Allegiance Nazi Germany Name Anton Andorfer Rank Hauptmann | Years of service 1939–45 Service/branch Luftwaffe | |
Battles/wars World War II
Siege of Sevastopol (1941-1942)
Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Kursk
Battle of the Oder-Neisse † Died April 11, 1945, Cottbus, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars World War II, Siege of Sevastopol, Battle of Stalingrad, Battle of Kursk, Battle of the Oder–Neisse Unit Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, Schlachtgeschwader 77 | ||
Anton Andorfer (23 December 1919 – 11 April 1945) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
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Career
After his training Andorfer joined I./StG. 77 (Sturzkampfgeschwader 77) in the winter of 1941-42, flying the Junkers Ju 87. He became a Staffelkapitan (squadron leader) in July 1943, and had flown 726 operations by March 1944 when he was awarded the Ritterkreuz. After conversion to the ground-attack version of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, he flew a further 200 sorties on the Eastern Front with 2./SG 77. Promoted to Hauptmann, Andorfer flew in the Battle for Berlin and was shot down and killed by Soviet Anti-Aircraft guns near Cottbus.
During his wartime career he flew 900 missions, during which he was credited with the destruction of 45 tanks, 50 guns, 6 anti-aircraft batteries, and 10 marine vessels with a total of 13,000 BRT.