(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)
Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Johann Raithel
Born: 11 Mar 1897 in Munich (München)
Died: 29 Jan 1961 in Hamburg
Diploma In Engineering: 28 Apr 1934
Promotions:
Gefreiter (01 May 1915); Charakter als Fähnrich (11 Jun 1915); Fähnrich (11 Oct 1915); Leutnant (11 Mar 1916); Oberleutnant (01 Apr 1925); Hauptmann (01 Apr 1931); Major (01 Dec 1934); Oberstleutnant (01 Jan 1937); Oberst (01 Apr 1939); Generalmajor (01 Apr 1942); Generalleutnant (01 Jan 1945)
Career:
Entered the Army Reserves as a War Volunteer (Active-Officer from 11 Jun 1915) in the 1st Bavarian Foot-Artillery-Regiment (05 Aug 1914-29 Oct 1914)
Wounded, in Hospital (29 Oct 1914-28 Dec 1914)
War Volunteer in the 1st Bavarian Foot-Artillery-Regiment (29 Dec 1914-08 May 1915)
Officer-Aspirant/Fähnrich in the 23rd Bavarian Infantry-Regiment (09 May 1915-10 Mar 1916)
Training-Course for Officer-Candidates in Döberitz (28 Jun 1915-21 Aug 1915)
Platoon-Leader in the 23rd Bavarian Infantry-Regiment (11 Mar 1916-03 Jul 1916)
Flying-Training with the 1st Bavarian Flying-Replacement-Battalion (04 Jul 1916-01 Dec 1916)
Observer with the Flying-Battalion A 295 (02 Dec 1916-27 Feb 1917)
Detached to the 1st Bavarian Flying-Replacement-Battalion (28 Feb 1917-20 Mar 1917)
Detached to Flying-School 2 (21 Mar 1917-25 Apr 1917)
Detached to Observer-School 2 (26 Apr 1917-30 Apr 1917)
Detached to Observer-School 1 (01 May 1927-01 Jul 1917)
Pilot with the Flying-Battalion A 291 (02 Jul 1917-21 Sep 1917)
Pilot with Fighter-Squadron 34 (22 Sep 1917-04 Feb 1918)
Detached to the 1st Bavarian Flying-Replacement-Battalion (05 Feb 1918-09 Mar 1918)
Detached to the 2nd Flying-Replacement-Battalion (10 Mar 1918-30 Apr 1918)
Technical-Officer of Flying-School 6 (01 May 1918-17 Jul 1918)
Pilot and Technical-Officer with the Courier-Flying-Station Bamberg (18 Jul 1918-30 Sep 1919)
Company-Officer with the 7th Motor-Transport-Column (01 Oct 1919-30 Sep 1920)
Company-Officer in the 20th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1920-30 Sep 1929)
Studying at the Technical College (01 Oct 1929-30 Sep 1931)
Rittmeister in the 9th Mounted-Regiment, Detached to the Army Weapons Office, RWM (01 Oct 1931-30 Apr 1934)
Transferred into the Luftwaffe as Squadron-Captain in Fighter-Wing ‘Richthofen’ (01 May 1934-28 Feb 1935)
Group-Commander in Fighter-Wing ‘Richthofen’ (01 Mar 1935-28 Feb 1936)
Commodore of Fighter-Wing ‘Richthofen’ (01 Mar 1936-30 Jun 1936)
Inspector Of Fighters (01 Jul 1936-31 Mar 1938)
Officer with Special Duties of the RLM and C-in-C Luftwaffe (01 Apr 1938-30 Apr 1938)
Air-Attaché at the Embassy in Sofia (01 May 1938-10 Sep 1939)
Chief of Flight Security, RLM (01 Oct 1939-31 Jul 1940)
Commodore of Bomber-Wing 77 (01 Aug 1940-31 Mar 1942)
Chief of Flight Security, RLM (01 Apr 1942-01 Jul 1943)
General of Troop Technology, RLM (02 Jul 1943-14 Jun 1944)
Liaison-Officer of Air-Fleet Reich to the Replacement-General-Command of V. Army-Corps (Military-District V) (15 Jun 1944-06 Dec 1944)
Placed to the Disposal of the Flying-Replacement-Division (06 Dec 1944-28 Feb 1945)
Retired (28 Feb 1945)
In Captivity (12 May 1945-12 May 1947)
Released (12 May 1947)

Decorations & Awards:
- Ritterkreuz: am 17.10.1941 als Oberst und Kommodore des Kampfgeschwaders 77
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Kgl. Bayer. Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen
- Kgl. Bayer. Militär-Verdienstorden IV. Klasse mit Schwertern
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Silber
- Kgl. Preuss. Flieger Erinnerungs-Abzeichen
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Spange zum EK II
- Spange zum EK I


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