| Wilhelm Beier | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 18, 1913 |
| Died | 12 July 1977 (aged 63) |
| Place of birth | Homberg |
| Place of death | Moers |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | ?–1945 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit |
NJG 2 NJG 1 |
| Battles/wars |
World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Wilhelm Beier (18 November 1913 – 12 July 1977) was a Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Beier claimed 38 aerial victories, all of them at night.[Notes 1]
Awards[]
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 19 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 3./NJG 2[1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 September 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and Flugzeugführer (pilot) in the 3./NJG 2[2]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht[]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 23 April 1942 | Oberfeldwebel Gildner erzielte in der Nacht zum 23. April seinen 30. und Oberfeldwebel Beier seinen 15. Nachtjagdsieg.[3] | 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.
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall (in German). ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
External links[]
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