Gerhard Michalski

Gerhard Michalski (25 June 1917 – 22 February 1946) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II.

As a fighter ace, he is credited with 73 aerial victories in 652 missions, of which 59 victories were achieved over the Western Front including 13 four-engine bombers, and 14 over the Eastern Front.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Michalski was born on 25 June 1917 in Augsdorf in the Province of Saxony of the German Empire.

He bailed out over sea, climbed into his life raft before he was picked by a Dornier Do 24 flying boat of Seenotstaffel 6, the 6th Squadron of the German air-sea rescue service.

His victors were No. 126 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire fighters, flown by F/L.

Jones and F/Sgt Varey, who shot him down off Marsaxlokk Bay.

In 1936, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe and was promoted to Leutnant in 1938.

Michalski received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) on 28 September 1939.

Michalski joined 6.

Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) in 1940.

He claimed his first victory on 31 March 1940 during the "Phoney War", when he downed a French Morane Saulnier MS 406 fighter over the French border near Püttlingen.

Flying through the Battle of Britain, he gained eight more victories.

In October 1940, Michalski was appointed Adjutant in II./JG 53.

JG 53 flew its last mission on the Channel Front on 4 June 1941.

Four days later, II.

Gruppe was ordered to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield.

In preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the aircraft were given a maintenance overhaul at Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield.

On 12 June, II.

Gruppe relocated to Sobolewo.

On 21 June, the commanding officers were ordered to Suwałki where they were briefed by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring.

With JG 53 participating in the invasion of Russia from June 1941 onward, Michalski claimed 13 further victories by the end of August 1941 for a total of 22.

On 5 October 1941, II.

Gruppe of JG 53 was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and ordered to Insterburg, present-day Chernyakhovsk.

The Gruppe was then sent to Leeuwarden Airfield in the Netherlands where they arrived on 12.

October.

Prior to the relocation, Michalski was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4.

Staffel of JG 53, relacing Oberleutnant Kurt Liedtke in this capacity.

In November 1941, II.

Gruppe of JG 53 were relocated to Sicily for operations against Malta.

Michalski was to become the most successful German fighter pilot in the Siege of Malta, claiming 26 victories against the island's defenders.

Michalski was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II.

Gruppe of JG 53 in August 1942.

He succeeded Hauptmann Walter Spies who was transferred.

Command of 4.

Staffel was then passed to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Hobirk for two months before it was assigned to Leutnant Fritz Dinger in October.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 41 victories in September.

On 1 October, Michalski was promoted to Hauptmann (captain).

On 15 October, Michalski was shot down in his Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 10484—factory number).

In November 1942, II./JG 53 were sent to Tunisia.