? 1912 - Born in Engen
? 1938 - Joined Luftwaffe
1940-41 - Served in Western Campaign and Mediterranean
June 1941 - Posted to Russian Front
August 1941 - Scored his first aerial victory serving in 9/JG52
24 January 1942 - Decorated with the Knight's Cross after 62 (?42) victories at the rank of Leutnant
14 May 1942 - Reached 104 victories as Staffelkapitän of 9/JG52
17 May 1942 - Awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross after 104 kills (7th to pass 100)
19 May 1942 - Awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross (11th recipient of this decoration) following his 106th victory (a Soviet Pe-3 bomber)
16 September 1942 - Received the Diamonds to the Oakleaves with Swords (5th recipient of the most coveted award) after 172 kills
2 October 1942 - Reached 200 victories (first) at the rank of Major
April 1943 - Took command of Jagdergänzungsgruppe Ost
August 1943 - Took command of Jagdgruppe 50 at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim
November 1943 - Posted to JG11 in defence of the Reich
29 March 1944 - Shot down two USAAF B-17s, but was injured when rammed an escort fighter
October 1944 - Returned to JG52 as Kommodore
May 1945 - Captured by American troops but handed to Russians. Released from captivity in 1950