Werner Streib

Werner Streib (13 June 1911 – 15 June 1986) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Military career
Often called 'Father of the Nachtjagd' Streib helped develop the operational tactics used by the Nachtjagd during the early to mid-war years, and along with the likes of Wolfgang Falck made the Luftwaffe's nightfighter arm an effective fighting force against the Royal Air Force (RAF) bombing offensive. He is mentioned in the book "Almost a lifetime" by John McMahon when he, shot down John's Lancaster, killing all but John.

Werner Streib was born on 13 June 1911 in Pforzheim Germany. After a spell in banking and finance, he joined the Wermacht as an infantryman. A transfer to the Luftwaffe, as an observer in a reconnaissance unit followed, and later he trained as a fighter pilot. In 1937, he was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" at Jüterbog-Damm. He then became a Messerschmitt Bf-110 Zerstörer pilot in Wolfgang Falck's Zerstörergeschwader 1 as the war began.

His first victory and only daylight victory was over a RAF Bristol Blenheim on 10 May 1940. In May 1940 the creation of the Nachtjagd was commenced, and on 20 July, as part of 2./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1), Werner Streib claimed his first night victory (and the first official Nachtjagd victory) over a RAF Whitley.

By October 1940 Streib was commanding of I gruppe, NJG 1, based at Venlo, Netherlands in order to more easily intercept the known RAF bomber routes into targets in the Ruhr. He would be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 October 1940 as an Oberleutnant with eight victories claimed. By May 1941 he had 26 confirmed victories. He was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross on 26 February 1943 as a Major and Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of NJG 1 with 42 confirmed victories.

On the night of 11–12 June 1943, Werner Streib flew a prototype version of the Heinkel He 219 and claimed to have shot down 5 Lancaster bombers within just 30 minutes. However, when returning to Venlo Streib misjudged the landing approach and used the flaps at too high a speed. The Heinkel crashed and was written off on upon landing, Streib and his Bordfunker (radio or wireless operator) escaping with slight injuries.

On 11 March 1944 he was awarded the Swords to his Knights Cross for 66 confirmed victories.

On 23 March 1944 he was made Inspector of Night Fighters and he would stay in this post as Oberst until the end of the war.

Werner Streib was officially credited with shooting down 66 enemy aircraft, with 65 claimed at night. He was the first night fighter pilot to be honoured with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

After the war he worked in the grocery business before joining the Bundeswehr on 16 March 1956. For three years he commanded the pilot school A in Landsberg am Lech, equipped with the T-6 Texan was responsible for training the beginner pilots in the Luftwaffe. Brigadegeneral Streib's military career ended with his retirement on 31 March 1966. His last position was Inspizient Fliegende Verbände (Inspector of Flying Forces).

He died on 15 June 1986 and is buried in Munich, Germany.

Awards

 * Wound Badge in Black
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (13 September 1940)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
 * Combined Pilots-Observation Badge
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (17 May 1940)
 * 1st Class (20 June 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold on 26 February 1942 as Hauptmann in the I./NJG 1
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
 * Knight's Cross on 6 October 1940 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 2./NJG 1
 * 197th Oak Leaves on 26 February 1943 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./NJG 1
 * 54th Swords on 11 March 1944 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 1
 * Mentioned four times in the Wehrmachtbericht (1 October 1940, 15 March 1941, 5 July 1941 and 31 May 1942)