Wilhelm Schmitter

Wilhelm Schmitter (18 December 1913 – 8 November 1943) was a German Luftwaffe bomber pilot 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. On 8 November 1943, Wilhelm Schmitter was declared missing in action after failing to return from a mission over London. He was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 24 March 1944.

Awards

 * Flugzeugführerabzeichen
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (5 January 1942)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (16 May 1940)
 * 1st Class (3 January 1941)
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black
 * German Cross in Gold (18 May 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 19 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the II./Kampfgeschwader 2
 * 432nd Oak Leaves on 24 March 1944 as Major and Staffelkapitän of the 15./Kampfgeschwader 2