Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin

Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin (14 November 1919 — 11 January 1992) was a German World War II night fighter pilot who served in the Luftwaffe. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He is credited with shooting down 37 enemy aircraft claimed during 150 combat missions.

Family
His father, Luftwaffe Oberst Bogislaw von Bonin, was taken prisoner of war in March 1945 and declared missing. His brother, Jürgen-Oskar von Bonin, was killed in action as an observer in a transport Geschwader. Another brother, Oberstleutnant Hubertus von Bonin (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient) was killed in action on 15 December 1943.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 8 May 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän
 * German Cross in Gold (1 August 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 February 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./NJG 1