Paul Gildner
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
Died when: 29 years 23 days (348 months)Star Sign: Aquarius
Paul Gildner (1 February 1914 – 24 February 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 44 aerial victories, including two by day, claimed in approximately 160 combat missions making him one of the more successful night fighter pilots in the Luftwaffe.
All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Bomber Command.
Born in Nimptsch, Gildner grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.Following graduation from school and the compulsory Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service), he joined the military service in 1933, at first with an infantry regiment before he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935.
Trained as a pilot, Gildner served with Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1—1st Destroyer Wing), flying a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter, at the start of World War II.
He claimed his first aerial victory during the Battle of France.In June 1940, the Luftwaffe created its first night fighter wing, Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing), and Gildner transferred to this unit.
There he claimed his first nocturnal aerial victory on the night of 2/3 September 1940.On 9 July 1941, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after his 16th aerial victory, 14 of which claimed at night.
At the end of 1941, Gildner was the second leading night fighter pilot of the Luftwaffe.Gildner was appointed squadron leader of 1.
Staffel (1st squadron) of NJG 1 in February 1943.After crash landing his Me-110 following engine failure, Gildner couldn't escape from his burning plane and perished in the flames.
Posthumously, Gildner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 26 February 1943.
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German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
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