Walter Bradel

Walter Bradel
Born	31 July 1911 Breslau, now Poland
Died	5 May 1943 (aged 31)
Buried at	Ysselsteyn German war cemetery, Netherlands (Block CX, Row 4, Grave 85)
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer Luftwaffe
Years of service	1934–43
Rank	Oberstleutnant
Unit	Condor Legion Kampfgeschwader 3 Kampfgeschwader 2
Commands held	II./KG 2
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Polish Campaign Battle of France Balkans Campaign Eastern Front
Awards	Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords Iron Cross First and Second Class Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold Honorary Cup of the Luftwaffe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Walter Bradel (31 July 1911 – 5 May 1943) was a Luftwaffe Bomber pilot and Geschwaderkommodore of KG 2 during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Luftwaffe career

Bradel joined the Heer in 1933, before joining the Luftwaffe. Bradel flew the Dornier Do 17 until 1942, and then the Dornier Do 217. Bradel was awarded the Knight's Cross on 17 July 1941 for his units particular effectiveness over the Grodno area, in which the Soviet 6th Cavalry Corps was routed, and lost 105 tanks.^[1]

In 1943 Bradel's unit started flying bombing missions over England once more. During the night of 4 May 1943 to 5 May Angriffsführer England ordered a consolidated attack on Norwich. Involved were 43 aircraft from KG 2 under the command of Bradel, which took off from the airport of Soesterberg. The attack force was augmented by aircraft from II./KG 40 and 36 Ju 88 from KG 6. Bradel's Do 217K was attacked by a British nightfighter, and suffered engine damage. Pilot Leutnant Ernst Andres attempted an emergency landing near Landsmeer, Amsterdam. The aircraft was 80% damaged and Bradel was killed.^[2] Walter Bradel is buried at the German Military Cemetery at Ysselsteyn, Netherlands (Block CX, Row 4, Grave 85)^[3]

Bradel's victor was Flying Officer Brian "Scruffy" Williams and his radar operator Pilot Officer Doug Moore of No. 605 Squadron RAF. They flew an intruder sortie to Eindhoven that night and spotted two Dornier Do 217s circling the field. He fired at the lead Dornier but did not claim a hit. Attacking the second, he scored hits but did not claim it destroyed, but as damaged. Wing Commander C. D. Tomalin contacted Williams the following night to confirm the enemy bomber had crashed. The loss was reported in German newspapers and was given a lot of coverage. Williams learned the name of the pilot was Major Bradel. The first Dornier, piloted by Leutnant Alfons Schlander of 2./KG 2, also crashed. But whether this was a result of Williams' attack is unknown.^[4]

Awards

• Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords 6 June 1939
• Cruz de Guerra June 1939
• Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (30 July 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 September 1941 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 9./KG 2^[5]

References

Citations

1. Bergström 2007 (Barbarossa title), p. 23.
2. de zeng et al 2007 Vol 1, p. 24.
3. MacLean 2007, p. 224.
4. bowman 2010, p. 66.
5. Scherzer 2007, p. 237.

Bibliography

• Bergström, Christer (2007). Barbarossa - The Air Battle: July–December 1941. London: Chervron/Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-85780-270-2.
• Bowman, Martin (2010). Mosquito Mayhem: de Havilland's Wooden Wonder in Action in WWII. Pen & Sword. ISBN 184884323-2
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. (2007). Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 1. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5.