Hans-Günter von Kornatzki was born on 22 June
1906 at Liegnitz in Ost-Preußen. He joined the Reichswehr on 9 May
1928. Von Kornatzki transferred to the fledgling Luftwaffe in 1933 undergoing
his flying training at Schließheim. On 1 April 1934, he completed
his training at the Fliegergruppe Werneuchen. In June, von Kornatzki was
transferred to the recently formed Reklamestaffel Mitteldeutschland based
at Döberitz. In July, the unit formed the basis of I./JG 132 with
von Kornatzki serving as Gruppenadjutant. In March 1935, II./JG 132 was
formed at Jüterborg-Damm and von Kornatzki was transferred to the
new unit with the rank of Hauptmann. There followed assignments with I./JG
334, based at Wiesbaden, where he served as Gruppenadjutant and I./JG 138,
based at Jever, in 1938. On 13 September 1939, von Kornatzki was appointed
Gruppenkommandeur of the newly formed II./JG 52 based at Böblingen.
He led the unit into the Battle of Britain based at Peuplingue in France.
The unit was withdrawn to Jever on 18 August 1940. Von Kornatzki transferred
to the staff of Jagdfliegerschule 1, based at Werneuchen, on 26 August
1940 as chief instructor. He was to fill a number of staff positions including,
Operations Officer on the staff of X. Fliegerkorps before serving the staff
of Höherer Jagdfliegerführer West in February 1943. Major von
Kornatzki formulated the proposal for combatting the increasing numbers
of Allied four-engine bombers raiding German occupied Europe which created
dedicated and specially equipped units known as Sturmstaffel. In the second
half of 1943, he spent a period of time with Eprobungskommando 25, a specialist
anti-bomber weapons and tactical evaluation unit, based at Achmer, reviewing
tactics and weapons for close range combat against bombers. In October
1943, von Kornatzki was appointed Staffelkäpitan of Sturmstaffel 1,
based at Achmer, to implement his tactics. He recorded one victory with
the unit when he claimed a USAAF B-17 four-engine bomber Herauschuss on
23 March 1944 to record his fifth victory. Sturmstaffel 1 was disbanded
at the end of April 1944. In May 1944, Oberstleutnant von Kornatzki was
appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II.(Sturm)/JG 4 based at Salzwedel. On 12
September, von Kornatzki led II.(Sturm)/JG 4 against a formation of USAAF
B-17s near Magdeburg. He succeeded in shooting down one of the bombers
but was then pursued by escorting USAAF fighters. Von Kornatzki attempted
an emergency landing at Zilly near Halberstadt but crashed into power lines
and was killed in his Fw 190 A-8/R2 (W.Nr. 681 424) “Green 3”.
Hans-Günter von Kornatzki was credited with
six victories.
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23.3.1944
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B-17 HSS | Sturmst. 1 | Beckum-Hamm |
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12.9.1944
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B-17 | Stab II./JG 4 | E Helmstedt |
Victories : 6
Awards :
Units : JG 132, JG 52, Sturmstaffel 1, JG 4