It was Wolfgang Tonne´s brother that got him interested in flying. As a consequence in November 1937, Tonne joined the Luftwaffe as an office cadet at LKS 4 near Fürstenfeldbruck. He took his pilot license and was promoted to Leutnant on 1 September 1939. And on 6 December 1939, Tonne was posted to 3. Staffel of JG 53 commanded by Oberleutnant Wolfgang Lippert.

He would claim his first Abschusse during the Battle of France on 14 April 1940, a RAF Blenheim downed over Sedan. Unfortunately for Tonne, he was also on the receiving end, being shot down during the same mission, he was however able to bail out of his crippled Bf 109 E-3, landing in enemy held territory but was fortunat to return to his Staffel uninjured.

Four days later, on 18 April he received the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse. During the Battle of Britain Lt. Wolfgang Tonne was able to amassed another further three victories by the spring of 1941. Thereafter the I Gruppe was relocated on 6 June 1941 to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield for rest and refit.

After preparing for the assault in the East and the operation Barbarossa the I. Gruppe moved to an airfield named Krzewicza, approximately 65 kilometers west of Brest. And on 22 June, the I. Gruppe JG 53 took off on its first mission at 3:40 am, escorting Stukas.

By this time Tonne had had been appointed adjutant in the I.Gruppe. Here he claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down two SB-2s on 24 June. He would continue to score, two DB-3 shot down over Ternopol on 6 July. The next day he bagged another DB-3.

He would score his 11th victory on 11 July, however in this encounter Tonne was wounded, when his Bf 109 F-2 was hit the cockpit, shrapnels wounded his face. Following the injury, he was forced to make a bely-landing near Berditschew, hus machine receiving 20% damage.

Tonne was however back into the air the next day, claiming an I-153. Eventually he would score his last abschusse in this theatre on 18 July, another SB-3.

In August 1941, his Gruppe was withdrawn from the Eastern Front for ret and refit. Here the Gruppe was equipped with the new Bf 109 F-4 at Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield. And on 20 September 1941, the Gruppe relocated to the Netherlands tasked with patrolling the Dutch airspace.

On 1 October 1941, Wolfgang Tonne was promoted to Oberleutnant. Flying combat air patrol the next day, Tonne claimed two additional aerial victories, thereby reaching 15 confirmed victories.

Please note that this Bf 109 F-2, W.Nr. 6728 was the machine he belly-landed on 11 June 1941.

This profile was one of seven newly made profiles made during this week. Tonnes machine would be included in my upcoming Profile Book No 18.