Quick Facts
Biography
Hauptmann Heinrich Sturm (12 June 1920 in Dieburg, Hessia – killed in flying accident 22 December 1944 in Csór, Hungary) was German World War II Luftwaffe 158 victories Flying ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Military career
He joined 6./Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—6th squadron of the 52nd fighter wing) with the rank of Feldwebel (Sergeant) in the summer of 1941, he claimed his first three aerial victories at the end of the year.
He then transferred to a fighter school as instructor and returned to frontline service in November 1942. He was assigned to the Stab of II./JG 52 (2nd group of the 52nd fighter wing). In the period up to 17 December 1942 he scored a further six victories. On the 1 January 1943 he was promoted to Leutnant. He claimed his 20th kill on the 15 April 1943, adding five more kills on the 20 April 1943 and reached his 40th kill on the 30 June 1943 and kill total of 75 on the 30 November 1943. From the 1 September 1943 he was top scoring fighter pilot of 4./JG 52 (4th squadron of the 52nd fighter wing). Scoring his 100th victory on the 23 March 1944 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross three days later. He was the 66th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. A month later, on the 16 April 1944, he was wounded badly by bomb debris on Chersonese (Crimea) airfield.
In August 1944 he returned to JG 52 and took over command of 5./JG 52, his score standing at 111. On the 22 December 1944 he scored his last two kills. Taking off for another sortie from Csór that day, one of the landing gear struts hit a truck killing him in the accident.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 26 July 1943 as Leutnant and pilot
- German Cross in Gold on 23 July 1943 as Leutnant in the Stab/JG 52
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Leutnant (war officer)and Staffelführer of the 4./JG 52
- Patzwall 2008, p. 202.
- Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 467.
- Scherzer 2007, p. 734