23 Facts About Martin Drewes

Martin Drewes was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and night fighter ace during World War II.

Martin Drewes was credited with 52 victories of which 43 were claimed at night whilst flying variants of the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter.

Martin Drewes flew his first combat missions in early 1941.

In November 1941, Martin Drewes transferred to the night fighter force, initially serving with Nachtjagdgeschwader 3.

Martin Drewes claimed his first nocturnal aerial victory on the evening of 17 January 1943.

In February 1943, Martin Drewes was appointed Staffelkapitan and transferred to Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 in August 1943.

Martin Drewes was born on 20 October 1918 in Lobmachtersen, at the time in the district of Wolfenbuttel, present day a borough of Salzgitter, Lower Saxony.

Martin Drewes was the son of pharmacist Wilhelm Drewes and his wife Margarete, nee Hayder, and had an older sister Hanna and a younger sister Kathe.

Martin Drewes passed his Abitur at the Reformrealgymnasium in Wolfenbuttel and joined the military service in the Army on 2 November 1937 as a Fahnenjunker.

Martin Drewes initially served with Panzer-Regiment 6, a regiment of the 3rd Panzer Division, in Neuruppin and was posted to the Kriegsschule in Munich, Bavaria on 15 November 1938 as a Fahnrich.

On 1 August 1939, Martin Drewes was promoted to Leutnant and transferred to the Luftwaffe on 1 September.

On 27 March 1943, in Germany, Martin Drewes married Wulfhild Ellen Erna Wegener, when she assumed the name Drewes, with whom he remained married until their divorce on 16 November 1948.

From this marriage, his daughter, Wulfhild Martin Drewes, was born on 10 January 1944 in Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony.

In honor of his first wife, Martin Drewes painted the initials "WD" on the tail of one of his aircraft.

In total, Martin Drewes flew 36 combat missions, including 17 ground attack missions.

Martin Drewes received the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Silver on 2 July 1941.

Martin Drewes claimed his first aerial victory as a night fighter pilot on the evening of 17 January 1943 when he shot down a Short Stirling bomber.

In February 1943, Martin Drewes was appointed Staffelkapitan of 7.

Martin Drewes claimed his second nocturnal aerial victory on over a Handley Page Halifax bomber in the vicinity of Store Heddinge on 14 March 1943.

Martin Drewes claimed two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers shot down during daytime operations on 11 January 1944.

Martin Drewes was captured by British forces at the end of the war.

Martin Drewes returned at least once each year on visits to Germany.

Martin Drewes died on 13 October 2013 in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, of natural causes.