Ernst-Georg Drünkler
| Ernst-Georg Drünkler | |
|---|---|
| Born |
8 July 1920 Bernburg |
| Died |
12 March 1997 (aged 76) Sottrum |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | ?–1945 |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit |
ZG 2 NJG 1 NJG 5 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Other work | Teacher |
Ernst-Georg Drünkler (8 July 1920 – 12 March 1997) was a German 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. Drünkler claimed 47 aerial victories, 45 of them at night.[Notes 1]
After initial pilot training Drünkler was posted to II./ZG 2 on the Eastern Front. In November 1942 he joined I./NJG 5, and in the summer of 1943 claimed his first night victory. After a spell as an instructor, he became staffelkaptain of 13./NJG 5, which he led until the war ended. As a Hauptmann with 40 victories, he was awarded the Knights Cross on 20 March 1945.
At war's end he had claimed 47 enemy aircraft downed in 102 combat missions.
Awards
- Flugzeugführerabzeichen
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold (1 January 1945)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 March 1945 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Nachtjagdgeschwader 5[1]
Notes
- ↑ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
References
Citations
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 140.
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [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] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.