In the picture above, Joachim Muncheberg is shown exiting from the cockpit of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 after his return from a successful air battle over Malta. He had just destroyed a British "Wellington". His comrades are honoring him with victory laurels, on Sicily, at Gela airfield, on March 15th, 1941. Below, in a photo from 1942, we see this German ace with his favorite dog. Also, you can find on this page a color profile of Muncheberg's Bf 109.
Joachim Muncheberg was born on December 18th, 1918 in Fridrichsdorf village. In October of 1936, he began his duty in the Wehrmacht. At first, he was ordered to the infantry, but in October 1938 he was moved to the Luftwaffe. Upon completeing pilot's school, he started his air career with I./JG 234. From October of 1939 he was aide-de-camp of III./JG 26. His kill scoreboard was opened on November 17th, 1939. His first victim was a "Blenheim" Mk. I, L1325, from 57 Squadron R.A.F., piloted by H.R. Barwley.
During the invasion of France, in 1940, Muncheberg shot down a total of 8 aircraft: 3 French and 5 British. On August 22nd, 1940, he received command of 7./JG 26. Soon, on September 14th, 1940, he was awarded the Knight's Cross (Ritter Kreuz). This same day, flying the Bf 109E code "white 2", he achieved his 20th victory.
From February of 1941, Muncheberg's unit operated in the Mediteranean Sea area, flying from Sicilian bases. In the period from February 12th till May 6th, 1941, he downed one "Hurricane", on the next day - another 2. On March 15th, 1941, he shot down a "Wellington" Mk. Ic, V5644, flying from England to Malta. On April 6th, 1941, in a battle over Podgorice airfield, he downed a Jugoslovian Avia BH-33. On April 27th, 1941, he flammed a flying boat stationed at the base at Kalafrana. It was a "Sunderland", L5807, from 228th Squadron R.A.F.
On
May 7th, 1941, Muncheberg was awarded the Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub)
to his Knight's Cross, and the Italian Medaglio d'Oro. At this
moment, he had a total of 43 victories. During June-July 1941, 7./JG
26 had a short African episode. They battled over Libya.
Muncheberg scored his next 5 victories there.
In August of 1941, 7./JG 26 unit was moved to France. Here, Muncheberg showed his brilliant fighter talent. He was really a specialist in "Spitfire" hunting. Up until June of 1942, he shot down 35 British aircraft of that type. On April 29th, 1942, his victim was probably the great Polish ace, commander of the I Polish Fighter Wing, Major Marian Pisarek .
In July of 1942, Joachim Muncheberg was ordered to the Eastern Front (it is interesting if this was an award or punishment?) to JG 51 HQ. On September 5th, he scored his 100th aerial victory. Four days later, he was awarded the Swords to his Knight's Cross. On the Eastern Front, he downed 33 (victories Nos. 84-116) Soviet aircraft. But here Muncheberg was shot down twice during his first four weeks on the Eastern Front!
On October 1st, 1942, Muncheberg received command of JG 77, battling in Sicily and Tunisia. In combat, under the African sky, he scored a total of 24 shot downs. In example: on November 9th, 1942 - 1 "Spitfire", on November 27th - next one. On December 10th, Muncheberg had to force land after his Bf 109 G-2 sustained battle damage (after battle against British P-40 Kittyhawk, one downed). And here is his deadly revange series: on December 12nd, 1942 he downed 2 P-40 aircrafts, two days later: another 3 "Kittyhawk's", on Januar 22nd, 1943: next 2 P-40's.
Joachim Muncheberg was killed on March 23rd, 1943, over Tunisia in an air battle with American "Spitfires" from the 52nd Fighter Group. During that battle German ace scored his last one "Spitfire" - all unclear circumsctances of his death are described in separate story: Sweetland and Muencheberg - The Deadly Encounter.
At this time, a Polish Flying Team had just started it's African career. It was a special group of selected aces, commanded by Major Stanislaw Skalski . The Polish fighters, populary called "Skalski's Circus", did not manage to avenge Marian Pisarek's death, but they - many times - battled against JG 77 pilots, downing many German planes.
Joachim Muncheberg, during his career, made over 500 battle missions, and had a kill record of 135 aerial victories.
Left profile of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7, piloted by Joachim Muncheberg, tactical no. "12", 7./JG 26, Gela airfield, Sicily, March 1941. A part of this aircraft is visible in the first photo above.
1998.05.31, © WW II Ace Stories.