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Oberleutnant Gerhard "Gerd" Thyben

Gerhard Thyben

Gerhard “Gerd” Thyben was born on 24 February 1924 at Keil. He volunteered for service with the Luftwaffe in late 1940 and by summer 1941 gained his pilot’s licence. In 1942 he was posted to Jagdfliegerschule 5 near Paris in France for operational training. Unteroffizier Thyben was posted to 6./JG 3, based on the Eastern Front, in December 1942. He claimed his first victory on 26 February 1943. He claimed 16 victories in July 1943, including four fighters on 7 July (19-22) and his 30th on 24 July. He had recorded 32 victories when II./JG 3 was transferred in August to The Netherlands for Reichsverteidigung duties. On 31 August he was awarded the Ehrenpokal. Feldwebel Thyben was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 24 October. He was to claim five USAAF fighters over the Western Front, including three P-38 twin-engined fighters on 11 February 1944 (35-37) before returning in April 1944 to the Eastern Front due to health problems caused by the higher operational altitudes of the Western Front. Leutnant Thyben was posted to 5./JG 54. He claimed 31 victories in September 1944, including four on 6 September (72-75), four on 15 September (77-80), six on 16 September (81-86), four on 25 September (92-95) and his 100th victory on 30 September. At the beginning of October 1944 he was transferred as Staffelkapitän to 7./JG 54. On 6 December he was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 116 victories. He was then granted a short spell of leave. He claimed 21 victories in December 1944, including four on 21 December (121-125), five on 22 December (126-130) and four on 29 December (134-137). On 25 February 1945, he claimed four victories (147-150). On 8 April he was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr. 822) for 156 victories and promoted to Oberleutnant. On 8 May he claimed his last victory over the Baltic Sea. As Thyben himself explains in a letter reproduced below and written in 1999, he caught and downed a Pe -2 that was almost certainly looking for German refugee ships escaping from the besieged Kurland enclave. Some twenty six vessels crammed with refugees were heading for Schleswig Holstein that moring. Thyben caught the recce Pe-2 at 07:54 and achieved what was the last FW 190 victory of WWII - the last Courland convoy arrived safely at its destination. Thyben surrendered to the British on touching down. Following his release in 1946 he traveled to Spain and Argentina before serving as an instructor with the Colombian Air Force. Next, he worked for an air taxi subsidiary of Avianca, Colombia’s national airline. He became interested in agricultural spraying and began his own business flying a variety of aircraft. Unfortunately,in 1963 an accident in which he sustained extensive injuries to his legs, chest and face resulted in eight months in recovery. He retired in 1978 and is currently living at Santiago de Cali in Colombia.


Gerhard “Gerd” Thyben flew 385 missions and claimed 157 victories. He claimed 152 victories on the Eastern Front, including 28 Il-2 Sturmoviks and five victories on the Western Front. He flew 22 fighter-bomber missions on which he claimed two aircraft and seven trucks destroyed on the ground.

No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / Comments
1
26.2.1943
9:15
 Boston 6./JG 3 79 142 at 4,500 m
2
6.5.1943
4:45
 Boston 6./JG 3 70 395 at 500 m
3
8.5.1943
8:00
 Spitfire 6./JG 3 85 143 at 1,800 m
4
8.5.1943
15:46
 Airacobra 6./JG 3 85 142 at 3,200 m
5
11.5.1943
16:23
 LaGG 6./JG 3 86 584 at 1,500 m
6
14.5.1943
12:15
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 85 113 at 2,500 m
7
1.6.1943
15:05
 LaGG-3 6./JG 3 61 224 at 4,000 m
8
3.6.1943
3:15
 LaGG-3 6./JG 3 61 364: tiefst
9
3.6.1943
3:22
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 61 382 at 3,000 m
10
12.6.1943
3:39
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 61 267 at 1,500 m
11
12.6.1943
7:15
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 61 489 at 3,000 m
12
23.6.1943
6:16
 Yak-4 6./JG 3 61 424 at 6,500 m
13
24.6.1943
5:25
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 61 634 at 1,000 m
14
24.6.1943
8:05
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 71 588 at 4,000 m
15
26.6.1943
19:28
 LaGG-3 6./JG 3 61 469 at 1,500 m
16
26.6.1943
19:34
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 71 317 at 1,500 m
17
2.7.1943
7:46
 Boston 6./JG 3 71 512 at 7,500 m
18
6.7.1943
12:30
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 61 492 at 2,500 m
19
7.7.1943
7:55
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 61 459 at 2,000 m
20
7.7.1943
8:10
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 61 472 at 3,000 m
21
7.7.1943
17:02
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 60 291 at 1,800 m
22
7.7.1943
17:14
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 70 114 at 3,700 m
23
9.7.1943
6:20
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 62 882 at 500 m
24
9.7.1943
6:35
 LaGG-5 6./JG 3 61 461 at 600 m
25
13.7.1943
5:56
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 62 889 at 3,800 m
26
13.7.1943
6:02
 Mustang 6./JG 3 62 859 at 4,000 m
27
14.7.1943
6:46
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 61 243 at 3,500 m
28
20.7.1943
4:26
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 88 264 at 4,100 m
29
20.7.1943
15:50
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 88 231 at 5,000 m
30
24.7.1943
4:42
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 88 285 at 4,000 m
31
25.7.1943
18:24
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 61 458 at 1,200 m
32
30.7.1943
12:43
 Yak-1 6./JG 3 88 433 at 5,000 m
33
8.10.1943
15:34
 P-47 6./JG 3 50 km W Egmond at 6,000 m
34
30.11.1943
11:45
 P-47 6./JG 3 Dender-Mönde at 7,000 m / P-47 of 352 FG, USAAF
35
11.2.1944
13:06
 P-38 6./JG 3 St Vith at 6,300 m
36
11.2.1944
13:07
 P-38 6./JG 3 St Vith at 6,000 m
37
11.2.1944
13:10
 P-38 6./JG 3 St Vith at 5,000 m
38
30.4.1944
6:02
 La-5 5./JG 54 96 384 at 1,200 m
39
5.5.1944
4:36
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 96 525 at 1,700 m
40
5.5.1944
18:45
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 96 382 at 1,600 m
41
12.5.1944
13:15
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 97 540 a t 4,000 m
42
16.5.1944
7:41
 Yak-7 5./JG 54 88 853 at 3,700 m
43
16.5.1944
8:07
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 88 856 at 4,300 m
44
5.6.1944
11:26
 La-5 5./JG 54 70 264 at 4,000 m
45
19.6.1944
20:01
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 81 623 at 2,200 m
46
19.6.1944
20:10
 Airacobra 5./JG 54 81 626 at 1,200 m
47
19.6.1944
20:22
 Airabobra 5./JG 54 81 415 at 800 m
48
20.6.1944
17:25
 Airacobra 5./JG 54 91 323 at 500 m
49
21.6.1944
9:22
 LaGG-3 5./JG 54 81 543 at 1,000 m
50
23.6.1944
14:12
 La-5 5./JG 54 91 122 at 600 m
51
29.6.1944
7:03
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 21 447 at 200 m
52
29.6.1944
8:16
 Airacobra 5./JG 54 91 349 at 2,500 m
53
30.6.1944
12:16
 La-5 5./JG 54 91 345 at 600 m
54
30.6.1944
20:23
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 81 298 at 800 m
55
1.7.1944
8:00
 La-5 5./JG 54 91 345 (Novorzhev/Pskov) at 4,200 m
56
1.7.1944
13:22
 Airacobra 5./JG 54 81 434 (Novorzhev/Pskov) at 2,800 m
57
3.7.1944
11:37
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 81 464 at 3,500 m
58
4.7.1944
8:05
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 81 474 at 3,000 m
59
6.7.1944
12:09
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 91 277 at 800 m
60
7.7.1944
6:44
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 91 464 at 3,800 m
61
9.7.1944
9:16
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 91 273 at 3,000 m
62
6.8.1944
18:00
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 79 165 at 2,000 m
63
7.8.1944
6:57
 La-5 5./JG 54 80 572 at 5,000 m
64
7.8.1944
14:23
 La-5 5./JG 54 70 637 at 4,200 m
65
17.8.1944
12:01
 La-5 5./JG 54 79 841 at 4,000 m
66
23.8.1944
9:22
 La-5 5./JG 54 69 328 at 1,800 m
67
23.8.1944
9:45
 La-5 5./JG 54 69 688 at 800-1,000 m
68
28.8.1944
17:50
 Pe-2 5./JG 54 69 592: no height
69
30.8.1944
17:29
 Il-2 5./JG 54 69 549 at 300 m
70
4.9.1944
18:09
 La-5 5./JG 54 69 662: no height
71
5.9.1944
16:52
 La-7 5./JG 54 69 639 at 3,000 m
72
6.9.1944
6:47
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 69 596 at 2,000 m
73
6.9.1944
10:42
 Il-2 5./JG 54 69 651 at 200 m
74
6.9.1944
13:55
 La-5 5./JG 54 69 628 at 800 m
75
6.9.1944
14:00
 La-5 5./JG 54 69 624 at 400 m
76
14.9.1944
10:43
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 68 162 at 3,500 m
77
15.9.1944
11:35
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 68 776 at 2,300 m
78
15.9.1944
12:00
 La-5 5./JG 54 68 167 at 1,200 m
79
15.9.1944
12:11
 La-5 5./JG 54 58 229 at 1,000 m
80
15.9.1944
17:15
 La-5 5./JG 54 58 133 at 1,500 m
81
16.9.1944
9:10
 La-5 5./JG 54 57 256 at 3,700 m
82
16.9.1944
9:11
 La-5 5./JG 54 57 258 at 3,800 m
83
16.9.1944
9:14
 La-5 5./JG 54 57 292 at 1,200 m
84
16.9.1944
9:24
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 57 231 at 2,000 m
85
16.9.1944
9:30
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 57 216 (ESE Katrina) at 600 m
86
16.9.1944
15:40
 Il-2 5./JG 54 68 176 at 1,000 m
87
18.9.1944
10:11
 La-5 5./JG 54 57 276 at 1,500 m
88
23.9.1944
15:50
 La-5 5./JG 54 37 466 at 4,500 m
89
24.9.1944
9:40
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 37 418 at 1,800 m
90
24.9.1944
9:41
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 37 456 at 600 m
91
24.9.1944
9:45
 Il-2 5./JG 54 37 333 at 1,500 m
92
25.9.1944
12:40
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 37 418 at 800 m
93
25.9.1944
12:44
 Il-2 5./JG 54 37 274 at 1,200 m
94
25.9.1944
13:06
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 37 337 at 2,200 m
95
25.9.1944
16:37
 Il-2 5./JG 54 57 151 at 500 m
96
27.9.1944
17:41
 Il-2 5./JG 54 57 143 at 10 m
97
28.9.1944
17:24
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 58 751 at 2,300 m
98
30.9.1944
10:31
 La-5 5./JG 54 48 863 at 3,200 m
99
30.9.1944
11:00
 Yak-9 5./JG 54 57 146 at 2,000 m
100
30.9.1944
15:03
 Il-2 5./JG 54 57 111 at 150 m
101
10.10.1944
9:55
 Yak-9 7./JG 54 04 653 at 3,000 m
102
10.10.1944
10:15
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 17 522 at 1,800 m
103
16.10.1944
13:50
 Il-2 7./JG 54 17 641 at 200 m
104
17.10.1944
14:46
 Il-2 7./JG 54 27 546 at 500 m
105
22.10.1944
12:48
 Airacobra 7./JG 54 17 649 at 5,000 m
106
22.10.1944
14:20
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 17 587 at 2,000 m
107
27.10.1944
11:08
 Yak-9 7./JG 54 27 518 at 1,000 m
108
28.10.1944
11:54
 Il-2 7./JG 54 07 637 at 10 m
109
28.10.1944
15:10
 Il-2 7./JG 54 17 567 at 600 m
110
29.10.1944
9:45
 Yak-9 7./JG 54 17 459 at 300 m
111
29.10.1944
12:43
 Il-2 7./JG 54 17 622 at 800 m
112
30.10.1944
11:58
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 17 551 at 3,800 m
113
30.10.1944
12:00
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 17 546 at 1,500 m
114
30.10.1944
14:31
 Airacobra 7./JG 54 17 636 at 1,200 m
115
30.10.1944
14:48
 Airacobra 7./JG 54 17 613 at 3,300 m
116
23.11.1944
8:20
 Il-2 7./JG 54 28 183 at 10 m
117
14.12.1944
12:16
 Il-2 7./JG 54 07 632
118
14.12.1944
12:24
 Il-2 7./JG 54 07 661
119
15.12.1944
11:12
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 17 761
120
15.12.1944
11:24
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 17 565
121
15.12.1944
11:25
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 17 895
122
21.12.1944
11:49
 La-7 7./JG 54 27 415
123
21.12.1944
12:05
 Il-2 7./JG 54 27 457
124
21.12.1944
12:20
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 27 365
125
21.12.1944
12:21
 Il-2 7./JG 54 27 392
126
22.12.1944
11:39
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 07 495
127
22.12.1944
11:47
 Yak-9 7./JG 54 07 495
128
22.12.1944
11:48
 Yak-9 7./JG 54 07 497
129
22.12.1944
14:20
 Il-2 7./JG 54 27 383
130
22.12.1944
14:21
 Il-2 7./JG 54 27 386
131
23.12.1944
8:55
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 27 395
132
23.12.1944
8:56
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 27 398
133
23.12.1944
8:59
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 27 394
134
29.12.1944
9:57
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 27 523
135
29.12.1944
10:01
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 27 383
136
29.12.1944
10:02
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 27 386
137
29.12.1944
13:20
 Il-2 7./JG 54 27 364
138
20.1.1945
14:57
 Il-2 7./JG 54 17 472
139
20.1.1945
14:59
 Il-2 7./JG 54 17 475
140
26.1.1945
10:31
 Airacobra 7./JG 54 17 645
141
26.1.1945
10:32
 Airacobra 7./JG 54 17 566
142
30.1.1945
13:04
 Il-2 7./JG 54 17 565
143
9.2.1945
13:24
 Yak-3 7./JG 54 17 619
144
17.2.1945
7:55
 Yak-9 7./JG 54 07 611
145
17.2.1945
14:15
 La-7 7./JG 54 07 664
146
17.2.1945
14:16
 La-7 7./JG 54 07 667
147
23.2.1945
8:00
 Il-2 7./JG 54 07 621
148
23.2.1945
15:50
 Il-2 7./JG 54 17 475
149
23.2.1945
16:00
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 17 473
150
23.2.1945
16:08
 Yak-3 7./JG 54 17 586
151
24.2.1945
13:48
 Yak-9 7./JG 54 17 614
152
5.3.1945
14:32
 Il-2 7./JG 54 07 632
153
1945
-
 E/a 7./JG 54  
154
1945
-
 E/a 7./JG 54  
155
1945
-
 E/a 7./JG 54  
156
1945
-
 E/a 7./JG 54  
157
8.5.1945
7:54
 Pe-2 7./JG 54 Bornholm area at 500 m / Pe-2 of 15 ORAP, VVS-KBF flown by Starshiy Leytenant Grigoriy Davidenko, HSU, Kapitan Aleksey Grachev, HSU, and Starshina Mikhail Murashko, all killed

Victories : 157
Awards : Ehrenpokal (31 August 1943)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (24 October 1943)
                Ritterkreuz (6 December 1944)
                Eichenlaub (8 April 1945)
Units : JG 3, JG 54

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