Birth/Death details of non Ritterkreuz 50+ aces

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Heinz Beyer, who was a German Cross in Gold holder, had so far 33 air to air kills in the middle of 1943. I believe he had scored more than 33 since he continued to fly in combat until the end of WWII for Germany. Who knows his really final score?

Edward L. Hsiao

[Johannes]

Hi Edward

It's not always a clean case with numbers, some got the Ritterkreuz for small numbers, helped if your were an officer in my opinion. The first "50" to be refused was Adalbert Sommer.....inflation, no doubt caused by the "over-claimers" and at this time you would need anything up to 148 confirmed. Guys who scored over a short time were less likely to get the Ritterkreuz, for this date if they had been in combat for several years is was more likely, and actually they were less likely "over-claimers" I think sometimes their C.O's suspected certain pilots of "over-claiming" and delayed their recommendation!

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Edward L. Hsiao]

I guess their were no clear cut case about the Knight's Cross for German fighter pilots. It is been over two years since the last answer that I got.

Edward L. Hsiao