Lothar Linke

Lothar Linke
Born 23 October 1909
Liegnitz
Died 14 May 1943(1943-05-14) (aged 33)
Lemmer, Holland
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service ?–1943
Rank Oberleutnant
Unit ZG 76
NJG 1
NJG 2
Battles/wars

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

Lothar Linke (23 October 1909 – 14 May 1943) 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. Lothar Linke claimed 27 aerial victories, 24 of them at night.[Notes 1] On 14 May 1943 Linke and his crew were forced to bail out after their Bf-110 was hit by British fighters. He struck the tail end of the plane and was killed. On 19 September 1943, he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross.

Contents

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. 240.
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