Wolfgang Tonne
Hauptmann
 
Wolfgang Tonne
 
   Wolfgang Tonne was born on 28 February 1918 at Moosbach in the Schleiz region of Thuringia. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1937 as an officer cadet. Tonne was posted to 3./JG 53 on 6 December 1939. Leutnant Tonne recorded his first victory on 14 May 1940, a RAF Blenheim twin-engined bomber over Sedan. Later the same day, he was shot down near Bouillon. He baled out landing in enemy territory. However, he returned safely to his own lines, uninjured. Over England and the Channel he was to gain a further three victories by the spring of 1941. On 1 July, Tonne was appointed Adjutant of I./JG 53. Tonne participated in the invasion of Russia. In June and July 1941, he recorded eight further victories, including his 10th on 11 July. In December 1941, I./JG 53 was transferred to the Mediterranean theatre. On 24 January 1942, Tonne was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 53. Tonne was to fly 116 combat missions over Malta, without adding to his victory total, before being transferred back to the Eastern front. From 31 May 1942 to 29 September, Tonne was to fly 155 combat missions and record 88 victories. He shot down four Russian fighters and two Il-2 ground attack aircraft on 31 May to record his 14th through 19th victories. In August, he recorded 25 victories, including four Russian MiG-3 fighters shot down on 5 August (46-49), three enemy aircraft shot down on 6 August (50-52) and 8 August (53-55) and his 60th victory shot down on 15 August. Tonne was even more successful in September claimimg 35 victories, including four Russian Yak-1 fighters shot down on 8 September (73-76), and three enemy aircraft shot down on 18 September (90-91), 20 September (94-96), 21 September (97-99) and 22 September (100-102).  Oberleutnant Tonne was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 6 September 1942 following 54 victories and  the Eichenlaub on 24 September for 101 victories. In November 1942, Tonne led 3./JG 53 to North Africa. He gained his first victory in this theatre on 26 December 1942 shooting down a USAAF P-38 twin-engine fighter. He was then to specialise in shooting down Spitfire fighters claiming ten of the type in a short time.  Tonne flew 82 combat missions and claimed 21 victories over Tunisia. Wolfgang Tonne was killed in an flying accident caused as he attempted to celebrate his 122nd victory over the airfield at Protville, Tunisia on 20 April 1943 in his Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 16523).
    Wolfgang Tonne recorded 122 victories in 641 missions. He recorded 26 victories over the Western Front, including 16 Spitfires. Of his 96 victories recorded over the Eastern front, 10 were Il-2 Sturmoviks.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / Comments
1
14.5.1940
19:40
 Blenheim 3./JG 53 NW Sedan
2
9.6.1940
14:40
 Hawk 3./JG 53 St Dizier
3
15.8.1940
-
 E/a 3./JG 53 -
4
15.9.1940
15:55
 Hurricane 3./JG 53 -
5
26.4.1941
13:10
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 -
6
24.6.1941
9:40
 SB-2 3./JG 53 -
7
6.7.1941
17:30
 DB-3 3./JG 53 -
8
6.7.1941
17:36
 DB-3 3./JG 53 -
9
7.7.1941
9:08
 DB-3 3./JG 53 -
10
11.7.1941
13:40
 DB-3 1./JG 53 -
11
18.7.1941
12:08
 SB-3 1./JG 53 -
12
31.7.1941
-
 Pe-2 1./JG 53 -
13
2.8.1941
-
 I-16 1./JG 53 -
14
31.5.1942
3:45
 I-61 3./JG 53 -
15
31.5.1942
3:48
 I-61 3./JG 53 -
16
31.5.1942
3:55
 I-61 3./JG 53 -
17
31.5.1942
-
 Il-2 3./JG 53 -
18
31.5.1942
-
 Il-2 3./JG 53 -
19
31.5.1942
-
 I-61 3./JG 53 -
20
5.6.1942
12:28
 I-61 3./JG 53 -
21
5.6.1942
12:34
 I-61 3./JG 53 -
22
9.6.1942
17:09
 I-61 3./JG 53 -
23
9.6.1942
-
 E/a 3./JG 53 -
24
23.6.1942
15:00
 R-5 3./JG 53 -
25
23.6.1942
15:05
 R-5 3./JG 53 -
26
28.6.1942
18:30
 R-10 3./JG 53 E Schelowa: at 250m
27
2.7.1942
12:45
 Pe-2 3./JG 53 -
28
5.7.1942
13:20
 DB-7 3./JG 53 20km ESE Voronezh: 100m
29
5.7.1942
18:50
 Pe-2 3./JG 53 10km NE Voronezh: 1.000m
30
6.7.1942
7:40
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 10km E Genborody: 1.000m
31
6.7.1942
17:23
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 -
32
6.7.1942
17:32
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 -
33
7.7.1942
18:15
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 -
34
8.7.1942
7:15
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 -
35
11.7.1942
9:57
 Boston 3./JG 53 -
36
11.7.1942
9:59
 Boston 3./JG 53 -
37
26.7.1942
4:25
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 -
38
26.7.1942
10:35
 Pe-2 3./JG 53 -
39
31.7.1942
11:40
 Il-2 3./JG 53 3915: at 400m
40
31.7.1942
13:55
 Il-2 3./JG 53 39 163: at 600m
41
31.7.1942
14:15
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 3919: at 1.200m
42
31.7.1942
17:00
 Hurricane 3./JG 53 3927: at 5.000m
43
1.8.1942
14:19
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 3926: at 5.000m
44
2.8.1942
12:25
 Il-2 3./JG 53 3919: at 600m
45
2.8.1942
12:35
 Il-2 3./JG 53 3948
46
5.8.1942
7:10
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 49 742: at 200m
47
5.8.1942
7:17
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 49 751: at 100m
48
5.8.1942
11:29
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 39 783: at 1.000m
49
5.8.1942
17:10
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 49 582: at 200m
50
6.8.1942
6:23
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 39 891: at 1.500m
51
6.8.1942
6:30
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 39 891: at 1.500m
52
6.8.1942
16:00
 R-5 3./JG 53 49 321
53
8.8.1942
5:35
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 49 512: at 1.200m
54
8.8.1942
6:02
 Il-2 3./JG 53 49 560
55
8.8.1942
17:04
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 49 611 at 1.200m
56
9.8.1942
7:04
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 49 52
57
10.8.1942
17:20
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 39 670: at 1.000m
58
12.8.1942
4:23
 Il-2 3./JG 53 38 114: at 500m
59
12.8.1942
4:33
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 39 461: at 300m
60
15.8.1942
11:40
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 49 430: at 3.000m
61
18.8.1942
8:55
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 49 293: at 500m
62
19.8.1942
4:21
 R-5 3./JG 53 40 840
63
19.8.1942
10:55
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 49 23: at 300m
64
21.8.1942
17:35
 I-180 3./JG 53 49 450
65
22.8.1942
10:15
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 49 130: at 2.500m
66
23.8.1942
16:05
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 49 124: at 2.800m
67
24.8.1942
6:12
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 59 140: at 300m
68
3.9.1942
5:56
 MiG-3 3./JG 53 49 242: at 300m
69
3.9.1942
15:52
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 50 890
70
4.9.1942
7:40
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 40 590: at 400m
71
5.9.1942
10:05
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 360: at 2.500m
72
5.9.1942
15:45
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 49 330: at 2.000m
73
8.9.1942
10:19
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 162: at 1.000m
74
8.9.1942
10:25
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 870: at 500m
75
8.9.1942
10:30
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 50 540: at 100m
76
8.9.1942
10:45
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 850: at 600m
77
9.9.1942
10:41
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 760: at 500m
78
9.9.1942
10:48
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 590: at 300m
79
11.9.1942
11:30
 La-5 3./JG 53 49 220: at 3.000m
80
12.9.1942
16:53
 P-40 3./JG 53 49 410: at 2.000m
81
13.9.1942
7:00
 La-5 3./JG 53 49 283: at 500m
82
13.9.1942
7:38
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 49 122: at 2.000m
83
13.9.1942
15:45
 LaGG-3 3./JG 53 49 330: at 1.500m
84
14.9.1942
4:45
 Il-2 3./JG 53 49 411: at 300m
85
14.9.1942
16:40
 Il-2 3./JG 53 49 411: at 500m
86
16.9.1942
16:42
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 50 850
87
17.9.1942
6:29
 P-2 3./JG 53 49 111: at 5.300m
88
17.9.1942
9:47
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 760: at 1.500m
89
18.9.1942
10:07
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 590: at 1.500m
90
18.9.1942
16:53
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 750: at 3.510m
91
18.9.1942
17:12
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 730
92
19.9.1942
9:28
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 124: at 800m
93
19.9.1942
9:40
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 890: at 400m
94
20.9.1942
6:53
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 133: at 3.000m
95
20.9.1942
7:13
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 422: at 3.000m
96
20.9.1942
10:07
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 294: at 2.000m
97
21.9.1942
14:57
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 431: at 4.500m
98
21.9.1942
15:12
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 433: at 5.500m
99
21.9.1942
17:20
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 40 791: at 1.300m
100
22.9.1942
6:49
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 134: at 3.000m
101
22.9.1942
16:29
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 422: at 3.000m
102
22.9.1942
16:38
 Yak-1 3./JG 53 49 262: at 3.000m
103
28.12.1942
14:05
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 5km S Souk-el-Arba
104
1.1.1943
11:08
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 5km E Plage Bône
105
1.1.1943
15:51
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 8km SW Bône
106
2.1.1943
9:14
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 15km NW La Calle
107
15.1.1943
7:07
 Morane 3./JG 53 8km NE Tebessa
108
15.1.1943
8:16
 P-40 3./JG 53 11km NE Tebessa
109
15.1.1943
11:08
 P-40 3./JG 53 Thelepte
110
18.1.1943
16:32
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 S Bou-Thader
111
25.2.1943
16:40
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 4km NW Cap Rosa
112
1.3.1943
17:45
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 Beja
113
3.3.1943
16:05
 P-38 3./JG 53 20km N Medjes-el-Bab
114
6.3.1943
17:44
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 2km S Souk el Rhum
115
22.3.1943
13:41
 P-38 3./JG 53 20km N Bizerta
116
31.3.1943
15:51
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 10km SW Dejbel Mhrad
117
10.4.1943
16:50
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 5km N Buezaga
118
10.4.1943
17:00
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 S Béja
119
13.4.1943
7:00
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 15km NE Oeudzaga
120
20.4.1943
10:04
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 Feldpost Nr.E-21
121
20.4.1943
10:11
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 8km N Tebourba
122
20.4.1943
16:58
 Spitfire 3./JG 53 25km SW Feldpost Nr.76

Victories : 122
Awards : Ehrenpokal (6 August 1941)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (21 August 1942)
                Ritterkreuz (6 September 1942)
                Eichenlaub (24 September 1942)
Units : JG 53

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