Otto Gaiser

Otto Gaiser (5 October 1919 – 22 January 1944) was a Luftwaffe ace with 66 confirmed kills, and he was the recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Leutnant

Otto Gaiser
Otto Gaiser
Born5 October 1919
Reutlingen
Died22 January 1944(1944-01-22) (aged 24)  (MIA)
disappeared near Berdychiv, Ukraine
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1942–1944
RankLeutnant (Posthumously)
UnitJG 51
Battles/wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career
Gaiser flew a Fw 190. [Note 1]

In 1942, Gaiser was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) where he served as Rudolf Wagner's wingman. Wagner went on to become a Luftwaffe ace as well.[2] Gaiser claimed his first kill on 16 March 1943. That day, he shot down a Soviet Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter near Vyazma.[3] Gaiser served with 10. Staffel of JG 51 which at the time was under the command of Oberleutnant Horst-Günther von Fassong.[4] He achieved his 10th victory on 11 July, when he claimed another LaGG-3 shot down. Gaiser claimed 17 victories in August, including five Soviet Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down on 14 August, making him an "ace-in-a-day".[5]

On 22 January 1944, Gaiser was last seen in combat with Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft near Berdychiv, Ukraine. He has remained missing to this day. It is thought he became a victim of the Soviet ground defences. On 9 June 1944 he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and promoted to Leutnant. Before he disappeared, Gaiser was credited with 66 victories in 380 missions. All his air victories were achieved over the Eastern Front (World War II) and included 21 Il-2 Sturmoviks.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Gaiser was credited with 66 aerial victories.[6] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 66 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[7]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 36624". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[8]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Gaiser an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[7]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
1 16 March 1943 15:40 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 36624, 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Vyazma[3] 32 24 August 1943 05:44 Pe-2 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Krasnaya Yaruga[9]
2 11 April 1943 05:56 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 16621, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of the Ryta[3] 33 13 September 1943 11:25 Boston 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Nowo-Troizkoje[10]
3 7 May 1943 04:55 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63174, 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Shidkowa[11]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Zmiyekka		 34 14 September 1943 06:06 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 69684, east of Volhynia[10]
4 7 May 1943 05:08 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63191, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Prokowskoje[11]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Zmiyekka		 35 19 September 1943 15:13 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] 1 km (0.62 mi) southeast of Synelnykove[10]
5 14 May 1943 18:27 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63344, 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Semenkowo[11]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Glazunowka		 36 20 September 1943 06:38 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Dnipropetrovsk[10]
6 2 June 1943 07:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63563, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk[11] 37 20 September 1943 06:40 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 49534, 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of Nowosselka[10]
7 6 July 1943 15:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 63583, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Ponyri[12]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk		 38♠ 26 September 1943 08:28 Yak-1 1 km (0.62 mi) southwest of Novoselovka[10]
8 9 July 1943 08:43 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 63713, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Stanovoye[12]
Dmitriyevka-L'govskiy area		 39♠ 26 September 1943 13:32 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58543, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Orljansk[10]
east of Dnipropetrovsk
9 10 July 1943 12:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63513, 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Nikolskoje[12]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk		 40♠ 26 September 1943 13:38 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58513, 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Majatschka[10]
10 11 July 1943 18:02 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] 7 km (4.3 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk[12]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk		 41♠ 26 September 1943 16:38 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58563, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Kalinowka[10]
11 12 July 1943 07:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63222, 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Panikowez[13]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Zalegoshch		 42♠ 26 September 1943 16:39 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58562, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Krental[10]
12 12 July 1943 19:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63222, 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Malinowez[13]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Zalegoshch		 43 27 September 1943 06:21 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 59752, 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Aleksejewka[10]
13 13 July 1943 07:20 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 74753, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Raksino[13]
25 km (16 mi) south of Lipitsy		 44 27 September 1943 09:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58684, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Iwanowka[10]
14 13 July 1943 18:32 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64882, 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Krassnij[13]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Zalegoshch		 45 27 September 1943 16:30 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58642, 1 km (0.62 mi) northwest of Tiefenbrunn[10]
15 17 July 1943 08:13 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 63672, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Kusnetschki[13]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk		 46 30 September 1943 11:32 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 49311, 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Annewka[14]
16 2 August 1943 08:33 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 53631, 6 km (3.7 mi) south-southeast of Shislowo[13]
vicinity of Trosna		 47 1 October 1943 10:40 Yak-1 1 km (0.62 mi) southwest of Jakowlewka[14]
17 2 August 1943 08:35 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 63633, 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Koslowko[13]
vicinity of Trosna		 48 3 October 1943 11:04 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 49323, 1 km (0.62 mi) northeast of Domotkan[14]
18 2 August 1943 08:40 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 53661, 7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of Trossna[13]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Trosna		 49 7 October 1943 10:00 Yak-9 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Perewolotschnaja[14]
19 6 August 1943 14:37 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 53182, Schachowzy[15]
vicinity of Schachowzny		 50 8 October 1943 15:30 Yak-9 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Perewolotschnaja[14]
20 10 August 1943 11:13 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 61751, 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Dergatschij[15] 51 12 October 1943 12:48 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 26 Ost 15513, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Demkino[14]
21 10 August 1943 11:15 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 61593, 9 km (5.6 mi) northwest of Lipzy[15] 52 14 October 1943 08:07 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 15523, 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Nikolenka[14]
22 10 August 1943 13:53 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 61593, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Ljutowka[15] 53 14 October 1943 11:33 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 15723, 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Studenez[14]
23 11 August 1943 07:32 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 70722, north of Izyum[15] 54 14 October 1943 11:37 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 15761, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Rasdel[14]
24♠ 14 August 1943 18:17 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Bachmetjewka[15] 55 17 October 1943 10:54 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 06193, southeast of Shabino[14]
25♠ 14 August 1943 18:19 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 50254, 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Pankowka[15] 56 18 October 1943 08:27 Yak-1 PQ 26 Ost 97893, 7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of Nevel[14]
26♠ 14 August 1943 18:22 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 50224, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Buzkiy[15] 57 1 November 1943 13:17 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Bolshaja-Snamenka[16]
27♠ 14 August 1943 18:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 50223, 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Dobropolye[15] 58 5 November 1943 11:24 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 49714, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Udatschnaja[16]
28♠ 14 August 1943 18:25 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 50221, 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Dobropolye[9] 59 27 November 1943 13:50 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 47231, 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Wesseloje[16]
29 15 August 1943 13:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 70782, 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Kotijary[9] 60 28 November 1943 11:10 La-5 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of Jelisarowo railway station[16]
45 km (28 mi) south-southwest of Dnipropetrovsk
30 18 August 1943 05:54 La-5 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Dolgenskaja[9] 61 28 November 1943 13:25 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 48642, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Dnjeprowka[16]
31 22 August 1943 17:35 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 50223, 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Dopropolje[9]
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[17]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 22 January 1944
62 12 January 1944 12:10 Il-2 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Vinnytsia 65 15 January 1944 14:31 Il-2 40 km (25 mi) east of Vinnytsia
63 15 January 1944 09:17 Yak-4 30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Vinnytsia 66 15 January 1944 14:36 Il-2 45 km (28 mi) south-southeast of Koziatyn
64 15 January 1944 09:20 Yak-4 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Koziatyn

Awards

See also

Notes
  1. It is not known how many different aircraft Wagner flew while accumulating his 66 kills, his unit was known for flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in 1943. The Luftwaffe used the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft over the eastern front by 1943. See photo of Gaiser with his Fw 190.[1]
  2. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).

References

Citations
  1. "Fw 190 A white 10 of 10./JG 51 Otto Gaiser Smolensk Febr 1943". World War Photos. World War Photos. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  2. Page 2020, p. 45.
  3. Prien et al. 2012, p. 147.
  4. Prien et al. 2012, p. 143.
  5. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 151–153.
  6. Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  7. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 361–362.
  8. Planquadrat.
  9. Prien et al. 2012, p. 153.
  10. Prien et al. 2012, p. 154.
  11. Prien et al. 2012, p. 148.
  12. Prien et al. 2012, p. 150.
  13. Prien et al. 2012, p. 151.
  14. Prien et al. 2012, p. 155.
  15. Prien et al. 2012, p. 152.
  16. Prien et al. 2012, p. 156.
  17. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1305.
  18. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 128.
  19. Patzwall 2008, p. 82.
  20. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 190.
  21. Scherzer 2007, p. 325.

Bibliography
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • 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.
  • Page, Neil (2020). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943-1945. United Kingdom: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61200-879-0. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
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