Erwin Fleig

Ervin Fleig (6 December 1912 – 1 March 1986) was a former German Luftwaffe 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. Ervin Fleig was credited with 66 victories in 506 missions.

Career
Erwin Fleig spent his entire War time career flying with Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51) and became Werner Mölders Rottenflieger (wingman). He had joined JG 51 in June 1940. Fleig claimed his first victory on 11 August 1940, when he shot down a Spitfire over the English Channel. He claimed seven aerial victories during the Battle of Britain, six of them were Spitfire fighters. During Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he accumulated a further 57 victories. He was Hermann Joppien's wingman on 28 August 1941, when Joppien was killed as they attacked Soviet bombers near Bryansk. On the 29th of May 1942 Fleig was shot down in Szokoloje. Taken as a Prisoner of war, Fleig wasn't released until the fifties. Erwin Fleig was credited with 66 aerial victories in 506 missions. Nine of his victories were scored on the Western Front, six were Spitfires.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe with Pennant
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 August 1941 as Leutnant and pilot in the 2./JG 51