Karl-Gottfried Nordmann

Oberstleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann (born 22 November 1915 in Gießen – died 22 July 1982 in Greenwich, Connecticut(USA)) was a German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Legally it was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Karl-Gottfried Nordmann.

Career
Nordmann was born on 22 November 1915 in Giessen. At the start of the war Nordmann was serving with I./Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). By March 1940 he was an Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3./JG 77. In November 1940 Nordmann, having achieved 8 air victories, was transferred to command 12 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). In July 1941 Hauptmann Nordmann was appointed to command IV./JG 51 flying on the Eastern Front and in August was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after a total of 31 victories. Future 'ace' Unteroffizier Franz-Josef Beerenbrock flew as Nordmann's Rottenflieger (wing man) around this time. In April 1942, now a Major, Nordmann was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 51.

On 17 January 1943 Nordmann's Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was when involved in a collision with Oberleutnant Rudolf Busch, Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 51. Busch was killed and Nordmann, severely injured, did not fly operationally again.

In April 1944 Oberstleutnant Nordmann was made Jagdfliegerführer Ostpreussen before in May 1944 appointed to Jagdfliegerführer 6. In February 1945 Nordmann was made Inspekteur der Tagjäger Ost until the end of the war.

He died in July 1982 in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA.

Nordmann claimed 78 aerial victories (69 on the Eastern front) in over 800 combat missions and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (8 October 1939)
 * 1st Class (5 January 1940)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in gold with pennant
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 1 August 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 12./JG 51
 * 35th Oak Leaves on 16 September 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 12./JG 51
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 4 May 1944