August Geiger (pilot)

August Geiger
Born	6 May 1920 Überlingen
Died	over Zuiderzee, Netherlands
Buried	Ysselsteyn German war cemetery, Netherlands (Block M—row 4—grave 83)
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–43
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	NJG 1
Battles/wars	World War II Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

August Geiger (6 May 1920 – 29 September 1943) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Geiger was born on 6 May 1920 in Überlingen, near Lake Constance. Geiger joined the Luftwaffe in late 1939 and was posted in mid-1941 as Leutnant to 8./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1). Geiger's first two claims were a Vickers Wellington and a Armstrong Whitworth Whitley on 26 June 1942. By the start of 1943 Geiger had ten victories and been awarded the Iron Cross First Class.

In early 1943 Geiger was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) and transferred to a 7./NJG 1, becoming Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) in May 1943, with some 40 confirmed victories.

On 29 September 1943 he was shot down by the Beaufighter VI of W/C Bob Braham of No. 141 Squadron RAF over the Zuiderzee, Netherlands. Gieger managed to bail out of his Messerschmitt Bf-110 G but was drowned when his parachute dragged him under.

He was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 2 March 1944.

In 328 combat missions, Geiger claimed 53 aerial victories, all of them at night. According to O.K.L. Fighter Claims Reich & Western Front 35 mm micro-films; Geiger and long time friend/fellow night fighter Herbert Lütje were reported to have shot down a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress at 11:31 at 4,200 meters (13,800 feet) on 4 March 1943 during a daylight B-17 raid which was known by American pilots as the "Hamm Massacre".

Awards

• Aviator badge
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (19 October 1942)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold on 31 August 1943 as Hauptmann in the 1./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 22 May 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
  • 416th Oak Leaves on 2 March 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1

References

Bibliography

• Shores, Christopher F. and Clive Williams (1994). Aces High: a Tribute to the most notable fighter pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945
• Luftwaffe 39-45