Gunther Josten - Pilot Profile

Gunther Josten

Victories : 178
-----------------------------
Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis
Died : 7th July 2004


Knights Cross	*Oak Leaves*

Oberleutnant Günther Josten born 7 November 1921 - died 7 July 2004 aged 82, was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves[1] during World War II. He was born in Rhynern, in the city of Hamm in the Province of Westphalia.

He joined the Luftwaffe in January 1940 and was transferred to the Jagdgruppe Drontheim on November 1, 1941. At the end of August 1942 he was reassigned to 3./JG 51 on the Eastern front. On February 23, 1943 he claimed his first aerial victory. On July 10, 1943 he scored multiple times for his claims 8 to 10. Three days later on July 13 he shot down 5 Il-2 Sturmoviks for victories 12 to 16. All in all he claimed 19 victories in July and 30 in August. After a successful September with 26 victories he was transferred to Luftkriegsschule Fürstenfeldbruck. He returned to his Staffel on February 3, 1944. Two days later he claimed two Bostons and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as Oberfeldwebel.

He claimed his 90th victory on May 2, 1944 and was promoted to Leutnant. On September 18, 1944 he took command of his 3./JG 51. On September 20 he reached the century mark. His 123. aerial victory was a Boeing B-17 on a supply mission to Warsaw. By October 26 his score had reached 139 claims. His 150th kill was claimed on February 16, 1945. On March 28, 1945 Oberleutnant Josten was awarded the 810th Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross for 161. aerial victories. He was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of IV./JG 51 on April 18, 1945. His last seven aerial victories were claimed on April 25, 1945.

Josten flew 420 combat missions, was never shot down, and was officially credited with shooting down 178 enemy aircraft.

After World War II, Günther Josten rejoined the military service in the Bundeswehr and succeeded Erich Hartmann as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 71. It was under his command that Jagdgeschwader 71 reequipped the Canadair Sabre with the U.S.-made Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. Oberst Josten retired on 31 March 1981.

Günther had a brother, Reinhard Josten, he also served in the Jagdgeschwader 51 and was killed in action on 21 April 1942.

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Known Victory Claims - Gunther Josten
DATE	PILOT	UNIT	JG	CLAIMED	LOCATION	TIME	FRONT

22/03/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	63 372: 800m	8.1	Eastern Front
08/06/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	54 863: 200m	19.13	Eastern Front
10/06/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	44 593: 200m	19.16	Eastern Front
10/06/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	44 484: tiefflug	19.21	Eastern Front
10/06/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	44 462: tiefflug	19.25	Eastern Front
10/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	MiG-3	63 577: 2000m	7.24	Eastern Front
10/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	63 587: 300m	11.25	Eastern Front
10/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Pe-2	53 664: 400m	11.3	Eastern Front
12/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	63 233: 200m	5.46	Eastern Front
13/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	64 881: 800m	7	Eastern Front
13/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	64 886: 300m	7.03	Eastern Front
13/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	63 244: 300m	13.45	Eastern Front
13/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	63 219: 180m	13.5	Eastern Front
13/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	63 244: 150m	14.05	Eastern Front
17/07/1943	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	63 532: 300m	10.42	Eastern Front
19/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-1	64 845: 200m	11.32	Eastern Front
22/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	64 749: tiefstflug	18.2	Eastern Front
25/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	53 616: 4000m	12.34	Eastern Front
25/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	53 422: 100m	12.5	Eastern Front
25/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	53 426: 200m	12.55	Eastern Front
28/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	54 649: 100m	10.3	Eastern Front
28/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	54 681: 100m	10.33	Eastern Front
31/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	54 679: 200m	8.58	Eastern Front
31/07/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-3	54 675: 300m	9.03	Eastern Front
02/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	SE Kronje: 200m	8.42	Eastern Front
02/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	SW Kronje: 100m	8.45	Eastern Front
02/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	SSW Kronje: 100m	9.25	Eastern Front
03/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	54 445: tiefstflug	15.2	Eastern Front
03/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	53 414: 200m	15.1	Eastern Front
05/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	8	JG 51	Boston	55 176: 2000m	4.37	Eastern Front
07/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Airacobra	53 227: 4000m	5.32	Eastern Front
07/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	MiG-3	54 843: 50m	8.17	Eastern Front
13/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	NW Boromlya: 200m	5.5	Eastern Front
13/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Hurricane	NE Oleschanoy: 4500m	18.36	Eastern Front
13/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Hurricane	NE Oleschanoy: 4500m	18.37	Eastern Front
14/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	NE Merepa: 500m	18.17	Eastern Front
14/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	N. Podolychov: 500m	18.2	Eastern Front
14/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	51 847: 200m	6	Eastern Front
14/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	E. Krysino: 300m	6.26	Eastern Front
19/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	MiG-3	41 696: 2000m [E. Akhtryka]	15.48	Eastern Front
21/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	WNW Charkov: 200m [61 777]	14.1	Eastern Front
21/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	W. Charkov: 100m	14.38	Eastern Front
21/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	W. Charkov: 50m	14.38	Eastern Front
21/08/1943	Fw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	N. Lyubotin: tiefst.	14.4	Eastern Front
23/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	MiG-3	SE Olschany	6.45	Eastern Front
23/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-3	E. Italovka: 2500m	12.45	Eastern Front
23/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Pe-2	NE Deselyudovka: 3600m	16.4	Eastern Front
23/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Pe-2	S. Losjevo: 3600m	16.43	Eastern Front
30/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	SW Nikitino: 2000m	17.3	Eastern Front
31/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	P-2	NE Beresovka: 2500m	15.28	Eastern Front
31/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	P-2	W. Straina: 2000m	15.29	Eastern Front
31/08/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	NW Yelnya: tiefstflug	18	Eastern Front
04/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	E. Tsowkino: 300m	10.14	Eastern Front
04/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	bei Tsadki: 300m	10.16	Eastern Front
04/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	P-2	S. Leonovo: 2500m	17.13	Eastern Front
04/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	P-2	N. Kazanka: 2500m	17.14	Eastern Front
05/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	MiG-3	bei Berezkino: 3800m	15.28	Eastern Front
07/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-7	bei Ssamnilovo: 3000m	8.28	Eastern Front
07/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	bei Buda: 300m	11.28	Eastern Front
07/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-1	44 135: 300m	11.3	Eastern Front
07/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	W. Kosmalschewa: tiefstflug	11.33	Eastern Front
07/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	N. Bagonova: 300m	16.1	Eastern Front
07/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	bei Bhf. Felipovo: 300m	16.1	Eastern Front
07/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	E. Mokroye: 300m	16.11	Eastern Front
10/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-1	E. Golyshevka: 500m	16.43	Eastern Front
10/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-1	Kupava: 500m	16.46	Eastern Front
10/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-1	SW Vorlovo: tiefstflug	16.5	Eastern Front
10/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	S. Ljüdinovo: 300m	17.1	Eastern Front
14/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	Schalkova: 1200m	16.3	Eastern Front
15/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Pe-2	Brykovo: 1000m	9.45	Eastern Front
15/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	Plotki: 300m [Krs. Smolensk]	9.53	Eastern Front
15/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	Chantsovo: 300m [Krs. Smolensk]	9.56	Eastern Front
15/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	Norje-Byki: 1500m	12.05	Eastern Front
15/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	Tishëvo: 1000m [Krs. Smolensk]	12.5	Eastern Front
15/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2mH.	Sharipino: 1000m	13.1	Eastern Front
15/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Il-2	Galinska: 400m	13.12	Eastern Front
15/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-7	Bolinskaya: 1500m	13.15	Eastern Front
17/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Pe-2	Rusinezy: 2500m	10.5	Eastern Front
17/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-9	5km SW Yelnya: 5000m	11.2	Eastern Front
17/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	Jselo: tiefstflug	13.5	Eastern Front
20/09/1943	Ofw. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	1km S. Stugatovo: 2000m	16.3	Eastern Front
26/03/1944	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Pe-2	04 556: 2300m	12.4	Eastern Front
26/03/1944	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Pe-2	04 725: 2000m	12.5	Eastern Front
05/04/1944	Ofhr. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-7	42 818: 1800m	9.25	Eastern Front
05/04/1944	Ofhr. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-1	42 689: 1000m	9.35	Eastern Front
27/04/1944	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	MiG-3	42 885: 3000m	11.23	Eastern Front
30/04/1944	Uffz. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	LaGG-5	42 872: 1500m	14	Eastern Front
22/06/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Pe-2	15 587: 3000m	10.25	Eastern Front
23/06/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-9	05 193: tiefst.	6.1	Eastern Front
23/06/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-9	05 695: 1000m	6.4	Eastern Front
24/06/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-9	05 448: 300m	12.13	Eastern Front
25/06/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-9	05 442: 200m	17.3	Eastern Front
25/06/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-9	05 389: 400m	17.1	Eastern Front
26/06/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Airacobra	96 467: 100m	11.47	Eastern Front
14/07/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	1	JG 51	Jak-9	44 846: 1800m	11.2	Eastern Front
19/07/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	32 691: 1500m	15.2	Eastern Front
19/07/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	42 744: tiefst.	15.4	Eastern Front
20/07/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2	31 827: 100m	14.4	Eastern Front
12/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Airacobra	12 337: 800m	13.02	Eastern Front
16/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	24 792: 80m	8.5	Eastern Front
16/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	24 796: 50m	8.55	Eastern Front
18/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-1	13 543: 2000m	16.32	Eastern Front
20/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	13 561: 100m	12.4	Eastern Front
20/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	13 529: 100m	13.1	Eastern Front
20/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	13 562: 1000m	16.25	Eastern Front
21/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	13 395: 300m	13.22	Eastern Front
22/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	23 125: 1000m	8.3	Eastern Front
22/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	23 127: 500m	8.35	Eastern Front
28/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	La-5	13 245: 1500m	10.32	Eastern Front
28/08/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	13 362: 200m	13.42	Eastern Front
01/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	13 527: 200m	14.12	Eastern Front
01/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	13 527: 900m	14.2	Eastern Front
02/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	13 527: 1000m	8.22	Eastern Front
03/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	-	16	Eastern Front
04/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	13 211: 1200m	15.58	Eastern Front
05/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	13 345: 1200m	15.55	Eastern Front
05/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2	13 348: 200m	16.17	Eastern Front
06/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-7	13 381: 600m	8.13	Eastern Front
12/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Airacobra	13 713: 3500m	9.21	Eastern Front
18/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	B-17	03 661: 4000m	13.45	Eastern Front
18/09/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	B-17	03 661: 4000m [Raum Warsaw]	13.45	Western Front
09/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	26 769: 1000m	14.31	Eastern Front
09/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	MiG-3	26 526: 600m	14.46	Eastern Front
09/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	26 849: 1500m	16.04	Eastern Front
10/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	26 728: 2600m	14.54	Eastern Front
16/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	25 496: tiefflug	10.2	Eastern Front
16/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	La-5	25 435: 200m	10.4	Eastern Front
18/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	25 613: 2000m	9.45	Eastern Front
18/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	25 292: 3000m	13.15	Eastern Front
18/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	25 431: 3000m	15.53	Eastern Front
20/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	25 399: 300m	12.37	Eastern Front
20/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	25 474: 200m	12.4	Eastern Front
20/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2mH.	25 532: 100m	12.43	Eastern Front
22/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Pe-2	25 397: 2500m	13.4	Eastern Front
25/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	13 328: 1600m	14.55	Eastern Front
26/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	03 633: 3000m	10.53	Eastern Front
26/10/1944	Ltn. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Jak-9	13 377: 1500m	11.03	Eastern Front
16/01/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	3	JG 51		-	-	Western Front
16/01/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	3	JG 51		-	-	Western Front
16/02/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2	-	-	Western Front
16/02/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2	-	-	Western Front
16/02/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2	-	-	Western Front
16/02/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2	-	-	Western Front
16/02/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	3	JG 51	Il-2	-	-	Western Front
25/04/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	Stab IV.	JG 51		-	-	Western Front
25/04/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	Stab IV.	JG 51		-	-	Western Front
25/04/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	Stab IV.	JG 51		-	-	Western Front
25/04/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	Stab IV.	JG 51		-	-	Western Front
25/04/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	Stab IV.	JG 51		-	-	Western Front
25/04/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	Stab IV.	JG 51		-	-	Western Front
25/04/1945	Oblt. Günther Josten	Stab IV.	JG 51		-	-	Western Front

Known Claims : 151

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