Heinrich Sterr

Heinrich Sterr (24 September 1919 – 26 November 1944) was a World War II Luftwaffe military aviator. As a flying ace, he is credited with 130 aerial victories predominantly claimed on the Eastern Front. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. On 26 November 1944, he was shot down and killed in action by USAAF fighters.

Early life and career Sterr was born on 24 September 1919 in Ortenburg, Lower Bavaria as part of the Free State of Bavaria. Unlike many other flying aces in the Luftwaffe, he was not a member of the pre-war Luftwaffe (he had only just turned 20 when war broke out) and he missed the early warfare over Poland, France and the first year in the East. After completing his pilot-training in 1942, Sterr was sent as an Unteroffizier, to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), a squadron of II. Gruppe (2nd group).

World War II World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. In June 1941, German forces had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. At the time of Sterr's posting to JG 54, II. Gruppe was based at Ryelbitzi, west of Lake Ilmen covering the battles around Demyansk Pocket as the Soviets continued to try and break through the German forces in front of Leningrad where he scored his first victory on 6 April when he shot down a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter aircraft.

In late 1942, II. Gruppe was scheduled to be reequipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 at Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo. On 7 January 1943, Sterr was shot down and wounded in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 13609—factory number) by Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighters in the vicinity of Ramushevo on the Lovat River. By the end of March 1943, Sterr had over 30 victories, and on 30 April he was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe . In June, Luftflotte 1 staged a last big effort to blow the railway bridges of the vital supply link to Leningrad. In July, most other fighter Gruppen were assembled around the Kursk salient for the next German offensive - Operation Zitadelle. Although II./JG 54 was kept back guarding Leningrad, it appears several of its pilots, including Oberfeldwebel Sterr, went with II. Gruppe to Orel. In the fortnight or so that it was where he scored a further ten victories to add to his tally of shootdowns. On 23 July, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold .

On 12 September 1943, Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer, at the time Sterr's group commander, filed a special report requesting his promotion to wartime officer. On 16 September, Major Hubertus von Bonin, wing commander of JG 54, concurred in the assessment, emphasizing on his ability as a mentor to other pilots, and stated that Sterr is well suited for promotion to wartime officer. In consequence, Sterr was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 1 November 1943 with a rank age dated 1 January 1944.

Eventually the German forces were stretched too thin across the Eastern Front to provide constant air cover and were increasingly being used as "fire brigades", as new Soviet offensives broke out up and down the line. Sterr's victory list is a case in point, on the nomadic existence of II./JG 54 from here on: early August gave 15 victories over Leningrad, then later in the month a clutch of victories south-east of Smolensk. On 8 October 1943, Sterr became an "ace-in-a-day" for the second time, claiming six Lavochkin La-5 fighters shot down north of Kiev. That day, Sterr was also shot down in his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 530353) northeast of Dymer. He managed to bail out but was wounded nevertheless.

Oberfeldwebel Sterr was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 December 1943 (nominally for 86 victories) and sent home for officer-training. Returning as a Leutnant in January he was back to Ukraine where he shot down more Soviet aircraft. On 31 March 1944, Sterr was credited with his 100th aerial victory, making him the 68th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. In March, he was then briefly posted to 3. Staffel of JG 54 in Estonia for a couple of months. On 3 April, Sterr was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6. Staffel of JG 54, replacing Leutnant Albin Wolf who had been killed in action the day before. On 29, II. Gruppe received orders to send a fully staffed Staffel for fighting in defense of the Reich. In consequence, 6. Staffel, augmented by pilots from the other Staffeln, was detached and became a fourth Staffel of IV. Gruppe of JG 54.

IV. Gruppe of JG 54 had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front on 25 May and sent to Illesheim Airfield for conversion training to the Fw 190. Here, the Gruppe was placed under command of Major Wolfgang Späte and was joined by the pilots of 6. Staffel led by Sterr. On 22 June, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, attacking Army Group Centre in Byelorussia, with the objective of encircling and destroying its main component armies. In consequence, IV. Gruppe was not sent to the Western Front but was ordered to relocate east on 26 June. The following day, the Gruppe arrived at an airfield near Baranavichy located approximately southwest of Minsk. On 20 August, the Jagdwaffe (Luftwaffe fighter force) had a major unit re-organization. Within IV. Gruppe, the 10. Staffel became the 13., the 11. was renamed to 14., the 12. to 15., and Sterr's 6. Staffel was made the 16. Staffel of JG 54.

Defense of the Reich On 14 September, IV. Gruppe was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and relocated to Löbnitz. Three days later, the Allied Forces launched Operation Market Garden to seize the bridges to Arnhem. This forced the urgent transfer of IV. Gruppe of JG 54 to Plantlünne where the unit was subordinated to the 3. Jagd Division (3rd Fighter Division). This was now a different air war - not the low-level dogfighting and pursuits of the Eastern Front, but the high-altitude engagement against the massive American bomber formations, and their hundreds of escort fighters. With such odds stacked against them, it was often just luck if a pilot would survive. In just 3 weeks, IV. Gruppe of JG 54 lost 30 pilots for only 10 victories - and was soon pulled out the line to reform for the second time in a month.

Flying Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 171684), Sterr was killed in action on 26 November 1944 during his landing approach at an airfield at Vörden. He was shot down by a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt piloted by Captain P.L. Larsen from the 78th Fighter Group. He was nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . He was succeeded by Leutnant Paul Brandt as commander of 16. Staffel of JG 54.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Sterr was credited with 129 aerial victories. Spick lists Sterr with 130 aerial victories in an unknown number of combat missions, all but three on the Eastern Front. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 108 aerial victories, all but two claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 28142". 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 Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 20 January – 30 April 1942 1 6 April 1942 14:05 MiG-3 – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 2 9 June 1942 10:04 Pe-2 9 25 December 1942 12:13 Il-2 southeast of Strelitzky 3 19 July 1942 14:44 Il-2 Pola railway station 10 29 December 1942 11:05 LaGG-3 PQ 28142 northwest of Demyansk 4 28 September 1942 13:06? LaGG-3 PQ 18242 southeast of Staraya Russa 11 29 December 1942 12:45? Il-2 PQ 28171 west-northwest of Demyansk 5 29 September 1942 09:05 Yak-1 PQ 18254 southeast of Staraya Russa 12 30 December 1942 09:45 Il-2 PQ 28114 northwest of Demyansk 6 6 December 1942 12:30 Pe-2 PQ 28354 west of Demyansk 13 30 December 1942 12:17 LaGG-3 PQ 18262 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 7 12 December 1942 14:00 LaGG-3 east of Lake Werchne 14 7 January 1943 10:50 LaGG-3 PQ 18294 southeast of Staraya Russa 8 17 December 1942 13:50 LaGG-3 PQ 28653 south-southeast of Demyansk 15 25 January 1943 09:53 LaGG-3 PQ 00291 west of Mga – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 16 11 February 1943 10:19 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10621 northeast of Lyuban 46 13 July 1943 14:14 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63273 northwest of Bolkhov 17 23 February 1943 13:47 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 19842 northeast of Staraya Russa 47 13 July 1943 14:16 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63254 east-southeast of Oryol 18 27 February 1943 15:26 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 28311 west-northwest of Demyansk 48 14 July 1943 14:15 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54362 east-southeast of Zhizdra 19 27 February 1943 15:38 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18492 west-southwest of Demyansk 49 14 July 1943 14:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54333 east-southeast of Zhizdra 20 28 February 1943 13:55 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 18382 north of Chełm 50 17 July 1943 06:47 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54613 west of Bolkhov 21 28 February 1943 13:57 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18382 north of Chełm 51 18 July 1943 19:18 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54455 northwest of Bolkhov 22 5 March 1943 16:16 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18364 south of Staraya Russa 52 19 July 1943 11:41 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 54623 west of Bolkhov 23 5 March 1943 16:17 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18362 south of Staraya Russa 53 19 July 1943 11:43 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 54622 west of Bolkhov 24 7 March 1943 09:22 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 18274 southeast of Staraya Russa 54 21 July 1943 07:13 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63211 east of Oryol 25 7 March 1943 15:55 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 18472 west-southwest of Demyansk 55 28 July 1943 09:15 Pe-2 PQ 36 Ost 10243 east-southeast of Shlisselburg 26 7 March 1943 15:57 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18473 west-southwest of Demyansk 56 28 July 1943 09:18 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10172vicinity of Mga 27 14 March 1943 13:58? P-40 PQ 35 Ost 18452 west of Demyansk 57 28 July 1943 14:56 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10441 southeast of Mga 28 15 March 1943 15:53 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18272 southeast of Staraya Russa 58 29 July 1943 08:05 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10194east of Mga 29 18 March 1943 09:18 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18221 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 59 29 July 1943 08:08 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10413 east-southeast of Mga 30 19 March 1943 15:24 Pe-2 PQ 36 Ost 00412 east of Pushkin 60 29 July 1943 08:11 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10191south of Shlisselburg 31 23 March 1943 08:06 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 00411 east of Pushkin 61 31 July 1943 13:54 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 10142south of Shlisselburg 32 17 May 1943 05:09 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10742 south-southwest of Lyuban 62 1 August 1943 06:31 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10142south of Shlisselburg 33 22 May 1943 10:56 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 21893 63♠ 2 August 1943 10:25 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10182east of Mga 34 22 May 1943 10:58 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 20222 64♠ 2 August 1943 12:55 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10322 southeast of Mga 35 30 May 1943 13:44 Yak-1 PQ 36 Ost 10113vicinity of Shlisselburg 65♠ 2 August 1943 12:57 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10323 southeast of Mga 36 30 May 1943 20:16 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 11773 northwest of Spaskaja-Polist 66♠ 2 August 1943 13:24 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10331 east-southeast of Mga 37 3 June 1943 12:57? Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 90141 west-southwest of Lomomosov 67♠ 2 August 1943 13:25 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10183east of Mga 38 10 June 1943 15:52 LaGG-3 PQ 26 Ost 90121 west of Lomomosov 68♠ 2 August 1943 17:34 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10113vicinity of Shlisselburg 39 17 June 1943 05:07 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 20224 east of Volkhov 69♠ 2 August 1943 19:21 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10354 southeast of Mga 40 17 June 1943 05:17 Hurricane PQ 36 Ost 20174vicinity of Volkhov 70 11 August 1943 05:10 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 45724 north-northeast of Kirov 41 18 June 1943 12:12 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10262 west-southwest of Shlisselburg 71 12 August 1943 07:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 45751 northwest of Kirov 42 23 June 1943 20:07 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 11741 north of Shlisselburg 72 12 August 1943 07:59 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 45761 north-northeast of Kirov 43 24 June 1943 11:11 Yak-1? PQ 36 Ost 20191west of Volkhov 73 12 August 1943 16:02 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 45742 west of Kirov 44 9 July 1943 08:42 Yak-9 PQ 36 Ost 10264 west-southwest of Shlisselburg 74 14 August 1943 04:59 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 45751 northwest of Kirov 45 12 July 1943 18:19 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64882 southeast of Mtsensk 75 14 August 1943 05:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 45753 north of Kirov The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock have an unaccounted gap of six aerial victories, ranging from aerial victory 76 to 81. According to Mathews and Foreman, these six aerial victories are also not documented. 82 7 October 1943 13:39 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11794over Lake Ladoga 86♠ 8 October 1943 05:57 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01131over Lake Ladoga 83 7 October 1943 14:03 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10124east of Shlisselburg 87♠ 8 October 1943 08:24 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01411over Lake Ladoga 84♠ 8 October 1943 05:51 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 02793 88♠ 8 October 1943 08:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01413over Lake Ladoga 85♠ 8 October 1943 05:53 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 02794 89♠ 8 October 1943 08:27 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 01413over Lake Ladoga – 6. Staffel with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 1 January – 29 May 1944 90 11 January 1944 13:42 Yak-4 PQ 26 Ost 80792 southeast of Narva 100 31 March 1944 17:12 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 78243 91 25 January 1944 10:46 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 90571 southwest of Lissino 101 1 April 1944 12:45 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88392 southeast of Selo 92 25 January 1944 10:48 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 80661 east of Narva 102 2 April 1944 14:40 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 88413 southwest of Pskov 93 28 January 1944 15:10 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80663 east of Narva 103 8 April 1944 05:33 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 78291 west of Pskov 94 19 March 1944 09:36 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88133 north-northeast of Pskov 104 28 April 1944 17:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 87694vicinity of Idritsa 95 27 March 1944 06:20 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 78532, east-northeast of Petseri 105 28 April 1944 17:54 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 97572 east of Idritsa 96 27 March 1944 06:22 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 78254, east-northeast of Petseri 106 1 May 1944 11:10 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 96513 east of Polotsk 97 27 March 1944 06:24 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 7826, east-northeast of Petseri 107 1 May 1944 11:13 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 96381 southeast of Dretun 98 27 March 1944 06:26 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78264, Kriwska, east-northeast of Petseri 108 1 May 1944 11:14 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 96381 southeast of Dretun 99 31 March 1944 12:43 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 88334 south of Pskov – 6. Staffel with IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — June – 20 August 1944 9 July 1944 09:39 P-40 PQ 25 Ost 41165 21 July 1944 04:15 Yak-9 15 July 1944 13:48 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 50155over sea in the middle of the Gulf of Finland 118 12 August 1944 10:15 Yak-9 Warka The authors Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that Sterr claimed 13 undocumented aerial victories in the timeframe June to September 1944 while serving with 6. and 16. Staffel. These claims are also not listed by Mathews and Foreman. – 16. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Western Front — September 1944 126 23 September 1944 18:45 P-47 PQ 05 Ost 62256vicinity of Nijmegen 127 25 September 1944 18:05 B-25 PQ 05 Ost 52238

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (30 June 1942) 1st Class (8 January 1943) Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Bronze (10 April 1942) Silver (22 July 1942) Gold (14 September 1942) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 30 April 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 23 July 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 December 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54