Anton Lindner (12 April 1917 – 17 February 1994) was a 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. Lindner joined the postwar German Air Force, at the time named the Bundesluftwaffe, in 1956 and retired in 1972 as an Oberstleutnant (colonel).[1] During his career he was credited with 73 aerial victories,[2] one on the Western Front and 72 on the Eastern Front, claimed in 650 combat missions.[3]
Anton Lindner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 April 1917 Hohenkemnath |
| Died | 17 February 1994 (aged 76) Hohenkemnath |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/ |  Luftwaffe German Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–45 1956–72 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit | JG 51 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Summary of career edit
Aerial victory claims edit
Lindner was credited with 73 victories, 72 of which on the Eastern Front and one on the Western Front, claimed in 650 combat mission.[3] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 72 aerial victory claims on the Eastern Front, plus one further unconfirmed claim on the Western Front.[4]
Awards edit
- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 27 May 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51[5]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 April 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the Stabsstaffel/Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[6][Note 1]
Notes edit
- ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders".[7]
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 754.
- ^ Page 2020, p. 73.
- ^ a b Spick 1996, p. 237.
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 754–755.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 280.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 293.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 508.
Bibliography edit
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Page, Neil (2020). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943–45. Philadelphia, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61200-879-0.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
