Emil Lang

Emil Lang (14 January 1909 – 3 September 1944), nicknamed "Bully", was a Luftwaffe flying ace during World War II. Lang was credited with 173 aerial victories—144 on the Eastern Front, 29 on the Western Front—and one Soviet MTB sunk in 403 combat missions.

Posted to a fighter wing on the Eastern Front, Lang claimed his first aerial victories in March 1943. He was credited with 72 victories in a three-week period, among them an unsurpassed total of 18 on 3 November 1943. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943 for his 119 victories to that time. By March 1944, his claims totaled 144, for which he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944. Transferred to the Western Front, he claimed his 150th victim during the Normandy Invasion on 14 June 1944. He scored his last three victories on 26 August 1944; on 3 September 1944, he was killed in action over Belgium.

Early life and career Lang was born on 14 January 1909 at Thalheim, now part of Fraunberg in the Isar region near Freising in Bavaria, Germany. He was a well-known track-and-field athlete who ran the middle distances. Prior to World War II, he qualified as a civil pilot and flew with Deutsche Luft Hansa. Lang earned the nickname "Bully" from his 'bulldog-like' looks, characterized by his barrel-chested physique. He joined the Luftwaffe as a member of the military reserve force on 4 January 1938. From 8 May to 3 June 1939, he served with 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Kampfgeschwader 51 (KG 51—51st Bomber Wing). On 26 August 1939, he was put on active duty.

World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Following the outbreak of war, Lang served as a transport pilot with the Fliegerhorst Kompanie (Airfield Company) at Gablingen, flying missions to Norway, France, Crete and North Africa. On 1 November 1941, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant).

Lang was 33 years old when he was accepted for fighter pilot training in 1942. He undertook courses at the Jagdflieger Vorschule 1 (1st Fighter Pilot Preparation School) (3 July 1942 – 14 August 1942) and Jagdfliegerschule 5 (5th Fighter Pilot School) (15 August 1942 – 5 January 1943). He was then assigned to Jagdgruppe Ost (Fighter Group East) on 6 January 1943 and then to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front on 11 February 1943. Serving with 1./JG 54 (1st Squadron of the 54th Fighter Wing), Leutnant Lang was 34 and considered exceptionally old for a novice fighter pilot. His first three aerial victories were claimed in March 1943, and within a month he was transferred to 5./JG 54 (5th Squadron of the 54th Fighter Wing) of which he became Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) on 20 August 1943. Lang had already briefly served as acting Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel from July to early August before he officially succeeded Oberleutnant Max Stotz in this function after Stotz was reported missing in action on 19 August 1943.

Before the year's end, Lang's kill tally stood at over 100 victories, with a remarkable 72 scored around Kiev in just three weeks during October and November 1943. He was the 58th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. This series of multiple victories included ten on 13 October 1943 and 12 (victories 61–72) in three combat missions on 21 October 1943, which earned Lang his first of two references in the Wehrmachtbericht, a bulletin issued by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, the Wehrmacht High Command. During the Battle of Kiev, Lang set an all-time world record of 18 aerial victories claimed from four combat missions in one day on 3 November 1943, making him aviation history's leading ace-in-a-day. This achievement led to him appearing on the cover of the 13 January 1944 Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung (Berlin's Illustrated Magazine). Lang was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after 119 aerial victories on 22 November 1943, followed three days later by the German Cross in Gold . He received the Knight's Cross together with fellow JG 54 pilot Oberleutnant Albin Wolf.

On 9 April 1944, Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) Lang was appointed Staffelkapitän of the 9./JG 54 (9th Squadron of the 54th Fighter Wing) engaged in Defence of the Reich on the Western Front. He replaced Leutnant Alfred Kromer who was killed on 8 March. Kromer had only led the Staffel for two days after its former commander, Oberleutnant Gerhard Loos, had been killed on 6 March. The Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe led by Major Werner Schröer. Command of 5. Staffel was then transferred to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Schilling.

He became the 448th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944 after 144 aerial victories, all claimed on the Eastern Front. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Hitler's residence in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, on 5 May 1944. Also present at the ceremony were Anton Hafner, Otto Kittel, Günther Schack, Alfred Grislawski, Erich Rudorffer, Martin Möbus, Wilhelm Herget, Hans-Karl Stepp, Rudolf Schoenert, Günther Radusch, Otto Pollmann and Fritz Breithaupt, who all received the Oak Leaves on this date.

Western Front When Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe on 6 June, III. Gruppe was immediately ordered to relocate to Villacoublay Airfield. That day, the Gruppe reached Nancy, arriving in Villacoublay the following day where it was subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps). Its primary objective was to fly fighter-bomber missions in support of the German ground forces. The Gruppe flew its first missions on 7 June to the combat area east of Caen and the Orne estuary.

In June, Lang claimed 15 aerial victories, including his 150th—a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) P-47 Thunderbolt on 14 June 1944—and four P-51 Mustang fighters shot down in four minutes on 20 June 1944, plus another four P-51s on 24 June. Hauptmann (Captain) Lang was then made Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of the II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—2nd Group of the 26th Fighter Wing) on 28 June 1944. He replaced Hauptmann Johannes Naumann who had been injured in aerial combat on 23 June. On 9 July, he claimed three Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfires (victories 160–162)—no Spitfires were shot down this day: American historian Donald Caldwell noted that his claims were exaggerated but asserted Lang's ebullience, energy and drive made him an effective combat leader. On 15 August 1944 two P-47s, and on 25 August 1944 three P-38 Lightning fighters in five minutes. The hard-hit 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group lost 8 P-38s, its worst combat performance. The 429th also lost three P-38s. Not a single Fw 190 was lost. The Bf 109-equipped III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76 (Fighter Wing 76) were also involved and claimed six P-38s. During the day it lost 21 Bf 109s, three pilots killed and 18 missing.

He claimed three Spitfires in two missions for his final victories (victories 171–173) on 26 August. His victims most likely belonged to 421 and 341 Squadron RAF. Between 24 May and 28 August 1944, Lang had claimed 29 aerial victories on the Western Front, including nine P-51 Mustangs. On 6 June 1944, his group was the first to reach 100 aerial victories over Normandy, earning him and his group a second and final reference in the Wehrmachtbericht on 30 August.

Death On 3 September 1944, Emil Lang was killed in action when his Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 171 240—factory number) "Green 1" hit the ground and exploded in a field at Overhespen. He had experienced mechanical trouble on the runway when he and the other aircraft of his flight took off at Melsbroek at 1.20 pm. Ten minutes later, Lang was still having difficulties raising his landing gear. Flying at an altitude of , his wingman, Unteroffizier Hans-Joachim Borreck, called out P-47 Thunderbolts to their rear. Lang broke upward, to the left. Leutnant Alfred Groß saw Lang's Fw 190 diving in flames, its gear extended, but he lost sight of Lang when his own craft was hit and he had to bail out. Examination of both German and American records suggests that Borreck and Groß misidentified their opponents. The P-51 Mustangs of the 55th Fighter Group's 338th Squadron intercepted a flight of three to six Focke-Wulfs. Lieutenant Darrell Cramer took a high deflection shot at the Focke-Wulf on the left, which fell upside down in a steep dive and crashed hard into the ground; this undoubtedly was Emil Lang.

On 28 September 1944, Lang's commanding officer, Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) Josef Priller, submitted a request for posthumous promotion to Major. In describing Lang's character, Priller said: Captain Lang is a fully matured character, serious and calm in his demeanor, yet definite and energetic when strength was needed. Very good attitude as an officer. Demands of himself first. He understands how to reach the men under his command correctly. Captain Lang possesses an exemplary concept of service, has initiative and talent for improvisation to a large degree, well rooted in the National Socialist ideas. The commander of the II. Jagdkorps (2nd Fighter Corps), Generalleutnant (Major General) Alfred Bülowius, concurred with the assessment. Despite these recommendations, Emil Lang did not receive a posthumous promotion to Major. Lang was succeeded by Hauptmann Georg-Peter Eder as commander of II. Gruppe of JG 26.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Lang was credited with 173 aerial victories. Spick also lists him with 173 aerial victories claimed in 403 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 172 aerial victory claims. This number includes 141 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 31 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 00333". The Luftwaffe grid map covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location – 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – 1 1 23 March 1943 11:10 MiG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00333vicinity of Pushkin 12 12 30 July 1943 08:50 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 10194east of Mga 2 2 30 May 1943 20:19 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 10151southeast of Schlüsselburg 13 13 1 August 1943 05:20 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 10144south of Schlüsselburg 3 3 30 May 1943 20:26 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 10243 east-southeast of Schlüsselburg 14 14 1 August 1943 05:28 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 10163southeast of Schlüsselburg 4 4 13 July 1943 09:05 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 63231 southwest of Belyov 15 15 1 August 1943 12:34 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 10142south of Schlüsselburg 5 5 13 July 1943 09:08 Il-2 m.H.? PQ 35 Ost 63252 east-southeast of Oryol 16 16 1 August 1943 12:39 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 10172vicinity of Mga 6 6 13 July 1943 19:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64763 17 17 13 September 1943 12:48 Pe-2? PQ 35 Ost 26521 north of Moschna 7 7 17 July 1943 13:42 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64894 southeast of Mtsensk 18 18 14 September 1943 16:40 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 25693 east-southeast of Shatalovo 8 8 17 July 1943 13:44 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63221 east of Oryol 19 19 15 September 1943 09:10 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 25494 west of Yelnya 9 9 20 July 1943 19:05 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 64584 west of Mtsensk 20 20 15 September 1943 09:15 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 25492 west of Yelnya 10 10 20 July 1943 19:07 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 64594 west of Mtsensk 21 21 15 September 1943 10:45 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 25633 southwest of Yelnya 11 11 28 July 1943 11:10 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10314 south of Mga According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, II. Gruppe records do not list any victory claims between 18 September and 3 October 1943 although at least 26 aerial victories had been claimed. Among these missing records are Lang's aerial victories 22 to 25, including one claim on 27 September 1943. 26 22 4 October 1943 16:07 LaGG-3 northeast of Chernobyl 87♠ 83 23 October 1943 15:35 La-5 east of Khodoriv 27 23 5 October 1943 16:05 Yak-9 south of Gorostaipol 88 84♠ 24 October 1943 14:46 Yak-7 northeast of Khodoriv 28♠ 24 7 October 1943 11:17 La-5 northeast of Gorostaipol 89 85♠ 24 October 1943 14:48 Yak-7 northwest of Khodoriv 29♠ 25 7 October 1943 11:28 La-5 east-northeast of Stracholessje 90 86♠ 24 October 1943 14:49 Yak-7 east of Iwankow 30♠ 26 7 October 1943 11:31 La-5 northeast of Stracholessje 91 87♠ 24 October 1943 14:51 La-5 east of Khodoriveast of Iwankow 31♠ 27 7 October 1943 14:03 La-5 northeast of Stracholessje 88♠ 24 October 1943 14:56 Yak-7 east of Khodoriv 32♠ 28 7 October 1943 14:10 La-5 east of Gubin 92 89 25 October 1943 14:46 La-5 north-northeast of Balnowka 33 29 8 October 1943 06:08 LaGG-3 northeast of Khodoriv 93 90 25 October 1943 14:47 La-5 northeast of Gussenzow[Gussenzy] 34 30 8 October 1943 06:10 La-5 north of Khodoriv 94♠ 91 2 November 1943 15:05 Yak-7 west of Voropayevo 35 31 8 October 1943 06:13 La-5 northeast of Gussenoye 95♠ 92 2 November 1943 15:06 Yak-7 west of Voropayevo 36 32 9 October 1943 12:30 La-5 south of Gruschevo 96♠ 93 2 November 1943 15:07 Yak-9 east of Lyutezh 37 33 9 October 1943 16:08 La-5 north of Gruschevo 97♠ 94 2 November 1943 15:10 Yak-9 north of Novosselk 38 34 9 October 1943 16:10 La-5 Schtschutschunka 98♠ 95 2 November 1943 15:15 Yak-9 northeast of Lyutezh 39 35 9 October 1943 16:15 LaGG-3 south of Yashnyky 99♠ 96 2 November 1943 15:17 Yak-9 east-southeast of Lyutezh 40 36 10 October 1943 06:34 LaGG-3 east-northeast of Yashnyky 100♠ 97 2 November 1943 15:18 Yak-9 east-southeast of Lyutezh 41 37 10 October 1943 06:38 LaGG-3 northeast of Yashnyky 101♠ 98 2 November 1943 15:19 Yak-9 west of Saimje 42 38 10 October 1943 16:12 La-5 east of Ljutesh 102♠ 99 3 November 1943 09:31 Il-2 northeast of Lyutezh 43 39 11 October 1943 06:10 P-40 east of Stracholessje 103♠ 100 3 November 1943 09:32 Il-2 north-northeast of Lyutezh 44 40 11 October 1943 16:01 La-5 west of Yashnyky 104♠ 101 3 November 1943 09:33 Il-2 northeast of Kastarowitschi 45 41 11 October 1943 16:02 La-5 west of Yashnyky 105♠ 102 3 November 1943 09:35 Yak-7 northeast of Kastarowitschi 46 42 11 October 1943 16:03 La-5 west of Yashnyky 106♠ 103 3 November 1943 09:36 Il-2 northwest of Glebovka 47 43 12 October 1943 09:02 Pe-2 north of Gorostaipol 107♠ 104 3 November 1943 09:40 Yak-7 east-northeast of Glebovka 48 44 12 October 1943 10:47 Il-2 east of Gruschewo 108♠ 105 3 November 1943 09:42 Yak-7 east-northeast of Glebovka 49 45 12 October 1943 10:50 La-5 west of Grigorovka 109♠ 106 3 November 1943 13:00 La-5 east-northeast of Blistawizd 50 46 12 October 1943 10:52 La-5 Dnieper River 110♠ 107 3 November 1943 14:15 Il-2 east of Moschtschum 51♠ 47 13 October 1943 05:50 La-5 northwest of Tschozki 111♠ 108 3 November 1943 14:16 Il-2 north of Moschtschum 52♠ 48 13 October 1943 05:52 La-5 south of Sarubenzojezy 112♠ 3 November 1943 14:17 Il-2 north of Vyshgorod 53♠ 49 13 October 1943 05:58 La-5 south of Grigorovka 113♠ 109 3 November 1943 14:20 La-5 northwest of Vyshgorod 54♠ 50 13 October 1943 06:03 La-5 southwest of Sarubenzy 114♠ 110 3 November 1943 14:22 La-5 north of Kiev 55♠ 51 13 October 1943 06:05 Yak-7 north of Trachhtemirow 115♠ 111 3 November 1943 14:23 Il-2 west of Valki 56♠ 52 13 October 1943 06:08 Yak-7 north-northwest of Grigorovka 116♠ 112 3 November 1943 14:45 Yak-9 east of Gostomel 57♠ 53 13 October 1943 09:31 La-5 west of Trachhtemirow 117♠ 113 3 November 1943 14:46 Yak-9 west of Vyshgorod 58♠ 54 13 October 1943 09:35 La-5 southeast of Grigorovka 118♠ 114 3 November 1943 14:48 Il-2 east of Gostomel 59♠ 55 13 October 1943 09:40 Yak-7 south of Grigorovka 119♠ 115 3 November 1943 14:49 Il-2 north of Mostischtsche 60♠ 56 13 October 1943 15:55 Yak-7 north of Yashnyky 116 4 November 1943 14:17 Il-2 north of Vyshgorod 61♠ 57 21 October 1943 09:32 La-5 southwest of Grigorovka 120 117 28 November 1943 12:26 Il-2 east of Kotscherewo 62♠ 58 21 October 1943 09:34 La-5 northwest of Grigorovka 121 118 29 November 1943 07:29 La-5 west of Mestetschko 63♠ 59 21 October 1943 09:37 Yak-7 southeast of Yashnyky 122 119 29 November 1943 10:32 Yak-9 south of Wnysokoye 64♠ 60 21 October 1943 09:38 Yak-7 south-southeast of Yashnyky 123 120 29 November 1943 10:34 Il-2 northwest of Wnysokoye 65♠ 61 21 October 1943 09:41 Il-2 northwest of Rshischtschew 124 121 30 November 1943 11:48 Il-2 north of Nebryliza 66♠ 62 21 October 1943 12:10 Yak-9 south of Tschernischewa 125 122 30 November 1943 11:49 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91562 north-northwest of Zelenogorst 67♠ 63 21 October 1943 12:11 Yak-9 south of Grigorovka 126 123 13 December 1943 11:25 La-5 Nebryliza 68♠ 64 21 October 1943 12:13 Yak-7 south of Trachtemirow 127 124 15 January 1944 11:55 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 99114 east of Lake Samara 69♠ 65 21 October 1943 12:13 Yak-7 north of Gruschewo 128 125 15 January 1944 11:56 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 99123 east of Lake Samara 70♠ 66 21 October 1943 14:46 Yak-7 southwest of Lassurzow 129 126 25 March 1944 08:04 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78451 west of Selo 71♠ 67 21 October 1943 14:48 Yak-7 southeast of Tschernishow 130 127 25 March 1944 08:05 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78423 west-northwest of Selo 72♠ 68 21 October 1943 14:49 Yak-9 southwest of Dobriza 128 25 March 1944 08:12 Yak-9 Lake Peipus, northwest of Pskov 73♠ 69 22 October 1943 06:20 La-5 south of Yashnyky 131 129 26 March 1944 10:20 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 70663 west-southwest of Hungerburg 74♠ 70 22 October 1943 06:22 La-5 southwest of Yashnyky 132 130 26 March 1944 13:40 P-40 PQ 26 Ost 70692 southwest of Narva 75♠ 71 22 October 1943 06:27 La-5 east of Gruschewo 133 131 26 March 1944 13:41 P-40 PQ 26 Ost 70692 southwest of Narva 76♠ 72 22 October 1943 06:30 La-5 east of Jeu 134 132 1 April 1944 14:20 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88324 south of Pskov 77♠ 73 22 October 1943 06:34 La-5 south of Tschernischew 135 133 2 April 1944 11:15 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 88351vicinity of Selo 78♠ 74 22 October 1943 12:10 Yak-9 north of Yashnyky 136 134 2 April 1944 13:40? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88551east of Ostrov 79♠ 75 22 October 1943 12:11 Yak-9 east of Yashnyky 137 135 2 April 1944 13:45? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88523 northwest of Ostrov 80♠ 76 22 October 1943 12:16 Yak-7 south-southeast of Yashnyky 138 136 3 April 1944 11:17? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88362 southwest of Selo 81♠ 77 22 October 1943 12:18 La-5 west-southwest of Yashnyky 139 137 4 April 1944 11:42 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 88359vicinity of Selo 82♠ 78 23 October 1943 15:12 Yak-9 south of Grigorovka 140 138 4 April 1944 11:43 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88356vicinity of Selo 83♠ 79 23 October 1943 15:14 Yak-9 east of Gruschewo 141 139 4 April 1944 16:04? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88352 southwest of Selo 84♠ 80 23 October 1943 15:15 Yak-9 north-northeast of Yashnyky 142 140 4 April 1944 16:08 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88359vicinity of Selo 85♠ 81 23 October 1943 15:20 Yak-7 village edge of Romaschki 143 141 6 April 1944 07:15 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 88355vicinity of Selo 86♠ 82 23 October 1943 15:22 La-5 east of Rshitschtschew – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – 144 142 24 May 1944 11:42 B-17 PQ 15 Ost EG 6-9Oranienburg 153 151 20 June 1944 16:20 P-51 PQ 04 Ost N/AC-4west of Saint-André-de-l'Eure 145 143 28 May 1944 14:23 P-38 PQ 15 Ost FD 9Tangermünde 154 152 20 June 1944 16:21 P-51 PQ 04 Ost N/AB-6north of Breuteuil 146 144 8 June 1944 16:49 P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/UB-4 northwest of Bernay 155 153 24 June 1944 07:18 P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8Évreux 147 145 11 June 1944 10:53 Lysander northeast of Caen 156 154 24 June 1944 07:19 P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8Évreux 148 146 14 June 1944 07:29 P-47 PQ 04 Ost N/AC-3Pacy-sur-Eure/Évreux 157 155 24 June 1944 07:21 P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8Évreux 149 147 14 June 1944 07:31 P-47 PQ 04 Ost N/AC-6east of Saint-André-de-l'Eure 158 156 24 June 1944 07:22 P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8Évreux 150 148 14 June 1944 07:32 P-47 PQ 04 Ost N/AC-4Ivry-la-Bataille/Dreux 159 157 26 June 1944 11:03 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost S/UB-9/2southeast of Bernay 151 149 20 June 1944 16:17 P-51 PQ 04 Ost N/AC-5Saint-André-de-l'Eure 158 30 June 1944 06:50 unknown 152 150 20 June 1944 16:18 P-51 PQ 04 Ost N/AC-4Saint-André-de-l'Eure Claim* Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim* Claim# Date Time Type Location – Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 – 160 159 9 July 1944 13:19 Spitfire PQ 15 West UU/PQ 05 Ost UACaen 167 166 23 August 1944 13:40 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost UEnorth of Paris 161 160 9 July 1944 13:21 Spitfire PQ 15 West UU/PQ 05 Ost UACaen 168 167 25 August 1944 13:43 P-38 PQ 05 Ost TDwest of Beauvais 162 161 9 July 1944 13:24 Spitfire PQ 15 West UU/PQ 05 Ost UACaen 169 168 25 August 1944 13:45 P-38 PQ 05 Ost UDeast of Vernon 163 162 15 August 1944 12:31 P-47 Rambouillet 170 169 25 August 1944 13:48 P-38 PQ 05 Ost TDwest of Beauvais 164 163 15 August 1944 12:32 P-47 Rambouillet 171 170 26 August 1944 09:17 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost SD-7east of Neufchâtel-en-Bray 165 164 19 August 1944 10:24 P-47 east of Vernon 172 171 26 August 1944 09:19 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost TC-3Rouen 166 165 23 August 1944 13:38 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost UE/UFnortheast of Paris 173 172 26 August 1944 14:28 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost TD-1east of Rouen

Awards War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (24 October 1940) Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Bronze (23 March 1943) Silver (14 May 1943) Gold (25 June 1943) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (27 October 1943) German Cross in Gold on 25 November 1943 as Leutnant in the II./Jagdgeschwader 54 Iron Cross (1939) 2nd class (13 June 1943) 1st class (2 August 1943) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 22 November 1943 as Leutnant (war officer) and Staffelführer of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 54 448th Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944 as Oberleutnant (war officer) and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 54

Dates of rank 1 November 1941: Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) 1 November 1943: Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) 1 May 1944: Hauptmann (Captain) posthumously: Major (Major), effective as of 1 September 1944