Lothar Linke

Lothar Linke (23 October 1909 – 14 May 1943) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. 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