| Erich Axthammer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 December 1920 Mariahof, Austria |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1938–1945 1958-1979 |
| Rank | Oberfeldwebel (Wehrmacht) Stabsfeldwebel (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit | SG 1 SG 152 SG 77 SG 10 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Other work | Miner |
Erich Axthammer (born 3 December 1920) was a highly decorated Oberfeldwebel 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.
Born 3 December 1920 in Neumark, Austria, Axthammer joined the Luftwaffe in November 1938, and during 1941 was posted to the eastern front with 7./SchG.1 flying the Henschel Hs 123 ground attack biplane. In March 1943 he joined SG 1 on the eastern front, and flew over 300 missions before being awarded the German Cross in Gold in November 1943. He then served with 1./SG 152, 5./SG 77 and later 8./SG 10 by August 1944. Oberfeldwebel Axthammer was awarded the Ritterkreuz in April 1945, one of the last pilots to be thus awarded.
During his wartime career he flew 530 missions, 300 with the Hs 123 and the remainder with the Fw 190. He claimed four Soviet aircraft destroyed in aerial combat (plus two unconfirmed victories) and numerous ground targets , including 42 trucks, 27 other vehicles, two tanks, two artillery pieces, two anti-aircraft positions, and two aircraft on the ground.
After the war he worked as a miner and in 1958 he joined the Bundesluftwaffe. He served until 1979 retiring as a Stabsfeldwebel.