Heinrich bongartz

I am looking for information about Heinrich Bongartz. Where was he buried ?? Was he married ?? Did he have any children ??
I am interested in Bongartz due to his work during WW II. Is it possible to get a photo of Bongartz (WW I) ?

[Amy]

Welcome Carsten!

There are bits of information on Heinrich Bongartz here and there in different books, but none of the books I looked at can answer the specifc questions you asked.

The Web site Front Flieger has a section of Sanke cards that includes Bongartz. *This site also has a section for WWI German pilot grave sites, but unfortuantely, Bongartz isn't included. *

There is an author by the name of "Heinz" Bongartz who wrote books on German aviation in the late 1930s and early 1940s. *Does anyone know if this is the same Heinrich Bongartz?

Good luck in your search!

Amy

[Regulus]

Hi,

Heinrich Bongartz
Born 31 january 1892 Gelsenkirchen, Westfalen, that is the Ruhr coal region.
Volunteered for one year with the Westfal. Inf. Reg. 16 just before outbreak of war. Saw action with the Res. Inf. Reg. 13 as a Sturmoffizier.
Distinguishes himself in the field at Verdun. March 1916 becomes Lt d R.
Wanted to learn flying.
Served first with FA 5, Kagohl 5 and Kasta 27.
It seems that even before he had flown one aerial combat his CO should have said about him that he was going to be a candidate for the PlM.
Dossnbach saw his skills and asked him to join Jasta 36, which he promptly accepted.
Wounded 13 july 1917, nov. 17, 29 march 18, 25 and 29 april 18.
Became CO in september of Jasta 36
24 november 17 Knights Cross with swords of the Hohenzollern House Orden
23 december 1917 awarded the PlM.
His injuries from 29 april 18 did put him out of service, and he lost his left eye in this action when he was hit by a bullet in the head and crashing near Kemmel, West Flanders.
33 confirmed victories.
Assigned director of the Aeroplane Inspectorate, helps supervising the deactivation of the German Flying corps. Participated from this location at Adlershof also in the fight against the Spartakists of the november revolution. This led to another wound, in his leg, ending his active military carreer.
Was later assigned dirfector of the Deutsche Luftreederei (air trade) at Gelsenkirchen. He was injured again in january 1921 when crashing in an exhibition flight. Returned to flying however. Died Rheinberg 23 january 1946. Heartattack.
May I ask a question ? What were his activities in WW II ?

VBR from Regulus

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello Carsten!

Here you will find some information about the above mentioned pilot as well as some pictures:

http://209.235.66.44/WW1/Germans/Pilots/Bongartz.htm

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the information. Bongartz served at several Kolufts before the war. He was a supplyofficer (Oberstleutnant) on the eastern front in 1941/42 - Nachschubbereich I Pleaskau. He became, in 1943, Nachtjagdraumführer 100 at Grove, where he served until December 1943. He then was transferred to Luftflotte 5, where he served as nachtjagdraumführer Finnland until October 1944. He later came to Lg.Kdo. VI and ended the war as Kdr für Stab v. Luft Ob.Befh.West.

[StephenLawson]

Some info on Bongartz may be found in Cross & Cockade Int. Vol 20 #1 , Pp.28-43. 1989. *The war diary of the Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel Nr.36. Neal O'Connors Imperial Germany's Aviation Awards books have a good amount of info on Bongartz and other members of Jasta 36.

[StephenLawson]

Forumites:

Lets discuss the victory of Nov.15,1917, Over Zillibeker See.
The Nachrichtenblatt listing in the Abschüsse identified the machine originally as an Albatros fighter. *Yes it said that he (Bongartz) brought down an Albatros fighter that was attacking him. *It says in the War Diary extracts by Herr Tornuss that it was a Sopwith.

1. Bongartz shot down an Albatros piloted by a fellow German?
* *A.It attacked him in a case of mistaken Identity?
2. Bongartz shot down an Albatros piloted by an allied pilot?
* *A. Captured aircraft with a bonified allied pilot at the *
* *controls?
* *B. *Downed pilot/escaped POW stole an aircraft strafed * *
* *the airfield of Flg Abt #8. Headed home and over come
* *with the possibilities went after Bongartz. *Biting off more
* *than he could manage and died in the effort?
3. *Misidentified a Sop. Camel for an Albatros.(the type
* * He himself was flying at the time?)
4. *Typographical error by Bongartz or a flunky clerk that
* * filled out the paperwork wrong. *And also entered it into
* * the war diary. *It was then recopied verbatum by the
* * extract author.
I challenge anyone to come up with 1st source material to back up their theories. *This ought to be good. *STL

[Soderbaum]

Hallo Stephen

You cant say that Bongartz himself identified his victim as an Alb.D if you dont have the combat report for the incident....!

Most "surviving" German combat reports are still not open for
the public or even researchers..

I have an extract(not original) of the weekly Kofl 4 report, and that report says it was Sopw.Camel which came down within allied hold lines.

My suggestion it was an "flunky" clerc ( Adjutant) in Jasta 36 or Tornuss made a mistake when writing his notes....

8)
Gunnar

[StephenLawson]

Gunnar:

Sorry, Part of my sentence was deleted somehow above is the corrected statement. *Note, I'm not saying that Bongartz shot down the Albatros its in the Kofl 4 Wochenbericht (as pointed out below by Mr. Olynk) and the Nachrichtenblatt/ Abschüsse listing in black and white and was never corrected in any of the subseqeunt issues?!? So no guessing without backing it up with first source material. *Stephen

[Cigogne]

If you want to read the chilling account of his serious wounding where he was shot through the left temple and lost his eye and had his nose injured, read the Osprey book on Fokker Triplane Aces by Norman Franks/Greg Van Wyngarden.

I have always liked Bongartz, but his bravery at holding it together and making it down while the remnants of his eye were hanging out of the socket are an amazing story of grit and determination to survive.

Cigogne