Maximilian Mayerl
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Maximilian Mayerl | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 May 1917 |
| Died | 11 February 2010 (aged 92) |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  Luftwaffe |
| Service years | 1937–1945 |
| Rank | Hauptmann (captain) |
| Unit | JG 51 |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Maximilian Mayerl (28 May 1917 – 11 February 2010) was a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross During his career Maximilian Mayerl was credited with 76 aerial victories in 600+ missions.
Mayerl was born on 28 May 1917 in Aigen im Ennstal, Styria, then in Austria-Hungary. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 November 1937.[1] Following flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 1] Mayerl was posted to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 20 (JG 20—20th Fighter Wing) in July 1939.[3] This was a wing in name only, being just a single Gruppe (Fighter Group) that had been set up just prior to the outbreak of war, in July 1939. His commanding officer was the Condor Legion veteran Walter Oesau.[4]
World War II
Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940, the Luftwaffe continued to fight the RAF in the Battle of Britain. On 4 July, I. Gruppe of JG 20 was officially integrated into JG 51, becoming its III. Gruppe. In consequence, Mayerl became a member of the 8. Staffel, a Staffel of III. Gruppe of JG 51. During a period of the battle of Britain referred to as Kanalkampf, Mayerl claimed his second aerial victory on 19 July, a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of Dover.[5]
Eastern Front
By 15 June, JG 51 had completed its preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union and was based at airfields at Siedlce, Stara Wieś, Halasy where III. Gruppe was based and Krzewica, close to the German–Soviet demarcation line.[6][7] The attack on the Soviet Union began at 03:45 on 22 June with JG 51 flying fighter patrols along the Bug River.[8]
On 7 August 1942, Mayerl was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 51. He succeeded Oberleutnant Gottfried Schlitzer who had died the day before from wounds sustained on 3 August.[9]
In September 1943, Mayerl fell ill and was temporarily replaced by Oberleutnant Max-Hermann Lücke. On 23 October, Lücke was severely injured in a mid-air collision, dying on 8 November. In consequence, he was succeeded by Leutnant Heinz Venth. On 8 December, Mayerl was officially replaced by Oberleutnant Günther Schack as commander of 9. Staffel.[10] Following his convalescence, Mayerl was transferred to I. Gruppe of Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2, a replacement training unit.[11]
