Friedrich Körner
Photo 1: Friedrich Körner Sporting his newly obtained Knight's Cross.
(author's private collection)
Last Wartime Rank: -
Luftwaffe Service: 1939-1945
Unit(s):
II/JG 27
Theatre(s): North Africa
Combat Debut: 1941
Decoration:
Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross
Kills: 36
Total Sorties: -
Born: 24 January, 1921 in Schwerte/Westfalen
Passed: 3 September 1998
Luftwaffe Service: 1939-1945
Unit(s):
II/JG 27
Theatre(s): North Africa
Combat Debut: 1941
Decoration:
Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross
Kills: 36
Total Sorties: -
Born: 24 January, 1921 in Schwerte/Westfalen
Passed: 3 September 1998
Friedrich Körner enlisted in the Luftwaffe on 15 November 1939 and
upon completion of fighter pilot training, was assigned to 2 JG 27 and sent to
North Africa where he arrived in the theater on 4 July, 1941. During his time
in the desert Körner, flying the Messerschmitt Bf-109
"Red 11", shot down a
total of 36 enemy aircraft, with 33 of his victories coming against other
fighter aircraft. His first victory was slow in coming and was not until 12
October 1941 when he shot down a 112 Sq. RAF Tomahawk over Sheferzen. On 19
March, 1942, an RAF Curtiss P-40, possibly of 80 Squadron, 7 SAAF Wing, was
downed by Körner over the sea east of Tobruk. This victory was significant
in that it was both his tenth victim and JG 27's 1000th aerial victory.*
Körner enjoyed his best day of aerial combat over Mersa Martruh where on
26 June, 1942 he downed three SAAF Curtis fighters and two 145 Squadron RAF
Spitfires. Having undoubtedly acquired his "shooting eye",
Körner shot down 20 of his 36 aircraft during his last full month in
combat. Körner's 36 victories makes him the 7th highest scoring ace in
North Africa where only Marseille, Schrör, Stahlschmidt, Rödel,
Homuth, Schulz, and Steinhausen would outscore him in the theater. Körner
was able to achieve multiple kills no less than 7 times while deployed in the
North African desert.
Körner was an aggressive and competent fighter pilot yet prided
himself in his ability and desire to train younger pilots in the skills they
would need to be both successful in aerial combat and equally important, those
skills necessary to increase their chances of survival. Körner continually
tried to help the younger pilots get their first kill which he readily
identified as often the hardest victory to achieve. Once the initial shock and
tension of a younger pilot's first aerial victory wore off, the fledgling
fighter pilots were then better able to effectively put their air combat skills
to the test. Körner was a firm believer that it was far better to have 10
pilots in a squadron with 10 kills each, than to have just one greedy pilot
with 30-40 kills.
On 4 July, 1942 exactly one year to the day of his arrival in the desert,
Körner scrambled on a mission to intercept a formation of enemy bombers.
In a moment of lapsed discretion and youthful exuberance, an over anxious
Körner took-off and flew into combat leaving his wingman on the ground
while being refueled and rearmed from an earlier sortie. Climbing to meet the
enemy bombers, Körner quickly and instinctively checked over his shoulder
to see what he thought was his wingman and other squadron personnel approaching
from behind. Unfortunately for Körner, the aircraft were a flight of South
African Hurricane IICs. Immediately, Körner's cockpit erupted in flame and
broken glass as Lt. Waugh of the 1 SAAF Squadron pummeled the 109 with one
shell grazing Körner above his left eye giving him a permanent reminder of
the days events. At 1330, Körner was forced to take to his parachute and
was promptly captured by enemy ground forces. With his body intact and only the
minor injuries to report, Körner was to remain a prisoner of war in Canada
until 1947. While interned in Canada, Körner was awarded the Knight's
Cross to the Iron Cross on 6 September, 1942 for his achievements in the
desert.
Following his release from captivity, Körner fulfilled an exciting
life as both a civilian and senior military officer in the New German Air
Force. He held positions as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Air Ops at Allied
Forces Central Europe (AFCENT), worked in Ops/Plans in SHAPE, Paris, the Air
Staff MOD Bonn, the Nuclear Planning Committee, and as a member of the NATO
Delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany in Brussels. Friedrich
Körner retired from military service on 30 June, 1979. At the time of his
retirement, Friedrich Körner was a Brigadier General.
Article by Rob Tate rtate@worldnet.att.net
*Author's note: A minor discrepancy exists regarding this
kill. Hans Ring's Fighters Over the Desert lists this kill as taking place on
21 March, 1942 and as a Boston bomber of the 24 SAAF Squadron.. That would make
this victory Körner's 13th victory. Herr Körner's personal log
however, reflects this victory as is written in this article.
Dates of Interest: Pilot Wings 19 Sep 40 Frontflug-Spange för Jaeger in Bronze 02 Nov 41 Iron Cross 2nd Class 07 Nov 41 Frontflug-Spange för Jaeger in Silver 10 Jan 42 Iron Cross 1st Class 26 Jan 42 Frontflug-Spange för Jaeger in Gold 10 Mar 42 German Cross in Gold 21 Aug 42 Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross 07 Sep 42 Summary of Victories: Curtiss P-40 24 Hurricane 4 Spitfire 2 Bristol Beaufighter 2 Douglas Boston 2 Bristol Blenheim 1 Fairy Albacore 1
Photo 2: 19 Mar 42, following victory number 10, a Curtiss P-40, Körner celebrates JG 27's 1000th aerial victory. (author's private collection) |
Photo 3: Friedrich Körner, 2nd from the left, at his Knight's Cross presentation ceremony on 6 Sep 42 in a Canadian Prisoner of War camp (author's private collection) |