Ján Gerthofer
Slovak war pilot
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Ján Gerthofer (27 May 1910 – 9 August 1991) was a Slovak war pilot. He was the third-highest scoring fighter ace from Slovakia during World War II. He accumulated 26 kills.[1]
Czechoslovakia (1927-1939, 1945-1951)
Slovakia (1939-1944)
Czechoslovak Air Force (1927-1939, 1945-1951).svg){kind=small}
Slovak Air Force (1939-1944).svg){kind=small}
Slovak Resistance Air Force (1944)Ján Gerthofer | |
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| Born | 27 May 1910 |
| Died | 9 August 1991 (aged 81) |
| Allegiance | Czechoslovakia (1927-1939, 1945-1951) Slovakia (1939-1944) |
| Branch | Czechoslovak Air Force (1927-1939, 1945-1951) Slovak Air Force (1939-1944) Slovak Resistance Air Force (1944) |
| Service years | 1927–1951 |
| Rank | First lieutenant (nadporučík) |
| Unit | 13 JG 52 |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | War Victory Cross Iron Cross, 1st Class |
Gerthofer had joined the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1927 flying bombers. In 1939, he became a pilot in the Air Force of newly independent Slovakia. After completing training on Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft in October 1942,[2] he was appointed deputy commanding officer of 13 JG 52, the Slovak air contingent on the Eastern Front. In 175 sorties he shot down 26 Soviet aircraft.[2]
In the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944, Gerthofer joined the insurgents, but was taken prisoner on 31 August and spent the rest of the war in Stalag XVIII-A.[2]
After the war, Gerthofer served in the re–formed Czechoslovak Air Force before being discharged for political reasons in 1951.[2]
