1. Erich Leie was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II.
13 Facts About Erich Leie
1. 2.
Erich Leie claimed 44 on Western Front, 77 on the Eastern Front, including one four-engine bomber.
3.
Erich Leie was born on 10 September 1916 in Kiel, at the time in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia.
4.
Erich Leie claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter destroyed, his eleventh aerial victory.
5.
On 26 January 1942, Erich Leie claimed a Spitfire shot down south of Rame Head.
6.
Erich Leie thus succeeded Hauptmann Ignaz Prestele in this capacity who had been killed in action on 4 May 1942.
7.
Erich Leie led the Gruppe during the offensive operations leading up to Operation Citadel, which initiated the Battle of Kursk.
8.
Erich Leie was the 57th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.
9.
Erich Leie baled out over Soviet lines but on descending by parachute, was blown back over German lines.
10.
On 29 December 1944, Erich Leie was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77.
11.
On 7 March 1945, Erich Leie claimed his last two aerial victories and was killed in action.
12.
Erich Leie baled out at an altitude of 60 metres, too low for his parachute to fully deploy.
13.
Erich Leie was buried at the German war cemetery in Valasske Mezirici.