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Mission: Interception of American bomber formation.

Date: 17th September 1944

Unit: III Gruppe./Jagdgeschwader 26

Type: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6

Werke/Nr.441646

Coded: 25 + (Black)

Location: In the vicinity of Rath-Aldekerk, Germany.

Pilot: Major. Klaus Mietusch (Gruppenkommandeur) – Killed. Born 05.08.1918 in Posen.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Klaus Mietusch was engaged in combat with USAAF P-51 fighters on 17 September 1944. After gaining his 75th, and final victory, he was shot down and killed in the vicinity of Rath-Aldekerk by the American ace, Lieutenant William Beyer (9 victories) of the 376th Fighter Squadron of the 361st Fighter Group, USAAF. He was posthumously awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 653) on the 18th November.

In 452 combat missions Klaus Mietusch gained 75 victories. He gained 60 victories over the Western Front including 13 four-engine bombers. He was wounded several times and was shot down ten times. Victories :75

Awards :

Ehrenpokal (Honour Goblet) 26th April 1941

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (German Cross in Gold) 15th October 1942

Ritterkreuz (Knights Cross) 26th March 1944

Eichenlaub (Oak Leaves)18th November 1944.

JG_26_Klaus_Mietusch
A very youthful looking Klaus in the cockpit of a Messerschmitt Bf 109E (Jeckel)


Klaus Mietusch colour
Klaus Mietusch pictured here with his ground crew after returning from a successful mission during 1943-44


Mietusch

Burial detail: Kriegsgräberstätte Düsseldorf - Nordfriedhof. Feld 112 Row O. Grave 117

Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless with special thanks to Horst Jeckel, August 2013.