Manfred Meurer

Manfred Meurer (8 September 1919 – 22 January 1944) was a Luftwaffe night fighter flying ace of World War II. Meurer was credited with 65 aerial victories claimed in 130 combat missions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). 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.

Career
Meurer was born on 8 September 1919 in Hamburg, joining the Luftwaffe in 1938. as part of a flak battalion before undergoing flying training in 1939. In late 1941 he was posted to 9./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing) as a Leutnant.

Meurer claimed his first victory on his first combat mission on 26–27 March 1942. By the end of the year he had claimed a further seven victories. In January 1943 he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3 staffel, NJG 1. On 14–15 February he claimed three heavy bombers and on 12–13 March, a further four. In April 1943 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. During May he scored some 14 victories and in July he achieved his 50th victory, a Mosquito light bomber. On 2 August he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

On 5 August 1943 Hauptmann Meurer was transferred as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5—5th Night Fighter Wing) before returning to NJG 1 in September 1943 as Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG 1. I gruppe flew the Heinkel He 219 and Meurer gained five victories flying this type.

On the night of 21–22 January 1944 he collided with an Avro Lancaster raiding Berlin. His He 219A-0 crashed and Meurer and his radar operator Oberfeldwebel Gerhard Schiebe were killed.

Meurer flew 130 combat missions achieving 65 victories, including 40 four-engined bombers and two Mosquitos, all claimed at night.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (17 April 1942)
 * 1st Class (19 December 1942)
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (15 March 1943)
 * German Cross in Gold on 31 March 1943 as Oberleutnant in the 3./NJG 1
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 16 April 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 3./NJG 1
 * 264th Oak Leaves on 2 August 1943 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 3./NJG 1