Hermann Greiner

Georg-Hermann Greiner (2 January 1920 – 26 September 2014) was a Luftwaffe night fighter ace who served during World War II.

Greiner was recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves—the fourth highest German award by war's end.

He was also a squadron commander in the prestigious Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—Night Fighter Wing 1), the most successful night fighter interceptor unit of any nation in the history of aerial warfare.

Greiner primarily engaged British RAF Bomber Command crews in their bombing campaigns over German-occupied Europe and was credited with 51 aerial victories over Allied aircraft: four United States Army Air Force (USAAF) bombers during daylight hours and 47 Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft at night.

Only 23 other night fighter pilots—all German World War II serviceman—surpassed Greiner's total which was achieved in three years and six months of operations.

Following the conclusion of the War, Greiner and close friend Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer were arrested illegally crossing the German-Swiss border attempting an escape to Argentina.

Greiner was born on 3 January 1920 in the small Bavarian town of Heidenheim, Middle Franconia.

He was the third child of Albrecht and Sophie Greiner.

His father moved away to Bochum, located in the German Ruhr to seek work with Reichsbank, Weimar Germany's central bank.

Bochum was under the occupation of the French Army after World War I and there was a distinct lack of affordable housing.

The family could not follow and the young Greiner rarely saw his father during his early childhood.

When Albrecht had saved sufficient funds he was able to buy a flat in Bochum and he sent for his family.

Greiner's father was a strict disciplinarian and the friction caused disharmony in the family.

Greiner developed a strong desire to succeed in everything and prove himself worthy of his father's time.

Greiner joined the German Gymnasts Association (Deutscher Turner Bund) at seven and three years later the German Scout Movement (Deutscher Pfadfinder Bund).

In 1933 he travelled to Switzerland and Italy with the scout movement at 13.

Greiner had the opportunity to stay in Milan and Rome with German families.

Greiner was unusually well travelled for a person of his age and social status at that time.

A consequence of the National Socialist rise to power in 1933 was Greiner's enforced membership in the Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend).

In 1936 he was invited to participate at the International Youth Camp for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

Greiner received invitations to Hungary in 1937, Bulgaria in 1938 and Canada in 1939, but could only visit the Hungarian capital Budapest.

After four years in the organisation Greiner took an interest in aviation and joined the Flying Hitler Youth (Flieger Hitlerjugend), which was absorbed into the German Air Sports Association (Deutscher Luftsportscharen), in 1937.

Here, Greiner passed the aptitude tests for a career as an officer in the Luftwaffe.

All aspiring officers had to complete the Abitur.

On 5 April 1938 he achieved the Abitur and then undertook six months of compulsory Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst).

On 8 November 1938 he underwent basic training at the Second Pilot Replacement Unit at Detmold in Westphalia.

He completed the course on 20 March 1939.

At the conclusion of the course Greiner was rewarded with an acceptance as a Fahnenjunker (officer cadet).

He was posted to the Luftkriegsschule 2 (LKS 2—2nd air war school) at Berlin-Gatow to begin flying lessons.

There, he learned the rudiments of flying.

Greiner flew the Focke-Wulf Fw 44, the Bücker Bü 131 and the Arado Ar 96.

On 30 October 1939 he was granted his licence and pilot's badge, and A/B flying certificate, in recognition of his elementary training and qualification on advanced single-engine training aircraft.

Greiner moved to Saxony where he attended the Flugzeugführerschule C (Aircraft Advanced School C—advanced flying school) in Lönnewitz.

At the school Greiner learned to fly the Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 86.

At this school he flew the Messerschmitt Bf 110 for the first time.

Greiner attended the Long-Range reconnaissance school at Großenhain, followed by the Blindflugschule (Blind Flying School) at Neuburg an der Donau.

From here Greiner was posted to the Zerstörerschule (Destroyer School) at Memmingen.

Greiner then moved to the Jagdfliegerschule (Fighter School) at Schleißheim, near Munich.

Both Greiner and Schnaufer were detained in an Allied prisoner of war camp and released in 1947.

Greiner went on to study law and returned to service in the German Air Force in 1957, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1972.