Nightfighter Knight Cross holder Identification
 

Hello,

any idea about the identity of the KC holder that can be seen in some photos of this album?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MESELX:IT

Just curious...

John

Oberleutnant Paul Gildner
 

Hello John

My photographic identification talents are quite poor but he certainly appears to be Oberleutnant Paul Gildner (42 victories, RK-EL, killed in flying accident 24 February 1943). Note that he was awarded the Ritterkreuz as an Oberfeldwebel as appears in the photographs.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Nightfighter Knight Cross holder Identification
 

Hello,

I probably couldn't find out his ID because he was listed as an officier... and I was looking for an Oberfeldwebel...

Thanks :-)

Re: Nightfighter Knight Cross holder Identification
 

This photographic set is from an ME-110 group/wing, but the photograph in this set of the tail plane showing 33 kills appears to be a DO-17. What pilot and what theatre would a DO-17 have scored that many kills?

Re: Nightfighter Knight Cross holder Identification
 

I think that two of the photos show Gildner inside a Do17.

Oberleutnant Paul Gildner
 

Hi guys

A quick look at the Strength Returns of II./NJG 2 shows that the Gruppe included several Do 215 B-5 Kauz III night fighters among the types that it flew. II./NJG 2 was redesignated IV./NJG 1 on 1 October 1942 and continued to operate the Do 215 B-5 Kauz III for some time as evidenced by the Strength Returns. As Gildner served in these units it is not surprising that he would have flown this type.

www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/njagd/biinjg2.html
www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/njagd/bivnjg1.html

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Nightfighter Knight Cross holder Identification
 

Hi Hauptmann,

The first photo in the album shows pilot in 110, his name is Karl Haisch, Karl was killed in action on the 20th March 1943. I have this photo and a couple of others in this album in our collection which came from the relative of Haisch.

Regards

Melvin

P.S Two other photos can be found on our website, check out Do 217J loss on the 03.09.1942 loss list.

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com