:05
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 12km NW Agheila P-40F of 66 FS, 57 FG, USAAF
120
14.12.1942
15:08
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 SW Agheila P-40F of 57 FG, USAAF
121
14.12.1942
15:25
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 SW Agheila P-40F of 57 FG, USAAF
122
15.12.1942
10:58
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 Ras el Aali -
123
13.1.1943
8:45
 Baltimore Stab/JG 77 - -
124
14.1.1943
11:17
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
125
14.1.1943
11:21
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
126
14.1.1943
11:23
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
127
18.1.1943
16:40
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
128
22.1.1943
12:55
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
129
22.1.1943
13:05
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
130
10.3.1943
16:33
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
131
10.3.1943
16:48
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
132
13.3.1943
15:04
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
133
13.3.1943
17:51
 P-39 Stab/JG 77 - -
134
22.3.1943
14:27
 P-40 Stab/JG 77 - -
135
23.3.1943
9:50
 Spitfire Stab/JG 77 - -
 
Victories : 135
Awards : Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (5 June 1942)
                Ritterkreuz (14 September 1940)
                Eichenlaub (7 May 1941)
                Schwertern (15 June 1942)
                Medagalia d’Oro (7 May 1941)
Units : JG 26, JG 51, JG 77
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