Bio of Major Karl-August Petersen (1912-1980)

Karl-August Petersen (sometimes spelled Carl-August)

Date of Birth: 26.05.1912 - Neukirchen, Kreis Nordfriesland (German Empire)
Date of Death: 23.11.1980 - Bodenteich, Niedersachsen (West Germany)

Promotions:
01.07.1941 Hauptmann
01.09.1943 Major (RDA from 01.11.1942)

Career:
15.03.1936 Kampfgeschwader 154
00.00.1936 - 00.00.1939 In Kampfgeschwader 154, then KG 157 and then KG 27
00.00.1938 In Spain with 2. K/88 of the Legion Condor as Leutnant
02.02.1941 - 01.08.1942 Staffelkapitän 9.Staffel / Kampfgeschwader 27
00.08.1942 Leiter Abteilung Ia op 1 Angriff: Führung und Einsatz der Luftangriffskräfte, Einsatzbereitschaft der Luftangriffskräfte und Flugbetrieb in RLM
05.01.1943 - 14.12.1943 Provisional then permanent Gruppenkommandeur II./ KG 27
29.09.1943 - 04.11.1943 Major, provisional Geschwaderkommodore KG 27 'Boelcke'
00.03.1944 Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 27

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Medalla de la Campaña de España 1936-1939
00.00.19__ Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV.Klasse (4 Jahre)
00.00.19__ Flugzeugführerabzeichen
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.194_ Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold
07.03.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 27 (KG 27) "Boelcke". Awarded in recognition for his successes as a bomber pilot and Staffel leader on the Eastern front. During an armed reconnaissance by three He 111s over the Caucasian coast led by Petersen, the German bombers spotted Soviet shipping in the port of Tuapse. They sunk a destroyer and an 8000 GRT merchant ship, and damaged 2 additional destroyers. On another occasion, Petersen and his Staffel attacked a Soviet brigade near Simferopol and forced it to withdraw. Petersen would be recognized appropriately for these and other successes.
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
15.11.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

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In the mid-1930s Petersen was trained as a pilot. On March 15, 1936 he came to KG 154 (later renamed to KG 27), to which he belonged until March 15, 1944. With the Condor Legion in Spain, he completed 131 enemy flights. After operations over Poland, France and England he was appointed Staffelkapitän of the 9th squadron in January 1941. On July 1, 1941, he was promoted to captain (Hauptmann). In the eastern campaign he flew an attack on the Soviet naval port of Tuapse, sinking a destroyer and damaging three other ships. On March 8, 1942, he received the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz) for combat successes. As a major, he led the II. Gruppe of KG 27 from January 1943 to March 1944. He was then deployed in higher staffs until the end of the war.

Karl-August Petersen was credited with over 250 missions.

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Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse award ceremony.

Hauptmann Karl-August Petersen.

Bomber aces of Kampfgeschwader 27 (KG 27) "Boelcke": Hauptmann Rudolf Müller, Hauptmann Reinhard Günzel, Oberleutnat Erich Thiel, and Hauptmann Karl-August Petersen.

From left to right: Hauptmann Karl-August Petersen, Oberleutnant Horst Quednau, and Hauptmann  Herbert Kuntz.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2462126#p2462126
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/P/Petersen.htm
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/25532/Petersen-Karl-August-Kampfgeschwader-27.htm