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Peter Spoden

Victories : 26
-----------------------------
Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis

Peter Spoden was born in Borken near Minster on 8th November 1921. Peter Spoden completed his education in 1940 and worked initially on the railways. Spoden learned to fly gliders with the Hitler Youth. He finally joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941. Spoden trained at the Luftkriegsschule 4 at Fürstenfeldbruck. After gaining his Pilot’s Badge and A/B flying certificate, Spoden attended Flugzeugführerschule C 17 at Pütnitz where he trained to fly multi-engine types. On the 1st of February 1942 Spoden was promoted to the rank of Leutnant and on 1st September, Spoden attended the Blindflugschule at Copenhagen for instrument flight training before pgoing to the Nachtjagdschule at Kitzingen for operational training. On 1 June 1943, Leutnant Spoden was assigned to 6./NJG 5 based at Parchim. He scored his first victory on the Peenemunde raid when he intercepted a RAF formation of Lancaster bomber between Hanshagen and Greifswald.whihc were attacking the German the research facilities. On the night of 22/23 August, while attacking RAF bomber formations over Berlin, Spoden shot down a Halifax, before engaging an RAF Stirling four-engine bomber. He shot down the Stirling, but the bombers rear-gunner was able to score hits on Spoden’s Bf 110 night-fighter, wounding him in the left leg, and setting his aircraft on fire. Spoden baled out of his Me110 but contacted the tail unit pinning him to the elevator. Fortunately, he was thrown clear. Spoden spent three months recuperating before returning to 5./NJG 5 in November and in August 1944, Spoden was transferred to the Stabsstaffel of II./NJG 6 based at Swäbisch Hall. On the night of 26/27 December, he was seeking Allied gliders supplying men and equipment to encircled troops at Bastogne when his Me110 was hit by German flak. The port engine caught fire and Spoden was forced to belly-land his aircraft near Stradtkyll. Spoden was knocked unconscious and was pulled from the blazing wreckage by his crewmen. On 21 February 1945, Spoden recorded his 20th victory when he shot down Lancaster near Worms. In late February, he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold for 22 victories. Returning to night fighting he eventually became Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG6 on 19th March 1945, his final tally was 26 victories. On 29 April 1945 the remnants of NJG 6 surrendered to American troops at Schleissheim. Spoden was released from captivity in autumn 1945. In 1954, he was accepted for a Lufthansa training programme to become an airline pilot. He completed the course on 20 July 1955, retiring in 1981.

Click here for artwork signed by this Ace!


Latest Axis Aviation Artwork !
In early May 1941, in conditions of strict secrecy because the United States was not yet at war, seventeen pilots of the US Navy had arrived in Britain and been attached to Catalina squadrons of Coastal Command. These experienced PBY pilots were there to assist the Royal Air Force to become familiar with the Catalina, and also to gain operational experience for the US Navy. On 26th May 1941 Catalina Z of No.209 Sqn, commanded by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs RAF, with Ensign Leonard B Smith USN as co-pilot, joined the search for the Bismarck. At 1015 the aircraft was being flown in poor visibility at an altitude of 500ft when Ensign Smith sighted the Bismarck at a range of eight miles. The Catalina was flown towards the contact so that a positive identification could be made and emerged from the cloud only 500 yards from the German ship. The aircraft met a hail of anti-aircraft fire but was able to make its escape. As a result of the sighting report from Catalina Z the Bismarck was again engaged by ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and was sunk at 1040 on 27th May 1941. Leonard Smith can be considered therefore, the first American to be directly involved in action in World War Two. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (American) for his actions.

The Aircraft That Found the Bismarck by Ivan Berryman.		 One of the all time great fighter aces, Adolf Galland is depicted flying Bf 109E-4/N of Stab/JG26 in September 1940. Galland flew 705 combat missions during World War Two and was credited with a final tally of 104 aerial victories. He survived the war and died peacefully in February 1996.

Tribute to Generalleutnant Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman.		 Walter Briegleb is shown in his Ju88 G.7 4R+BR as he stalks his prey - on this occasion a Lancaster. Flying below their target, his crew would aim upward firing cannon at the inner wing of the bomber, igniting the fuel tanks. For the bomber crews, they were very much defenceless against this type of attack, and often had no idea of the presence of an enemy aircraft in the dark.

Tribute to Walter Briegleb by Ivan Berryman.		 The attack by Leutnant Walter Briegleb and his crew on Lancaster Mk.III ND960 DX-I of No.57 Sqn early on 22nd May 1944. Flying Me110 with codes D5+BV with his crew of Feldwebel Walter Bräunlich and Bordfunker Feldwebel Brandt, Briegleb flew undetected beneath the bomber and used the deadly 'Schräge Musik' - upward firing cannon - to hit the fuel tanks in the port wing between the fuselage and inner engine. Pulling away, he watched the aircraft burn and could see both gunners in their turrets but no return fire came. He wondered why none of the crew escaped by parachute with the bomber doomed - it disintegrated in the air over the coast of the island of Fyn, Denmark, impacting near Emtekær at 00:44hrs.<br><br><center>All of the crew were killed :<br>Flight Lieutenant Arthur Richards (Pilot)<br>Flying Officer William Woodall (Navigator)<br>Pilot Officer Athur Bugden (Flight Engineer)<br>Sergeant Thomas Edwards (Wireless Operator)<br>Flying Officer George Ferguson (Air Bomber)<br>Sergeant Harold Griffiths (Air Gunner)<br>Sergeant Cyril Woodmass (Air Gunner)

The Hunted and the Hunter by Ivan Berryman.

Peter Spoden

Squadrons for : Peter Spoden
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Peter Spoden. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

NJG5


Country : Germany

Tenax proposite - Firmness of purpose

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of NJG5

NJG5

Full profile not yet available.

NJG6


Country : Germany

Tenax proposite - Firmness of purpose

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of NJG6

NJG6

Full profile not yet available.
Aircraft for : Peter Spoden
A list of all aircraft associated with Peter Spoden. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Me110


Click the name above to see prints featuring Me110 aircraft.

Manufacturer : Messerschmitt
Production Began : 1938

Me110

The Bf-110 grew out of Herman Gorings specifications for a multipurpose aircraft capable of penetrating deep into enemy airspace to clear the sky of enemy fighters in advance of German bomber formations. The aircraft would also be utilized as a long range interceptor, and as a ground support and ground attack bomber. The Bf-110 prototype first flew in 1936. The prototype was under powered with its Daimier Benz DB 600A engines. Several months passed before a go ahead was given for large scale production which commenced in 1938. Utilizing improved DB 601 engines, the early production 110s were as fast as any single engine fighter at that time, and had superior fire power. Their biggest apparent weakness was in the areas of armor protection for the crew, and in terms of maneuverability when compared to single seat fighters. The 110 was produced in large numbers and in many different variants. The 110D was the long range model. An additional belly tank was fitted to that aircraft, with several later variants having the more traditional drop tanks. The first serious test for the Bf-110 came during the Battle of Britain. About 300 Bf-110s were involved. They became easy prey for Hurricane and Spitfire pilots, and Bf-109s were often required to assist the 110s in their own defense. On August 15, 1940, which became known as Black Tuesday, the Bf-110s were ravaged by the RAF, and for the month over 100 aircraft were lost. On the Eastern Front the Bf-110 performed admirably in the early stages of Operation Barbarossa. With the Soviet Air Force weakened in the first several weeks of the attack, 110s were effectively utilized in a ground attack role. Ultimately, the Luftwaffe re-equipped a significant number of its 110s as night fighters. The aircraft performed well in this role because it was a good gun platform with sufficient speed to overtake the RAF night bombers. Such night missions were typically carried out with no Allied fighter escort, so the 110 night fighters would not have to engage or elude Allied fighters in this role.

Known Victory Claims - Peter Spoden

DATE

PILOT

UNIT

JG

CLAIMED

LOCATION

TIME

FRONT

18/08/1943Ltn. Peter Spoden5NJG 5LancasterForsthagen: 3000m2Western Front
24/08/1943Ltn. Peter Spoden6NJG 5HalifaxW. Berlin: 4500m1.13Western Front
23/11/1943Ltn. Peter Spoden5NJG 5LancasterW. Berlin: 6000m20.02Western Front
14/01/1944Oblt. Peter Spoden5NJG 5LancasterW. Braunschweig19.35Western Front
27/01/1944Oblt. Peter Spoden5NJG 5Lancaster30km W. Berlin20.27Western Front
27/01/1944Oblt. Peter Spoden5NJG 5Lancaster20km W. Berlin20.36Western Front
30/01/1944Oblt. Peter Spoden5NJG 5LancasterAZ 206-44: SW Stettin20.29Western Front
24/02/1944Ltn. Peter Spoden5NJG 5B-17--Western Front
21/07/1944Ltn. Peter SpodenStab III.NJG 6WellingtonNW Neunkirchen: 3800m23.23Western Front
13/08/1944Ltn. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Lancaster50km W. Obj. Bremen: 5000m0.26Western Front
26/08/1944Ltn. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Lancaster35km NW Russelsheim: 4800m1.12Western Front
12/09/1944Ltn. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Lancaster20km NW Darmstadt: 2400m0.12Western Front
12/09/1944Ltn. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Halifax20-30km NW Darmstadt: 2000m0.18Western Front
04/12/1944Ltn. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6LancasterUT-5: 3000m [10-15km S. Heilbronn]19.33Western Front
04/12/1944Ltn. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Lancaster10-15km SW Heilbronn: 2200m19.38Western Front
04/12/1944Ltn. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Lancaster20-30km SW Heilbronn: 2500m19.42Western Front
22/12/1944Ltn. Peter Spoden6NJG 6HalifaxRaum Trier: 4000m18.59Western Front
01/02/1945Oblt. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6LancasterSW Mannheim19.34Western Front
21/02/1945Oblt. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Halifax30km SW Worms20.4Western Front
23/02/1945Oblt. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Lancaster30km SW Pforzheim20.11Western Front
23/02/1945Oblt. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Lancaster30km SW Pforzheim20.15Western Front
08/03/1945Oblt. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6LancasterDessau22.06Western Front
08/03/1945Oblt. Peter SpodenStab II.NJG 6Lancaster50km SW Dessau22.29Western Front

Known Claims : 23

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