Arnold Döring

Arnold Döring (29 January 1918 – 10 April 2001) was a German Luftwaffe 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. Arnold Döring was credited with 23 aerial victories.

Career
He was born on 29 January 1918 at Heilsberg in Ostpreußen and joined the Luftwaffe in 1938 as ground staff. After pilot training, he was posted in November 1940 to 9./ KG 53. In the summer of 1942 he was transferred to 8./KG 55 based on the Eastern front. During the fighting at Stalingrad, Döring achieved his first victories when shot down three Russian TB-3 four-engine bombers in one night. He destroyed another six on the ground. During the day he shot down seven MiG-1 and MiG-3 fighters, and also flew bombing missions in the He 111.

In the summer 1943 Oberfeldwebel Döring undertook Wilde Sau missions flying single-engine fighters on night interception missions against RAF bombers. He achieved his first victory by night on 27/28 September. During his time with II./JG 300, he claimed five night and three day victories. In May 1944 he was transferred to 7./ NJG 2. Two further victories were claimed on the night of 3/4 March 1945 over England during Operation Gisela. On 17 April 1945 he was finally awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Arnold Döring was credited 23 victories (13 at night) in 392 missions (348 as a bomber pilot).He recorded 13 victories at night, including three victories recorded over the Eastern front. 10 of his victories were by day, including seven claimed over the Eastern front and two USAAF B-17 four-engine bombers over the Western front.

Döring was also very successful against ground targets, destroyed 25 aircraft, 200 vehicles, about 70 wagons and locomotives, 16 tanks, four ammunition wagons, one tank platoon, eight bridges, two ammunition dumps and sinking one gunboat, two tankers and two freighters amounting to 18,000 BRT. After the war he joined the Bundeswehr in 1957 and retired in 1972.

Awards

 * Aviator badge
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (25 February 1942)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * German Cross in Gold (25 September 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 April 1945 as Leutnant and pilot in 10./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3