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August Geiger (pilot)

April 12, 2024

For the American architect, see August Geiger (architect).

August Geiger (6 May 1920 – 29 September 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 53 aerial victories making him the nineteenth most successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare.[1][Note 1] All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defense of the Reich missions, the majority at night against the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Bomber Command and one daytime claim over a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

August Geiger
Born6 May 1920
Überlingen, Weimar Republic
Died29 September 1943(1943-09-29) (aged 23)
Zuiderzee, German-occupied Netherlands
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery, Netherlands
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–43
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitNJG 1
Commands held7./NJG 1
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Born in Überlingen, Geiger grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Following graduation from school, he joined the military service in 1939 and was trained to fly Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter. In mid-1941, he transferred to Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing) where he became a night fighter pilot and claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 25/26 June 1942. Geiger was appointed squadron leader of 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of NJG 1 in January 1943. Following his 26th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 May 1943. Geiger was killed in action when he was shot down by an RAF night fighter on the night of 29 September 1943. He was posthumously bestowed with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Early life and career edit

Geiger was born on 6 May 1920 in Überlingen, near Lake Constance, which was part of the Republic of Baden during the Weimar Republic.[3] He was the son of a typographer. After graduation from school and receipt of his Abitur (university entry qualification), Geiger joined the Luftwaffe on 15 November 1939 as a Fahnenjunker (cadet). Following flight training,[Note 2] he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 1 April 1941.[4]

World War II edit

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight, Royal Air Force (RAF) attacks shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign.[5] By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector named a Himmelbett (canopy bed) would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers. In 1941, the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar. This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942.[6]

Night fighter career edit

 
A map of part of the Kammhuber Line. The 'belt' and night fighter 'boxes' are shown.

In mid-1941, Geiger was posted as to 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing).[7][Note 3] This Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe (3rd group) of NJG 1 under the command of Hauptmann Wolfgang Thimmig.[8] He claimed his first aerial victory on 9 July 1941 over a Handley Page Halifax bomber shot down 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of Nijmegen at 23:32.[9] The aircraft shot down was Halifax L9521 from the No. XXXV (Madras Presidency) Squadron on its mission to bomb the Leuna works.[10]

Now flying with 8. Staffel of NJG 1, Geiger claimed his second aerial victory on the night 19/20 June 1942 when he shot down a Stirling bomber 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) southeast of Neuenhaus.[11] That night, RAF bombers objective was Emden and lost 8 out of 191 aircraft, including Stirling R9352 from No. 15 Squadron to Geiger's attack.[12] On 25/26 June, RAF Bomber Command sent over 1,000 bomber to Bremen. Luftwaffe night fighter pilots claimed 48 aerial victories, including three by Geiger. He was credited with shooting down the Vickers Wellington bomber R1078 from No. 11 Operational Training Unit near Rheine, the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber AD689 from No. 10 Operational Training Unit near Lingen, and the Short Stirling bomber N3754 from No. 7 Squadron.[3]

On 29/30 July, RAF Bomber Command targeted Hamburg.[13] The RAF lost 30 aircraft in the attack, including the Wellington bomber Z1570 from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 75 Squadron shot down by Geiger near Neuenhaus. The following night, Bomber Command sent 291 bombers to Saarbrücken. In defense of this attack, Geiger shot down the Whitley bomber Z9230 from No. 138 Squadron west-northwest of Rijssen.[14] He received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 19 October 1942.[4]

Squadron leader edit

Geiger was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 7. Staffel of NJG 1 on 5 January 1943.[7] Geiger claimed his first aerial victory with 7. Staffel on 1 March 1943. At 23:52, he claimed a Halifax bomber 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) northwest of Zutphen.[15] That night, the RAF Bomber Command attacked Berlin with 302 aircraft. Geiger's victim may have been Halifax W7877 from No. 35 Squadron.[16] This Halifax, with an almost intact H2S ground scanning radar system, allowed the Germans to analyze the radar. This led to the development of the FuG 350 (FuG—Funkgerät) Naxos radar detector, which allowed the night fighters to home on to the H2S emitting signals.[17]

 
German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn - August Geiger

On the night of 29/30 March 1943, Geiger became an "ace-in-a-day", in this instance an "ace-in-a-night", taking his total to 20 aerial victories. That night, he claimed one Halifax, two Wellington and three Avro Lancaster bombers.[18] On his first mission of the night at 22:52, he shot down Wellington bomber HE182 from the 431 (Iroquois) Squadron near Ahaus. He then claimed Wellington bomber HE385 from No. 196 Squadron at 23:15 near Barchem. On his second mission, Geiger claimed Halifax bomber BE244 from No. 51 Squadron returning from Berlin and was intercepted near Vorden. He then shot down Lancaster bomber ED596 from No. 106 Squadron which came down near Delden at 04:27. His last aerial victory of the night was over Lancaster bomber W4327 from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 460 Squadron which came down near Kloosterhaar in Twenterand.[19][Note 4]

Geiger was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 April.[4] On 1 May, Geiger downed Halifax DT471 of 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron flown by H P Atkinson. Atkinson, and one other crewmember died.[21] The RAF bombed Duisburg on the night of 12/13 May, losing 34 of the 572 bombers making the attack.[22] Defending against this attack, Geiger claimed three aerial victories.[23] He shot down a Halifax bomber from No. 35 Squadron and another one from No. 77 Squadron, plus the Wellington bomber HE321 from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 428 Ghost Squadron.[24] Geiger was awarded with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 22 May 1943, the nomination had been submitted for 26 aerial victories claimed earlier. The presentation was made by Generalmajor Kammhuber.[25]

On the night of 23/24 May, Geiger shot down two Lancaster bombers.[26] One of which was Lancaster bomber W4984 from the RAAF No. 460 Squadron shot down near Emmen. Bomber Command had sent 829 bombers to Dortmund of which 38 did not return.[27] On the night of 12/13 June, Bochum was attacked by Bomber Command and 24 of 503 bombers were shot down. Geiger was credited with destroying Lancaster ED584 from No. 49 Squadron near Raalte.[28] On 1 July, he was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) and received the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 31 August 1943.[29] That night Geiger claimed his 44th victory over Stirling EH961 from No. 196 Squadron. Sergeant J. Griffiths and two other members of the seven man crew were killed. Crew member and gunner Sergeant C P Pierce was among the youngest fatalities in the RCAF in 1943, aged 18.[30]

On 29 September 1943, Geiger was shot down by the Bristol Beaufighter VI of Wing commander Bob Braham of No. 141 Squadron RAF over the Zuiderzee, Netherlands.[31] Geiger and his radio operator Feldwebel Dieter Koch managed to bail out of their Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (Werknummer 5477—factory number), but both drowned.[32][33][34] On 2 March 1944, Geiger was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), the 416th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored. He was buried at the German war cemetery Ysselsteyn (block M, row 4, grave 83) in the Netherlands.[29]

Summary of career edit

Aerial victory claims edit

According to Spick, Geiger was credited with 53 nocturnal aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions.[35] Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 51 nocturnal victory claims.[36] Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Geiger with 48 claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims.[37]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Geiger an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day or night.
  This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates aerial victories listed in Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945 but not in Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed in Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945 and in Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims.
Claim Date Time Type Location Serial No./Squadron No.
– III. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –[38]
1?[Note 5] 9 July 1941 23:32 Halifax 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Nijmegen[9] L9521/No. 35 Squadron[39]
– 8. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –[38]
2 20 June 1942 02:22 Stirling 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Neuenhaus[11] R9352/No. 15 Squadron[40]
3 26 June 1942 01:20 Wellington 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Rheine[41] R1078/No. 11 Operational Training Unit[3]
4 26 June 1942 01:30 Whitley 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Lingen[41] AD689/No. 10 Operational Training Unit[3]
5 26 June 1942 01:58 Stirling 6 km (3.7 mi) northwest of Nordhorn[41] N3754/No. 7 Squadron[3]
6 28 June 1942 01:29 Wellington north-northeast of Lingen[42] Z1619/No. 156 Squadron[43]
7 3 July 1942 02:49 Wellington 6 km (3.7 mi) northwest of Lochem[44] Z8579/No. 12 Squadron[45]
8 29 July 1942 02:35 Wellington 5 km (3.1 mi) north-northwest of Neuenhaus[46] Z1570/No. 75 Squadron[14]
9 30 July 1942 00:58 Whitley 8 km (5.0 mi) west-northwest of Rijssen[46] Z9230/No. 138 Squadron[14]
10 6 August 1942 01:35 Halifax 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Zwolle[47] W1215/No. 158 Squadron[48]
11 10 August 1942 04:34 Wellington 8 km (5.0 mi) south-southwest of Deventer[47]
12 11 September 1942 00:02 Wellington 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Osterwieck[49]
– 7. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –[38]
13 1 March 1943 23:52 Halifax 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Zutphen[15] W7877/No. 35 Squadron.[16]
14 2 March 1943 00:37 Halifax 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Markelo[15]
15 4 March 1943 11:33 B-17[15]
16♠ 29 March 1943 22:52 Wellington 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Ahaus[18] HE182/431 (Iroquois) Squadron[50]
17♠ 29 March 1943 23:15 Wellington west-northwest of Borculo[18] HE385/No. 196 Squadron[19]
18♠ 30 March 1943 03:47 Halifax 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Zutphen[18] BE244/No. 51 Squadron[19]
19♠ 30 March 1943 04:27 Lancaster 7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of Deventer[18] ED596/No. 106 Squadron[19]
20♠ 30 March 1943 04:46 Lancaster 3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Lieveide[18] W4327/No. 460 Squadron[19]
21 30 March 1943 23:00 Lancaster 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Gemen[18]
23 1 May 1943 03:21 Halifax northwest of Nijmegen[51]
24 5 May 1943 02:09 Halifax west of Zwolle[51]
25 13 May 1943 02:06 Halifax Vreden[23] No. 35 Squadron[24]
26 13 May 1943 02:06 Wellington southwest of Oldenzaal[23] HE321/428 Ghost Squadron[24]
27 13 May 1943 02:20 Halifax 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Hengelo[23] No. 77 Squadron[24]
28 24 May 1943 02:07 Lancaster 48 km (30 mi) east of Meppel[26] W4984/No. 460 Squadron[27]
29 24 May 1943 02:30 Lancaster 18 km (11 mi) east of Devemer[26]
30 13 June 1943 02:37 Lancaster 7 km (4.3 mi) north-northeast of Raalte[52] ED584/No. 49 Squadron[28]
31 15 June 1943 01:44 Lancaster 7 km (4.3 mi) southeast of Terlet[52] R5551/No. 106 Squadron[53]
32 23 June 1943 01:33 Wellington 9 km (5.6 mi) north of Wesel[54]
33 23 June 1943 01:35 Wellington 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Rees[54] HZ312/429 (Bison) Squadron[55]
34 23 June 1943 01:26 Stirling Empe[56]
35 23 June 1943 02:00 Lancaster 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Steenwijk[56]
36 23 June 1943 02:00 Lancaster 25 km (16 mi) west of Volendam[56]
37?[Note 6] 10 July 1943 02:40 Halifax Eprave, southeast of Dinant[57]
38?[Note 6] 14 July 1943 02:10 Lancaster Forstes-Veneurs[57] DS690/115 Squadron[58]
39! 24/25 July 1943
—
 Lancaster 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Cloppenburg[59]
40 30 July 1943 01:25 Lancaster 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of Ahrensfelde[60]
41 18 August 1943 02:08 Halifax 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Greifswald[61]
42 18 August 1943 02:08 Lancaster 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Reinberg[61]
43 28 August 1943 02:20 Stirling Gerlachshausen[62]
44 31 August 1943 23:28 Stirling 9 km (5.6 mi) south-southwest of Enschede[63]
45 3 September 1943 23:50 Stirling 1 km (0.62 mi) southwest of Hanover[64]
46 6 September 1943 00:24 Lancaster Oppen[65] W4370/No. 12 Squadron[66]
47 6 September 1943 00:45 Stirling Rheinhausen[65]
48 22 September 1943 22:35 Stirling Gestorf[67]
49 27 September 1943 22:10 Lancaster Zuiderzee[68]
50 27 September 1943 23:30 Halifax near Munich[69]
51 28 September 1943 00:01 Halifax south Papenburg[69]

Awards edit

Promotions edit

1 April 1941: Leutnant (second lieutenant)[4]
1 April 1943: Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)[4]
1 July 1943: Hauptmann (captain)[29]

Notes edit

  1. ^ According to Obermaier he was credited with 54 aerial victories.[2]
  2. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations. For pilots destined to fly multi-engine aircraft, the training was completed with the Luftwaffe Advanced Pilot's Certificate (Erweiterter Luftwaffen-Flugzeugführerschein), also known as the C-Certificate.
  3. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  4. ^ According to Chorley, one of his victims may have been Lancaster ED391 of No. 460 Squadron RAAF. Flight Sergeant David Harold Victor Harlick and his crew died.[20]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim was with 9. Staffel.[38]
  6. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim was unconfirmed.[38]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Scutts 1998, p. 88.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 61.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bowman 2016a, p. 86.
  4. ^ a b c d e Stockert 2007, p. 33.
  5. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 9.
  6. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 27.
  7. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 375.
  8. ^ Aders 1978, p. 227.
  9. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 25.
  10. ^ Listemann 2015, p. 10.
  11. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 46.
  12. ^ Air Pictorial 1991, p. 39.
  13. ^ Bowman 2016a, p. 91.
  14. ^ a b c Bowman 2016a, p. 92.
  15. ^ a b c d Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 68.
  16. ^ a b Bowman 2016a, p. 127.
  17. ^ Bowman 2016b, pp. 37–38.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 72.
  19. ^ a b c d e Bowman 2016a, p. 138.
  20. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 88.
  21. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 130.
  22. ^ Bowman 2016a, p. 145.
  23. ^ a b c d Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 79.
  24. ^ a b c d Bowman 2016a, p. 146.
  25. ^ Stockert 2007, pp. 33–34.
  26. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 82.
  27. ^ a b Bowman 2016a, p. 151.
  28. ^ a b Bowman 2016a, p. 155.
  29. ^ a b c Stockert 2007, p. 34.
  30. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 303.
  31. ^ Scutts 1998, pp. 54–55.
  32. ^ Bowman 2016a, p. 243.
  33. ^ Shores 1983, p. 152.
  34. ^ Scutts 1998, p. 56.
  35. ^ Spick 1996, p. 243.
  36. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 35–150.
  37. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 375–376.
  38. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 376.
  39. ^ Halifax L9521.
  40. ^ Stirling R9352.
  41. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 47.
  42. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 48.
  43. ^ Wellington Z1619.
  44. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 49.
  45. ^ Wellington Z8579.
  46. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 52.
  47. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 54.
  48. ^ Halifax W1215.
  49. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 58.
  50. ^ Wellington HE182.
  51. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 78.
  52. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 85.
  53. ^ Lancaster R5551.
  54. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 88.
  55. ^ Bowman 2016a, p. 157.
  56. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 90.
  57. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 93.
  58. ^ Chorley 1996, p. 231.
  59. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 96.
  60. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 98.
  61. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 104.
  62. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 108.
  63. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 109.
  64. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 110.
  65. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 111.
  66. ^ Bowman 2016a, p. 208.
  67. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 114.
  68. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 116.
  69. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 118.
  70. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 83.
  71. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 132.
  72. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 192.
  73. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 329.
  74. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 79.

Bibliography edit

  • Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. London: Janes. ISBN 978-0-354-01247-8.
  • Bowman, Martin (2016a). Nachtjagd, Defenders of the Reich 1940–1943. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-4738-4986-0.
  • Bowman, Martin (2016b). Voices in Flight: Path Finder Force. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-4738-8117-4.
  • Chorley, W. R (1996). Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: Aircraft and crew losses: 1943. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 978-0-9045-9791-2.
  • 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.
  • Foreman, John; Parry, Simon; Mathews, Johannes (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.
  • Listemann, Phil H. (2015). The Handley Page Halifax Mk. I. Philadelphia: Casemate Publishers and Book Distributors. ISBN 978-2918590-48-4.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • 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.
  • Scutts, Jerry (1998). German Night Fighter Aces of World War 2. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-696-5.
  • Shores, Christopher (1983). Air Aces. Presidio Press. ISBN 978-0-86124-104-0.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Stockert, Peter (2007). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 5 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 5] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
  • Accident description for Wellington Z1619 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 18 April 2021.
  • Accident description for Wellington HE182 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 18 April 2021.
  • Accident description for Lancaster R5551 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2021.
  • Accident description for Wellington Z8579 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2021.
  • Accident description for Halifax L9521 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2021.
  • Accident description for Halifax W1215 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2021.
  • Accident description for Stirling R9352 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2021.
  • Accident description for Wellington HE382 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 April 2021.
  • "Summer of 1942". Air Pictorial. 53. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Air League of the British Empire. 1991. ISSN 1477-6847. OCLC 5459255.

April 12, 2024
august, geiger, pilot, american, architect, august, geiger, architect, august, geiger, 1920, september, 1943, german, luftwaffe, military, aviator, during, world, night, fighter, credited, with, aerial, victories, making, nineteenth, most, successful, night, f. For the American architect see August Geiger architect August Geiger 6 May 1920 29 September 1943 was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II a night fighter ace credited with 53 aerial victories making him the nineteenth most successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare 1 Note 1 All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defense of the Reich missions the majority at night against the Royal Air Force s RAF Bomber Command and one daytime claim over a United States Army Air Forces USAAF Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress August GeigerBorn6 May 1920Uberlingen Weimar RepublicDied29 September 1943 1943 09 29 aged 23 Zuiderzee German occupied NetherlandsCause of deathKilled in actionBuriedYsselsteyn German war cemetery NetherlandsAllegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branch LuftwaffeYears of service1939 43RankHauptmann captain UnitNJG 1Commands held7 NJG 1Battles warsWorld War II Defense of the Reich AwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak LeavesBorn in Uberlingen Geiger grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Following graduation from school he joined the military service in 1939 and was trained to fly Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter In mid 1941 he transferred to Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 NJG 1 1st Night Fighter Wing where he became a night fighter pilot and claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 25 26 June 1942 Geiger was appointed squadron leader of 7 Staffel 7th squadron of NJG 1 in January 1943 Following his 26th aerial victory he was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 May 1943 Geiger was killed in action when he was shot down by an RAF night fighter on the night of 29 September 1943 He was posthumously bestowed with the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Contents 1 Early life and career 2 World War II 2 1 Night fighter career 2 2 Squadron leader 3 Summary of career 3 1 Aerial victory claims 3 2 Awards 3 3 Promotions 4 Notes 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 BibliographyEarly life and career editGeiger was born on 6 May 1920 in Uberlingen near Lake Constance which was part of the Republic of Baden during the Weimar Republic 3 He was the son of a typographer After graduation from school and receipt of his Abitur university entry qualification Geiger joined the Luftwaffe on 15 November 1939 as a Fahnenjunker cadet Following flight training Note 2 he was promoted to Leutnant second lieutenant on 1 April 1941 4 World War II editWorld War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight Royal Air Force RAF attacks shifted to the cover of darkness initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign 5 By mid 1940 Generalmajor Brigadier General Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter Each sector named a Himmelbett canopy bed would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers In 1941 the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942 6 Night fighter career edit nbsp A map of part of the Kammhuber Line The belt and night fighter boxes are shown In mid 1941 Geiger was posted as to 9 Staffel 9th squadron of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 NJG 1 1st Night Fighter Wing 7 Note 3 This Staffel was subordinated to III Gruppe 3rd group of NJG 1 under the command of Hauptmann Wolfgang Thimmig 8 He claimed his first aerial victory on 9 July 1941 over a Handley Page Halifax bomber shot down 10 kilometers 6 2 miles south of Nijmegen at 23 32 9 The aircraft shot down was Halifax L9521 from the No XXXV Madras Presidency Squadron on its mission to bomb the Leuna works 10 Now flying with 8 Staffel of NJG 1 Geiger claimed his second aerial victory on the night 19 20 June 1942 when he shot down a Stirling bomber 4 kilometers 2 5 miles southeast of Neuenhaus 11 That night RAF bombers objective was Emden and lost 8 out of 191 aircraft including Stirling R9352 from No 15 Squadron to Geiger s attack 12 On 25 26 June RAF Bomber Command sent over 1 000 bomber to Bremen Luftwaffe night fighter pilots claimed 48 aerial victories including three by Geiger He was credited with shooting down the Vickers Wellington bomber R1078 from No 11 Operational Training Unit near Rheine the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber AD689 from No 10 Operational Training Unit near Lingen and the Short Stirling bomber N3754 from No 7 Squadron 3 On 29 30 July RAF Bomber Command targeted Hamburg 13 The RAF lost 30 aircraft in the attack including the Wellington bomber Z1570 from the Royal New Zealand Air Force RNZAF No 75 Squadron shot down by Geiger near Neuenhaus The following night Bomber Command sent 291 bombers to Saarbrucken In defense of this attack Geiger shot down the Whitley bomber Z9230 from No 138 Squadron west northwest of Rijssen 14 He received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 4 Squadron leader edit Geiger was appointed Staffelkapitan squadron leader of the 7 Staffel of NJG 1 on 5 January 1943 7 Geiger claimed his first aerial victory with 7 Staffel on 1 March 1943 At 23 52 he claimed a Halifax bomber 2 kilometres 1 2 miles northwest of Zutphen 15 That night the RAF Bomber Command attacked Berlin with 302 aircraft Geiger s victim may have been Halifax W7877 from No 35 Squadron 16 This Halifax with an almost intact H2S ground scanning radar system allowed the Germans to analyze the radar This led to the development of the FuG 350 FuG Funkgerat Naxos radar detector which allowed the night fighters to home on to the H2S emitting signals 17 nbsp German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn August GeigerOn the night of 29 30 March 1943 Geiger became an ace in a day in this instance an ace in a night taking his total to 20 aerial victories That night he claimed one Halifax two Wellington and three Avro Lancaster bombers 18 On his first mission of the night at 22 52 he shot down Wellington bomber HE182 from the 431 Iroquois Squadron near Ahaus He then claimed Wellington bomber HE385 from No 196 Squadron at 23 15 near Barchem On his second mission Geiger claimed Halifax bomber BE244 from No 51 Squadron returning from Berlin and was intercepted near Vorden He then shot down Lancaster bomber ED596 from No 106 Squadron which came down near Delden at 04 27 His last aerial victory of the night was over Lancaster bomber W4327 from the Royal Australian Air Force RAAF No 460 Squadron which came down near Kloosterhaar in Twenterand 19 Note 4 Geiger was promoted to Oberleutnant first lieutenant on 1 April 4 On 1 May Geiger downed Halifax DT471 of 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron flown by H P Atkinson Atkinson and one other crewmember died 21 The RAF bombed Duisburg on the night of 12 13 May losing 34 of the 572 bombers making the attack 22 Defending against this attack Geiger claimed three aerial victories 23 He shot down a Halifax bomber from No 35 Squadron and another one from No 77 Squadron plus the Wellington bomber HE321 from the Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF 428 Ghost Squadron 24 Geiger was awarded with the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 22 May 1943 the nomination had been submitted for 26 aerial victories claimed earlier The presentation was made by Generalmajor Kammhuber 25 On the night of 23 24 May Geiger shot down two Lancaster bombers 26 One of which was Lancaster bomber W4984 from the RAAF No 460 Squadron shot down near Emmen Bomber Command had sent 829 bombers to Dortmund of which 38 did not return 27 On the night of 12 13 June Bochum was attacked by Bomber Command and 24 of 503 bombers were shot down Geiger was credited with destroying Lancaster ED584 from No 49 Squadron near Raalte 28 On 1 July he was promoted to Hauptmann captain and received the German Cross in Gold Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 31 August 1943 29 That night Geiger claimed his 44th victory over Stirling EH961 from No 196 Squadron Sergeant J Griffiths and two other members of the seven man crew were killed Crew member and gunner Sergeant C P Pierce was among the youngest fatalities in the RCAF in 1943 aged 18 30 On 29 September 1943 Geiger was shot down by the Bristol Beaufighter VI of Wing commander Bob Braham of No 141 Squadron RAF over the Zuiderzee Netherlands 31 Geiger and his radio operator Feldwebel Dieter Koch managed to bail out of their Messerschmitt Bf 110 G 4 Werknummer 5477 factory number but both drowned 32 33 34 On 2 March 1944 Geiger was posthumously awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub the 416th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored He was buried at the German war cemetery Ysselsteyn block M row 4 grave 83 in the Netherlands 29 Summary of career editAerial victory claims edit According to Spick Geiger was credited with 53 nocturnal aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions 35 Foreman Parry and Mathews authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 1945 researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 51 nocturnal victory claims 36 Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims listing Geiger with 48 claims plus two further unconfirmed claims 37 Chronicle of aerial victories This and the Ace of spades indicates those aerial victories which made Geiger an ace in a day a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day or night This and the exclamation mark indicates aerial victories listed in Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 1945 but not in Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims This and the question mark indicates information discrepancies listed in Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 1945 and in Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims Claim Date Time Type Location Serial No Squadron No III Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 38 1 Note 5 9 July 1941 23 32 Halifax 10 km 6 2 mi south of Nijmegen 9 L9521 No 35 Squadron 39 8 Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 38 2 20 June 1942 02 22 Stirling 4 km 2 5 mi southeast of Neuenhaus 11 R9352 No 15 Squadron 40 3 26 June 1942 01 20 Wellington 20 km 12 mi northeast of Rheine 41 R1078 No 11 Operational Training Unit 3 4 26 June 1942 01 30 Whitley 10 km 6 2 mi northwest of Lingen 41 AD689 No 10 Operational Training Unit 3 5 26 June 1942 01 58 Stirling 6 km 3 7 mi northwest of Nordhorn 41 N3754 No 7 Squadron 3 6 28 June 1942 01 29 Wellington north northeast of Lingen 42 Z1619 No 156 Squadron 43 7 3 July 1942 02 49 Wellington 6 km 3 7 mi northwest of Lochem 44 Z8579 No 12 Squadron 45 8 29 July 1942 02 35 Wellington 5 km 3 1 mi north northwest of Neuenhaus 46 Z1570 No 75 Squadron 14 9 30 July 1942 00 58 Whitley 8 km 5 0 mi west northwest of Rijssen 46 Z9230 No 138 Squadron 14 10 6 August 1942 01 35 Halifax 15 km 9 3 mi south of Zwolle 47 W1215 No 158 Squadron 48 11 10 August 1942 04 34 Wellington 8 km 5 0 mi south southwest of Deventer 47 12 11 September 1942 00 02 Wellington 2 km 1 2 mi east of Osterwieck 49 7 Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 38 13 1 March 1943 23 52 Halifax 2 km 1 2 mi northwest of Zutphen 15 W7877 No 35 Squadron 16 14 2 March 1943 00 37 Halifax 1 km 0 62 mi west of Markelo 15 15 4 March 1943 11 33 B 17 15 16 29 March 1943 22 52 Wellington 5 km 3 1 mi southwest of Ahaus 18 HE182 431 Iroquois Squadron 50 17 29 March 1943 23 15 Wellington west northwest of Borculo 18 HE385 No 196 Squadron 19 18 30 March 1943 03 47 Halifax 10 km 6 2 mi southeast of Zutphen 18 BE244 No 51 Squadron 19 19 30 March 1943 04 27 Lancaster 7 km 4 3 mi northeast of Deventer 18 ED596 No 106 Squadron 19 20 30 March 1943 04 46 Lancaster 3 km 1 9 mi northwest of Lieveide 18 W4327 No 460 Squadron 19 21 30 March 1943 23 00 Lancaster 5 km 3 1 mi north of Gemen 18 23 1 May 1943 03 21 Halifax northwest of Nijmegen 51 24 5 May 1943 02 09 Halifax west of Zwolle 51 25 13 May 1943 02 06 Halifax Vreden 23 No 35 Squadron 24 26 13 May 1943 02 06 Wellington southwest of Oldenzaal 23 HE321 428 Ghost Squadron 24 27 13 May 1943 02 20 Halifax 12 km 7 5 mi south of Hengelo 23 No 77 Squadron 24 28 24 May 1943 02 07 Lancaster 48 km 30 mi east of Meppel 26 W4984 No 460 Squadron 27 29 24 May 1943 02 30 Lancaster 18 km 11 mi east of Devemer 26 30 13 June 1943 02 37 Lancaster 7 km 4 3 mi north northeast of Raalte 52 ED584 No 49 Squadron 28 31 15 June 1943 01 44 Lancaster 7 km 4 3 mi southeast of Terlet 52 R5551 No 106 Squadron 53 32 23 June 1943 01 33 Wellington 9 km 5 6 mi north of Wesel 54 33 23 June 1943 01 35 Wellington 3 km 1 9 mi north of Rees 54 HZ312 429 Bison Squadron 55 34 23 June 1943 01 26 Stirling Empe 56 35 23 June 1943 02 00 Lancaster 10 km 6 2 mi southwest of Steenwijk 56 36 23 June 1943 02 00 Lancaster 25 km 16 mi west of Volendam 56 37 Note 6 10 July 1943 02 40 Halifax Eprave southeast of Dinant 57 38 Note 6 14 July 1943 02 10 Lancaster Forstes Veneurs 57 DS690 115 Squadron 58 39 24 25 July 1943 Lancaster 10 km 6 2 mi east of Cloppenburg 59 40 30 July 1943 01 25 Lancaster 2 km 1 2 mi southeast of Ahrensfelde 60 41 18 August 1943 02 08 Halifax 15 km 9 3 mi northwest of Greifswald 61 42 18 August 1943 02 08 Lancaster 2 km 1 2 mi south of Reinberg 61 43 28 August 1943 02 20 Stirling Gerlachshausen 62 44 31 August 1943 23 28 Stirling 9 km 5 6 mi south southwest of Enschede 63 45 3 September 1943 23 50 Stirling 1 km 0 62 mi southwest of Hanover 64 46 6 September 1943 00 24 Lancaster Oppen 65 W4370 No 12 Squadron 66 47 6 September 1943 00 45 Stirling Rheinhausen 65 48 22 September 1943 22 35 Stirling Gestorf 67 49 27 September 1943 22 10 Lancaster Zuiderzee 68 50 27 September 1943 23 30 Halifax near Munich 69 51 28 September 1943 00 01 Halifax south Papenburg 69 Awards edit Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 as Leutnant and pilot 70 German Cross in Gold on 31 August 1943 as Hauptmann in the 1 Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 71 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight s Cross on 22 May 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitan of the 7 Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 72 73 416th Oak Leaves on 2 March 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 73 74 Promotions edit 1 April 1941 Leutnant second lieutenant 4 1 April 1943 Oberleutnant first lieutenant 4 1 July 1943 Hauptmann captain 29 Notes edit According to Obermaier he was credited with 54 aerial victories 2 Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1 A2 and B1 B2 referred to as A B flight training A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics navigation long distance flights and dead stick landings The B courses included high altitude flights instrument flights night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations For pilots destined to fly multi engine aircraft the training was completed with the Luftwaffe Advanced Pilot s Certificate Erweiterter Luftwaffen Flugzeugfuhrerschein also known as the C Certificate For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II According to Chorley one of his victims may have been Lancaster ED391 of No 460 Squadron RAAF Flight Sergeant David Harold Victor Harlick and his crew died 20 According to Mathews and Foreman this claim was with 9 Staffel 38 a b According to Mathews and Foreman this claim was unconfirmed 38 References editCitations edit Scutts 1998 p 88 Obermaier 1989 p 61 a b c d e Bowman 2016a p 86 a b c d e Stockert 2007 p 33 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 9 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 27 a b Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 375 Aders 1978 p 227 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 25 Listemann 2015 p 10 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 46 Air Pictorial 1991 p 39 Bowman 2016a p 91 a b c Bowman 2016a p 92 a b c d Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 68 a b Bowman 2016a p 127 Bowman 2016b pp 37 38 a b c d e f g Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 72 a b c d e Bowman 2016a p 138 Chorley 1996 p 88 Chorley 1996 p 130 Bowman 2016a p 145 a b c d Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 79 a b c d Bowman 2016a p 146 Stockert 2007 pp 33 34 a b c Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 82 a b Bowman 2016a p 151 a b Bowman 2016a p 155 a b c Stockert 2007 p 34 Chorley 1996 p 303 Scutts 1998 pp 54 55 Bowman 2016a p 243 Shores 1983 p 152 Scutts 1998 p 56 Spick 1996 p 243 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 pp 35 150 Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 375 376 a b c d e Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 376 Halifax L9521 Stirling R9352 a b c Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 47 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 48 Wellington Z1619 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 49 Wellington Z8579 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 52 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 54 Halifax W1215 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 58 Wellington HE182 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 78 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 85 Lancaster R5551 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 88 Bowman 2016a p 157 a b c Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 90 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 93 Chorley 1996 p 231 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 96 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 98 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 104 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 108 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 109 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 110 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 111 Bowman 2016a p 208 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 114 Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 116 a b Foreman Parry amp Mathews 2004 p 118 Patzwall 2008 p 83 Patzwall amp Scherzer 2001 p 132 Fellgiebel 2000 p 192 a b Scherzer 2007 p 329 Fellgiebel 2000 p 79 Bibliography edit Aders Gebhard 1978 History of the German Night Fighter Force 1917 1945 London Janes ISBN 978 0 354 01247 8 Bowman Martin 2016a Nachtjagd Defenders of the Reich 1940 1943 Barnsley South Yorkshire Pen and Sword Books ISBN 978 1 4738 4986 0 Bowman Martin 2016b Voices in Flight Path Finder Force Barnsley South Yorkshire Pen and Sword Books ISBN 978 1 4738 8117 4 Chorley W R 1996 Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War Aircraft and crew losses 1943 Midland Counties Publications ISBN 978 0 9045 9791 2 Fellgiebel Walther Peer in German 2000 1986 Die Trager des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 1945 Die Inhaber der hochsten 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 Foreman John Parry Simon Mathews Johannes 2004 Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 1945 Walton on Thames Red Kite ISBN 978 0 9538061 4 0 Listemann Phil H 2015 The Handley Page Halifax Mk I Philadelphia Casemate Publishers and Book Distributors ISBN 978 2918590 48 4 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 Ritterkreuztrager 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 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 Patzwall Klaus D 2008 Der Ehrenpokal fur besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War in German Norderstedt Germany Verlag Klaus D Patzwall ISBN 978 3 931533 08 3 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte 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 Scutts Jerry 1998 German Night Fighter Aces of World War 2 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 85532 696 5 Shores Christopher 1983 Air Aces Presidio Press ISBN 978 0 86124 104 0 Spick Mike 1996 Luftwaffe Fighter Aces New York Ivy Books ISBN 978 0 8041 1696 1 Stockert Peter 2007 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 5 The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 5 in German Bad Friedrichshall Germany Friedrichshaller Rundblick OCLC 76072662 Accident description for Wellington Z1619 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 18 April 2021 Accident description for Wellington HE182 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 18 April 2021 Accident description for Lancaster R5551 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 21 April 2021 Accident description for Wellington Z8579 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 21 April 2021 Accident description for Halifax L9521 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 21 April 2021 Accident description for Halifax W1215 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 21 April 2021 Accident description for Stirling R9352 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 21 April 2021 Accident description for Wellington HE382 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 21 April 2021 Summer of 1942 Air Pictorial 53 Barnsley South Yorkshire Air League of the British Empire 1991 ISSN 1477 6847 OCLC 5459255 Portals nbsp Aviation nbsp Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title August Geiger pilot amp oldid 1206232921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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