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Paul Gildner (1 February 1914 – 24 February 1943) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ((ドイツ語:Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub)) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gildner claimed 48 aerial victories, 46 of them at night, 8 of which were four engined heavy bombers. 〔For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see ''List of German World War II night fighter aces''.〕 ==Career== Born on 1 February 1914, in Nimptsch (Silesia), Gildner was already serving as a ''Oberfeldwebel'' pilot with Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1) when war began in September 1939, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110. Gildner flew intensively during the European campaign in May–June 1940, and also flew missions during early stages of the Battle of Britain. In August 1940, Gildner, after training in night flying, was transferred to 4. /Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1). After his first claim on 3 September 1940, he would score regularly and on 9 July 1941, after his 14th claim, ''Oberfeldwebel'' Gildner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Through 1942, Gildner (now commissioned to ''Leutnant''), continued his series of claims, making him one of the highest scoring Luftwaffe night fighter pilots at the time. Gildner died in the crash of Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (''Werksnummer'' 4846—factory number) following engine failure and fire near Gilze en Rijen in the Netherlands in the night of 24/25 February 1943. His radio operator ''Unteroffizier'' Huhn managed to escape and bailed out with his parachute.〔Obermaier 1989, p. 56.〕 On 26 February 1943, Gildner was awarded posthumously, with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross. 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「Paul Gildner」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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