Franz Eckerle

Franz Eckerle (24 April 1912 – 14 February 1942) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.

Franz Eckerle was forced to make an emergency landing behind Soviet lines southeast of Schlüsselburg on 14 February 1942. He was posted as missing in action and presumed killed. He was posthumously honoured with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (13 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (11 August 1940)
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (19 December 1940)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 5 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän  of the 1./JG 54
 * 82nd Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./JG 54