Karl-Heinz Bendert

Karl-Heinz Bendert (9 September 1914 – 16 July 1983) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Karl-Heinz Bendert claimed 55 victories in 610 missions. During his time with JG 27 in Africa he was involved in scandal with falsifying claims; his victories were mostly false because he would claim to have shot down enemy aircraft during missions in which other squadron members did shoot down aircraft to save face. Despite this, he was given credit to the victories. After a confrontation with his squadron leader, Gustav Roedel, who did not interfere with his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross nomination, he did not score any more victories.

Career
Bendert was born on 9 September 1914 in Schwiebus, present-day Świebodzin in western Poland, at the time in the Province of Brandenburg within the German Empire.

In North Africa, Bendert flew in the Schwarm made up of Oberleutnant Ferdinand Vögl, the commander of 4. Staffel, Oberfeldwebel Franz Stigler, Oberfeldwebel Erwin Sawallisch and Bendert. At the time, most of the aerial victories claimed by II. Gruppe were allegedly achieved by pilots of 4. Staffel, of which 63 out 66 claims were attributed to these four pilots alone. In comparison, the claims filed by Vögl, Stigler, Sawallisch and Bendert far exceeded the number of aerial victories claimed by other units of JG 27 and raised significant doubt within the Luftwaffe. This Schwarm of JG 27 was prevented from flying together after fellow pilot Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt reported that he saw them shooting into the dunes of the desert during a mission in which they claimed 12 aerial victories.

On 1 December 1943, Bendert was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing). He succeeded Oberleutnant Herbert Schramm who was killed in action. On 25 April 1944, Bendert was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 104 (JG 104—104th Fighter Wing) where he was given command of 2. Staffel. Command of 5. Staffel of JG 27 was passed to Hauptmann Eberhard Bock.

Aerial victory claims
According to Obermaier, Bendert was credited with 55 aerial victories claimed in 610 combat mission over the Western Front and North Africa, including ten four-engined heavy bombers. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 44 aerial victory claims, plus eight further unconfirmed claims. All of his aerial victories were claimed over the Western Allies on the Western Front or in North Africa and includes two four-engined heavy bombers.

Awards

 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (8 June 1940)
 * 1st Class
 * Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 28 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot
 * German Cross in Gold on 15 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 27
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 December 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 27