Helmut Lipfert

Helmut Lipfert (6 August 1916 – 10 August 1990) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II. Lipfert ranks as the world's thirteenth fighter ace. Lipfert was credited with 203 victories achieved in 687 combat missions. All his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front and included a P-51 Mustang, 41 Yakovlev Yak-1, 41 Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters, two four-engine bombers and 39 Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. He was shot down fifteen times, without being injured.

Born in Lippelsdorf, Lipfert joined the military service in 1937, at first serving with the 1st Panzer Division before he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1941. Trained as a fighter pilot, Lipfert was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in late 1942. He claimed his first aerial victory in January 1943. In March 1943, Lipfert was appointed acting Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 52. Following his 90th aerial victory claimed, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in April 1944. In February 1945, Lipfert was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing). In April 1945, he claimed his 200th aerial victory and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Following World War II, Lipfert became a school teacher. He died on 10 August 1990 in Einbeck, West Germany.

Early life and career Lipfert was born on 6 August 1916 in Lippelsdorf, present-day a borough of Gräfenthal, at the time in Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, as part of the German Empire. Following the compulsory labour service (Reichsarbeitsdienst), Lipfert joined the military service with Nachrichten-Abteilung 37 (37th Signals Battalion), a unit of 1st Panzer Division on 3 November 1937.

World War II World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Lipfert, who held the rank of Unteroffizier (sergeant), participated in the Invasion of Poland and in the Battle of France as a member of the 1st Panzer Division. In early 1941, he transferred to the Luftwaffe where he trained as a fighter pilot. He was promoted to Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel (officer cadet) on 16 June 1942 and to Leutnant (second lientenant) on 1 August 1942.

Lipfert was then posted to the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group, East) based at Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France and then via the Frontleitstelle Krakau, front dispatch center based at Krakau, to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on 16 December 1942. At the time, JG 52 was based on the southern sector of the Eastern Front in the vicinity of Stalingrad. His 6. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Rudolf Resch and subordinated to II. Gruppe (4th group) of JG 52 headed by Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff. The Gruppe was based at an airfield near Morozovsk and fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Eastern Front On 18 December 1942, on one of his first combat missions, Lipfert made a forced landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummber 14154—factory number) due to engine failure. He is remembered by contemporaries as a consistent, professional pilot and leader. He withdrew often from squadron mates into long periods of contemplation. On 22 January 1943, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Rostov-on-Don. There, Lipfert claimed his first aerial victory over a Lavochkin La-5, a radial engined fighter aircraft, on the 30 January, near Malaya Balabinka, approximately east of Rostov-on-Don.

On 20 March 1943, Lipfert was appointed acting Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 52. He replaced Leutnant Wolf-Dieter von Coester in this capacity who had been killed in action that day. Following the death of Oberleutnant Karl Ritzenberger on 24 May, Lipfert was transferred to take command of 6. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 52. He was succeeded by Leutnant Heinrich Sturm as commander of 4. Staffel.

On 8 October, he shot down five Russian aircraft (kills 30 to 34). Four more are shot down on 5 December and his score raises to 72. By the end of 1943 his victories total had reached 80, making him the fourth most successful active fighter pilot of II. Gruppe. On 28 January 1944, Lipfert was awarded the German Cross in Gold . On 5 April, his 90th air victory had won him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . Six days later, 11 April 1944, an "all-white Sturmovik" provided him with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 69th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

The last Germans had to evacuate from Crimea in May, retiring to Kherson. There, the Luftwaffe Gruppen were subjected to near-constant Soviet bombing raids, and Lipfert's 6./JG 52, in particular, lost a number of aircraft. On 11 June 1944 he destroyed his first United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) four engined bomber, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress north-northwest of Tătăruși, his 127th aerial victory. Two weeks later, on the 24 of June, he downed a Consolidated B-24 Liberator over Ștefănești in the historical Romanian region of Moldavia, his 128th claim. His 150th claim was filed on 24 October 1944, a Yakovlev Yak-7 over Feherto, Hungary.

Group commander Lipfert was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) on 15 February 1945. He thus replaced Hauptmann Erich Hartmann who had briefly led the Gruppe after its former commander, Major Jürgen Harder, was transferred. Command of 6. Staffel of JG 52 was given to Leutnant Heinz Ewald. At the time, the Gruppe was based in Veszprém and had been fighting in the siege of Budapest, where German forces had surrendered on 13 February. The Gruppe then supported German forces in Operation Southwind, eliminating the Soviet bridgehead on the west bank of the river Hron, predominantly fighting over Esztergom. On 20 February, Lipfert was ordered to move the Gruppe to Piešťany, located approximately northeast of Vienna, where they arrived the following day. The following day, I. Gruppe again flew combat air patrols over Esztergom. That day, Lipfert claimed his first two aerial victories with JG 53 when he shot down a La-5 and Yak-3 fighter, taking his total to 181. By 25 February, German forces had eliminated the Soviet bridgehead west of the Hron. That day, I. Gruppe flew combat missions to Zvolen . On a morning mission, Lipfert claimed a Yak-9 fighter shot down.

On 26 February, water from the Váh started flooding the airfield at Piešťany. The airfield had to be abandoned and I. Gruppe first moved to Pápa before returning to Veszprém on 28 February. Lipfert claimed his 183rd aerial victory, an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, on 8 March. The following day, German forces attacked Soviet positions on both sides of Lake Balaton during Operation Spring Awakening. Supporting this operation, I. Gruppe flew many missions to the combat areas near Zvolen and Székesfehérvár . On 11 March, Lipfert shot down a Yak-3 fighter near Sárbogárd and another Yak-3 near Siófok. From 12 to 17 March, I. Gruppe continued fighting in the vicinity of Székesfehérvár. In this timeframe, Lipfert claimed his 186th aerial victory on 13 March, his 187th and 188th on 14 March, and his 189th on 17 March. On 20 March, with Soviet forces advancing, ground combat shifted to the area north of Lake Velence and to Székesfehérvár. Flying his second mission of the day, Lipfert shot down two Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, the first near Székesfehérvár, the second near Várpalota. On 22 March, the airfield Veszprém was taken by Soviet forces and the Gruppe relocated to Pápa where they were joined by the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing).

On 5 April, I. Gruppe moved from Fels am Wagram to Brno. Three days later, Lipfert claimed his 200th aerial victory in the vicinity of Hainburg an der Donau, west of Bratislava. He flew his last and 687th combat mission on 16 April, claiming a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter shot down, taking his total to 203 aerial victories. The next day, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . He was the 837th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. The presentation was made by Generalleutnant Paul Deichmann, commanding general of I. Fliegerkorps (1st Air Corps), on 17 April.

Later life After the war, Lipfert became a school teacher, and was seldom seen by his war comrades. He died on 10 August 1990 at the age of in Einbeck. He was buried at the local cemetery in Einbeck.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Lipfert was credited with 203 aerial victories. According to Spick, Lipfert was credited with 203 aerial victories claimed in approximately 700 combat missions. All of his aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front and includes two USAAF four-engine bombers claimed over Romania. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 200 aerial victory claims, plus six further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 198 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and two on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber. The authors Daniel and Gabor Horvath compared Soviet enemy loss reports to Lipfert's claims over Hungary. In the timeframe 17 October 1944 to 21 March 1945, Lipfert claimed 52 aerial victories, while the authors found 48 matching Soviet losses, a corroboration of 92%.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 08693". 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 52 – 1 30 January 1943 12:47 La-5 PQ 08693, north of Malaya-Balabinka 92 7 April 1944 07:27 Yak-7 north-northeast of Tschumak north-northeast of Tschumak 2 25 February 1943 14:58 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 86763, west of Fedorowskaja 93 8 April 1944 14:22 Il-2 m.H. east of Tschigary east of Tschigary 3 28 February 1943 13:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75433, southeast of Novorossijsk 94 8 April 1944 14:32 R-5 southeast of Iwanówka southeast of Iwanówka 4 7 March 1943 08:20 R-5 north of Popowitschewskaja 95 9 April 1944 14:40 Yak-7 Tomaschewka east of Tomaschewka 5 7 March 1943 08:23 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 86731, Iwanowskaja 96 9 April 1944 15:58 Pe-2 Gramatikovo north of Gramatikovo 6 14 March 1943 06:56 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75431, southeast of Novorossijsk 97 10 April 1944 08:16 Yak-7 Tomaschewka east of Tomaschewka 7? 30 March 1943 06:26 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 86571, northwest of Slavyanskaya 98 10 April 1944 12:12 Il-2 m.H. southeast of Megasinka 8? 30 March 1943 15:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76651, northwest of Anastasiewskaja 99 11 April 1944 07:02 Yak-7 Dzhankoi west-northwest of Dzhankoi 9? 20 April 1943 06:30 MiG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85114, northwest of Abinskaya 100 11 April 1944 09:25 Il-2 m.H. Dzhankoi northwest of Dzhankoi 10 25 June 1943 16:13 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76694, northeast of Anastasiewskaja 101 15 April 1944 10:47? Il-2 m.H. Sevastopol southeast of Sevastopol 11 25 June 1943 16:23 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76692, southwest of Deschi 102 17 April 1944 15:49 Yak-7 Dzhankoi south of Dzhankoi 12 16 July 1943 05:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 86232, northwest of Krymskaja 103 19 April 1944 14:21 P-40 Sevastopol northwest of Sevastopol 13 19 July 1943 13:55 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75263, southwest of Bakanskaja 104 19 April 1944 17:05 Il-2 m.H. Sevastopol southeast of Sevastopol 14 21 July 1943 09:37 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76831, south of Anastasiewskaja 105 22 April 1944 09:40 Boston Sevastopol southwest of Sevastopol 15 21 July 1943 16:43 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75741, southeast of Cape Utrish 106 27 April 1944 10:50 Yak-7 Kadykowka southeast of Kadykowka 16 23 July 1943 05:54 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76894, southeast of Kijewskoje 107 3 May 1944 18:35 Yak-7 north of Belbek north of Belbek 17 23 July 1943 17:33 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75264, southwest of Krymskaja 108 4 May 1944 06:44 Yak-7 west of Saky 18 3 September 1943 10:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 40262, south of Kotelwa 109 4 May 1944 09:10 Yak-7 northwest of Belbek northwest of Belbek 19 4 September 1943 17:17 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 41574, northwest of Jurewka 110 5 May 1944 10:38 Yak-7 southeast of Balaklava southeast of Balaklava 20 5 September 1943 10:30 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 60343, south of Taranowka 111 5 May 1944 10:50 Yak-7 Laspi Bay south of Laspi Bay 21 21 September 1943 07:16 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 11142, Kozelets 112 5 May 1944 14:05 Il-2 m.H. north of Belbek north of Belbek 22 24 September 1943 13:55 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 11751, northeast of Jerkowzy 113 6 May 1944 07:30 Yak-1 southwest of Belbek southwest of Belbek 23 24 September 1943 16:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 11714, south of Jerkowzy 114 6 May 1944 07:40 U-2 southwest of Belbek southwest of Belbek 24 25 September 1943 17:35 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 11782, west of Perejasslaw 115 7 May 1944 09:40 Yak-1 north of Balaklava north of Balaklava 25 28 September 1943 17:35 R-5 PQ 35 Ost 11714, west of Perejasslaw 116 7 May 1944 09:45 Yak-1 Sevastopol east-southeast of Sevastopol 26 1 October 1943 16:13 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 58163, south of Barbosta 117 7 May 1944 09:49 Yak-1 northeast of Balaklava northeast of Sevastopol 27 7 October 1943 06:57 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 39432, west of Annowka 118 30 May 1944 16:01 Yak-1? northeast of Iași northeast of Iași 28 7 October 1943 11:07 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 49774, west of Orlik 119 30 May 1944 16:04 Yak-1? northeast of Iași northeast of Iași 29 7 October 1943 11:28 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 49153, north of Orlik 120 31 May 1944 08:04 Pe-2 east of Busila east of Busila 30♠ 8 October 1943 07:05 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 66692, west of Achtanisowskaja 121 31 May 1944 14:32 Il-2 m.H. northeast of Iași northeast of Iași 31♠ 8 October 1943 08:23 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 66624, north of Jljitsch 122 4 June 1944 18:56 Yak-1 east-southeast of Soulani east-southeast of Soulani 32♠ 8 October 1943 08:35 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75543, south of Fischerei 123 5 June 1944 07:58 P-39 northeast of Zahorna northeast of Zahorna 33♠ 8 October 1943 15:33 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 6669, northeast of Taman 124 5 June 1944 08:01 Yak-7 north of Zahorna north of Zahorna 34♠ 8 October 1943 15:42 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 66692, west of Achtanisowskaja 125 5 June 1944 11:35 Yak-7 southwest of Carpiti southwest of Carpiti 35 10 October 1943 13:05 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 39291, northwest of Mishorin-Rog 126? 5 June 1944 11:45 Boston south of Românești south of Românești 36 10 October 1943 13:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 49312, south of Borodajewka 127? 11 June 1944 09:45 B-17 north-northwest of Tataturi north-northwest of Tataturi 37 20 October 1943 07:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 39453, south of Popelnastoje 128 24 June 1944 09:42 B-24 southwest of Ștefănești southwest of Ștefănești 38 21 October 1943 05:55 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 39482, northwest of Pjatichatki 129 27 June 1944 10:34 Il-2 m.H. northeast of Jasski northeast of Jasski 39 21 October 1943 06:08 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 49372, southwest of Werchnedjeprowsk 130 14 July 1944 07:55 P-39 Shchurovychi northwest of Shchurovychi 40 21 October 1943 12:30 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 39612, northwest of Pjatichatki 131 15 July 1944 15:20 Yak-7 northwest of Horokhiv northwest of Horokhiv 41 26 October 1943 07:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 57123, south of Melitopol 132 16 July 1944 13:23 Il-2 m.H. southern edge of Plowe 42 26 October 1943 07:17 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 57152, northwest of Melitopol 133 16 July 1944 13:27 Yak-7 southwest of Stojanow southwest of Stojanow 43 29 October 1943 07:00 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 47331, northeast of Agaiman 134 18 July 1944 15:12 La-5 west of Zaczernecze west of Zaczernecze 44 2 November 1943 09:25 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 3767, southeast of Chaplynka 135 18 July 1944 18:12 Yak-7 north of Turce 45 5 November 1943 10:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66734, south of Kerch 136 19 July 1944 16:40 P-39 northeast of Liuboml northeast of Liuboml 46 6 November 1943 11:55 Yak-7 PQ 34 Ost 66732, southeast of Eltigen 137 19 July 1944 16:41 P-39 northern edge of Liuboml 47 11 November 1943 13:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 66871, east of Katerles 138 19 July 1944 16:45 Il-2 m.H. southeast of Liuboml southeast of Liuboml 48 11 November 1943 13:50 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66533, northeast of Bagerovo 139 20 July 1944 11:10 Yak-9 northwest of Liuboml northwest of Liuboml 49 12 November 1943 08:51 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66871, east of Kerch 140 21 July 1944 06:25 Yak-7 northwest of Busk northwest of Busk 50 12 November 1943 10:47 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 6664, northwest of Bakssy 22 July 1944 Boston vicinity of Strij 51 13 November 1943 05:43 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66562, south of Bulganak 141 24 July 1944 18:41 Yak-9 south of Tuczana south of Tuczana 52 13 November 1943 05:47 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66642, north of Majak 2 August 1944 unknown 53 14 November 1943 09:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66732, east of Eltigen 142 14 August 1944 17:14 P-39 southwest of Sobotka southwest of Sobotka 54 14 November 1943 13:50 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 66531, west-northwest of Katerles 143 16 August 1944 16:35 Yak-11 east-southeast of Opatow east-southeast of Opatow 55 15 November 1943 06:15 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 66643, Kolonka 144 23 August 1944 17:25 Yak-7 southeast of Gaidar southeast of Gaidar 56 19 November 1943 06:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66821, west of Taman 23 August 1944 Yak vicinity of Galatz 57 20 November 1943 06:40 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 66623, west of Jlitsch 145 31 August 1944 10:20 P-51 PQ 47257 south of Lövér 58 21 November 1943 07:00 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 66712, east of Eltigen 146 17 October 1944 10:38 Yak-11 Hosszúpályi southeast of Hosszúpályi 59 21 November 1943 07:05 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66814, southwest of Taman 147 21 October 1944 10:52 La-5 southeast of Ócsa southeast of Ócsa 60 27 November 1943 09:48 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 47771, south of Gromovka 148 23 October 1944 15:31 Il-2 m.H. southeast of Szolnok southeast of Szolnok 61 27 November 1943 14:40 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 66732, east of Eltigen 149 23 October 1944 15:32 Il-2 m.H. northeast of Szolnok northeast of Szolnok 62 29 November 1943 14:21 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66734, southeast of Eltigen 150 24 October 1944 09:22 Yak-7 northwest of Fehértó northwest of Fehértó 63 30 November 1943 06:10 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66792, south of Cape Takyl 151 27 October 1944 12:17 Il-2 m.H. Bűdszentmihály southwest of Bűdszentmihály 64 30 November 1943 13:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66733, southwest of Eltigen 152 27 October 1944 12:21 Yak-7 Bűdszentmihály south of Bűdszentmihály 65 1 December 1943 11:47 Yak-1 southwest of Taman 153 13 November 1944 12:45 Yak-3 southeast of Jászberény southeast of Jászberény 66 2 December 1943 06:39 Yak-1 southwest of Cape Takyl 154 16 November 1944 12:39 Yak-11 west of Tura 67 2 December 1943 06:48 LaGG-3 east of Feodosja 155 17 November 1944 11:05 Il-2 m.H. northwest of Jászberény south of Jászberény 68 2 December 1943 06:55 LaGG-3 south of Cape Takyl 156 17 November 1944 11:10 Il-2 m.H. northwest of Jászberény northwest of Jászberény 69 5 December 1943 07:25 Yak-7 south of Kossa Tusla 157 17 November 1944 13:20 Il-2 m.H.? northwest of Jászberény northwest of Jászberény 70 5 December 1943 07:32 Yak-1 west of Taman 158 23 November 1944 10:40 Yak-9 southeast of Atkár southeast of Atkár 71 5 December 1943 10:23 P-39 Kossa Tusla 159 5 December 1944 10:30 Yak-9 southeast of Hatvan southeast of Hatvan 72 5 December 1943 13:55 Il-2 m.H. southwest of Kossa Tusla 160 9 December 1944 15:05 Il-2 m.H. southwest of Csajág southwest of Csajág 73 8 December 1943 07:58 Il-2 m.H. north of Katerles 161 11 December 1944 14:53 Pe-2 Balatonkenese southeast of Lake Balaton 74 9 December 1943 11:15 Yak-1 north of Taman 162 22 December 1944 09:37 Il-2 m.H. Székesfehérvár north of Székesfehérvár 75 11 December 1943 11:37 Yak-7 northeast of Majak 163 23 December 1944 10:48 Yak-9 south of Enying 76 17 December 1943 06:43 Pe-2 southeast of Starotitarowskaja 164 24 December 1944 14:25 Il-2 m.H. north of Seregélyes north of Seregélyes 77 27 December 1943 12:08 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 66642, northeast of Majak 165 25 December 1944 12:08 Yak-9 Székesfehérvár northwest of Székesfehérvár 78 28 December 1943 07:16 R-5 northwest of Majak 166 25 December 1944 12:15 Yak-9 southeast of Mór 79 29 December 1943 07:12 Yak-1 west of Malikut 167 2 January 1945 11:15 La-5 eastern edge of Bodmér 80 29 December 1943 10:05 Boston southwest of Majak 168 2 January 1945 11:45 Yak-9 east of Vereb 81 11 January 1944 11:27 P-39 north of Cape Tarchan north of Cape Tarchan 169 4 January 1945 08:26 Il-2 m.H. south of Tarján 82 17 January 1944 06:46 LaGG-3 southeast of Bulganak southeast of Bulganak 170 4 January 1945 08:28 Il-2 m.H. southwest of Tarján 83 21 January 1944 11:53 Il-2 m.H. Tschurubasch southwest of Tschurubasch 171 4 January 1945 10:41 Yak-9 northwest of Bicske 84 23 January 1944 07:08 Yak-7 vicinity of KerchKerch harbor 172 4 January 1945 11:12 La-5 southeast of Tardos 85 23 January 1944 12:08 Yak-7 Kerch harbor 173 8 January 1945 14:13 Boston southeast of Székesfehérvár 86 24 January 1944 06:30 P-39 northern edge of Kerch 174 8 January 1945 14:18 Boston northwest of Székesfehérvár 87 25 January 1944 12:27 Yak-1 east of Bulganak east of Bulganak 175 14 January 1945 12:11 Yak-3 northwest of Mužla 88 25 January 1944 12:40 Boston Kossa Tusla northeast of Kossa Tusla 176 14 January 1945 14:36 Yak-3 southwest of Mužla 89? 1 April 1944 09:25 LaGG-3 southeast of Feodosia southeast of Feodosia 177 16 January 1945 12:17 La-5 north of Budaörs 90 1 April 1944 09:33 LaGG-3 northeast of Feodosia northeast of Feodosia 178 22 January 1945 13:24 La-5 northeast of Székesfehérvár 91 7 April 1944 07:19 Yak-7 north of Taganaja north of Taganaja 179 27 January 1945 14:45 Il-2 m.H. northwest of Adony – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 – 180 22 February 1945 14:00 La-5 Bart 192 21 March 1945 11:58 La-5 vicinity of Lake Balaton 181 22 February 1945 16:25 Yak-3 Bíňa 193 21 March 1945 15:30 Yak-5 southwest of Felsőgalla 182 25 February 1945 10:53 Yak-9 south of Zvolen 194 27 March 1945 14:15 Yak-9 southeast of Nitra 183 8 March 1945 14:10 Il-2 west of Szapolsc 195 27 March 1945 14:18 Il-2 south of Nitra 184 11 March 1945 10:35 Yak-3 southwest of Sárbogárd 196 27 March 1945 16:55 Yak-9 southeast of Nitra 185 11 March 1945 14:05 Yak-3 south of Siófok 197 28 March 1945 17:12 Yak-3 south of Nitra 186 13 March 1945 10:13 Yak-7 south of Pákozd 198 1 April 1945 16:05 La-7 east of Nemetdiszeg 187 14 March 1945 12:07 La-5 southeast of Székesfehérvár 199 5 April 1945 09:45 La-7 north of Gairing 188 14 March 1945 12:11 Il-2 west of Pákozd 200 8 April 1945 15:54 La-7 east of Hainburg 189 17 March 1945 16:15 Il-2 Lake Velence 201 9 April 1945 17:20 La-7 northeast of Lundenburg 190 20 March 1945 15:33 Il-2 southeast of Székesfehérvár 202 14 April 1945 15:00 Yak-9 Stockerau 191 20 March 1945 15:41 Il-2 southwest of Várpalota 203 16 April 1945 11:20 Yak-9 north-northwest of Göding

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (12 March 1943) 1st Class (29 April 1943) Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold (26 April 1943) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 December 1943 as Leutnant and pilot German Cross in Gold on 28 January 1944 as Leutnant in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 52 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 5 April 1944 as Leutnant of the Reserves and Staffelführer of the 6./Jagdgeschwader 52 837th Oak Leaves on 17 April 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 53