Paul Gildner

Paul Gildner
Born	1 February 1914
Died	24 February 1943(1943-02-24) (aged 29)
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	ZG 1; NJG 1
Battles/wars	Defense of the Reich †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Paul Gildner (1 February 1914 – 24 February 1943) was a German night fighter pilot during World War II. A fighter ace, he claimed 48 aerial victories, 46 of them at night, 8 of which were four engined heavy bombers. Gildner was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.

In August 1940, Gildner, after training in night flying, was transferred to 4. /Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1). After his first claim on 3 September 1940, he would score regularly and on 9 July 1941, after his 14th claim, Oberfeldwebel Gildner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Through 1942, Gildner (now commissioned to Leutnant), continued his series of claims, making him one of the highest scoring Luftwaffe night fighter pilots at the time.

Gildner died in the crash of Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (Werksnummer 4846—factory number) following engine failure and fire near Gilze en Rijen in the Netherlands in the night of 24/25 February 1943. His radio operator Unteroffizier Huhn managed to escape and bailed out with his parachute. On 26 February 1943, Gildner was awarded posthumously, with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.

Awards

• German Cross in Gold on 18 May 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 5./NJG 2
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 9 July 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 3./NJG 1
  • Oak Leaves on 26 February 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the 3./NJG 1

References

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)