47 Facts About Adolf Glunz

Adolf "Addi" Glunz was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II.

Adolf Glunz is credited with 71 aerial victories achieved in 574 combat missions.

Adolf Glunz joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1939 and was trained as a fighter pilot.

In January 1944, Adolf Glunz was appointed squadron leader of 5.

Adolf Glunz claimed his last aerial victory on 1 January 1945 during Operation Bodenplatte.

In May 1945, Adolf Glunz was taken prisoner of war and released in June 1946.

Adolf Glunz then became a Formula Three race car driver before he founded his own business, giving driving lessons.

Adolf Glunz was born on 11 June 1918 in Bresegard, district of Ludwigslust, at the time in the Province of Pomerania of the German Empire.

Adolf Glunz was the son Karl Glunz, a Beamter, or civil servant, of the Deutsche Reichsbahn.

From 2 November 1938 to 25 March 1939, Adolf Glunz attended the compulsory Reichsarbeitsdienst.

Adolf Glunz joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 September 1939, the day German forces invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe.

Adolf Glunz was then posted to the Erganzungsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 on 1 November 1940.

On 9 November 1940, Adolf Glunz was transferred from the Erganzungsstaffel to 4.

Adolf Glunz joined Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" on 18 July 1941 and was assigned to the II.

Adolf Glunz claimed one of the Spitfires shot down but both American pilots returned safely.

On 14 April 1942, Adolf Glunz claimed a Spitfire shot down from No 317 Squadron near Calais.

Adolf Glunz was wounded during an aerial attack on the Abbeville Airfield.

Adolf Glunz was then wounded by flying glass fragments in the buttock.

Adolf Glunz considered the circumstances of the injury too embarrassing and never wore the decoration.

That day, Adolf Glunz shot down a Spitfire fighter west-northwest of Ault.

Gruppes third combat air patrol of the day, at 10:28, Adolf Glunz was credited with the destruction of a Spitfire west of Dieppe.

For 22 aerial victories claimed, Adolf Glunz was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 1 November 1942.

Adolf Glunz was promoted to Oberfeldwebel on 1 January 1943.

Adolf Glunz flew a reconnaissance mission to England on 19 January 1943, patrolling the English coast from Hastings to Dover without encountering any opposition.

Adolf Glunz's Schwarm scrambled from Vitry airfield to defend the airfield.

The flight succeeded in intercepting the Mosquitos and Adolf Glunz shot down two No 105 Squadron Mosquitos south of Lille.

Adolf Glunz was the only German pilot to claim an aerial victory when he shot down a RCAF No 416 Squadron Spitfire near Le Touquet.

The Gruppe claimed four aerial victories over the escorting fighters, including a Spitfire by Adolf Glunz which was not confirmed, for the loss of one pilot killed in action.

Two days later, Adolf Glunz claimed a Martin B-26 Marauder bomber from the 323d Bombardment Group shot down over northern France.

Adolf Glunz claimed two B-17 bombers shot down, only one was later confirmed.

Adolf Glunz claimed a Spitfire shot down near Vimy Ridge, southwest of Douai.

Intercepting the bombers heading for the lower French coast, Adolf Glunz claimed the destruction of a B-17 near Lorient.

That day, Adolf Glunz claimed an aerial victory over a 4th Fighter Group P-47 near Boulogne.

Intercepting the returning bombers, Adolf Glunz claimed a 95th Bombardment Group B-17 shot down west of Bergen aan Zee.

At 12:50, Adolf Glunz claimed his first B-17 shot down that day west of Dorsten.

Adolf Glunz again attacked the formation at 13:10 and claimed a further B-17 Herausschuss.

Adolf Glunz was promoted to Leutnant on 1 April 1944.

Four days later, Adolf Glunz claimed three aerial victories over P-47 fighters from the 365th Fighter Group.

Adolf Glunz then attended a war officers training course and was taken off combat duties.

Adolf Glunz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 24 June 1944 after 65 victories.

Since Adolf Glunz was still on training, Hauptmann Georg-Peter Eder was temporarily given command of 6.

Adolf Glunz was promoted to Oberleutnant on 10 October 1944, effective as of 1 October.

On 1 May 1945, Adolf Glunz was taken prisoner of war by US forces in Bavaria.

Adolf Glunz is credited with 71 aerial victories achieved in 574 combat missions.

Adolf Glunz engaged the enemy on 238 occasions and claimed all but three victories over the Western Front.

Adolf Glunz was never shot down or wounded all this time.

In 1951, Adolf Glunz participated in various races of the 1951 German Formula 3 Championship, but did not score any points.