city ring of honor (11 January 1944) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (23 July 1941) 1st Class (19 August 1941) German Cross in Gold on 21 August 1942 as Leutnant in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds Knight's Cross on 4 September 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 54 293rd Oak Leaves on 4 September 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54 37th Swords on 22 September 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 8th Diamonds (19 October 1943) as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 Promotions Notes References Citations Bibliography Further reading 1920 births 1944 deaths People from Gmünd, Lower Austria Luftwaffe pilots German World War II flying aces Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II Burials at the Vienna Central Cemetery Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, 1st Class Austrian people of Czech descent Reich Labour Service members Shot-down aviators