Johann Badum
Encyclopedia
Johann Badum was a former German Luftwaffe
fighter ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
near Pfalz. By January 1942 Badum was serving with the Ergängzungsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 77
on the south area of the Eastern front. On 26 February Badum claimed a Pe-2 bomber for his first victory. In April 1942 Badum transferred to 6 staffel of JG 77, with three victories in 45 missions by this time. He claimed a further 17 victories in July 1942 to raise his victory total to 29 and August recorded another 14 victories, He claimed his 51st victory on 16 September. Leutnant Badum was awarded the Ritterkreuz in October. In early December 1942, Badum, as part of II./JG 77, was posted to North Africa. Badum quickly claimed three DAF Curtiss P-40 fighters to raise his total to 54. On 12 January 1943 Badum was shot down and killed in Bf 109 G-2 “Yellow 7”, in combat with USAAF P-38 fighters near Giordani
in Tunisia.
Badum was credited with 54 victories in some 300 missions, 51 over the Eastern front, including 14 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Badum was born on 2 March 1921 at RuthweilerRuthweiler
Ruthweiler is a municipality in the district of Kusel, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany....
near Pfalz. By January 1942 Badum was serving with the Ergängzungsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 77
Jagdgeschwader 77
Jagdgeschwader 77 Herz As was a Luftwaffe fighter Geschwader during World War II. It served in all the German theaters of war, from Western Europe to the Eastern Front, and from the high north in Norway to the Mediterranean.All three gruppen within the Geschwader operated variants of the...
on the south area of the Eastern front. On 26 February Badum claimed a Pe-2 bomber for his first victory. In April 1942 Badum transferred to 6 staffel of JG 77, with three victories in 45 missions by this time. He claimed a further 17 victories in July 1942 to raise his victory total to 29 and August recorded another 14 victories, He claimed his 51st victory on 16 September. Leutnant Badum was awarded the Ritterkreuz in October. In early December 1942, Badum, as part of II./JG 77, was posted to North Africa. Badum quickly claimed three DAF Curtiss P-40 fighters to raise his total to 54. On 12 January 1943 Badum was shot down and killed in Bf 109 G-2 “Yellow 7”, in combat with USAAF P-38 fighters near Giordani
Giordani
Giordani is a surname and may refer to:* Giuseppe Giordani - Italian composer of mainly operas* Ivan Giordani - bobsledder* Pietro Giordani - writer, classical literary scholar* Tommaso Giordani - composer* Francesco Giordani - photographer...
in Tunisia.
Badum was credited with 54 victories in some 300 missions, 51 over the Eastern front, including 14 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
Awards
- Pilots Badge
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939) 2nd and 1st Class - Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(13 September 1942) - Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
for Fighter Pilots in Gold - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 3 October 1942 as Leutnant in the II./Jagdgeschwader 77 - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 15 October 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 77