Friedrich Körner

Friedrich Körner (24 January 1921 – 3 September 1998) was a World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Körner was credited with 36 victories in over 250 missions. All of his victories were scored whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

Military career
Körner joined the Luftwaffe on 15 November 1939 and after completion of his pilot training joined II./Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27) in North Africa on 4 July 1941. Körner scored his first victory on 19 March 1942 over Tobruk. In June 1942 he scored 20 kills, three on the 26 June, Körner's most successful day. On 4 July 1942, a year to the day of his arrival, he was shot down whilst scrambling to intercept a Royal Air Force (RAF) bomber formation over the front line in Bf 109 F-4/Trop (Werknummer 8696—factory number) "Red 11". Körner was captured and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Canada, and released in 1947.

After the war
Körner joined the Bundesluftwaffe in 1955, he retired from military service on 30 June 1979 as Brigadegeneral. Körner lived in Paris until his death on 3 September 1998.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
 * German Cross in Gold (21 August 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 September 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the I./JG 27