After participated in the assault on Malta up to 28 April 1942 the I./JG 53 haded over their tired Messerschmitts at Comiso to the Second Gruppe and the pilots left by train to Germany for a well deserved rest and refit.

However already on 10 May the first Gruppe was equipped with 40 new Bf 109 G-2s delivered from Erla Werke produced at Leipzig. Based and at Schwäbich Hall 18 days later on 28 May the Gruppe get their machine orders for they next posting to the Eastern Front.

Ariving at their new base Kursk-Ost situated between Orel and Charkow the next day. And two days later the Gruppe participated in the first missions when the 3rd Staffel claimed six VVS aircraft without any own losses.

One of the successful pilots this day was Oblt. Wolfgang Tonne, the Staffelkapitän who bagged three I-61 fighter (missindetified LaGG-3s) for his 14 to 16 confided victories.

The I./JG 53 would during the German summer offensive amassed an incredible number of victories up to the end of September, no less than 918 Abschüsse. The most successful pilot in the Gruppe was Fw. Wilhelm Crinius with 100 confirmed victories, follows By Oblt. Tonne with 88 victories.

The ten most successful pilots in the unit amassed a total of 577 Abschüsse and with 28 pilots scoring more than 10 victories their total amounted to 830 victories of the total.

However the battles over the frontlines was not one sided, loosing a total of 36 Messerschmitt, 19 of them in air combat, and with them 27 pilots losses KIA, MIA. MIA and POW. Many of the casualties was Experten, like Lt. Walter Zellot 85 victories KIA, Obfw. Alfred Franke 59 victories MIA, Uffz Herbert Peissert 32 victories MIA and another 11 pilots with over 10 kills that was lost.

Note, Oblt. Tonnes Bf 109 G-2, that shown signs of the summer and early falls of hard fought battles, dirty and worn appearance and with 94 Abshüssbalken painted on the rudder, the number he achieve on this day 20 September when bagging two Yak-1s during a morning mission over Stalingrad, both downed within 20 minutes.

And on his second mission for the day he claimed a third Yak fighter at 10:07 hours, ending up with a total of 95 confirmed victories this day of his eventual 101 Abschüsse total when left the East.

Please note that this profile was one of six made during the week, five of them was made thanks to Jochen Priens latest book in his Jagdflieger series, with five JG 53 subjects included although the book is dealing with Jan-March 1945 period. An additional (5 to 6) profiles would follow, all from 1945.