Otto Kittel

Otto Kittel (21 February 1917 – 14 or 16 February 1945) was a German fighter pilot during World War II.

He flew 583 combat missions on the Eastern Front, claiming 267 aerial victories, making him the fourth highest scoring ace in aviation history according to authors John Weal and Jerry Scutts.

Kittel claimed all of his victories against the Red Air Force.

Kittel was born on 21 February 1917 in Kronsdorf in Sudeten Silesia, Austria-Hungary, present-day Krasov.

He was the son of Eduard Kittel, a farmer.

Kittel joined the Luftwaffe in 1939, and, in spring 1941, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) supporting Army Group North on the Eastern Front.

After working briefly as an auto mechanic, Kittel joined the Luftwaffe in 1939.

Following completion of flight and fighter pilot training, he was posted to 2.

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland.

At the time of Kittel's posting to 2.

Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on 12 February 1941.

Staffel in early 1941, the squadron was commanded by Oberleutnant Rudolf Unger and subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 54 headed by Hauptmann Hubertus von Bonin.

The Gruppe was based at Groningen Airfield in the Netherlands where they patrolled the German Bight.

Unlike the other elements of JG 54, I. Gruppe did not participate in the German invasion of Yugoslavia and stayed in Groningen until 9 May when they relocated to Jever Airfield in northern Germany.

On 31 May, due to technical problems with his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 12725—factory number) Kittel was forced to bail out near Spiekeroog.

On 14 June, the Gruppe was withdrawn and began preparations for the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, began on 22 June 1941.

In the fortnight prior, JG 54 had been moved to an airfield in Lindenthal near Rautenberg, East Prussia, present-day Uslowoje in Kaliningrad Oblast.

Tasked with supporting Army Group North in its advance through the Baltic states towards Leningrad, the unit began combat operations shortly afterwards.

On 24 June 1941, Kittel claimed his first two aerial victories, two Tupolev SB-2 bombers.

Kittel married his fiancé, Edith, in June 1942; the couple had a son, born in 1942.

His tally had risen to 19 by May 1942.

In mid-December 1942, I. Gruppe began converting to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 radial engine powered fighter.

The conversion training took place at Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo, before returning to Krasnogvardeysk, present-day Gatchina.

He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1943, for reaching 120 aerial victories.

During the remainder of World War II, Kittel was credited with 144 more aerial victories and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

On 12 January 1943, Soviet forces launched Operation Iskra fought south of Lake Ladoga and aimed to break the Wehrmacht's siege of Leningrad.

The Soviet operation was supported by bomber, ground-attack and fighter aircraft.

That day, I. Gruppe pilots claimed 36 aerial victories, including Kittel's first "ace-in-a-day" achievement when he shot down six Soviet aircraft on two separate combat missions.

On 15 March 1943, Kittel's Fw 190 A-4 (Werknummer 2481) suffered engine failure resulting in a forced landing behind enemy lines.

He managed to return to his unit on foot.

During the fighting in 1943, JG 54 took part in the spring battles over the Crimea Peninsula, Vyazma-Bryansk, Vitebsk, Kharkov, Orsha and Orel regions.

During the Battle of Kursk, Kittel's unit escorted Junkers Ju 87 Stukas of a dive bomber wing commanded by Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

On 14 September 1943, Kittel claimed his 100th aerial victory, a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter.

The 53rd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 29 October 1943.

On 1 November 1943, Kittel was promoted to the rank of Leutnant (second lieutenant).

He was shot down by Soviet aircraft and killed in February 1945.

Kittel was the most successful German fighter pilot to be killed in action.

The presentation was made after the 123rd aerial victory at Vitebsk.

On 19 February, Kittel claimed his 39th aerial victory which was also JG 54's 4,000th claim in total.