List of German World War II night fighter aces

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A German Bf 110G-4 night fighter at the RAF Museum in London. ME-110G-2 at RAF Hendon.jpg
A German Bf 110G-4 night fighter at the RAF Museum in London.

A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. [1] German day and night fighter pilots claimed roughly 70,000 aerial victories during World War II, 25,000 over British or American and 45,000 over Soviet flown aircraft. 103 German fighter pilots shot down more than 100 enemy aircraft for a total of roughly 15,400 aerial victories. Roughly a further 360 pilots claimed between 40 and 100 aerial victories for round about 21,000 victories. Another 500 fighter pilots claimed between 20 and 40 victories for a total of 15,000 victories. According to Obermeier, it is relatively certain, that 2,500 German fighter pilots attained ace status, having achieved at least 5 aerial victories. [2] 453 German day and Zerstörer (destroyer) pilots received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. 85 night fighter pilots, including 14 crew members, were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. [3] The list is sorted by the number of aerial victories claimed at night.

Contents

Due to the worsening war situation for Germany and Luftwaffe policies, night fighter aces remained in frontline roles until they were killed or wounded in combat or no longer capable of flying due to exhaustion. [4]

German night fighter aces

  This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the pilot was either killed in action, missing in action or killed in a flying accident.
  This and the / (slash) indicates information discrepancies listed by Aders, Obermaier, Scutts, Spick, Mathews and Foreman.

NameRankNight
victories claimed
Day
victories claimed
Total wartime
victories claimed
UnitNotes
Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer [5] Major121 [6] /119 [7] 0121 NJG 1, NJG 4 Nicknamed "The Spook of St. Trond", Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer.jpg
Helmut Lent * [5] Oberst1028110 [6] /112 [8] ZG 76, NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 3 killed in flying accident 7 October 1944 Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1987-137-10, Helmut Lent.jpg
Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein * [5] Major83 [6] /79 [9] 083 NJG 2 killed in action 21 January 1944 Sayn-Wittgenstein (cropped).jpg
Werner Streib [5] Oberst67168 ZG 1, NJG 1
Manfred Meurer * [5] Hauptmann65065 NJG 1, NJG 5 killed in action 21 January 1944
Günther Radusch [5] Oberst64 [10] 165 ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2
Rudolf Schoenert [5] Major64 [11] 064 NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 3, NJG 100, NJGr 10, NJG 5
Heinz Rökker [5] Hauptmann63164 NJG 2
Paul Zorner [5] Major59059 NJG 2, NJG 3, NJG 100, NJG 5
Martin Becker [5] Hauptmann58058 NJG 4, NJG 6
Gerhard Raht Hauptmann58 [5] /59 [10] 058 [12] /59 [13] NJG 3, NJG 2
Wilhelm Herget [5] Major571673 ZG 76, NJG 3, NJG 1, NJG 4, JV 44
Kurt Welter [5] Oberleutnant56763 JG 301, Kdo Welter, NJG 11
Gustav Francsi [5] Oberleutnant56056 NJG 100
Josef Kraft [5] Hauptmann56056 NJG 4, NJG 5, NJG 6, NJG 1
Heinz Strüning * [5] Hauptmann56056ZG 26, NJG 2, NJG 1 killed in action 25 December 1944 Heinz Struning.jpg
Hans-Dieter Frank * [5] Hauptmann55055 ZG 1, NJG 1 killed in action 27 September 1943
Heinz Vinke * [5] Oberfeldwebel54054 NJG 1 killed in action 26 February 1944 Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-533-0006-14, Pilot mit Ritterkreuz und Schwimmweste.jpg
August Geiger * [5] Hauptmann53053 NJG 1 killed in action 29 September 1943
Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld * [5] Major51051 ZG 76, NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 5 killed in flying accident 22 March 1944 Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2007-0221-500, Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld.jpg
Werner Hoffmann [5] Major50151ZG 52, ZG 2, NJG 3, NJG 5
Reinhard Kollak [5] Stabsfeldwebel49049 NJG 1, NJG 4
Hermann Greiner [5] Hauptmann47451 NJG 1
Herbert Lütje [5] Oberstleutnant47350 NJG 1, NJG 6
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2008-0505-501, Herbert Lutje.jpg
Johannes Hager [14] Hauptmann47148 NJG 1
Paul Gildner * [15] Oberleutnant46248 ZG 1, NJG 1 killed in action 24 February 1943
Hans-Heinz Augenstein * [16] Hauptmann46046 NJG 1 killed in action 7 December 1944
Paul Semrau * [17] Major46 [18] 046 NJG 2 killed in action 8 February 1945 Bundesarchiv Bild 146-2008-0024, Paul Semrau.jpg
Ernst-Georg Drünkler [19] Hauptmann45247ZG 2, NJG 1, NJG 5
Rudolf Frank * [20] Leutnant45045 NJG 3 killed in action 27 April 1944
Alois Lechner* [21] Major45045 NJG 2, NJG 100 missing in action 23 February 1944
Ludwig Becker * [15] Hauptmann44046 NJG 1, NJG 2 killed in action 26 February 1943
Reinhold Knacke * [22] Hauptmann44044 ZG 1, NJG 1 killed in action 3 February 1943
Walter Borchers * [23] Oberstleutnant431659 NJG 5 killed in action 6 March 1945
Martin Drewes [17] Major43649 ZG 76, NJG 1
Werner Baake [24] Hauptmann41041 NJG 1
Dietrich Schmidt [25] Hauptmann40040 NJG 1
Leopold Fellerer [26] Hauptmann39241 NJG 1, NJG 5, NJG 6
Ludwig Meister [27] Hauptmann38139 NJG 1, NJG 4
Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin [28] Major37239 NJG 1, NJG 102
Walter Ehle * [29] Major35439 ZG 1, NJG 1 killed in flying accident 18 November 1943
Wilhelm Beier [30] Oberleutnant38038 NJG 2, NJG 1, NJG 3
Helmut Bergmann * [31] Hauptmann36 [32] 036 NJG 4, NJG 1 killed in action 6 August 1944
Günther BertramOberleutnant35 [32] 035 NJG 100
Günther Bahr [33] Oberfeldwebel34337 SKG 210, NJG 4, NJG 6
Heinz-Horst Hißbach * [34] Hauptmann34034 NJG 2 killed in action 14 April 1945
Werner Husemann [35] Major34034 NJG 1, NJG 3
Wilhelm Johnen [36] Hauptmann34034 NJG 1, NJG 5, NJG 6
Ernst-Wilhelm Modrow [37] Hauptmann34034 NJG 1
Heinz-Martin Hadeball [38] Hauptmann33033 NJG 1, NJG 4, NJG 6, NJGr 10
Karl-Heinz Scherfling * [39] Oberfeldwebel33033 NJG 1 killed in action 21 July 1944
Paul-Hubert Rauh [40] Major31031 NJG 1, NJG 4
Gerhard Friedrich * [41] Major30030 NJG 4, NJG 6 killed in action 16 March 1945
Heinz Ferger* [42] Hauptmann30030 NJG 2, NJG 3 killed in action 10 April 1945
Hans Leickhardt* [43] Major30030 NJG 3, NJG 1, NJG 5 missing in action 5 March 1945
Friedrich-Karl Müller [44] Major30030 JG 300, NJGr 10
Heinrich Wohlers * [45] Major29029 NJG 1, NJG 4, NJG 6 killed in flying accident 15 March 1944
Paul Szameitat * [46] Hauptmann28129 NJG 1, NJG 5, NJG 3 killed in action 2 January 1944
Hans-Joachim Jabs [47] Oberstleutnant282250 ZG 76, NJG 1
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R63400, Hans-Joachim Jabs.jpg
Fritz Lau [48] Hauptmann28028 NJG 1
Johannes KrauseHauptmann28028 NJG 3, NJG 4, NJG 101
Rudolf Sigmund * [49] Hauptmann27228 NJG 1 killed in action 4 October 1943
Heinz Grimm* [50] Leutnant26127 NJG 1 died of wounds 13 October 1943
Alfons Köster * [51] Hauptmann25126 NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 3 killed in action 6 January 1945
Helmuth Schulte [52] Hauptmann25025 NJG 5, NJG 6
Lothar Linke * [53] Oberleutnant24 [Note 1] 327 ZG 76, NJG 1, NJG 2 killed in action 14 May 1943
Peter Spoden Hauptmann24 [54] /23 [55] 00 NJG 5, NJG 6
Wolfgang Thimmig [54] Oberstleutnant23 [55] 023 NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 4
Hans AutenriethHauptmann23 [56] /22 [57] 023 NJG 1, NJG 4
Horst Patuschka * [58] Hauptmann23023 NJG 2 killed in flying accident 6 March 1943
Rudolf AltendorfHauptmann22+ [10] 229 [56] /24 [59] ZG 2, LG 1, NJG 3, NJG 4, NJG 5
Josef Kociok *Oberfeldwebel21 [60] 12 [60] 33 [61] ZG 76, SKG 210, 10(NJ)/ZG 1, NJG 200 killed in action 26 September 1943 Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-641-4544-29A, Krim, Josef Kociok, Nachtjager.jpg
Robert Wolf*Leutnant21 [45] 021 NJG 5 killed in action 23 April 1944
Hans Berschwinger*Oberfeldwebel20 [62] 020 NJG 1, NJG 2 killed in action 15 February 1944
Reinhold Eckardt *Oberleutnant19 [62] 3 [62] 22 [63] NJG 1, NJG 3 killed in action 30 July 1942
Adolf Breves [62] Hauptmann18018 NJG 1
Wolfgang Schneeweis* [64] Hauptmann17017NJG 200 missing in action 28/29 July 1943
Helmut Woltersdorf * [45] Oberleutnant16824ZG 141, ZG 76, NJG 1 killed in action 2 June 1942
Hermann Wischnewski Oberfähnrich16 [54] 218 JG 300
Joachim Wandel *Hauptmann16 [65] 5975 [66] JG 54 killed in action 7 October 1942
Georg Kraft*Feldwebel15 [60] 015 NJG 1 killed in action 18 August 1943
Klaus Bretschneider * [67] Oberleutnant14 [62] 2034 JG 300 killed in action 24 December 1944
Hans Hahn * [14] Leutnant13013 NJG 2 killed in flying accident 11 October 1941
Engelbert Heiner *Oberfeldwebel11 [42] 011 NJG 6 killed in action 19 March 1945
Ernst ZechlinHauptmann10 [45] 010 NJG 2, NJG 5
Heinz Oberheide*Feldwebel10 [43] /7 [68] 010 [43] /7 [68] NJG 3 killed in action 8 February 1945
Hajo Herrmann Oberst9 [42] 09 JG 300
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1985-015-20, Hajo Herrmann.jpg
Ernst-Erich Hirschfeld * [34] Oberleutnant8 [60] 16 [60] 24 JG 300 killed in action 28 July 1944
Ulrich Wulff*Oberleutnant8 [45] 08 NJG 5 killed in action 16 December 1943
Karl-Heinz Becker Hauptmann7 [56] 07 NJG 11
Robert Plewa*Oberleutnant6 [69] 06 [70] JG 300 Killed when plane ran out of fuel 29/30 September
Horst HenningHauptmann6 [42] 06 NJG 3

Notes

  1. Linke claimed 25 aerial victories while serving with NJG 1, one of which was during a daytime mission. [43]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans-Heinz Augenstein</span> German fighter ace and Knights Cross recipient

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernhard Vechtel</span> German fighter ace and Knights Cross recipient

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert Lütje</span> German flying ace

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludwig Becker (pilot)</span> German World War II flying ace

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Borchers</span> German night fighter ace and wing commander

Walter Borchers was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. As a flying ace, he was credited with 59 aerial victories, including 43 nocturnal victories, 10 as a destroyer pilot and 6 four-engined bombers at day time, claimed in roughly 300 combat missions. Prior to his death he held the position of wing commander of the 5th Night Fighter Wing.

Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin was a German World War II night fighter pilot who served in the Luftwaffe. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He is credited with shooting down 37 enemy aircraft claimed during 150 combat missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reinhold Knacke</span> German fighter ace and Knights Cross recipient

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Wilhelm Beier was a Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Depending on source, Beier claimed 38 nocturnal aerial victories, including 14 of which flying intruder missions, intercepting bombers on their return flight to England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">August Geiger (pilot)</span> German World War II fighter pilot

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Paul Szameitat was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Szameitat claimed 29 victories, 28 at night.

Heinz-Horst Hißbach was a Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Heinz-Horst Hißbach claimed 34 aerial victories, all of them at night.

Werner Husemann was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and 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. Husemann claimed to have shot down 34 enemy aircraft, and was credited with 30 aerial victories.

Gustav-Eduard Francsi was a German night fighter ace who flew and fought in World War II.

References

Citations

  1. Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. Obermaier 1989, p. 241.
  3. Obermaier 1989, p. 14.
  4. Spick 1996, p. 6.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Scutts 1998, p. 88.
  6. 1 2 3 Spick 1996, p. 242.
  7. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1519.
  8. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1505.
  9. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1517.
  10. 1 2 3 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1542.
  11. Spick 1996, p. 243.
  12. Obermaier 1989, p. 75.
  13. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1514.
  14. 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 127.
  15. 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 56.
  16. Obermaier 1989, p. 82.
  17. 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 77.
  18. Spick 1996, p. 244.
  19. Obermaier 1989, p. 103.
  20. Obermaier 1989, p. 68.
  21. Obermaier 1989, p. 155.
  22. Obermaier 1989, p. 55.
  23. Obermaier 1989, p. 92.
  24. Obermaier 1989, p. 83.
  25. Obermaier 1989, p. 197.
  26. Obermaier 1989, p. 110.
  27. Obermaier 1989, p. 167.
  28. Obermaier 1989, p. 91.
  29. Obermaier 1989, p. 106.
  30. Obermaier 1989, p. 86.
  31. Obermaier 1989, p. 87.
  32. 1 2 Heaton & Lewis 2008, p. 149.
  33. Obermaier 1989, p. 84.
  34. 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 133.
  35. Obermaier 1989, p. 138.
  36. Obermaier 1989, p. 141.
  37. Obermaier 1989, p. 170.
  38. Obermaier 1989, p. 126.
  39. Obermaier 1989, p. 194.
  40. Obermaier 1989, p. 184.
  41. Obermaier 1989, p. 114.
  42. 1 2 3 4 Aders 1978, p. 234.
  43. 1 2 3 4 Aders 1978, p. 236.
  44. Obermaier 1989, p. 171.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 Aders 1978, p. 239.
  46. Obermaier 1989, p. 213.
  47. Obermaier 1989, p. 62.
  48. Obermaier 1989, p. 154.
  49. Obermaier 1989, p. 206.
  50. Obermaier 1989, p. 121.
  51. Obermaier 1989, p. 149.
  52. Obermaier 1989, p. 202.
  53. Obermaier 1989, p. 159.
  54. 1 2 3 Aders 1978, p. 238.
  55. 1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1525.
  56. 1 2 3 Aders 1978, p. 232.
  57. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1480.
  58. Obermaier 1989, p. 177.
  59. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1479.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 Aders 1978, p. 235.
  61. Spick 1996, p. 245.
  62. 1 2 3 4 5 Aders 1978, p. 233.
  63. Obermaier 1989, p. 105.
  64. Obermaier 1989, p. 199.
  65. Spick 1996, p. 237.
  66. Obermaier 1989, p. 220.
  67. Obermaier 1989, p. 94.
  68. 1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1512.
  69. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1544.
  70. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1513.

Bibliography

  • Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. London: Janes. ISBN   978-0-354-01247-8.
  • Heaton, Colin; Lewis, Anne-Marie (2008). Night Fighters: Luftwaffe and RAF Air Combat over Europe, 1939–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-1-59114-360-4.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN   978-1-906592-21-9.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945[The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1941 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN   978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Scutts, Jerry (1998). German Night Fighter Aces of World War 2. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 20. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN   978-1-85532-696-5.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces . New York: Ivy Books. ISBN   978-0-8041-1696-1.