Willy Kientsch
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
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Biography
Wilhelm "Willy" Kientsch (12 May 1921 – 29 January 1944) was a German Luftwaffe 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. He was killed on 29 January 1944 when he became disorientated in Bf 109 G6 "Yellow 3" in a low cloud cover near Würrich, Germany and struck the ground and was killed. Willy Kientsch claimed 53 victories all over the Western Front. He was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 20 July 1944.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (9 August 1943)
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 16 August 1943 as Leutnant in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 27
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 22 November 1943 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 6./Jagdgeschwader 27
- 527th Oak Leaves on 20 July 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 6./Jagdgeschwader 27
- Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 227.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 255.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 440.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 85.