Manfred Meurer
Encyclopedia
Manfred Meurer was a Luftwaffe
night fighter
flying ace
of World War II
. Meurer was credited with 65 aerial victories claimed in 130 combat missions.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
, joining the Luftwaffe in 1938. as part of a flak battalion before undergoing flying training in 1939. In late 1941 he was posted to 9./NJG 1 as a Leutnant.
Meurer claimed his first victory on his first combat mission on 26-27 March 1942. By the end of the year he had claimed a further seven victories. In January 1943 he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3 staffel, NJG 1. On 14-15 February he claimed three heavy bombers and on 12-13 March, a further four. In April 1943 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz. During May he scored some 14 victories and in July he achieved his 50th victory, a Mosquito light bomber. On 2 August he was awarded the Oakleaves to the Ritterkreuz.
On 5 August 1943 Hauptmann Meurer was transferred as Gruppenkommandeur of II./NJG 5. before returning to NJG 1 in September 1943 as Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG 1. I gruppe flew the Heinkel He 219 and Meurer gained five victories flying this type.
On the night of 21-22 January 1944 he collided with a Avro Lancaster raiding Berlin. His He 219A-0 crashed and Meurer and his radar operator Oberfeldwebel Gerhard Schiebe were killed.
Meurer flew 130 combat missions achieving 65 victories, including 40 four-engined bombers and two Mosquitos, all claimed at night.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Meurer was credited with 65 aerial victories claimed in 130 combat missions.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Meurer was born on 8 September 1919 in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, joining the Luftwaffe in 1938. as part of a flak battalion before undergoing flying training in 1939. In late 1941 he was posted to 9./NJG 1 as a Leutnant.
Meurer claimed his first victory on his first combat mission on 26-27 March 1942. By the end of the year he had claimed a further seven victories. In January 1943 he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3 staffel, NJG 1. On 14-15 February he claimed three heavy bombers and on 12-13 March, a further four. In April 1943 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz. During May he scored some 14 victories and in July he achieved his 50th victory, a Mosquito light bomber. On 2 August he was awarded the Oakleaves to the Ritterkreuz.
On 5 August 1943 Hauptmann Meurer was transferred as Gruppenkommandeur of II./NJG 5. before returning to NJG 1 in September 1943 as Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG 1. I gruppe flew the Heinkel He 219 and Meurer gained five victories flying this type.
On the night of 21-22 January 1944 he collided with a Avro Lancaster raiding Berlin. His He 219A-0 crashed and Meurer and his radar operator Oberfeldwebel Gerhard Schiebe were killed.
Meurer flew 130 combat missions achieving 65 victories, including 40 four-engined bombers and two Mosquitos, all claimed at night.
Awards
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (31 March 1943) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 16 April 1943 as StaffelkapitänStaffelkapitänStaffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
and OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
of the 3./NJG 1 - 264th Oak Leaves on 2 August 1943 as StaffelkapitänStaffelkapitänStaffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
and HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
of the 3./NJG 1
- Knight's Cross on 16 April 1943 as Staffelkapitän