Lothar Linke
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient

Lothar Linke

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German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
Gender:
Male
Places:
Germany
Is:
KnightFighter
Work field:
MilitaryRoyals
Birth:
23 October 1909(Legnica)
Death:
14 May 1943(Lemmer)
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Introduction

Lothar Linke (23 October 1909 – 14 May 1943) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Lothar Linke claimed 27 aerial victories, 24 of them at night. On 14 May 1943 Linke and his crew were forced to bail out after their Bf-110 was hit by British fighters. He struck the tail end of the plane and was killed. On 19 September 1943, he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross.

Awards

  • Aviator badge
  • Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
  • Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (25 January 1943)
  • Iron Cross (1939)
    • 2nd Class
    • 1st Class
  • German Cross in Gold on 12 April 1943 as Leutnant in the 12./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 September 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 12./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
  • Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 281.
  • Fellgiebel 2000, p. 240.