| Heinrich Sterr | |
|---|---|
|
File:Heinrich Sterr.jpg Heinrich Sterr | |
| Born | 24 September 1919 |
| Died | 26 November 1944 (aged 25) |
| Place of birth | Ortenburg, Vilshofen |
| Place of death | airport of Vörde/Bramsche |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1939–1944 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit | JG 54 |
| Commands held | 16./ JG 54 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (posthumous) |
Heinrich Sterr (24 September 1919 – 26 November 1944) was a German World War II Luftwaffe 130 aerial victories—that is, 130 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.[1]
Career[]
Heinrich Sterr was born on 24 September 1919 in Ortenburg, Lower Bavaria as part of the Free State of Bavaria. He was posted to the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front of World War II where he claimed his first aerial victory on 6 April 1942. His total number of aerial victories claimed increased to ten by the end of 1942.[2]
On 26 November 1944, he was shot down in Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-8 "Blue 4" during landing, by a pair of P-51's near Vörden/Lower Saxony, Germany.[3] He claimed 128 victories over the Eastern Front, including 21 Il-2 Sturmovik.
Awards[]
- Wound Badge in Black
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 30 April 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot[4]
- German Cross in Gold on 23 July 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 6./JG 54[5]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 December 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./JG 54[6][7]
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989) (in German). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1941 – 1945]. Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001) (in German). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2]. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008) (in German). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War]. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007) (in German). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-286-5.
External links[]
- "Heinrich Sterr". World War II Awards.com. http://www.ww2awards.com/person/27114. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
German World War II 
The original article can be found at Heinrich Sterr and the edit history here.