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Peter Spoden

Name : Peter Spoden Air Victories : 26.00

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.

Artwork signed by this Pilot or Aircrew

Night Defender by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Clipped Signature - Peter Spoden.

Duel in the Dark by Robert Taylor (AP)

Operation Mercury by Nicolas Trudgian.

Known Victory Claims :
Date	Rank	Squadron	Claimed	Location	Time	Aircraft Flown	Notes
18/08/1943	Ltn.	NJG 5	Lancaster details	Forsthagen: 3000m	2
24/08/1943	Ltn.	NJG 5	Halifax details	W. Berlin: 4500m	1.13
23/11/1943	Ltn.	NJG 5	Lancaster details	W. Berlin: 6000m	20.02
14/01/1944	Oblt.	NJG 5	Lancaster details	W. Braunschweig	19.35
27/01/1944	Oblt.	NJG 5	Lancaster details	30km W. Berlin	20.27
27/01/1944	Oblt.	NJG 5	Lancaster details	20km W. Berlin	20.36
30/01/1944	Oblt.	NJG 5	Lancaster details	AZ 206-44: SW Stettin	20.29
24/02/1944	Ltn.	NJG 5	B-17 details	-	-
21/07/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Wellington details	NW Neunkirchen: 3800m	23.23
13/08/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	50km W. Obj. Bremen: 5000m	0.26
26/08/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	35km NW Russelsheim: 4800m	1.12
12/09/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	20km NW Darmstadt: 2400m	0.12
12/09/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Halifax details	20-30km NW Darmstadt: 2000m	0.18
04/12/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	UT-5: 3000m [10-15km S. Heilbronn]	19.33
04/12/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	10-15km SW Heilbronn: 2200m	19.38
04/12/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	20-30km SW Heilbronn: 2500m	19.42
22/12/1944	Ltn.	NJG 6	Halifax details	Raum Trier: 4000m	18.59
01/02/1945	Oblt.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	SW Mannheim	19.34
21/02/1945	Oblt.	NJG 6	Halifax details	30km SW Worms	20.4
23/02/1945	Oblt.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	30km SW Pforzheim	20.11
23/02/1945	Oblt.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	30km SW Pforzheim	20.15
08/03/1945	Oblt.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	Dessau	22.06
08/03/1945	Oblt.	NJG 6	Lancaster details	50km SW Dessau	22.29

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.
Aircraft	Info
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.