List of German World War II night fighter aces

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.

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.

Name Rank Night
victories claimed		 Day
victories claimed		 Total wartime
victories claimed		 Unit Notes
Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer[5] Major 121[6]/119[7] 0 121 NJG 1, NJG 4 Nicknamed "The Spook of St. Trond",
Helmut Lent*[5] Oberst 102 8 110[6]/112[8] ZG 76, NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 3 killed in flying accident 7 October 1944
Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein*[5] Major 83[6]/79[9] 0 83 NJG 2 killed in action 21 January 1944
Werner Streib[5] Oberst 67 1 68 ZG 1, NJG 1
—
—
Manfred Meurer*[5] Hauptmann 65 0 65 NJG 1, NJG 5 killed in action 21 January 1944
—
Günther Radusch[5] Oberst 64[10] 1 65 ZG 1, NJG 1, NJG 3, NJG 2
—
—
Rudolf Schoenert[5] Major 64[11] 0 64 NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 3, NJG 100, NJGr 10, NJG 5
—
—
Heinz Rökker[5] Hauptmann 63 1 64 NJG 2
—
—
Paul Zorner[5] Major 59 0 59 NJG 2, NJG 3, NJG 100, NJG 5
—
—
Martin Becker[5] Hauptmann 58 0 58 NJG 4, NJG 6
—
—
Gerhard Raht Hauptmann 58[5]/59[10] 0 58[12]/59[13] NJG 3, NJG 2
—
—
Wilhelm Herget[5] Major 57 16 73 ZG 76, NJG 3, NJG 1, NJG 4, JV 44
—
—
Kurt Welter[5] Oberleutnant 56 7 63 JG 301, Kdo Welter, NJG 11
—
—
Gustav Francsi[5] Oberleutnant 56 0 56 NJG 100
—
—
Josef Kraft[5] Hauptmann 56 0 56 NJG 4, NJG 5, NJG 6, NJG 1
—
—
Heinz Strüning*[5] Hauptmann 56 0 56 ZG 26, NJG 2, NJG 1 killed in action 25 December 1944
Hans-Dieter Frank*[5] Hauptmann 55 0 55 ZG 1, NJG 1 killed in action 27 September 1943
—
Heinz Vinke*[5] Oberfeldwebel 54 0 54 NJG 1 killed in action 26 February 1944
August Geiger*[5] Hauptmann 53 0 53 NJG 1 killed in action 29 September 1943
—
Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld*[5] Major 51 0 51 ZG 76, NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 5 killed in flying accident 22 March 1944
Werner Hoffmann[5] Major 50 1 51 ZG 52, ZG 2, NJG 3, NJG 5
—
—
Reinhard Kollak[5] Stabsfeldwebel 49 0 49 NJG 1, NJG 4
—
—
Hermann Greiner[5] Hauptmann 47 4 51 NJG 1
—
—
Herbert Lütje[5] Oberstleutnant 47 3 50 NJG 1, NJG 6
—
Johannes Hager[14] Hauptmann 47 1 48 NJG 1
—
—
Paul Gildner*[15] Oberleutnant 46 2 48 ZG 1, NJG 1 killed in action 24 February 1943
—
Hans-Heinz Augenstein*[16] Hauptmann 46 0 46 NJG 1 killed in action 7 December 1944
—
Paul Semrau*[17] Major 46[18] 0 46 NJG 2 killed in action 8 February 1945
Ernst-Georg Drünkler[19] Hauptmann 45 2 47 ZG 2, NJG 1, NJG 5
—
—
Rudolf Frank*[20] Leutnant 45 0 45 NJG 3 killed in action 27 April 1944
—
Alois Lechner*[21] Major 45 0 45 NJG 2, NJG 100 missing in action 23 February 1944
—
Ludwig Becker*[15] Hauptmann 44 0 46 NJG 1, NJG 2 killed in action 26 February 1943
—
Reinhold Knacke*[22] Hauptmann 44 0 44 ZG 1, NJG 1 killed in action 3 February 1943
—
Walter Borchers*[23] Oberstleutnant 43 16 59 NJG 5 killed in action 6 March 1945
—
Martin Drewes[17] Major 43 6 49 ZG 76, NJG 1
—
—
Werner Baake[24] Hauptmann 41 0 41 NJG 1
—
—
Dietrich Schmidt[25] Hauptmann 40 0 40 NJG 1
—
—
Leopold Fellerer[26] Hauptmann 39 2 41 NJG 1, NJG 5, NJG 6
—
—
Ludwig Meister[27] Hauptmann 38 1 39 NJG 1, NJG 4
—
—
Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin[28] Major 37 2 39 NJG 1, NJG 102
—
—
Walter Ehle*[29] Major 35 4 39 ZG 1, NJG 1 killed in flying accident 18 November 1943
—
Wilhelm Beier[30] Oberleutnant 38 0 38 NJG 2, NJG 1, NJG 3
—
—
Helmut Bergmann*[31] Hauptmann 36[32] 0 36 NJG 4, NJG 1 killed in action 6 August 1944
—
Günther Bertram Oberleutnant 35[32] 0 35 NJG 100
—
—
Günther Bahr[33] Oberfeldwebel 34 3 37 SKG 210, NJG 4, NJG 6
—
—
Heinz-Horst Hißbach*[34] Hauptmann 34 0 34 NJG 2 killed in action 14 April 1945
—
Werner Husemann[35] Major 34 0 34 NJG 1, NJG 3
—
—
Wilhelm Johnen[36] Hauptmann 34 0 34 NJG 1, NJG 5, NJG 6
—
—
Ernst-Wilhelm Modrow[37] Hauptmann 34 0 34 NJG 1
—
—
Heinz-Martin Hadeball[38] Hauptmann 33 0 33 NJG 1, NJG 4, NJG 6, NJGr 10
—
—
Karl-Heinz Scherfling*[39] Oberfeldwebel 33 0 33 NJG 1 killed in action 21 July 1944
—
Paul-Hubert Rauh[40] Major 31 0 31 NJG 1, NJG 4
—
—
Gerhard Friedrich*[41] Major 30 0 30 NJG 4, NJG 6 killed in action 16 March 1945
—
Heinz Ferger*[42] Hauptmann 30 0 30 NJG 2, NJG 3 killed in action 10 April 1945
—
Hans Leickhardt*[43] Major 30 0 30 NJG 3, NJG 1, NJG 5 missing in action 5 March 1945
—
Friedrich-Karl Müller[44] Major 30 0 30 JG 300, NJGr 10
—
—
Heinrich Wohlers*[45] Major 29 0 29 NJG 1, NJG 4, NJG 6 killed in flying accident 15 March 1944
—
Paul Szameitat*[46] Hauptmann 28 1 29 NJG 1, NJG 5, NJG 3 killed in action 2 January 1944
—
Hans-Joachim Jabs[47] Oberstleutnant 28 22 50 ZG 76, NJG 1
—
Fritz Lau[48] Hauptmann 28 0 28 NJG 1
—
—
Johannes Krause Hauptmann 28 0 28 NJG 3, NJG 4, NJG 101
—
—
Rudolf Sigmund*[49] Hauptmann 27 2 28 NJG 1 killed in action 4 October 1943
—
Heinz Grimm*[50] Leutnant 26 1 27 NJG 1 died of wounds 13 October 1943
—
Alfons Köster*[51] Hauptmann 25 1 26 NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 3 killed in action 6 January 1945
—
Helmuth Schulte[52] Hauptmann 25 0 25 NJG 5, NJG 6
—
—
Lothar Linke*[53] Oberleutnant 24[Note 1] 3 27 ZG 76, NJG 1, NJG 2 killed in action 14 May 1943
—
Peter Spoden Hauptmann 24[54]/23[55] 0 0 NJG 5, NJG 6
—
—
Wolfgang Thimmig[54] Oberstleutnant 23[55] 0 23 NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 4
—
—
Hans Autenrieth Hauptmann 23[56]/22[57] 0 23 NJG 1, NJG 4
—
—
Horst Patuschka*[58] Hauptmann 23 0 23 NJG 2 killed in flying accident 6 March 1943
—
Rudolf Altendorf Hauptmann 22+[10] 2 29[56]/24[59] ZG 2, LG 1, NJG 3, NJG 4, NJG 5
—
—
Josef Kociok* Oberfeldwebel 21[60] 12[60] 33[61] ZG 76, SKG 210, 10(NJ)/ZG 1, NJG 200 killed in action 26 September 1943
Robert Wolf* Leutnant 21[45] 0 21 NJG 5 killed in action 23 April 1944
—
Hans Berschwinger* Oberfeldwebel 20[62] 0 20 NJG 1, NJG 2 killed in action 15 February 1944
—
Reinhold Eckardt* Oberleutnant 19[62] 3[62] 22[63] NJG 1, NJG 3 killed in action 30 July 1942
—
Adolf Breves[62] Hauptmann 18 0 18 NJG 1
—
—
Wolfgang Schneeweis*[64] Hauptmann 17 0 17 NJG 200 missing in action 28/29 July 1943
—
Helmut Woltersdorf*[45] Oberleutnant 16 8 24 ZG 141, ZG 76, NJG 1 killed in action 2 June 1942
—
Hermann Wischnewski Oberfähnrich 16[54] 2 18 JG 300
—
—
Joachim Wandel* Hauptmann 16[65] 59 75[66] JG 54 killed in action 7 October 1942
—
Georg Kraft* Feldwebel 15[60] 0 15 NJG 1 killed in action 18 August 1943
—
Klaus Bretschneider*[67] Oberleutnant 14[62] 20 34 JG 300 killed in action 24 December 1944
—
Hans Hahn*[14] Leutnant 13 0 13 NJG 2 killed in flying accident 11 October 1941
—
Engelbert Heiner* Oberfeldwebel 11[42] 0 11 NJG 6 killed in action 19 March 1945
—
Ernst Zechlin Hauptmann 10[45] 0 10 NJG 2, NJG 5
—
—
Heinz Oberheide* Feldwebel 10[43]/7[68] 0 10[43]/7[68] NJG 3 killed in action 8 February 1945
—
Hajo Herrmann Oberst 9[42] 0 9 JG 300
—
Ernst-Erich Hirschfeld*[34] Oberleutnant 8[60] 16[60] 24 JG 300 killed in action 28 July 1944
—
Ulrich Wulff* Oberleutnant 8[45] 0 8 NJG 5 killed in action 16 December 1943
—
Karl-Heinz Becker Hauptmann 7[56] 0 7 NJG 11
—
—
Robert Plewa* Oberleutnant 6[69] 0 6[70] JG 300 Killed when plane ran out of fuel 29/30 September
—
Horst Henning Hauptmann 6[42] 0 6 NJG 3
—
—

Notes

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

References

Citations

  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 241.
  3. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 14.
  4. ^ Spick 1996, p. 6.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Scutts 1998, p. 88.
  6. ^ a b c Spick 1996, p. 242.
  7. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1519.
  8. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1505.
  9. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1517.
  10. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1542.
  11. ^ Spick 1996, p. 243.
  12. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 75.
  13. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1514.
  14. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 127.
  15. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 56.
  16. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 82.
  17. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Heaton & Lewis 2008, p. 149.
  33. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 84.
  34. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d Aders 1978, p. 234.
  43. ^ a b c d Aders 1978, p. 236.
  44. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 171.
  45. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c Aders 1978, p. 238.
  55. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1525.
  56. ^ a b c Aders 1978, p. 232.
  57. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1480.
  58. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 177.
  59. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1479.
  60. ^ a b c d e Aders 1978, p. 235.
  61. ^ Spick 1996, p. 245.
  62. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b 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.
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