Kurt Welter, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetKurt Welter
German World War II fighter pilot
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Lindenthal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
About Kurt Welter
- Kurt Welter (25 February 1916 – 7 March 1949) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and the most successful Jet Expert of World War II.
- A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.
- He claimed a total of 63 aerial victories—that is, 63 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—achieved in 93 combat missions.
- He recorded 56 victories at night, including 33 Mosquitos, and scored more aerial victories from a jet fighter aircraft than anyone else in World War II and possibly in aviation history.
- However this score is a matter of controversy; research of Royal Air Force losses suggests Welter overclaimed Mosquito victories considerably. Welter was born in Cologne-Lindenthal on 25 February 1916.
- He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe in 1934 and was trained as a pilot.
- He showed a strong natural ability as a pilot and was subsequently selected for flight instructor training and served many years as a flight instructor.
- In 1943 Welter transferred to an operational night fighter unit flying contemporary piston engine fighter aircraft.
- On 18 October 1944, after 40 combat missions, Welter was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
- In early 1945, Welter transferred to an experimental jet night fighter unit flying the Messerschmitt Me 262.
- On 11 March 1945 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves for 48 aerial victories.
- Welter survived the war and was killed in an accident at a railroad crossing on 7 March 1949.
Read more at Wikipedia
See Also
- Famous People's Birthdays on 25 February, Germany
- Famous People's Birthdays in February, Germany
- Famous military personnel's Birthdays on 25 February, Germany
- Famous military personnel's Birthdays in February, Germany
- Famous aircraft pilot's Birthdays on 25 February, Germany
- Famous aircraft pilot's Birthdays in February, Germany