Karl-Heinz Scherfling

Karl-Heinz Scherfling
Born 6 September 1918
Gelsenkirchen
Died 21 July 1944(1944-07-21) (aged 25)
Mol, Belgium
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1938–1944
Rank Oberfeldwebel
Unit NJG 1
NJG 2
Battles/wars

World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl-Heinz Scherfling (6 September 1918 – 21 July 1944) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Karl-Heinz Scherfling claimed 33 aerial victories, all of them at night.[Notes 1]

Contents

Career

Scherfling was born on 6 September 1918 in Gelsenkirchen. He was posted to III./NJG 1 in late 1940, and claimed his first victory on 31 March-1 April 1941; a Vickers Wellington over Groningen. On 9-10 April he recorded his second, a Short Stirling near Lingen.

In the spring of 1942 Scherfling transferred to 5./NJG 2 and by late 1942 he had a victory total of six. 5./NJG 2 was redesignated as 10./NJG 1 soon after. He claimed three Lancaster bombers downed on 25-26 June. Scherfling was awarded the Ritterkreuz in April 1944 for 29 victories.

On 20-21 July 1944 Scherfling recorded his last victory as shortly afterwards he was shot down and killed near Mol, Belgium by a Mosquito night fighter of No. 169 Squadron , flown by W/C NBR Bromley and F/L PV Truscott. Scherfling’s Bordschütze was also killed in the engagement, but his Bordfunker survived badly wounded.

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.

References

Citations
  1. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 306.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 - 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 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.

External links