Anton Andorfer

Anton Andorfer
Born 23 December 1919
Linz, Austria
Died 11 April 1945(1945-04-11) (aged 25)
Cottbus
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939–1945
Rank Hauptmann
Unit StG 77
SG 77
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Anton Andorfer (23 December 1919 – 11 April 1945) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

After his training Andorfer joined I./StG. 77 (Sturzkampfgeschwader 77) in the winter of 1941-42, flying the JUnkers Ju 87. He became a Staffelkaptain in July 1943, and had flown 726 operations by March 1944 when he was awarded the Ritterkreuz. After conversion to the ground-attack version of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, he flew a further 200 sorties on the Eastern Front with 2./SG 77. Promoted to Hauptmann, Andorfer flew in the Battle for Berlin and was shot down and killed by Soviet Anti-Aircraft guns near Cottbus.

During his wartime career he flew 900 missions, during which he was credited with the destruction of 45 tanks, 50 guns, 6 anti-aircraft batteries, and 10 marine vessels with a total of 13,000 BRT .[Notes 1]

Contents

Awards and decorations

References

Citations
  1. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 100.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

Notes

  1. ^ For a list of Luftwaffe ground attack aces see List of German World War II Ground Attack aces

External links