and No. 611 Squadron. Defending against this attack, Pingel claimed his 20th aerial victory, a Spitfire shot down west of Dunkirk. On 10 July, the RAF sent three Short Stirling bombers as part of "Circus" No. 42 to Chocques. The Luftwaffe dispatched fighters from JG 2 and JG 26 to intercept the bombers and escorting fighters but failed to make contact until the RAF attack force was already returning to England. Pingel, in pursuit of one of the Stirlings, followed the bomber into English airspace where he attacked the bomber. He damaged the tail section of the bomber but his Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 12764) was hit by the defensive fire of the bomber. He then came under attack of a Spitfire which resulted in him making a forced landing near Dover and St Margaret's at Cliffe. He was taken prisoner by a detachment of Home Guard. He was released in 1947. Pingel's aircraft, the Bf 109 F–2, was returned to flying condition by the RAF and allocated the serial number ES906. It was briefly flown for evaluation testing until it crashed near Fowlmere on 20 October 1941, killing its Polish pilot Flight Officer Marian J. Skalski. Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to Obermaier, Pingel flew 550 combat missions, 200 of which during the Spanish Civil War. He was credited with 28 aerial victories, six in the Spanish Civil War and another 22 in World War II. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 27 aerial victory claims. This number includes six claims during the Spanish Civil War, and further 21 over the Western Allies of World War II. Awards Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 September 1940 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" Notes References Citations Bibliography 1913 births 2000 deaths Military personnel from Kiel People from the Province of Schleswig-Holstein German World War II flying aces German military personnel of the Spanish Civil War Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Spanish Civil War flying aces German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom Shot-down aviators Condor Legion personnel