Paul Gildner
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Paul Gildner
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| File:Paul Gildner.jpg | |
| Born | 1 February 1914 Nimptsch |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Gilze en Rijen, Netherlands |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |
 Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1933–43 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit | ZG 1 NJG 1 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Paul Gildner (1 February 1914 – 24 February 1943) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gildner claimed 48 aerial victories, 46 of them at night, 8 of which were four engined heavy bombers. [Note 1]
Contents
Career
Born on 1 February 1914, in Nimptsch (Silesia), Gildner was already serving as a Oberfeldwebel pilot with Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1) when war began in September 1939, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110. Gildner flew intensively during the European campaign in May–June 1940, and also flew missions during early stages of the Battle of Britain.
In August 1940, Gildner, after training in night flying, was transferred to 4. /Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1). After his first claim on 3 September 1940, he would score regularly and on 9 July 1941, after his 14th claim, Oberfeldwebel Gildner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Through 1942, Gildner (now commissioned to Leutnant), continued his series of claims, making him one of the highest scoring Luftwaffe night fighter pilots at the time.
Gildner died in the crash of Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (Werksnummer 4846—factory number) following engine failure and fire near Gilze en Rijen in the Netherlands in the night of 24/25 February 1943. His radio operator Unteroffizier Huhn managed to escape and bailed out with his parachute.[1]
On 26 February 1943, Gildner was awarded posthumously, with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.
Awards
- Flugzeugführerabzeichen
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 18 May 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 5./NJG 2[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 9 July 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 3./NJG 1[3][Note 2]
- 196th Oak Leaves on 26 February 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the 3./NJG 1[5][Note 2]
- Mentioned four times in the Wehrmachtbericht (19 June 1941, 13 March 1942, 27 March 1942 and 23 April 1942)
Wehrmachtbericht references
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 19 June 1941 | Bei der Abwehr feindlicher Luftangriffe auf das Reichsgebiet zeichneten sich folgende Besatzungen von Nachtjagdflugzeugen in hohem Maße aus: Erstens Oberfeldwebel Gildner, Unteroffizier Poppelmeyer und Unteroffizier Schlein, zweitens Oberleutnant Prinz zu Lippe, Unteroffizier Renette und drittens Oberleutnant Semrau, Unteroffizier Peter und Unteroffizier Behrens.[6] | The following crews of night fighter aircraft highly distinguished themselves in defense of the Reich: First Oberfeldwebel Gildner, Unteroffizier Poppelmeyer and Unteroffizier Schlein, second Oberleutnant Prinz zu Lippe, Unteroffizier Renette and third Oberleutnant Semrau, Unteroffizier Peter und Unteroffizier Behrens. |
| Friday, 13 March 1942 | Oberfeldwebel Gildner errang seinen 25. Nachjagdsieg.[7] | Oberfeldwebel Gildner achieved his 25th nocturnal aerial victory. |
| Friday, 27 March 1942 | Oberfeldwebel Gildner errang seinen 26. bis 28. und Oberleutnant zu Lippe-Weißenfeld seinen 18. bis 21. Nachtjagdsieg.[8] | Oberfeldwebel Gildner achieved his 26th to 28th and Oberleutnant zu Lippe-Weißenfeld his 18th to 21st nocturnal aerial victory. |
| Thursday, 23 April 1942 | Oberfeldwebel Gildner erzielte in der Nacht zum 23. April seinen 30. und Oberfeldwebel Beier seinen 15. Nachtjagdsieg.[9] | Oberfeldwebel Gildner reached in the night to 23 April his 30th and Oberfeldwebel Beier his 15th nocturnal aerial victory. |
Notes
- ↑ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 According to Scherzer as pilot in the 4./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.[4]
References
Citations
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 56.
- ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 137.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 163.
- ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 335.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 58, 477.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 581.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 54.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 68.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 94.
Bibliography
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External links
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Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
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1Knight's Cross with Zerstörergeschwader 76. 2Knight's Cross with Nachtjagdgeschwader 6.
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| 80–99 | ||
| 60–79 |
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| 50–59 |
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| 40–49 |
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| 30–39 |
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Only nocturnal victories
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- Pages with broken file links
- Articles containing German-language text
- 1914 births
- 1943 deaths
- Luftwaffe pilots
- German World War II flying aces
- German military personnel killed in World War II
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Military personnel referenced in the Wehrmachtbericht
- Aviators killed by being shot down
- Burials at Ysselsteyn German war cemetery
