Willy Unger

Willy Unger (27 March 1920 – 23 June 2005) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Willy Unger was born on 27 March 1920 in Warstein. Already as a teenager, he became a skilled glider pilot. In September 1939 he joined the Luftwaffe and was accepted as an aircraft mechanic (Flugzeugmechaniker) in spite of his qualifications as pilot. Only in early 1943 Unger began his training as a fighter pilot, being incorporated into the I./Jagdgeschwader 104 (JG 104—104th Fighter Wing). In December 1943 when he completing his training was promoted to Unteroffizier. In January 1944, Unger was posted to IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). At the time, the Gruppe was , commanded by Major Franz Beyer. On 26 February, just after the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command finished "Big Week", IV. Gruppe moved from Venlo in the Netherlands to Salzwedel in central Germany. At Salzwedel, the Gruppe was joined by Sturmstaffel 1, headed by Major Hans-Günter von Kornatzki. The Sturmstaffel was an experimental unit flying the so-called Sturmböcke (battering ram) up-gunned Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-7 and A-8 aircraft in Defense of the Reich. On 11 April, Unger claimed his first aerial victories. At the time, he was assigned to 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of JG 3 commanded by Oberleutnant Otto Wessling. That day, the USAAF attacked the German aircraft industry in Oschersleben, Bernburg, Sorau, Cottbus and Arnimswalde, present-day Goleniów, with 917 heavy bombers escorted by 819 fighter aircraft. The Gruppe was scrambled at 10:05 with the order to unite with other Luftwaffe units of the 1. Jagd Division (1st Fighter Division) and 3. Jagd Division (3rd Fighter Division) over the Brocken. Between 10:00 and 10:30, the Luftwaffe fighters intercepted the USAAF bombers between Braunschweig and Halberstadt. During this aerial battle, Unger claimed a bomber shot down. Because the claim was not witnessed, he was not credited with the aerial victory.