Oskar Dinort
Encyclopedia
Oskar Dinort was a German World War II Luftwaffe
Stuka
pilot and first Stuka pilot to be awarded the coveted Knight's 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.
der Gardekavallerie-Schützendivision and became a Fähnrich
in the Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2 in 1921. He was promoted to Leutnant in 1923 as well as an enthusiastic glider
pilot. Promoted to Oberleutnant
in 1928 he set a 14 hours and 43 minutes Gliding World Record.
He won the Deutschlandflug in 1931, and participated in the second FAI
International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930
(10th place).
Dinort was transferred to the still secret Luftwaffe in 1934 where he was posted to the "Reklamestaffel Mitteldeutschland" (Advertisement Staffel
). His next posting was Hauptmann
in the Stab of I./JG 132 and Gruppenkommandeur
of III./JG 134 until he was called into in Reichsluftfahrtministerium by Ernst Udet
on 31 March 1935.
After commanding I./StG 2 'Immelmann' in Poland, Major Dinort served as Geschwaderkommodore of StG 2 from October 1939 to October 1941, receiving the Ritterkreuz with Oakleaves in July 1941.
During operations over Greece and Crete in April-May 1941 crews of StG 2 believed the blast effect of their bombs used against troops in Greece was greatly reduced because the bombs penetrated the ground before exploding. The solution was to fit 60 cm metal rods welded to the front of the bombs, with an 8cm metal disc on the end of the rod. This arrangement became known as Dinortstäbe, (Dinort's rods) after the originator of the idea, Oskar Dinort, which caused the bombs to detonate some 30cm above the ground, maximising their blast.
On 15 October 1941 Dinort left StG. 2, taking up a staff postion. In 1944 he was appointed to command 3. Fliegerschuldivision and inlate 1944 promoted to Generalmajor. Held by the British after the war ended, Dinort remained in captivity until 1947, He eventually settled in Dortmund after his release.
he later worked in aviation research in Chile. Oskar died in Cologne, West Germany, on 27 May 1965.
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....
Stuka
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
pilot and first Stuka pilot to be awarded the coveted Knight's 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.
Biography
Oskar Dinort volunteered for military service 1919 and joined the FreikorpsFreikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
der Gardekavallerie-Schützendivision and became a Fähnrich
Fähnrich
Fähnrich is a German and Austrian military rank in armed forces which translates as "Ensign" in English. The rank also exists in a few other European military organizations, often with historical ties to the German system. Examples are Sweden, Norway and Finland . The French Army has a similar...
in the Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2 in 1921. He was promoted to Leutnant in 1923 as well as an enthusiastic glider
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
pilot. Promoted to Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant 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...
in 1928 he set a 14 hours and 43 minutes Gliding World Record.
He won the Deutschlandflug in 1931, and participated in the second FAI
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930
Challenge 1930
The International Touring Competition in 1930 was the second FAI international touring aircraft contest, that took place between July 18 and August 8, 1930 in Berlin, Germany. Four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe....
(10th place).
Dinort was transferred to the still secret Luftwaffe in 1934 where he was posted to the "Reklamestaffel Mitteldeutschland" (Advertisement Staffel
Staffel
Staffel may refer to:* Staffel** Staffelkapitän, a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe** Schutz Staffel** DDR-Liga Staffel A** 5th Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 200, an unit** Propaganda-Staffel- Family name :...
). His next posting was Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann 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...
in the Stab of I./JG 132 and Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of III./JG 134 until he was called into in Reichsluftfahrtministerium by Ernst Udet
Ernst Udet
Colonel General Ernst Udet was the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I. He was one of the youngest aces and was the highest scoring German ace to survive the war . His 62 victories were second only to Manfred von Richthofen, his commander in the Flying Circus...
on 31 March 1935.
After commanding I./StG 2 'Immelmann' in Poland, Major Dinort served as Geschwaderkommodore of StG 2 from October 1939 to October 1941, receiving the Ritterkreuz with Oakleaves in July 1941.
During operations over Greece and Crete in April-May 1941 crews of StG 2 believed the blast effect of their bombs used against troops in Greece was greatly reduced because the bombs penetrated the ground before exploding. The solution was to fit 60 cm metal rods welded to the front of the bombs, with an 8cm metal disc on the end of the rod. This arrangement became known as Dinortstäbe, (Dinort's rods) after the originator of the idea, Oskar Dinort, which caused the bombs to detonate some 30cm above the ground, maximising their blast.
On 15 October 1941 Dinort left StG. 2, taking up a staff postion. In 1944 he was appointed to command 3. Fliegerschuldivision and inlate 1944 promoted to Generalmajor. Held by the British after the war ended, Dinort remained in captivity until 1947, He eventually settled in Dortmund after his release.
he later worked in aviation research in Chile. Oskar died in Cologne, West Germany, on 27 May 1965.
Awards
- Bulgarian Order of Bravery (3rd Class 1st Grade)Orders, decorations, and medals of BulgariaOrders, decorations and medals of Bulgaria are regulated by the law on the Orders and Medals of the Republic Of Bulgaria of 29 May 2003.The National Military History Museum Of Bulgaria in Sofia currently has over 150 Bulgarian Orders in the collection, which it has acquired over 85 years in...
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis II. Klasse
- Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
for Combat Pilots in Gold - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (20 September 1939)
- 1st Class (11 May 1940)
- Knight's Cross with Oak LeavesKnight'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 20 June 1940 as MajorMajor (Germany)Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
and GeschwaderkommodoreGeschwaderkommodoreGeschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
of StG 2 "Immelmann" - 21st Oak Leaves on 14 July 1941 as OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
and Geschwaderkommodore of StG 2 "Immelmann"
- Knight's Cross on 20 June 1940 as Major