Gustav Sturm

Gustav Sturm
Born	10 November 1921 Linz, Austria
Died	20 January 1973 Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1941–45
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	JG 27, JG 3, JG 51, EJG 2, JG 7
Battles/wars	World War II North African Campaign Defense of the Reich

Gustav Sturm (10 November 1921 – 20 January 1973) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace credited with 22 victories. Included in his victory 17 were four-engine bombers. He recorded five victories while flying the Me 262 jet fighter, all four engine bombers.

Military career

Sturm was serving with JG 27 based in North Africa from November 1942. Feldwebel Sturm was assigned to 2./JG 27 and recorded his first victory on 15 November when he shot down a USAAF B-24 four-engine bomber near El Agheila.

On 25 April 1945, while was based at Ruzyně in Czechoslovakia, Sturm attempted to rescue a colleague from a Me 262 that had crash-landed and caught fire. The burning machine exploded when he reached nearer and he suffered serious chest wounds. The wounds were serious enough that Sturm took no further part in the war.