Hermann Greiner

Georg-Hermann Greiner (born 2 January 1920) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and a squadron commander in the prestigious Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, translated in English as the "1st Night Fighter Wing", the most successful Night Air Superiority unit of any nation during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was the fourth grade of Nazi Germany's highest award for military galantry and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery and successful military leadership. Greiner primarily engaged British RAF crews in their bombing campaigns over greater Germany and was credited with 51 aerial victories over allied aircraft, having destroyed four American bombers during daylight hours and 47 British bombers at night.

Following the conclusion of the War, Greiner and close friend  Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer were arrested illegally crossing the German-Swiss border attempting an escape to Argentina. Both Greiner and Schnaufer were detained in an Allied prisoner of war camp and released in 1947. Greiner went on to study law and returned to service in the West German Luftwaffe in 1957, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1972.

Awards

 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (26 December 1943)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with 200 numeral
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (26 June 1942)
 * 1st Class (1 June 1943)
 * German Cross in Gold on 29 March 1944 as Oberleutnant in the 10./NJG 1
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 27 July 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 11./NJG 1
 * 840th Oak Leaves on 17 April 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./NJG 1