Anton Lindner

German World War II fighter pilot (1917–1994) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anton Lindner (12 April 1917 – 17 February 1994) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Lindner joined the postwar German Air Force, at the time named the Bundesluftwaffe, in 1956 and retired in 1972 as an Oberstleutnant (colonel).^[1] During his career he was credited with 73 aerial victories,^[2] one on the Western Front and 72 on the Eastern Front, claimed in 650 combat missions.^[3]

Born12 April 1917

Hohenkemnath

Died17 February 1994 (aged 76)

Hohenkemnath

Allegiance

Nazi Germany (to 1945)

West Germany

Branch

Luftwaffe

German Air Force

Quick facts Born, Died ...

Anton Lindner
Born	12 April 1917 Hohenkemnath
Died	17 February 1994(1994-02-17) (aged 76) Hohenkemnath
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe German Air Force
Service years	1939–1945 1956–1972
Rank	Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit	JG 51
Conflicts	World War II Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kursk Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Early life and career

Lindner was born on 12 April 1917 in Hohenkemnath, present-day part of Ursensollen, then in Kingdom of Bavaria within the German Empire.^[4]

World War II

On 24 May 1940, Linder was shot down and wounded in aerial combat with Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire fighters. He successfully bailed out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E near Calais.^[5]

On 8 April 1945, Lindner was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the Stabsstaffel (headquarters squadron) of JG 51.^{[Note 1]} He succeeded Leutnant Wilhelm Hübner who had been killed in action. On 24 April, Lindner was also placed in command of 15. Staffel of JG 51, succeeding Hauptmann Helmut Scheuber. Lindner held both command positions until the end of World War II in Europe.^[8]

Later life

Following World War II, Lindner reentered military service in the West German Air Force, at the time referred to as the Bundesluftwaffe. He retired in March 1972 holding the rank of Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) and died on 17 February 1994 at the age of 76 in Hohenkemnath, Germany.^[9]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Lindner was credited with 73 aerial victories.^[10] Spick also lists him with 73 aerial victories, 72 of which on the Eastern Front and one on the Western Front, claimed in 650 combat mission.^[3] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Lindner was credited with approximately 72 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, plus one further unconfirmed claim on the Western Front.^[11]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 56441". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km²). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.^[12]

More information Chronicle of aerial victories, Claim ...

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –^[1] Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
1	23 June 1941	13:04	R-3^[13]		6	27 July 1941	18:45	I-16^[14]
2	29 June 1941	18:08	SB-2^[13]		7	6 September 1941	17:10	I-16^[15]
3	2 July 1941	14:18	DB-3^[16]		8	6 October 1941	10:05	Pe-2^[17]
4	10 July 1941	18:56	V-11^[18]		9	6 October 1941	13:03	Pe-2^[17]
5	24 July 1941	12:03	V-11^[14]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –^[1] Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
10	7 March 1942	10:52	I-16^[19]		11	1 April 1942	11:40	I-61 (MiG-3)^[20]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –^[1] Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
12	6 July 1942	19:35	Pe-2^[21]		16	8 December 1942	13:12	MiG-3	vicinity of Dubrovka^[22]
13	29 October 1942	13:45	P-40	over Volokolamsk^[23]	17	17 December 1942?^{[Note 2]}	13:50	Pe-2	PQ 56441^[24] 30 km (19 mi) west-northwest of Mozhaysk
14	4 December 1942	08:16	P-40	25 km (16 mi) northwest of Rzhev^[23]	18	15 January 1943	12:43	MiG-3	PQ 07653^[24]
15	8 December 1942	13:08	MiG-3	vicinity of Rodsselja^[22]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –^[11] Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
19	23 January 1943	07:34	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 64533^[25] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Telchje	41	15 August 1943	10:30	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 51859^[26] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Bohodukhiv
20	23 January 1943	08:16	Pe-2?^{[Note 4]}	PQ 35 Ost 63254^[25] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Zalegoshch	42	19 August 1943	14:00	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	east of Liubotyn^[26]
21	24 January 1943	06:58	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 44233^[25] 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Zhizdra	43	22 August 1943	06:22	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	Meragatschij^[27] Dergatsch
22	24 January 1943	07:04	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 44251^[25] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Zhizdra	44	22 August 1943	06:59	Yak-1	northeast of Liubotyn^[27]
23	26 July 1943	10:23	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63129^[28] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Oryol	45	23 August 1943	11:57	LaGG-3	northeast of Juchnyi^[27]
24	26 July 1943	10:40	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 63142^[28] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Oryol	46	23 August 1943	12.08	LaGG-3	Danilovka^[27]
25	28 July 1943	18:15	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 63395^[28] 15 km (9.3 mi) north-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk	47	29 August 1943	08:49	LaGG-3	Kruschenschow^[27]
26	29 July 1943	16:38	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 54648, southwest of Bolkhov^[28] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Znamenskoye	48	29 August 1943	08:52	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	Golijuckowa^[27] Artiyevovka
27?^{[Note 5]}	29 July 1943	19:01	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64127^[28]	49	29 August 1943	08:57	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	Golijuckowa^[27] Artiyevovka
28	1 August 1943	10:14	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 54662^[30] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Belev	50	31 August 1943	12:40	La-5	west of Leonovo^[27]
29	1 August 1943	18:53	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 53475^[30] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kromy	51	1 September 1943	12:40	La-5	east of Bolschaja-Lipnja^[27]
30	2 August 1943	11:44	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 53454^[30] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kromy	52	2 September 1943	10:53	LaGG-3	Yelnya^[27]
31	2 August 1943	11:52	Boston	PQ 35 Ost 53469^[30] 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Kromy	53	2 September 1943	11:04	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	southwest of Leonovo^[27]
32	5 August 1943	09:07	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 53446^[30] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southeast of Sockowo	54	7 September 1943	12:33	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	east of Mokroje^[31]
33	5 August 1943	14:15	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 54725^[30] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Znamenskoye	55	14 September 1943	12:13	Pe-2	Shezkino^[31]
34	5 August 1943	17:12	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 54726^[30] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Znamenskoye	56	14 September 1943	16:39	La-5	Torshok^[31]
35	6 August 1943	12:17	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 44654^[30] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Bryansk	57	15 September 1943	17:16	Yak-1	Pjolki^[32]
36	6 August 1943	12:20	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 44687^[30] 20 km (12 mi) east-northeast of Bryansk	58	15 September 1943	17:19	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	north of Yelnya^[32]
37	8 August 1943	08:04	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 54729^[26] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Znamenskoye	59	17 September 1943	10:43	Pe-2	south of Gluchow^[32]
38	8 August 1943	08:07	Il-2 m.H.^{[Note 3]}	PQ 35 Ost 54731^[26] vicinity of Znamenskoye	60?^{[Note 5]}	18 September 1943	13:27	Yak-9	west of Yelnya^[32]
39	12 August 1943	06:14	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 51544^[26] vicinity of Kirikowka	61	6 October 1943	12:09	LaGG-3	Budniza^[32]
40	14 August 1943	17:45	Il-2	northwest of Klenovo^[26]	62	25 October 1943	11:34	LaGG-3	Lojew^[32]

Awards

Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class^[33]
German Cross in Gold on 27 May 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51^[34]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 April 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the Stabsstaffel/Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"^[35]^{[Note 6]}

Notes

[1]
In early October 1942, II. Gruppe of JG 51 had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front and sent to Jesau, near present-day Bagrationovsk, to Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo, to be reequipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A. While undergoing training on this aircraft, the Gruppe received orders on 4 November to transfer to the Mediterranean theatre flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 again. 6. Staffel had been exempt from this order, was detached from II. Gruppe, and continued its training on the Fw 190. In late November, 6. Staffel was renamed to Stabsstaffel (headquarters squadron) of JG 51.^[6] Alternatively, the Stabsstaffel was also referred to as Geschwaderstabsstaffel z.b.V., roughly translating to fighter wing squadron for special deployment'. The abbreviation z. b. V. is German and stands for zur besonderen Verwendung (for special deployment).^[7]
[2]
According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 29 December 1942.^[1]
[3]
The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
[4]
According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin Il-2.^[1]
[5]
This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.^[29]
[6]
According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders".^[36]

References

Citations

[1]
Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 754.
[2]
Page 2020, p. 73.
[3]
Spick 1996, p. 237.
[4]
Obermaier 1989, p. 158.
[5]
Prien et al. 2001, p. 275.
[6]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 247.
[7]
Aders & Held 1993, p. 123.
[8]
Aders & Held 1993, pp. 247, 252.
[9]
Dixon 2023, p. 106.
[10]
Zabecki 2014, p. 1615.
[11]
Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 754–755.
[12]
Planquadrat.
[13]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 248.
[14]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 252.
[15]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 254.
[16]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 250.
[17]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 255.
[18]
Prien et al. 2003, p. 251.
[19]
Prien et al. 2005, p. 71.
[20]
Prien et al. 2005, p. 72.
[21]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 269.
[22]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 272.
[23]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 271.
[24]
Prien et al. 2006, p. 273.
[25]
Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.
[26]
Prien et al. 2012, p. 497.
[27]
Prien et al. 2012, p. 498.
[28]
Prien et al. 2012, p. 495.
[29]
Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 755.
[30]
Prien et al. 2012, p. 496.
[31]
Prien et al. 2012, p. 499.
[32]
Prien et al. 2012, p. 500.
[33]
Dixon 2023, p. 105.
[34]
Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 280.
[35]
Fellgiebel 2000, p. 293.
[36]
Scherzer 2007, p. 508.

Bibliography

Aders, Gebhard; Held, Werner (1993). Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente [Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle – Reports – Experiences – Documents] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-01045-1.
Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
Page, Neil (2020). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943–45. Philadelphia, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61200-879-0.
Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6 December 1941 bis 30 April 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
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