1. Georg-Hermann Greiner was a Luftwaffe night fighter ace who served during World War II.
63 Facts About Hermann Greiner
1. 2.
Hermann Greiner was a squadron commander in the prestigious Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, the most successful night fighter interceptor unit of any nation in the history of aerial warfare.
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Hermann Greiner primarily engaged British RAF Bomber Command crews in their bombing campaigns over German-occupied Europe and was credited with 51 aerial victories over Allied aircraft: four United States Army Air Force bombers during daylight hours and 47 Royal Air Force aircraft at night.
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Hermann Greiner went on to study law and returned to service in the German Air Force in 1957, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1972.
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Hermann Greiner was born on 2 January 1920 in the small Bavarian town of Heidenheim, Middle Franconia.
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Hermann Greiner was the third child of Albrecht and Sophie Greiner.
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The family could not follow and the young Hermann Greiner rarely saw his father during his early childhood.
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Hermann Greiner's father was a strict disciplinarian and the friction caused disharmony in the family.
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Hermann Greiner developed a strong desire to succeed in everything and prove himself worthy of his father's time.
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Hermann Greiner joined the German Gymnasts Association at seven and three years later the German Scout Movement.
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Hermann Greiner had the opportunity to stay in Milan and Rome with German families.
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Hermann Greiner was unusually well travelled for a person of his age and social status at that time.
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Hermann Greiner received invitations to Hungary in 1937, Bulgaria in 1938 and Canada in 1939, but could only visit the Hungarian capital Budapest.
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Hermann Greiner was posted to the Luftkriegsschule 2 at Berlin-Gatow to begin flying lessons.
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Hermann Greiner flew the Focke-Wulf Fw 44, the Bucker Bu 131 and the Arado Ar 96.
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Hermann Greiner moved to Saxony where he attended the Flugzeugfuhrerschule C in Lonnewitz.
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At the school Hermann Greiner learned to fly the Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 86.
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From here Hermann Greiner was posted to the Zerstorerschule at Memmingen.
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On 1 October 1941, Leutnant Hermann Greiner reported for duty with Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 at Stade near Hamburg.
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On 20 April 1942, Hermann Greiner was promoted to Oberleutnant.
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Hermann Greiner was able to intercept a Wellington at daybreak, claiming it shot down south of Harlingen for his first victory at 06:00 with Bordfunker Rolf Kissing.
22.
On 6 October 1942, Hermann Greiner shot down his second victim west of Harlingen at 23:24.
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Hermann Greiner was ordered to report to the Nachtjagdschule at Echterdingen as an instructor.
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Hermann Greiner did not want to serve in a teaching role but as a pilot with only two victories in a year of operations, he had little choice.
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Hermann Greiner looked for an opportunity to fly on patrol but the school did not have the required technical equipment.
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One night in early March 1943, Hermann Greiner took off and claimed a Short Stirling shot down near Rastatt.
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On 1 June 1943 Hermann Greiner was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class.
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Hermann Greiner achieved the last of his successes in the Ruhr campaign the following month.
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At 02:50 southwest of Den Helder, Hermann Greiner claimed a Halifax.
30.
Hermann Greiner shot down a Halifax at 01:43 northwest of Berlin.
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Hermann Greiner was amazed at the skill of the crew for flying this far.
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Hermann Greiner considered the condition of the bomber and crew, then rocked his wings in salute and flew back to base.
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On 4 October 1943, Hermann Greiner was appointed Staffelkapitan of 10.
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Hermann Greiner was to shoot down the majority of his remaining victims using the Schrage Musik.
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On 30 January 1944, Hermann Greiner intercepted a B-17 Flying Fortress near Osnabruck.
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Hermann Greiner was not scrambled but undertook a flight test to ready his Bf 110G for action.
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Hermann Greiner stayed out of range of the bomber's 13 M2 Browning machine guns and fired.
38.
At 13:53 the same day, Hermann Greiner accounted for a Consolidated B-24 Liberator over Munsterbruck.
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On 19 March 1944, Hermann Greiner was awarded the German Cross in Gold for 15 night and four day victories.
40.
Northwest of the city, Hermann Greiner was vectored onto a Lancaster and claimed it shot down at 01:39.
41.
Hermann Greiner died at Neuengamme concentration camp on 23 January 1945.
42.
Hermann Greiner was scrambled to intercept the stream heading to Saint Ghislain.
43.
At 02:29 and 02:48, Hermann Greiner claimed two Lancaster bombers, to bring his total to 31 bombers destroyed.
44.
Near Paris at 01:26, Hermann Greiner claimed a Halifax for victory 32.
45.
Hermann Greiner attacked a Lancaster from an unknown bomber stream northeast of Lille at 00:56.
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On 27 July 1944, Hermann Greiner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the presentation was made by Generalleutnant Joseph Schmid.
47.
Hermann Greiner achieved his last victory at Sint Truiden on 12 August 1944.
48.
Hermann Greiner intercepted a Lancaster west of Frankfurt and shot down his 37th bomber.
49.
That night he flew with his experienced radar operator Oberfeldwebel Rolf Kissing and a new, 18-year old gunner, Hermann Greiner was attacked by a de Havilland Mosquito night fighter.
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The Mosquito did not attack again and out of consideration for Kissing, Hermann Greiner did not order a bale out or attempt a forced-landing.
51.
Hermann Greiner recovered from the death of Kissing and returned to operations within days.
52.
West southwest of Munster Hermann Greiner claimed a Lancaster bomber at 23:16 for his 40th victory.
53.
Hermann Greiner claimed three Lancaster bombers in rapid succession over Hannover at 19:12,19:15,19:18.
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Hermann Greiner shot down his fourth of the night at 19:22.
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Hermann Greiner was not scheduled to take part in the operation.
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Hermann Greiner's unit was ordered to engagement the incoming bomber stream.
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Hermann Greiner was wounded when he landed requiring treatment in a hospital until the war ended.
58.
On 17 April 1945, Hermann Greiner became the 840th serviceman of the Wehrmacht to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
59.
Hermann Greiner received the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Night Fighters in Gold for flying over 200 missions on 20 April 1945.
60.
Hermann Greiner was discharged and returned to his mother's home near Stuttgart.
61.
Hermann Greiner met with Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer to discuss the possibility of becoming a civil pilot and starting an aviation business.
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Hermann Greiner moved to the border town of Offenbach, across the frontier from Basel.
63.
Hermann Greiner died on 26 September 2014 in Wangen im Allgau.