Peter Düttmann

Leutnant

* 23.05.1923 in Gießen; + 09.01.2001 Echterdingen

On the 7th May 1943 "Bonifaz" joined 6./JG 52 at the Eastern front and soon became one of the most successfull replacement pilots. The trio "Bonifaz", Heinz Ewald and Heinz Sachsenberg soon became well known by friends and foes. He scored his first victory on the 21.5.1943 and downed another 24 till the end of the year. He scored a further 18 kills in March 1944, 22 in April and 14 in May 1944. On the 7.5.1944 he scored 9 victories (83.-91). Completly exhausted he was sent on holiday at the end of May. He returned in September 1944 and celebrated his 100th kill on the 24.9.1944. On the 13.11.1944 he scored the victories No.125 to 127 and was promoted to squadron leader of 5./JG 52 on the 23.12.1944.  The 150th fell victim to his guns on the 13.4.1945.

But his successes were not gained easily. He had to ditch his plane on the 11.7.1943 as a result of hits by Boston gunners, on the 9.8.1943 he had to belly land in no-man's territory and had to be posted missing for 17 hours. On the 23.8.1943 his machine exploded while belly-landing it after receiving some AA hits. On the 13.11.1944 he was shot down by rear-gunners of Il-2s and had to bail out at merely 1000 feet. He landed behind enemy lines but managed to reach German lines. The same happened to him on the  3.3.1945 due to some AA hits and he only returned 23 hours later. In total he was shot down l7 times in his career ! 

398 missions

152 victories at the Eastern front, including two Sherman tanks, which counted as kills in 1945. His tally includes 38 Il-2, 8 Boston bombers, 5 Romanian planes and 98 Russian fighters.

Bonifaz in Italy

The original newspaper article covering the award of the knightscross to "Bonifaz" (NZ Westmark), dated 19.6.1944.