Franz Dörr

Franz Dörr
Born (1913-02-10)10 February 1913
Mannheim
Died 13 October 1972(1972-10-13) (aged 59)
Konstanz
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Rank Hauptmann
Unit JG 3, JG 5
Battles/wars Eastern Front
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Franz Dörr (10 February 1913 – 13 October 1972) was a German fighter ace during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. During World War II Franz Dörr was credited with 128 victories in over 437 combat missions. All but six of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, including 16 Il-2s.[1]

Biography

Franz Dörr was born on 10 February 1913 in Mannheim. During Invasion of Poland and Battle of France Dörr served as a reconnaissance pilot. In spring 1941, he was transferred to 1.(Erg.)/Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), based in the Netherlands. The first time he shot down an aircraft was on 29 September 1941, when he shot down a Royal Air Force (RAF) Vickers Wellington twin-engine bomber.

On 1 January 1942, 1.(Erg.)/JG 3 was redesignated 7./Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing) and relocated to the Northern front. By the end of 1942, Dörr claimed to have had twelve aerial shootdowns. He claimed his 20th victory on 18 August 1943. Dörr was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 7./JG 5 on 14 September 1943. By the end of 1943, Dörr had accumulated 37 aerial victories. Throughout May to July 1944 he claimed to have shot down dozens of aircraft after six shootdowns on 16 May, four on 25 May, five on 26 May, four on 15 June, eight on 17 June, five on 27 June, seven on 28 June, five on 4 July and four on 17 July.

On 1 August 1944, Dörr was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III./JG 5. He claimed another six shootdowns on 23 August, recording his 100th through 106th aerial victories.[2] In October 1944, Dörr claimed to have shot down 22 Russian aircraft, including six on 9 October and five on 21 October.

Awards

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Weal, John (2012-10-20). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 152. ISBN 9781782005285.
  2. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  3. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 90.
  4. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 277.

Bibliography

  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. Ivy Books. ISBN 0-8041-1696-2.
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