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Otto Kittel
21 February 1917(1917-02-21) — 14 February 1945 (aged 27)

Otto Kittel
Place of birth Kronsdorf
Place of death over Courland
Allegiance Flag of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939-1945
Rank Oberleutnant
Unit JG 54, EJGr. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Courland (Kurzeme Kurland Latin: Curonia / Couronia; Kuršas Kuramaa Kurlandia Курляндия Курляндія Kuurinmaa is one of the historical Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers ( German 'luftvafe is a generic German term for an Air force. Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54 Grünherz (Green Hearts was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during the Second World War. Ost
Commands held 3. /JG 54
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Lieutenant Otto Kittel (February 21, 1917 - February 14, 1945) was a highly-decorated World War II German pilot, the fourth highest scoring flying ace of all time. Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54 Grünherz (Green Hearts was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during the Second World War. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ( German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, often simply Ritterkreuz) was a grade of the Iron Cross Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy Aircraft during aerial combat He fought almost exclusively on the Eastern Front. Sometimes, he was called "the annihilator of Sturmoviks".

Contents

World War II

He was born on February 19, 1917 in Kronsdorf (Korunov) in Silesia, Austria-Hungary (now Krasov, Czech Republic). Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Etymology One theory claims that the name Silesia is derived from the Silingi, who were most likely a Vandalic (East Germanic people The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Fascinated with flight at an early age, he joined the Luftwaffe in 1939 at age 22. ( German 'luftvafe is a generic German term for an Air force. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. After completing his training, he joined the 2nd Staffel of JG 54 in February 1941 at the rank of Unteroffizier. Unteroffizier is both a specific Military rank as well as a collective term for Non-commissioned officers of the German military that has existed since the 19th century Kittel, being short and soft spoken, did not fit the image of a fighter ace.

As was the case with many of the other experts, he got off to a slow start in combat. On 31 May 1941, he bailed out of his Bf 109 F-2 because of engine trouble, and he landed at Spikeroog, only lightly injured. Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Kittel scored quickly and shot down an SB-2 and Yak-1 on his first mission, on the opening day of Operation Barbarossa, June 22, 1941. Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. By the end of 1941, he had 17 victories. On February 19, 1943, Feldwebel Kittel scored his 39th victory, which was also JG 54's 4,000th of the war. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. JG 54 Kommodore Hannes Trautloft congratulated Kittel and said the following: "I have instructed that you're no longer to be assigned as wingman. Johannes "Hannes" Trautloft ( 3 March 1912 - 11 January 1995) was a German World War II Fighter ace Instead you're to be sent on 'freie Jagd' on your own whenever there's an opportunity. Combat air patrol (CAP is a type of flying mission for Fighter aircraft. "

After achieving his 47th victory on 15 March 1943, Kittel made an emergency landing 60 kilometers behind Russian lines. Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending After landing on an open icy field, he hid in the woods before setting out for German lines. Inadequately clothed and bitterly cold, he crossed the frozen Lake Ilmen and after 3 days without food, reached German troops. Ilmen (Ильмень is a historically important Lake in the Novgorod Oblast of Russia, formerly a vital part of the Trade route from the Varangians After he returned to his group on 18 March 1943, he was promoted to Oberfeldwebel and received the German Cross in gold. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 29 October 1943[1] upon achieving his 123rd victory. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ( German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, often simply Ritterkreuz) was a grade of the Iron Cross Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He received the "Oak Leaves" to go with it in April 1944. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [1]

From November 1943 through January 1944, he was Instructor of the EJGr. Ost, in Biarritz, France. Biarritz ( French: Biarritz, bjaˈʀits Gascon Occitan: Biàrritz; Basque: Biarritz or Miarritze is a town This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. On the 31 December 1943, Kittel started to attack an American bomber formation, but he did not get involved in a prolonged dogfight. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In March 1944, Kittel returned to JG 54 on the Russian Front.

He earned his "Swords" (Schwerter) on 25 November 1944[1] after achieving his 239th victory. Events 1034 - Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots dies Donnchad, the Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Kittel was killed on 14 February 1945 (his 583rd mission), over Courland, by an Ilyushin Il-2 pilot. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar

Accomplishments

Otto Kittel flew 583 combat missions and scored 267 kills, 94 of them Il-2's, making him the fourth highest scoring ace of all time, the highest scoring in JG 54 and the highest scoring Focke-Wulf 190 ace. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout He started the war as Unteroffizier and died as a Staffelkapitan of 2. /JG 54.

Awards

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Fellgiebel

Bibliography

External links

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