15 September 1913 - Born in Bottendorf
? 1934 - Joined the Navy as officer cadet
? 1936 - Transferred to Luftwaffe
1 September 1939 - Started the war as Staffelkapitän of 10(N)/JG26 at the rank of Oberleutnant
18 December 1939 - Scored his first kills downing two RAF Wellington bombers in the "Battle of the German Bight"
February 1940 - Transferred to JG52
August 1940 - Served in the Battle of Britain as Staffelkapitän of 4/JG52
June 1941 - Posted to Russian Front
30 August 1941 - Decorated with the Knight's Cross following his 35th aerial victory at the rank of Oberleutnant
February 1942 - Took command of II/JG52
2 September 1942 - Awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross (115th recipient of this decoration) after 101 kills
? 1942 - Appointed Kommandeur of III/JG52 at the rank of Hauptmann
28 October 1942 - Posted to North Africa with Stab./JG77 after 150 aerial victories at the rank of Major
? 1943 - Appointed Kommodore of JG77 in Italy
? 1944 - Posted to France
28 July 1944 - Awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross following his 167th victory at the rank of Oberstleutnant
December 1944 - Appointed Kommodore of the Me 262 equipped JG7
22 February 1945 - Joined Jagdverband 44, the new jet fighter elite unit of Generalleutnant Galland
Fall February 1945 - Scored his first jet kill downing a Soviet Il-2 ground attack aircraft
18 April 1945 - Crashed on take off in his Me 262A-1a, suffered serious burns but succeded in get clear before the aircraft exploded. Spent the final days of war in hospital, survived but remained horribly scarred
VICTORIES
Total 176
6 Me 262 Jet victories
Over 900 combat missions