German Fighter Ace. He had 50 victories, all but 3 at night. He trained in 1937 as a pilot and was then transferred to a night fighter training squadron in 1939. In early 1940, he was transferred to the Richthofen Squadron (JG 2), with which he participated in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, flying a day fighter. In July 1940, he transferred back to a night fighter squadron, NJG 1, with which he scored his first victory in September 1941. He rose through the ranks, becoming a Squadron Leader in mid-1942, Group Commander in mid-1943, and Wing Commander in the fall of 1944. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on June 1, 1943 for shooting down six British Wellington bombers in a single mission on May 13, 1943. He was the 836th awardee of the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross, April 17, 1945. He also was awarded the Honor Cup of the Luftwaffe, the Iron Cross First and Second Class, and the German Cross in Gold and was mentioned once in the Wehrmachtbericht. He later served in the postwar Luftwaffe.
German Fighter Ace. He had 50 victories, all but 3 at night. He trained in 1937 as a pilot and was then transferred to a night fighter training squadron in 1939. In early 1940, he was transferred to the Richthofen Squadron (JG 2), with which he participated in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, flying a day fighter. In July 1940, he transferred back to a night fighter squadron, NJG 1, with which he scored his first victory in September 1941. He rose through the ranks, becoming a Squadron Leader in mid-1942, Group Commander in mid-1943, and Wing Commander in the fall of 1944. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on June 1, 1943 for shooting down six British Wellington bombers in a single mission on May 13, 1943. He was the 836th awardee of the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross, April 17, 1945. He also was awarded the Honor Cup of the Luftwaffe, the Iron Cross First and Second Class, and the German Cross in Gold and was mentioned once in the Wehrmachtbericht. He later served in the postwar Luftwaffe.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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