This is a list of fighter aces in World War II from Germany. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. It is relatively certain that 2,500 German fighter pilots attained ace status, having achieved at least five aerial victories.
German day and night fighter pilots claimed roughly 70,000 aerial victories during World War II, over 25,000 British or American and over 45,000 Soviet aircraft. 103 German fighter pilots each shot down 100 or more enemy aircraft, for a total of approximately 15,400 victories. Approximately 360 German fighter pilots shot down from 40 to 99 enemy aircraft for a total of approximately 21,000 victories. Approximately 500 German fighter pilots shot down from 20 to 39 enemy aircraft for a total of approximately 15,000 victories. These achievements were honored with 453 German day fighter pilots and Zerstörer (destroyer) fighter pilots and 85 German night fighter pilots (including 14 crew members), for a total of 538 German fighter pilots, receiving the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
German losses, on the other hand, were very high as well. Roughly 12,000 German day fighter pilots were killed or are still missing in action, with a further 6,000 being wounded. The Zerstörer (destroyer) pilots suffered about 2,800 casualties, either killed or missing in action, plus another 900 wounded in action. German night fighter losses were also high, in the magnitude of 3,800 pilots or crew members killed or missing and 1,400 wounded. Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the most decorated flying ace in the Luftwaffe, primarily as a ground-attack bomber pilot with over 800 vehicles destroyed in addition to his victories over opposing aircraft.
There are a number of reasons why Germany's highest-scoring pilots shot down many more aircraft than the most successful Allied pilots. During the first years of the war, German day fighter pilots tended to enjoy favourable tactical circumstances; for instance, during the Battle of Britain British pilots generally tried to attack the German bombers rather than the fighters protecting them. German combat tactics during this period also tended to be superior to those of the Allies, with formation leaders in particular often having a higher chance of success.
Formal and informal Luftwaffe practices also contributed to the high numbers of victories achieved by some pilots. The normal practice in fighter units was for the highest-scoring pilot to lead formations, regardless of their rank, which placed them in the best position to shoot down Allied aircraft. The German pilots also typically conducted much more combat flying than their Allied equivalents: while the western Allied air forces frequently rested their fighter pilots or rotated them out of combat zones after a certain number of missions or flying hours, German pilots were required to fly until they became casualties.
During the 1990s, the German archives made available to the public, including microfilm rolls of wartime records not seen since January 1945.They show that although the Luftwaffe generally did not accept a "kill" without a witness (in which instance it was considered only a probable and didn't count in the victory scoring process), some pilots habitually submitted unwitnessed claims and these sometimes made it through the verification process, particularly if they were made by pilots with established records.Unlike all of the other air forces that fought during World War II, the Luftwaffe did not accept shared claims, but sometimes it happened. Each claim should have referred to a particular aircraft, but some victories were awarded to other pilots who had claimed the destruction of the same aircraft.From mid-year 1943 through 1944, the OKW communiques often overstated Allied bomber losses by a factor of up to two; these claims existed only in the communiques and weren't used in victory scoring. Defenders of the German fighter pilots maintain that overclaims were eliminated during the confirmation process, but the microfilms show that this wasn't always the case.Stringent reviews and comparisons of Allied archives and German archives show that 90 percent of the claims submitted were confirmed, or found to be "in order" for confirmation, up to the time the system broke down altogether in 1945.
By surname:A–F G–L M–P Q–S T–Z
According to Obermaier, 103 Luftwaffe pilots were credited with more than 100 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and list 94 Luftwaffe pilots in this category. The authors differentiate between confirmed and unconfirmed claims. In consequence the following pilots were not listed by Mathews and Foreman.
Additionally, Spick lists Horst-Günther von Fassong with 136 aerial victories, Rudolf Rademacher with 126 aerial victories, and Herbert Rollwage with 102 aerial victories. Further more, the US historian David T. Zabecki states that Friedrich Wachowiak was credited with 140 aerial victories, and Paul-Heinrich Dähne with 100 aerial victories. Lastly, the authors Raymond F. Toliver and Trevor James Constable list Rudolf Müller with 101 aerial victories.
Name | 100th Claim | 150th Claim | 200th Claim | 250th Claim | 300th Claim | |
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The Luftwaffe fighter force defended the airspace of German-occupied territory against attack, first by RAF Bomber Command and then against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in the Combined Bomber Offensive. In particular, combating the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, flying in a combat box, posed a challenge to the Luftwaffe daytime fighter force. In consequence, the destruction of a heavy bomber, or the Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from its combat box which was counted as an aerial victory—was considered an exceptional achievement. The Luftwaffe introduced a point system in 1943 which accounted for the difficulties in shooting down a heavy bomber. Although a single heavy bomber shot down or damaged still counted as one aerial victory, the accumulated points earned a fighter pilot awards, medals and promotions. The point system worked as follows:
Name | Heavy bomber claims | Total wartime claims | Unit | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
44/14/10 | 102 | JG 53, JG 106 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
36/23+ | 78/50+ | JG 51, JG 2, JG 1, JG 26, Kdo Nowotny, EJG 2, JG 7 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
34/16+ | 192/180+ | JG 77, JG 11, JG 26, JG 300 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords | ||
32/13 | 68/38+ | JG 51, JG 3, JG 300 | Knight's Cross | ||
30/22+ | 129/128/90+ | JG 3, JG z.b.v., JG 300, EJG 2 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
26/23 | 114/106 | JG 3, JG 27, JG 54 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords | ||
26/27 | 102 | JG 2 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords KIA 2 March 1944 | ||
26 | 64 | ZG 1, ZG 76, SKG 210, JG 26, JG 11, JG 104 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
26 | 63 | JG 51, JG 26, JG 1, JG 7 | Knight's Cross | ||
26 | 26 | JG 1 | Knight's Cross KIA 17 June 1944 | ||
25 | 32 | JG 1, JG 11 | Knight's Cross KIA 6 March 1944 | ||
25/17 | 21 | JG 1, JG 11 | German Cross KIA 1 January 1945 | ||
24 | 112/99+ | JG 2 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords | ||
24 | 55 | JG 3, JG 1 | Knight's Cross KIA 27 December 1944 | ||
23 | 140/139 | JG 53, JG 3 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 29 May 1944 | ||
23/11 | 26/12 | JG 302, JG 301 | German Cross | ||
22 | 38 | JG 3, JG 301 | Knight's Cross | ||
22 | 36 | JG 3, EJGr Ost, EJG 2 | Knight's Cross | ||
22 | 38 | JG 3, JG 300, JG 400 | Knight's Cross KIA 2 November 1944 | ||
21 | 222/220/208 | JG 51, JG 77, JG 1, JG 3, EJG 2, JV 44 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords | ||
21 | 47 | JG 2 | Knight's Cross | ||
21 | 22/21 | JG 3, JG 7 | Knight's Cross | ||
20+ | 102/103 | JG 53, JG 2 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords KIA 22 June 1944 | ||
20 | 53 | JG 27 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 29 January 1944 | ||
20 | 28 | ZG 76, NJG 3, JG 11 | Knight's Cross | ||
20 | 28 | JG 302, JG 301 | Knight's Cross | ||
20/17 | 71/69 | JG 52, JG 26, JG 7 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
19/17+ | 37 | JG 51, JG 3, JG 7, JV 44 | Knight's Cross | ||
19/13 | 33/15 | JG 1, JG 11 | Knight's Cross | ||
18/14 | 133/127 | JG 52, JG 1 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
18 | 28/13+ | JG 106, JG 301 | Knight's Cross | ||
17 | 68 | JG 51, JG 5, JG 2 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 8 June 1944 | ||
17 | 56 | JG 77, JGr 200, I(F)/123, JG 53 | Knight's Cross | ||
17/12 | 37/23 | JG 26, JG 300 | Knight's Cross | ||
17/15 | 34/22 | JG 300 | Knight's Cross KIA 24 December 1944 | ||
16 | 126/93 | JG 54, JG 7 | Knight's Cross | ||
16 | 75 | JG 77 | Knight's Cross | ||
16 | 45/41 | JG 27 | Knight's Cross | ||
16 | 21 | ZG 2, ZG 26, JG 6, JG 7 | German Cross | ||
15 | 95 | JG 3 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 8 May 1944 | ||
15 | 83 | JG 3 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 19 April 1944 | ||
15 | 34 | ZG 26, JG 1, JG 11 | Knight's Cross KIA 1 January 1945 | ||
15/14 | 20 | JG 11, JG 1 | Knight's Cross KIA 12 May 1944 | ||
14+ | 23+ | JG 52, JG 300 | Knight's Cross | ||
14 | 132/100 | JG 77, JG 11 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 4 October 1943 | ||
14 | 125 (incl. 8 in Spain)/127 | JG 1, JG 2, JG 51, J/88 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords KIA 11 May 1944 | ||
14 | 46 | JG 51, JG 11 | Knight's Cross | ||
14 | 34 | JG 27, JG 26, JG 2, JG 11 | Knight's Cross | ||
14 | 26 | JG 27 | Knight's Cross | ||
13 | 98 | JG 27 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
13 | 73 | JG 53, JG 4 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
13 | 72 | JG 26 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 17 September 1944 | ||
13 | 69 | JG 27, JG 77 | Knight's Cross | ||
13 | 56 | JG 51, JG 2, JG 27, JG 7, JV 44 | Knight's Cross | ||
13 | 21 | JG 27, JG 3, JG 51, EJG 2, JG 7 | |||
12+ | 93 | JG 54, JG 2 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 25 February 1944 | ||
12 | 44/41 | JG 51, JG 3 | Knight's Cross | ||
12 | 36 | JG 3 | Knight's Cross KIA 24 December 1944 | ||
12 | 22 | ZG 1, ZG 76, JG 6 | Knight's Cross | ||
12 | 17/12+ | ZG 1, ZG 26, JG 300 | Knight's Cross KIA 2 March 1945 | ||
11 | 222/219 | JG 2, JG 54, JG 7 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords | ||
11 | 50 | JG 26 | Knight's Cross KIA 8 April 1944 | ||
11 | 41 | JG 51 | Knight's Cross | ||
11 | 34/28+ | JG 51, JG 3 | |||
11 | 27 | JG 2 | German Cross KIA 20 October 1943 | ||
11/5 | 25 | JG 53, JG 3 | Knight's Cross KIA 16 August 1944 | ||
11 | 20 | JG 1, JG 11 | |||
11 | 11 | JG 3 | |||
11 | 16 | JG 3 | KIA 12 May 1944 | ||
11 | 12 | JG 11, JG 7 | |||
10 | 101 | JG 51, JG 26 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords | ||
10 | 82/78 | JG 3, JG 52, JG 7 JV 44 | Knight's Cross | ||
10 | 69/66 | JG 54 | Knight's Cross KIA 8 June 1944 | ||
10 | 64 | JG 53, JG 11 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIFA 17 February 1945 | ||
10 | 58 | SG 2, JG 7 | Knight's Cross | ||
10 | 62/54 | JG 51, JG 3 | Knight's Cross KIA 26 November 1944 | ||
10 | 55 | JG 27, JG 104 | Knight's Cross | ||
10 | 42/43 | JG 54, JG 26 | Knight's Cross | ||
10 | 29 | JG 27 | Knight's Cross | ||
10 | 28 (incl. 6 in Spain) | LG 1, ZG 76, ZG 26 | Knight's Cross | ||
10 | 23 | ZG 76, JG 1, JV 44 | Knight's Cross | ||
10 | 22 | JG 2 | KIA 25 July 1944 | ||
10 | 14 | ZG 26, Kdo Nowotny, JG 7 | German Cross | ||
10 | 11 | JG 51, JG 302, JG 3, JG 7 | |||
10 | 11 | JG 3 | |||
9+ | 12 | LG 1, JG 1, JG 11 | |||
9 | 46 | JG 54, JG 7, Kdo Nowotny | Knight's Cross | ||
9 | 45/43 | JG 3, JG 27, JG 76, EJG 2, JG 7 | Knight's Cross | ||
9 | 27 | JG 53 | German Cross KIA 2 July 1944 | ||
9 | 24 | JG 300, JG 54 | Knight's Cross KIA 28 July 1944 | ||
9 | 20+ | JG 52, JG 1, JG 11, EJG 2 | |||
9 | 10 | Sturmstaffel 1, JG 3 | |||
9 | 10 | JG 5, JG 3, JG 4 | KIA 6 October 1944 | ||
8+ | 10+ | JG 300 | |||
8+ | 10+ | JG 11, JV 44 | |||
8 | 94 | JG 51, JG 1 | Knight's Cross KIA 29 November 1943 | ||
8 | 92 | JG 51, JG 3 | Knight's Cross | ||
8 | 98/88 | JG 3 | Knight's Cross | ||
8 | 56 | JG 53, JG 2 | Knight's Cross | ||
Wilhelm-Ferdinand (Wutz) Galland | 8 | 54/56 | JG 26 | Knight's Cross | |
8 | 48 | JG 26 | Knight's Cross KIA 14 January 1945 | ||
8 | 27/21 | JG 27 | Knight's Cross KIA 2 April 1944 | ||
8 | 20 | JG 27 | German Cross 21 November 1944 | ||
8 | 15+ | JG 1, JG 3 | MIA 20 April 1945 | ||
8 | 15 | JG 51, JG 3, JG 7 | German Cross | ||
8 | 14 | JG 300 | |||
8 | 10 | JG 27 | |||
8 | 10 | JG 3 | KIA 1 January 1945 | ||
8 | 8 | JG 3 | KIA 16 October 1944 | ||
8 | 8 | JG 1 | KIA 5 January 1944 | ||
7+ | 20± | JG 1, JG 11 | |||
7+ | 8+ | JG 302 | German Cross KIA 25 February 1945 | ||
7 | 209/182+ | JG 5, JG 7 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 4 April 1945 | ||
7 | 208 | JG 5, JG 7 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves | ||
7 | 73 | JG 51 | Knight's Cross | ||
7 | 34 | JG 26, JG 6, JG 7 | Knight's Cross | ||
7 | 21+ | JG 26, JG 1 | German Cross KIA 22 December 1943 | ||
7 | 19 | JG 51, JG 3 | German Cross KIA 23 August 1944 | ||
7 | 18 | JG 3, JG 301, JG 7 | |||
7 | 15 | JG 53 | KIA 22 August 1944 | ||
7 | 15 | JG 3, JG 7 | German Cross | ||
7 | 13 | JG 27 | |||
7 | 12 | JG 27 | German Cross | ||
7 | 9 | JG 27 | |||
7 | 7 | JG 1, JG 11 | KIA 17 July 1943 | ||
6+ | 10+ | JG 1 | German Cross | ||
6+ | 8+ | JG 1, EJG 2 | |||
6 | 212/206 | JG 52, JG 11 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds | ||
6 | 68 | JG 52, JG 77, JG 26, JG 1, JG 4 | Knight's Cross KIA 25 August 1944 | ||
Reinhold Hoffmann | 6/5 | 66 | JG 54 | Knight's Cross KIA 24 May 1944 | |
6 | 47 | SKG 210, ZG 1, ZG 76, JG 3, JG 11, JG 27 | Knight's Cross | ||
6 | 44 | JG 26 | Knight's Cross KIA 26 March 1945 | ||
6 | 22 | JG 26 | German Cross | ||
6 | 18 | JGr. 200, JG 27 | German Cross | ||
6 | 10 | JG 27 | KIA 29 June 1944 | ||
6 | 9 | JG 1 | |||
6 | 9 | JG 27 | KIA 6 August 1944 | ||
6 | 8 | JG 27, JG 1, JG 11, JV 44 | |||
6 | 6 | JG 51,JG 302 | |||
6 | 6 | JG 3 | |||
6 | 6 | JG 302 | |||
5+ | 8+ | JG 1, JG 11, JG 6, JG 7 | |||
5 | 137/133 | JG 52, Kdo Nowotny, JG 7 | Knight's Cross KIFA 10 April 1945 | ||
5 | 126/123 | JG 52, JG 11 | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves KIA 8 April 1944 | ||
5 | 63 | JG 53, JG 26 | Knight's Cross | ||
5 | 49/48 | JG 5, JG 7 | KIA 17 April 1945 | ||
5 | 10 | JG 26, Kdo Nowotny, JG 7 | |||
5 | 10 | JG 300, JG 302, JG 106 | |||
5 | 10 | JG 26 | |||
5 | 7 | JG Hermann, JG 300 | |||
5 | 6 | JG 77 |