Walther Wever

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Walther Wever
16 January 1923(1923-01-16)10 April 1945 (aged 22)

Walther Wever
Place of birth München
Place of death Near Neuruppin
Allegiance Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1943-1945
Rank Oberleutnant
Unit JG 51, JG 7
Awards Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
German Cross in Gold
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Walther Wever (16 January 1923 - 10 April 1945) was a German Luftwaffe flying ace during the Second World War. The son of former Chief of the Luftwaffe General Walther Wever, Wever served during 1943 on the Eastern Front and from 19 June 1943 until 10 April 1945 he claimed 44 kills from 250 missions.[1]

Notable landmarks during this career include his 10th kill on 1 September, followed four days later by shooting down three Il-2 Sturmoviks in five minutes. On 29 March 1944 he claimed a further five kills, then on 24 June he shot down his 40th kill, and on 10 July Wever lost a foot after being himself shot down by Russian forces on the ground. Neveretheless, Wever continued to fly and was decorated on 28 January 1945 for reaching the final total of 44 kills, before transfer to a new combat group and further training on the Me 262. On 10 April 1945, having not scored another kill, Wever was shot down and killed by Allied fighters near Neuruppin.[1]

[edit] Awards and decorations

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Aces of the Luftwaffe Walther Wever retrieved on April 22, 2007
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.