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 ().

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.Template:Refn

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
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Lang an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.   This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Lang did not receive credit.   This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.   This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.   This and the * (asterisk) indicates those aerial victories listed by Caldwell, Prien, Balke, Stemmer and Bock.   This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
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 00333 vicinity of Pushkin	12	12	30 July 1943	08:50	P-39	PQ 36 Ost 10194 east of Mga
2	2	30 May 1943	20:19	P-40	PQ 36 Ost 10151 southeast of Schlüsselburg	13	13	1 August 1943	05:20	P-39	PQ 36 Ost 10144 south 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 10163 southeast of Schlüsselburg
4	4	13 July 1943	09:05	Il-2 m.H.Template:Refn	PQ 35 Ost 63231 southwest of Belyov	15	15	1 August 1943	12:34	P-39	PQ 36 Ost 10142 south of Schlüsselburg
5	5	13 July 1943	09:08	Il-2 m.H.?Template:Refn	PQ 35 Ost 63252 east-southeast of Oryol	16	16	1 August 1943	12:39	P-40	PQ 36 Ost 10172 vicinity of Mga
6	6	13 July 1943	19:05	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 64763	17	17	13 September 1943	12:48	Pe-2?Template:Refn	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 Khodoriv east 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 YashnykyTemplate:Refn	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 88351 vicinity of Selo
78♠	74	22 October 1943	12:10	Yak-9	north of Yashnyky	136	134	2 April 1944	13:40?Template:Refn	Yak-9	PQ 25 Ost 88551 east of Ostrov
79♠	75	22 October 1943	12:11	Yak-9	east of Yashnyky	137	135	2 April 1944	13:45?Template:Refn	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?Template:Refn	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 88359 vicinity 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 88356 vicinity of Selo
83♠	79	23 October 1943	15:14	Yak-9	east of Gruschewo	141	139	4 April 1944	16:04?Template:Refn	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 88359 vicinity 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 88355 vicinity 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 6-9 Oranienburg	153	151	20 June 1944	16:20	P-51	PQ 04 Ost N/AC-4 west of Saint-André-de-l'Eure
145	143	28 May 1944	14:23	P-38	PQ 15 Ost FD 9 Tangermünde	154	152	20 June 1944	16:21	P-51	PQ 04 Ost N/AB-6 north 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-7/8 Évreux
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-7/8 Évreux
148	146	14 June 1944	07:29	P-47	PQ 04 Ost N/AC-3 Pacy-sur-Eure/Évreux	157	155	24 June 1944	07:21	P-51	PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8 Évreux
149	147	14 June 1944	07:31	P-47	PQ 04 Ost N/AC-6 east of Saint-André-de-l'Eure	158	156	24 June 1944	07:22	P-51	PQ 05 Ost S/UC-7/8 Évreux
150	148	14 June 1944	07:32	P-47	PQ 04 Ost N/AC-4 Ivry-la-Bataille/Dreux	159	157	26 June 1944	11:03	Spitfire	PQ 05 Ost S/UB-9/2 southeast of Bernay
151	149	20 June 1944	16:17	P-51	PQ 04 Ost N/AC-5 Saint-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-4 Saint-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 UA Caen	167	166	23 August 1944	13:40	Spitfire	PQ 05 Ost UE north of Paris
161	160	9 July 1944	13:21	Spitfire	PQ 15 West UU/PQ 05 Ost UA Caen	168	167	25 August 1944	13:43	P-38	PQ 05 Ost TD west of Beauvais
162	161	9 July 1944	13:24	Spitfire	PQ 15 West UU/PQ 05 Ost UA Caen	169	168	25 August 1944	13:45	P-38	PQ 05 Ost UD east of Vernon
163	162	15 August 1944	12:31	P-47	Rambouillet	170	169	25 August 1944	13:48	P-38	PQ 05 Ost TD west of Beauvais
164	163	15 August 1944	12:32	P-47	Rambouillet	171	170	26 August 1944	09:17	Spitfire	PQ 05 Ost SD-7 east 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-3 Rouen
166	165	23 August 1944	13:38	Spitfire	PQ 05 Ost UE/UF northeast of Paris	173	172	26 August 1944	14:28	Spitfire	PQ 05 Ost TD-1 east 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