mechanical engineering. In Heide, he worked for a company which built glider aircraft, triggering his interest in flying. Aged sixteen, he began building and flying glider aircraft. Glunz then became a flight instructor with the National Socialist Flyers Corps 11/16 of the Nord Gruppe (northern group), teaching members of the Hitler Youth to fly. From 2 November 1938 to 25 March 1939, Glunz attended the compulsory Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service). Glunz joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 September 1939, the day German forces invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe. He served with 2. Kompanie (2nd company) of Flieger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 61 (61st Flight Training Regiment), completing on 30 September. He was then transferred to 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdfliegerschule 4 (fighter pilot school) in Fürth. After he completed flight training, he received the Pilot's Badge () on 4 October 1940. He was then posted to the Ergänzungsstaffel (a training unit) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on 1 November 1940. World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 9 November 1940, Glunz was transferred from the Ergänzungsstaffel to 4. Staffel of JG 52, a squadron of the II. Gruppe (2nd group). At the time, II. Gruppe of JG 51 was undergoing a period of rest and replenishment at Mönchengladbach following the Battle of Britain. There, the Gruppes strength was brought to 24 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Es, including a few Bf 109 E-8. The Gruppe was commanded by Hauptmann Erich Woitke while 4. Staffel was headed by Oberleutnant Johannes Steinhoff. On 22 December, II. Gruppe was ordered to Leeuwarden Airfield where it was tasked with patrolling the North Sea coast in the Netherlands. Following a brief stay at Haamstede, the Gruppe was moved to Berck-sur-Mer on 10 February 1941. On 15 April 1941, the Luftwaffe ordered an attack on the Royal Air Force (RAF) airfield at Manston. Due to adverse weather conditions, the attack was called off, only a Schwarm, a flight of four aircraft, under the leadership of Oberleutnant Siegfried Simsch, assumed to have reached the target. The flight however had found the Luftwaffe airfield at Saint-Omer where II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) was based. In the attack, the Schwarm destroyed nine aircraft, wounding two pilots and five technicians. The pilots Glunz, Simsch, Feldwebel Georg Mayr and Unteroffizier Hans