Early life and career Günther Josten

schulpforta main building, 2014

world war ii in europe began on friday, 1 september 1939, when german forces invaded poland. following start of hostilities, josten volunteered military service in luftwaffe. wehrmacht took time accept , process application. in january 1940, ordered fliegerausbildungsstelle (aviator training facility) in weimar-nohra , on 11 april, posted fliegerausbildungs-regiment 61 (61st aviators training regiment) in oschatz. @ first feared become air gunner desire become pilot granted , posted luftwaffen-flugzeugführerschule a/b 4 (flight school pilot license) @ prague-gbell. on 31 august 1940, granted leave return schulpforta abitur (diploma) examination began 19 september. received news had passed abitur, precondition become officer, on 23 september , returned prague on 2 october. on 18 october 1940, after 63 takeoffs , landings, josten made first solo flight on focke-wulf fw 44 stieglitz . on 31 july 1941, josten received a/b pilot license , promoted unteroffizier (staff sergeant), student of class receive promotion. during flight training, trained fly focke-wulf fw 44, fw 56 , fw 58, bücker bü 131, klemm kl 35, junkers w 34, gotha go 145, arado ar 65 , ar 96, heinkel 70, letov Š-328, avia b-534, , north american na-57.

on 1 august 1941, josten transferred jagdfliegervorschule 1 (pre fighter pilot school) in kamenz under command of hauptmann (captain) hans-günther von kornatzki. transferred jagdgruppe drontheim, based @ fliegerhorst grove in denmark on 1 november 1941. there, on 9 january 1942, flew messerschmitt bf 109 fighter aircraft first time. on 7 july 1942, posted ergänzungs-jagdgruppe ost (ejgr ost—supplementary fighter group, east), specialized training unit new fighter pilots destined eastern front.

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