Willy Unger
Encyclopedia
Willy Unger was a German
Luftwaffe
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.During his career he was credited about 24 victories.
Franz Beyer
(81 wins and Ritterkreuzträger). His first victory was achieved on 11.04.1944, when he shot down a B-17 Flying Fortress. Later that month, Unger added a total of eight four-engine bombers shot down. On 08.05.1944 he was shot down by defensive fire from one of the B-17s, but managed to make a successful landing. Awarded the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
21.06.1944, Unger hit two B-24 Liberator
over the town of Oschersleben
on 07.07.1944, reaching his 10th and 11th victories. On 03.08.1944 he shot down two other B-24, but his FW 190A-8 was hit again, forcing him to abandon his aircraft. In August 1944 Unger vas awarded the German Cross
in Gold. Finally, on October 23, 1944, when he accounted for a total of 19 four-engine bombers, the Oberfeldwebel Willi Unger was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. Promoted to Lieutenant
in December 1944, Unger was transferred to III / JG 3 on the eastern front in February 1945. On this front, he would reach his last three victories. At the end of March 1945, he was transferred to JG 7 "Nowotny" - operating the revolutionaries Me262 jets - the other did not get any victory.
Willy Unger was captured by American forces in May 1945 and was released later that month. During his career he was credited with between 22 - 24 victories in 59 missions. He recorded at least 21 victories over the Western Front
, all four-engine bombers. Willi Unger died on June 23, 2005 in the town of Warstein
, at 85 years of age.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
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....
ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
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...
during 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...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.During his career he was credited about 24 victories.
Career
Already as a teenager, became a skilled glider pilot. In September 1939 he joined the Luftwaffe and was accepted as an aircraft mechanic (Flugzeugmechaniker) in spite of his qualifications as pilot. Only in early 1943 Unger began his training as a fighter pilot, being incorporated into the I / JG 104. In December 1943 when he completing his training was promoted to the Unteroffizier. Finally, in January 1944, Unger was appointed to serve on 12./JG 3 "Udet", commanded by MajorMajor
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Franz Beyer
Franz Beyer (pilot)
Franz Beyer was a Luftwaffe 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. Franz Beyer was killed on 11 February near Venlo,...
(81 wins and Ritterkreuzträger). His first victory was achieved on 11.04.1944, when he shot down a B-17 Flying Fortress. Later that month, Unger added a total of eight four-engine bombers shot down. On 08.05.1944 he was shot down by defensive fire from one of the B-17s, but managed to make a successful landing. Awarded the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
The Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
21.06.1944, Unger hit two B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
over the town of Oschersleben
Oschersleben
Oschersleben is a town in the Börde district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The population in 1905 was 13,271, in 2005 about 18,000.-Geography:...
on 07.07.1944, reaching his 10th and 11th victories. On 03.08.1944 he shot down two other B-24, but his FW 190A-8 was hit again, forcing him to abandon his aircraft. In August 1944 Unger vas awarded the German Cross
German Cross
The 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. Finally, on October 23, 1944, when he accounted for a total of 19 four-engine bombers, the Oberfeldwebel Willi Unger was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
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...
. Promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in December 1944, Unger was transferred to III / JG 3 on the eastern front in February 1945. On this front, he would reach his last three victories. At the end of March 1945, he was transferred to JG 7 "Nowotny" - operating the revolutionaries Me262 jets - the other did not get any victory.
Willy Unger was captured by American forces in May 1945 and was released later that month. During his career he was credited with between 22 - 24 victories in 59 missions. He recorded at least 21 victories over the Western Front
Western Front
Western Front was a term used during the First and Second World Wars to describe the contested armed frontier between lands controlled by Germany to the east and the Allies to the west...
, all four-engine bombers. Willi Unger died on June 23, 2005 in the town of Warstein
Warstein
Warstein is a town in the district of Soest, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located at the north end of the Sauerland.- Geography :...
, at 85 years of age.
Awards
- FlugzeugführerabzeichenAviator BadgeAn Aviator Badge is an insignia used in most of the world’s militaries to designate those who have received training and qualification in military aviation...
- 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...
in Silver - Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(21 June 1944) - 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
- 1st Class
- 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 (August 1944) - 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 23 October 1944 as Fahnenjunker-FeldwebelCadetA cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
and Flugzeugführer in the IV.(Sturm)/Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"
- Knight's Cross on 23 October 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel