Werner Schroer

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Werner Schroer (born February 12, 1918 in Mülheim an der Ruhr ; † February 10, 1985 in Ottobrunn ) was a German Air Force officer , most recently a major and, with 114 confirmed aerial victories, is one of the most successful fighter pilots in World War II .

Military career

Schroer joined the Air Force in 1937 and was initially a member of the ground crew. From 1938 to 1940 he completed a pilot's training at Fighter Pilot School 1. In August 1940 he joined the I. Group of Fighter Wing 27 , in whose ranks he subsequently flew on the English Channel and missions over southern England. In April 1941, Schroer and his fighter squadron transferred to the Africa Corps , where, alongside Hans-Joachim Marseille , he established himself as the most successful German fighter pilot on the African continent with 61 confirmed aerial victories. On July 1, 1942, he was promoted to squadron captain of the 8th squadron of Jagdgeschwader 27 .

On October 21, 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his 49th victory in the air . On April 20, 1943, Schroer was promoted to commander of Group II within his squadron. His squadron group was deployed in the Mediterranean area over Sicily and southern Italy . From August 1943, Schroer was used in the Reich Air Defense, where on August 2, 1943 he was awarded the oak leaf for his 84th aerial victory.

In March 1944 Schroer was appointed commander of the III. Group in Jagdgeschwader 54 , where he achieved his 100th aerial victory by July 1944. On July 21, 1944, Schroer was posted to the Union Leadership School, where he taught aerial warfare statics until February 1945. In February 1945 Schroer was appointed commodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 (Udet), where he was awarded the Knight's Cross on April 16, 1945. Overall, Schroer achieved 114 victories on 197 enemy flights, 102 of them against Anglo-American aircraft types including 26 four-engine bombers.

On May 7, 1945, he and his squadron surrendered to the approaching British troops. He was released from captivity in February 1946. He first worked as a taxi driver in Frankfurt am Main and studied business administration on the side. After graduating with a degree in business administration, he worked in Rome for eleven years. As a private citizen, he tried to erect a monument for his friend Hans-Joachim Marseille , but this did not succeed. In 1973 he was interviewed on the British TV series "A World at War" about his experience in the Air Force during the final year of the war. Before retiring, he was a manager at Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm for many years . Schroer died at the age of 67 on February 10, 1985 in Ottobrunn near Munich.

Awards

See also

literature

  • Ernst Obermaier: The Luftwaffe Knight's Cross Carriers 1939–1945, Volume I, Fighter Pilot , Dieter Hoffmann Verlag 1966, p. 46

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Schroer, Werner
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German major and fighter pilot
DATE OF BIRTH February 12, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Mülheim an der Ruhr
DATE OF DEATH February 10, 1985
Place of death at Ottobrunn