WW2 Aces: Count, cartograph and fighter ace: Gunther Freiherr von Maltzahn

Gunther von Maltzhan was born on 20 October 1910 in Wodarg, Pomerania. The von Maltzhans were members of the German aristocracy, and Gunther could boast the title of Freiherr (Count). During World War 1, his father was lost in Battle of Verdun. The young Gunther was raised and educated in an atmosphere of patrotism, sense of honour and loyalty to the Kaiser.

After having studied Arts at the University of Rostock, Gunther von Maltzhan was trained as a pilot during the period of Germany's secret flying activites in the Soviet Union, wich began well before Hitler had come to power. Following the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had been forbidden from having an air force, therefore its pilots were officially formed as commercial flyers. Von Maltzhan joined a company doing business in cartography, and carried out flights aimed at charting Patagonia, African Coast and Pacific islands.

In mid 1930s, with expansion programmes now openly set and carried out, von Maltzahn was integrated in the Luftwaffe as flying instructor. In 1937 von Maltzahn was posted to 6./JG 334 as Staffelkapitan, the unit later renominated 6./ JG 53. The Geschwader, known as the "Pik As" was an elite unit led by Werner Molders, Luftwaffe's leading tactician.

Bf-109F of Gunther Freiherr von Maltzahn, 46 kills depicted on the rudder.

In 1939, von Maltzahn was nominated Gruppenkommandeur of II./ JG 53. He led his Gruppe through the Polish campaign, Blitzkrieg in France and the Low Countries and the Battle of Britain. On 9 October 1940 he was promoted Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53, and on 30 December ,w as awarded the Knight's Cross, not just for his 12 victories, but also for his tireless work in organizing and running the unit.

In 1941 JG 53 participated in the Ivasion of the Soviet Union, achieving astonishg successes against the unprepared Red Air Force. Von Matlzahn, now Major, reached 43 kills and on 24 July 1941 received the Oak Leaves, the 29th member of German Armed Forces awarded with such honour.

In September 1941, JG 53 was pulled out from frontline duties and relocated to Holland for rest and refit. The Geschwader was sent to Sicily in December an participated in the battles over Malta and the Mediterranea. Von Maltzahn reached 68 victories, before contracting and then leaving JG 53 in October 1943, assuming a staff position at the Luftwaffenbefehlshabers Mitte (Luftwaffe Command of the Mediterranean), and later Jagdfliegerführer Italien, (Chief of Operations in Italy). In February 1945 he was detached to 9 Fliegerdivision, where he remained until the end of the war.

After a brief captivity, Von Maltzahn settled in Dusseldorf and dedicated himself to cartography again. He died in 1953, at the age of 43. Some sources claim he died in car crash, while others state he died due to complications from malaria, contracted ten years before.

Oberst Gunther Freiherr von Maltzahn flew 497 missions and claimed 68 victories. He fought on the Western Front, Eastern Front and the Mediterranean.