Heinrich Sturm

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Heinrich Sturm
12 June 1920 – 22 December 1944
Place of birth Dieburg, Hessia
Place of death Csorna, Hungary
Allegiance Flag of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer, Luftwaffe
Rank Hauptmann
Unit JG 52
Commands held 4./JG 52, 5./JG 52
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hauptmann Heinrich Sturm (born 12 June 1920 in Dieburg, Hessia – killed in flying accident 22 December 1944 in Csorna, Hungary) was German World War II Luftwaffe 158 victories Flying ace.

[edit] Military Career

Joining 6./JG 52 with the rank of Feldwebel in Sommer 1941 he managed to score his first three victories until the end of the year.

He then transferred to a fighter school as instructor and only managed to rejoin frontline service in November 1942. He was assigned to the Staff of II./JG 52. In the period up to the 17 December 1942 he scored a further six victories. On the 1 January 1943 he was promoted to Leutnant. He scored his 20th kill on the 15 April 1943, adding five more kills on the 20 April 1943 and reached 40th kill on the 30 June 1943 and kill number 75 on the 30 November 1943. From the 1 September 1943 he was in lead of 4./JG 52. Scoring his 100th victory on the 23. March 1944 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross three days later. Barely a month later, on the 16 April 1944 he was wounded badly by bomb debris on Chersonez (Crimea) airfield.

In August 1944 he returned to JG 52 and took over command of 5./JG 52, his score standing at 111. On the 22 December 1944 he scored his last two kills. Taking off for another sortie from Csorna that day, one of the landing gear struts hit a truck killing him in the accident[1].

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

  1. ^ Weal 2004, p.116
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
  • Weal, John. Aviation Elite Units Jagdgeschwader 52 The Experten. Osprey Publishing Limited, 2004. ISBN 1-84176-786-7


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