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Josef "Pips" Priller ((: joːzɛf pʁɪlɐ)) (27 July 1915 – 20 May 1961) was a German ''Luftwaffe'' military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 101 enemy aircraft shot down in 307 combat missions. All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front, which included 11 four-engined bombers and at least 68 were against Supermarine Spitfire fighters. Born in Ingolstadt, Priller joined the military service in the Wehrmacht of the Third Reich in 1935. Initially serving in the ''Heer'' (Army), he transferred to the ''Luftwaffe'' (Air Force) in 1936. Following flight training, he was posted to ''Jagdgruppe'' Wiesbaden, I. ''Gruppe'' (1st Group) ''Jagdgeschwader'' 334 (JG 334—334th Fighter Wing). He was posted I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) on 1 May 1939. On 1 September 1939, the day World War II broke out in Europe, he was appointed ''Staffelkapitän'' (Squadron Leader) of the 6. ''Staffel'' (6th Squadron) of JG 51. He flew in the Battle of France and claimed his first aerial victory on 28 May 1940. He 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. In November 1940, Priller was transferred to ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) and was given command of 1. ''Staffel'' (1st Squadron). In June and July 1941 he accounted for a further 20 victories, the 40th victory claimed on 14 July. He was honored with the presentation of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves () on 19 October 1941, his score at 41 victories. Priller was appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' (Group Commander) of the III. ''Gruppe'' (3rd Group) of JG 26 "Schlageter" on 6 December 1941. He claimed his 60th victory on 27 March 1942 and his 70th victory on 5 May. Priller became ''Geschwaderkommodore'' (Wing Commander) of JG 26 "Schlageter" on 11 January 1943. During the Western Allies Invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 he flew one of the few ''Luftwaffe'' missions against the Allied beachhead that day. Priller claimed his 100th victory on 15 June 1944 when he shot down a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber. For this achievement he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (). During Operation Bodenplatte on 1 January 1945, Priller led an attack on the Allied airfields at Brussels-Evere and Brussels-Grimbergen. On 31 January 1945 Priller was appointed ''Inspekteur der Jagdflieger West'' (Inspector of Fighter Pilots West) and ceased operational flying. He held this position until the end of the war in May 1945. Following the war, Priller studied brewing and managed the family brewery business. He died of a heart attack on 20 May 1961 in Böbing. ==Early life and career== Priller, who was nicknamed ''Pips'' since his early youth, was born on 27 June 1915 in Ingolstadt in Kingdom of Bavaria, a state of the German Empire. After he graduated with his ''Abitur'' (diploma) he joined the military service of the Wehrmacht as a ''Fahnenjunker'' (officer candidate) with ''Infantry-Regiment'' 20 in Amberg of the 10th Infantry Division on 1 April 1935. Against the will of his battalion commander he transferred to the ''Luftwaffe'' as a ''Oberfähnrich'' (officer cadet) on 1 October 1936. He then received flight training at the pilot school in Salzwedel.〔Flight training in the ''Luftwaffe'' progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.〕 On 1 April 1937 he was promoted to ''Leutnant'' (second lieutenant).〔Stockert 1996, p. 170.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Josef Priller」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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