Kurt Tanzer
Leutnant
Kurt Tanzer was born on 1 November 1920 at Moscow
in Russia. Tanzer was transferred from Ergänzungsgruppe/JG 51 to 12./JG
51, based on the Eastern front, on 18 March 1942. He claimed his 35th victory
on 5 May 1943. The next day, Russian Il-2 Sturmovik
ground-attack aircraft attacked the airfield at which Tanzer was stationed.
He managed to scramble and shot down two of the attacking aircraft. Tanzer
was wounded in this combat but continued attacking the raiding Russian
aircraft shooting down a further two Il-2s. Russian fighters then intervened
and Tange was further wounded. Despite severe wounds to his right hand
and blood loss, Tanzer managed to land his badly damaged Fw 190 A-4 (W.Nr.
7161) “Blue 7” at his base airfield. Oberfeldwebel Tange was awarded the
Ritterkreuz on 5 December for 39 victories. Following his recovery from
the wounds received in May 1943, Tanzer returned to JG 51 and front line
duty on 4 November. He was assigned to the Geschwaderstab of JG 51, with
whom he flew many successful fighter-bomber missions while also increasing
his tally of aerial victories. In June 1944, Tanzer accompanied Karl-Gottfried
Nordmann (78 victories, RK-EL), Kommodore of JG 51, to the staff of Jagdfliegerführer
6.
Lt. Kurt Tanzer (left) and FjOfw. Heinz "Negus" Marquardt (15./JG
51, Ritterkereuz on 18 November 1944, 121 victories)
He continued flying combat and recorded his 100th
victory while serving with this establishment. Tanzer was transferred to
the staff of Jagdfliegerführer Ostpreußen on 1 September 1944.
It was while serving with Jafü 6 and Jafü Ostpreußen that
Tanzer recorded his 17 victories over the Western front. On 10 February
1945, Tanzer transferred to 13./JG 51. He was appointed Staffelkapitän
of the unit on 12 March. Tanzer survived the war and joined the post-war
Bundesluftwaffe. On 25 June 1960, Tanzer was killed in a T-33 jet trainer
over the Baleric Islands in bad weather.
Kurt Tanzer’s victory total is uncertain. He recorded
at least 128 victories in 723 missions, including 187 fighter-bomber missions.
However some sources quote his final victory total as 143. Tanzer recorded
17 victories over the Western front, including
four four-engine bombers.
|
No
|
Date
|
Time
|
A/c
Type
|
Unit
|
Location
|
|
?
|
2.8.1942
|
9:00
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
Near
Kalinin |
|
?
|
5.1.1943
|
9:15
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
77
762 |
|
?
|
5.1.1943
|
9:18
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
7
792 |
|
?
|
6.1.1943
|
8:30
|
MiG-3 |
12./JG
51 |
7
554 |
|
?
|
6.1.1943
|
11:00
|
Pe-2 |
12./JG
51 |
7
813 |
|
?
|
6.1.1943
|
11:58
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
7
761 |
|
?
|
6.1.1943
|
12:20
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
7
732 |
|
?
|
7.1.1943
|
12:05
|
Pe-2 |
12./JG
51 |
7
584 |
|
35
|
5.5.1943
|
-
|
E/a |
12./JG
51 |
|
|
36
|
6.5.1943
|
-
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
|
|
37
|
6.5.1943
|
-
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
|
|
38
|
6.5.1943
|
-
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
|
|
39
|
6.5.1943
|
-
|
Il-2 |
12./JG
51 |
|
|
100
|
VI.
1944
|
-
|
E/a |
Jafü
6 |
|
Victories : 128+
Awards : Ehrenpokal (15 February 1943)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (24 June 1943)
Ritterkreuz (5 December 1943)
Units : JG 51, Jafü 6, Jafü Ostpreußen
