Erich Leie

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Erich Leie
10 September 1916 – 7 March 1945

Erich Leie
Place of birth Kiel
Place of death Czechoslovakia
Allegiance Flag of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service -1945
Rank Major
Unit JG 71, JG 2, JG 51, JG 77
Commands held I./JG 2, I./JG 51, JG 77
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erich Leie (born 10 September 1916 in Kiel, killed in action 7 March 1945 in Czechoslovakia) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe until his death on 7 March 1945. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Oberstleutnant and nominated for the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Leie was killed over Czechoslovakia on 7 March 1945, when he collided with a crashing Russian Yak 9 fighter and failed to survive a low level bail-out from his Bf 109 G-14/AS (W.Nr. 786 329) "Black <1+". He was officially credited with 118 victories claimed in over 500 combat missions. He claimed 76 victories over the Eastern front, including 32 Il-2 Sturmovik ground attack aircraft. Among his 42 confirmed victories recorded over the Western front, 30 were Supermarine Spitfire fighters and one was a four-engine bomber.

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

  • Aces of the Luftwaffe. Erich Leie. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
  • 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.
Military offices
Preceded by
Major Siegfried Freytag		 Commander of Jagdgeschwader 77 Herz As
July 1, 1943-March 7, 1944		 Succeeded by
Major Siegfried Freytag
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