Heinz Golinski

Golinski was born on 11 July 1919 in Nordstemmen and was posted as an Unteroffizier to 3./Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) in the autumn of 1941, operating over the German Bight and over Malta. He then served as a test pilot with Messerschmitt. In August 1942, Golinski joined I./JG 53 on the Eastern Front. He claimed his first victory on 28 July 1942, an R-5 biplane. During August, he claimed 17 victories. Golinski claimed 27 victories in September. In late September, I./JG 53 transferred to the Mediterranean.

In October 1942, I. Gruppe of JG 53 relocated from the Eastern Front to Comiso Airfiled in Sicily where they arrived on 10 October.^[1] On 16 October, Golinski claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down in a location 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) south of Ħal Far. His Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 trop (Werknummer 10582—factory number) was then shot down 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of Ħal Far, killing Golinski.^[2] It is thought Golinski was the victim of the Canadian fighter pilot F/L Henry Wallace "Wally" McLeod of No. 1435 Squadron RCAF.^[3] Prior to flying this fighter escort mission for seven Junkers Ju 88 bombers, Golinski had sprained an ankle and was unable to walk nor able to fly. When he reported this to his superior, he was accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy and forced to fly. Golinski's casualty report noted that after his Bf 109 was hit, it was observed that he made a half-role, then his right undercarriage came down before it went straight down and crashed. Posthumously, Golinski was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 5 November and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 30 December for his 47 aerial victories.^[4][5]