1. Josef Priller flew in the Battle of France and claimed his first aerial victory on 28 May 1940.
31 Facts About Josef Priller
1. 2.
Josef Priller received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in October 1940 following his 20th aerial victory which he claimed during the Battle of Britain.
3.
In November 1940, Josef Priller was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" and was given command of the 1st Squadron.
4.
Josef Priller claimed his 70th victory on 5 May 1942.
5.
Josef Priller became Wing Commander of JG 26 "Schlageter" on 11 January 1943.
6.
On 31 January 1945 Josef Priller was appointed Inspekteur der Jagdflieger West and ceased operational flying.
7.
Josef Priller held this position until the end of the war in May 1945.
8.
Josef Priller, who was nicknamed Pips since his early youth, was born on 27 July 1915 in Ingolstadt in the Kingdom of Bavaria, a state of the German Empire.
9.
Josef Priller then received flight training at the pilot school in Salzwedel.
10.
Josef Priller was then transferred to Bad Aibling, serving with I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 135, a unit which on 1 May 1939 formed I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 and was commanded by Major Max Ibel.
11.
Josef Priller was promoted to Oberleutnant on 1 September 1939.
12.
Josef Priller was credited with shooting down two RAF fighters over the Dunkirk battle zone.
13.
In total, Josef Priller was credited with six aerial victories during the French campaign.
14.
Josef Priller filed no claims in September 1940 as the air battles reached a climax.
15.
On 15 October 1940, Josef Priller claimed two fighters in the early afternoon.
16.
On 19 October 1940, Josef Priller was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
17.
Between 16 June and 11 July 1941, Josef Priller claimed 19 RAF aircraft, including 17 Spitfires.
18.
Josef Priller attacked the fighters of No 72 Squadron south of Dunkirk and shot down one of the Spitfires from dead ahead, taking his total to 40 aerial victories.
19.
Josef Priller's adversary was Sergeant W M Lamberton in R7219, who was captured, wounded.
20.
Josef Priller was promoted to Major on 1 January 1943.
21.
In late 1943, in parallel to his obligations as Geschwaderkommodore, Josef Priller served as interims Jagdfliegerfuhrer 4, the commander of the fighter forces of Luftflotte 3.
22.
Josef Priller was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 January 1944.
23.
On 6 June 1944, Josef Priller, accompanied by his wingman made a single strafing pass attack on Sword Beach in their Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8s.
24.
Josef Priller shot down a B-24 from the 492nd Bomb Group flying in the left outboard position at 07:10 west of Dreux and southwest of Chartres.
25.
Josef Priller was the 77th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.
26.
Josef Priller was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on 2 July 1944.
27.
Josef Priller was the 93rd member of the German armed forces to be so honored.
28.
Josef Priller was appointed as Inspector of Day Fighters, a staff position with the Inspector of Fighters.
29.
Josef Priller was one of several D-day combatants to advise on the making of the film The Longest Day, in which he was portrayed by Heinz Reincke.
30.
Josef Priller died on 20 May 1961 from a heart attack in Bobing, Upper Bavaria.
31.
Josef Priller was buried at the Westfriedhof in Augsburg.