[Teresa Maria]

Apparently, he died because he bailed out too low. This is what DeZeng and Stankey say about him:



GERLITZ, Erich. (DOB: 12.02.12 in Linz?/Austria). 1930-31 attended the Jahresfliegerkurs of the
Austrian Bundesheer. 1935 graduated from the Militärakademie Wiener Neustadt and promo to
Flieger-Lt. 03.38 Lt., Staka Jagdstaffel 5 of Jagdgeschwader II of the Austrian Air Force. 15.03.38
Hptm., appt Staka 3./JG 135. 01.11.38 appt Staka 3./JG 233. 01.05.39 appt Staka 3./JG 51 (to
14.03.40). 16.10.39 Hptm., 3./JG 51. c.14.03.40 appt Staka 7./JG 2. 03.05.40 Hptm., in 8./JG 2.
13.06.40 Hptm., 1./JG 1 13.10.40 appt Staka Erg.St./JG 27 (to 11.04.41). 17.04.41 Hptm., appt
Staka 2./JG 27 (to 25.12.41?). 25.06.41 Hptm., 2./JG 27. 10.41 appt Staka 7./JG 27 (to 25.12.41).
25.12.41 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./JG 27 (to 20.05.42). 14.01.42 Hptm., II./JG 27. 20.05.42 Maj., Kdr.
III./JG 53 (to 31.10.42). c.21.05.42 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./JG 53 (to 10.42). 25.01.43 Maj., awarded
the Ehrenpokal. 17.03.43 Maj., with Höheren Kdo. der Jagd- und Zerstörerschulen, ordered
temporary duty to Dt.Lw.-Mission in Rumänien. 25.01.43 Maj., awarded Ehrenpokal. 05.43 Maj.,
appt Kdt. JFS Galatz/Dt.Lw.-Mission in Rumänien (to 1944). 25.01.44 Maj., appt Kdr. I./JG 5 (to
16.03.44 KIA). 22.02.44 Maj., Stab I./JG 5. 16.03.44 Maj., Kdr. I./JG 5 KIA - Bf 109 G-6
(BF+BU) shot down by a P-47 East of Ulm/Wurt., bailed out but too low to survive the fall. Credited
with 15 air victories.