Anton Andorfer

Anton Andorfer (23 December 1919 – 11 April 1945) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
After his training Andorfer joined I./StG. 77 (Sturzkampfgeschwader 77) in the winter of 1941-42, flying the Junkers Ju 87. He became a Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) in July 1943, and had flown 726 operations by March 1944 when he was awarded the Ritterkreuz. After conversion to the ground-attack version of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, he flew a further 200 sorties on the Eastern Front with 2./SG 77. Promoted to Hauptmann, Andorfer flew in the Battle for Berlin and was shot down and killed by Soviet Anti-Aircraft guns near Cottbus.

During his wartime career he flew 900 missions, during which he was credited with the destruction of 45 tanks, 50 guns, 6 anti-aircraft batteries, and 10 marine vessels with a total of 13,000 BRT.

Awards and decorations

 * Flugzeugführerabzeichen
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "900"
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (22 September 1942)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * German Cross in Gold on 17 May 1943 as Leutnant in the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 2./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77