1. Paul Gildner was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 44 aerial victories, including two by day, claimed in approximately 160 combat missions making him one of the more successful night fighter pilots in the Luftwaffe.
Paul Gildner claimed his first aerial victory during the Battle of France.
In June 1940, the Luftwaffe created its first night fighter wing, Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, and Paul Gildner transferred to this unit.
Posthumously, Paul Gildner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 26 February 1943.
Paul Gildner was born on 1 February 1914 in Nimptsch, present-day Niemcza in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of south-western Poland, at the time in the Province of Silesia in the German Empire.
In early 1933, Paul Gildner joined the military service of the Reichswehr as a cadet with Infanterie-Regiment 7 in Schweidnitz, an infantry regiment of the 3rd Division.
On 13 March 1941 Paul Gildner accounted for Wellington Mark I C N2746 BU-M from 214 Squadron during a British attack on Hamburg.
On 9 July 1941, after his 16th aerial victory, 14 of which claimed at night, Paul Gildner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Paul Gildner shot it down over Friesland northwest of Leeuwarden near 'Zwarte Haan'.
On 18 May 1942, Paul Gildner was awarded the German Cross in Gold and was promoted from Oberfeldwebel to Oberleutnant, bypassing the rank of Leutnant in July.
Bristol Blenheim Z7307 from 114 Squadron was shot down by Paul Gildner after taking off for an intruder sortie from West Raynham.
Paul Gildner's opponent was the only Lancaster lost in the raid out of 52 committed.
On 3 February 1943, Paul Gildner was on his way to Gilze en Rijen to take command of 3.
In consequence of this event, Paul Gildner was appointed Staffelkapitan of 1.
Still alive but unable to escape the aircraft, Paul Gildner perished in the flames.
Paul Gildner was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 26 February 1943.
Paul Gildner was the 196th member of the German armed forces to be so honored.
Paul Gildner is buried at the German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn at Venray.