Years of service 1941–45 Died January 20, 1973, Germany Rank Oberleutnant | Name Gustav Sturm Service/branch Luftwaffe Allegiance Nazi Germany | |
Battles/wars World War II
North African Campaign
Defense of the Reich Battles and wars North African Campaign, Defence of the Reich, World War II Unit Jagdgeschwader 27, Jagdgeschwader 3, Jagdgeschwader 51, Erganzungs-Jagdgeschwader, Jagdgeschwader 7 | ||
Gustav Sturm (10 November 1921 – 20 January 1973) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace credited with 22 victories. Included in his victory 17 were four-engine bombers. He recorded five victories while flying the Me 262 jet fighter, all four engine bombers.
Military career
Sturm was serving with JG 27 based in North Africa from November 1942. Feldwebel Sturm was assigned to 2./JG 27 and recorded his first victory on 15 November when he shot down a USAAF B-24 four-engine bomber near El Agheila.
On 25 April 1945, while was based at Ruzyne in Czechoslovakia, Sturm attempted to rescue a colleague from a Me 262 that had crash-landed and caught fire. The burning machine exploded when he reached nearer and he suffered serious chest wounds. The wounds were serious enough that Sturm took no further part in the war.