Gustav Siegfried Rödel (24 October 1915 – 6 February 1995) was a German fighter pilot and fighter ace who served during World War II in the Luftwaffe.
Rödel was born on 24 October 1915 in Saxony. In 1933 the Nazis came to power in Germany. Rödel had to choose a military career and he applied to join the Luftwaffe in late 1935 and was accepted the following year. After basic training he was selected to train as a fighter pilot. In 1938 Rödel completed his training and was assigned to Jagdgruppe 88, under the command of the Condor Legion. J/88 participated in the Spanish Civil War. There is no record of Rödel claiming any success in combat in Spain. In July 1939, Rödel was sent to Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21).
On 1 September 1939, Nazi Germany attacked Poland beginning World War II in Europe. Operating with 2. Staffel (2nd Squadron) he claimed his first aerial victory on this day. In November 1939 he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 27 and saw action in the Battle of Belgium and Battle of France in May and June 1940. Rödel claimed three aircraft shot down. In July 1940 Rödel was moved to 4./JG 27 and eventually appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of the Staffel effective from 1 September 1940. Rödel was credited with 10 Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft in the Battle of Britain.
In March 1941 Rödel was transferred to the Mediterranean theatre. Rödel served with JG 27 through the Battle of Greece and received credit for six aerial victories. In June 1941 Rödel was briefly posted to the Eastern Front to support Operation Barbarossa. He claimed only one victory in the Soviet Union. For his success he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 25 June 1941. Rödel was posted to North Africa with JG 27 soon after and remained there until November 1942.
On 22 April he was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) of JG 27. Subsequently, Rödel saw action over Sicily and Southern Italy in May 1943. On 20 June 1943 he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross for 78 victories. In October 1943, JG 27 moved to Nazi Germany for Defence of the Reich operations and in June 1944 led the wing in the Battle of Normandy. He claimed his 98th and final victory on 5 July 1944. In December 1944 he served as a staff officer with the 2. Jagd Division until the German surrender in May 1945.
Rödel was credited with 97 victories against the Western Allies and a single victory over Soviet Air Forces in over 980 combat missions. He flew the Messerschmitt Bf 109. In 1957, Rödel joined the Bundeswehr. He retired on 30 September 1971, holding the rank of Brigadegeneral.
Early life and career Rödel was born on 24 October 1915 in Merseburg in the Kingdom of Saxony, a federated state of the German Empire. He was the son of Wilhelm Rödel, a metal worker. Following graduation from school with his Abitur (university-preparatory high school diploma), he completed his compulsory Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service) in Zeitz. Rödel then studied half a semester of theology before joining the military service of the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 1 April 1936. He then attended the Luftkriegsschule Klotzsche (Air War School Klotzsche) until 31 January 1938.
On 1 February 1938, Rödel was promoted to Lieutenant (second lieutenant) and transferred to the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school) at Werneuchen, at the time under the command of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) Theodor Osterkamp. From 1 May until 30 June 1938, he was assigned to the school's 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) and completed its second training course held to date. In 1939, he flew his first combat missions with Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) of the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. There, he predominantly flew escort and close air support missions. In Spain, he was also tasked with the exhumation and identification of German dead. He also learned to speak Spanish and was employed as an interpreter. For his service in Spain, Rödel was awarded the Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords () on 6 June 1939.
World War II On 1 September 1939 the German Wehrmacht invaded Poland. 2./JG 21 was based at Heiligenbeil, East Prussia. On the opening day Rödel claimed a PZL P.24, which was a misidentified PZL P.7 or P.11c of the Pursuit Brigade based at Okęcie Warszawa. After the campaign, I./JG 21 was used to form the second and third Gruppen of JG 27, founded on 1 October 1939.
On 10 May 1940 JG 27 supported Army Group A and B's invasion of Belgium. Rödel was part of I./JG 27, attached to VIII. Fliegerkorps (8th Air Corps). Rödel was assigned as Adolf Galland's wingman. On 12 May Stab./JG 27 was patrolling near Huy led by Galland. The Stabsschwarm claimed four Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricanes, one of them was claimed by Rödel the other three by Galland. The Hurricanes were probably from No. 87 Squadron RAF. Stab./JG 27 had 101 Bf 109s on strength on 10 May and it flew 17 missions involving 325 sorties. RAF resistance on the first day cost the Luftwaffe 10 Junkers Ju 87s that were under the protection of JG 27 and I./Jagdgeschwader 51. The opposition weakened by 13 May and three weeks passed before Rödel claimed again.
Rödel was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 June 1940. Stab./JG 27 took part in the Battle of Dunkirk on 2 June and were peripherally involved in Operation Paula on 3 June. Rödel claimed a Supermarine Spitfire on 2 June. On 7 June, he claimed his fourth victory and his last in France over a Potez 630 near Dunkirk.
Battle of Britain JG 27 transferred to the Netherlands, Belgium and France in the aftermath of the French capitulation on 25 June 1940. The Luftwaffe began its air offensive against the United Kingdom in support of a planned invasion codenamed Operation Sea Lion. The air offensive became known as the Battle of Britain. In July 1940 Rödel was transferred to 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 27 for the Kanalkampf phase of the battle. Röddel was appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 4. Staffel on 6 September 1940. He replaced Oberleutnant Hermann Hollweg who took over 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2.
On 11 August JG 27 formed part of large-scale fighter sweeps over England as Albert Kesselring, commander-in-chief Luftflotte 2 (Air Fleet 2) sought to draw up No. 12 Group RAF under Air Officer Commanding Keith Park. The German fighter wings were despatched far in front of the bomber formations this day, in a bid to catch British fighters at a disadvantage and before they reached the bombers. In a rare tactical mistake, RAF Fighter Command intercepted what it perceived to be an in-coming bomber formation in the early morning attack. Rödel arrived over Weymouth Bay with JG 27 to cover the withdrawal of Messerschmitt Bf 110s from Zerstörergeschwader 2. A large dogfight began at 10:40 GMT as Rödel's unit fought a withdrawal across the English Channel. He claimed a "Spitfire" shot down. All three JG 27 Gruppen were involved and were known to have taken three losses in total in combat with 152, 238 and 145 squadrons. In return 238 lost five Hawker Hurricanes and four pilots killed in action with Bf 109s. 145 lost three Hurricanes and one pilot and 152 sustained no loss. On 30 August, Rödel claimed another Spitfire. At 11:45 JG 27 became embroiled in battle with Spitfires from 616 and Hurricanes from 253 Squadrons. JG 27 lost five Bf 109s and four pilots were missing in action. 253 Squadron lost three Hurricanes and two pilots killed and 616 lost two Spitfires—Flying Officer J. S. Bell was killed and Sergeant J. Hopewell survived a force-landing. The losses were reported over Redhill, the area recorded in Rödel's claim.
On 1 September Rödel claimed two Spitfires over Ashford and Folkestone. Fighter Command lost 15 destroyed and four damaged in combat with five killed and seven wounded. For the second and last time in the campaign, the Luftwaffe suffered the loss of fewer aircraft: five fighters destroyed and two damaged; two bombers destroyed and six damaged. Only Hurricane squadrons reported losses in the afternoon battle at the time of Rödel's claim: 1 Squadron (two destroyed one damaged), 79 (three destroyed), 72 (three destroyed), 85 (five destroyed one damaged) and 253 Squadron (one destroyed). Rödel was appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 27 on this date.
On 3 September, Rödel claimed a Hurricane and Spitfire over Southend. JG 27 were involved in combat with Spitfires from No. 603 Squadron RAF and lost one pilot wounded. The only British losses sustained were by Hurricane squadrons. No. 46 Squadron RAF lost three Hurricanes over Southend at the time of Rödel's claims—Sergeant G. H. Edgworthy, Pilot Officer H. Morgan-Gray and Sergeant E. Bloor were shot down by Bf 109s. Edgworthy was killed. 13 Hurricanes were lost and five damaged in the air battle. Six are recorded as lost to Bf 110s four were lost or damaged in accidents and another by friendly-fire. Rödel was credited with another Spitfire on 6 September. JG 27 lost five Bf 109s and one damaged. Four were missing and two wounded. Gruppenkommandeur Schlichting of III./JG 27 was among the missing. 43 and 303 Squadron are known to have been their opponents. 303 lost two Hurricanes and a further two were damaged by Bf 109s. Two pilots were severely wounded including Squadron leader Zdzisław Krasnodębski. 43 Squadron suffered no loss. On 11 September Rödel claimed another victory over Tunbridge Wells.
On 27 September Rödel claimed two Hurricanes. One was claimed at 12:05 GMT. In this battle JG 27 lost three Bf 109s to Spitfires from 19 Squadron and 222 Squadron. 222 Squadron lost one Spitfire and had one pilot severely wounded and 19 Squadron lost two Spitfires and had one pilot wounded and one pilot killed. In the large air battle, 41 (three destroyed, one wounded), 46 (one damaged), 152 (five damaged), 242 (one destroyed and missing), 501 (two destroyed, one dead one wounded), 504 (one destroyed), 602 (one destroyed), 603 (one destroyed one dead) and 616 Squadrons (one destroyed one died of wounds) lost aircraft between 12:05 and 12:30. At least nine German Geschwader were involved in the battle. The Luftwaffe lost 51 aircraft and 15 damaged to Fighter Command's 28 destroyed and 13 damaged. Rödel probably shot down Squadron leader C. Haw, commanding, No. 504 Squadron RAF. Haw force-landed Hurricane P3415 uninjured. On 5 November, II. Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations on the English Channel, relocating to Detmold on 9 November.
Battle of Greece and Eastern Front