Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber
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| Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber | |
|---|---|
| 10 August 1914 – 13 May 1996 | |
| Place of birth | Mühlhausen, Germany |
| Place of death | Bonn, Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1936–1945 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Condor Legion, JG 52, JG 77, JG 1, JG 5, JG 51, JG 27, JV 44 |
| Commands held | 1.(Erg.)/JG 77, III./JG 51, I./JG 27 |
| Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War |
| Awards | Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He claimed a total of 96 victories and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He was one of few experienced Luftwaffe pilots who participated both in the Spanish Civil War and Second World War along with Adolf Galland.
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[edit] In Spanish Civil War
Von Eichel-Streiber participated in the Spanish Civil War in the Condor Legion as a bomber pilot. He was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwerten for his service in this conflict.
[edit] In World War II
Von Eichel-Streiber was certainly a pilot not to be tied down to any one Unit. Between 1940 and 1942 he had served with JG 52, JG 77, JG 1 and JG 26. In March 1943 he moved again to JG 51 and became the Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51 in April. By August he was on the move again, to JG 27, where he stayed until November 1944 when he took over the supervision of the conversion of Bomber Pilots to fighter pilots. Towards the end of the war Von Eichel-Streiber moved one final time - to Galland's famous Me 262 jet Fighter Unit - JV 44. He achieved a total of 96 Victories, 94 over the Eastern front, including 42 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
[edit] After the War
Von Eichel-Streiber survived the war and emmigrated to the USA where he became a successful Volkswagen distributor in Modesto, California.
[edit] Notable Victories
He started his hunting achievements by shooting down an RAF Hawker Hurricane fighter on 14 May 1941 over Crete. After, on 26 June 1941 he shot down four Russian SB-2 twin-engine bombers near Jassy in a single day. He also shot down 8 plane in a single day on 15 December 1943. He recorded his 96th and last, victory on 28 November when he shot down a USAAF P-47 fighter. After that, he was transferred to a non-combat role for the rest of the war.
[edit] Awards
- Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (31 August 1942)
- German Cross in Gold (17 October 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (5 April 1944)
[edit] References
- Aces of the Luftwaffe. Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber. Retrieved on 14 February 2008.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
