Awarded on:

September 1st, 1939

Awarded on:

September 1st, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 5th, 1939

According to other source the awarding date is 13-11-1939.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 5th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 19th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)

Unit:

1. Staffel, Stuka Geschwader 2

Awarded on:

March 19th, 1942

signed by General der Flieger "Förster"

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)

Unit:

1. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann", Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

May 27th, 1942

According to other source the awarding date is 8-6-1942.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)

Unit:

Flugzeugführer

Awarded on:

September 13th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Staffelkapitän, 3. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann", Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

December 30th, 1942

Czekay’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Oberleutnant Czekay has participated in the campaign against Poland, the Summer 1941 campaign against Russia, the defensive battles on the northern sector of the Eastern front in 1942 and the summer offensive in the southern sector of the Eastern front. By now he has cumulatively flown 461 sorties, and in all this time he has outstandingly proven himself first as a Staffel officer and later (starting on the 03.05.1942) as a Staffelkapitän.

Oberleutnant Czekay has majorly contributed to the overall successes of his Gruppe as a result of his boldness and prudently led operations. His tireless readiness for duty and unbending will to achieve victory are exemplary for all the crews of the Gruppe, and have delivered appropriate battlefield successes. These were often decisive for the operations of the Heer. Following his award of the German Cross in Gold (08.06.1942), Oberleutnant Czekay has flown a total of 239 sorties. In that time he not only inflicted bloody personnel losses on the enemy (especially in the fighting for Stalingrad), but also destroyed or heavily damaged the following enemy materiel:

20 tanks
18 trucks
12 horse-drawn wagons
2 armoured trains
1 tanker train
2 goods trains
10 bridges.

These accumulated successes by Oberleutnant Czekay were frequently achieved in the face of very difficult weather conditions and/or strong enemy Flak and fighter defenses.

On the 28.06.1942 the Gruppe attacked an armoured train near Studjenni that was strongly hindering the advance of the Heer. Despite the presence of strong AA fire from both the train itself as well as surrounding battery positions, Oberleutnant Czekay dove towards the armoured train. He was able to achieve a direct hit on the centre of the train with bombs dropped at the lowest possible altitude, thereby immobilizing the target. This in turn enabled the remaining aircraft of the Gruppe to totally destroyed the paralyzed armoured train with additional direct hits.

On the 29.-30.06.1942 Oberleutnant Czekay struck Russian tanks that were attacking near Wolowo and Shernowka despite the presence of rain, bad visibility and a mere 800 metre cloud height. In doing so he destroyed 2 tanks and disabled another 2 with near-misses. During both of these days Russian fighters attempted to force our pilots to break off from their targets. However Oberleutnant Czekay nonetheless made it to his targets and carried out his mission successfully.

During the pursuit battles south of Voronezh Oberleutnant Czekay managed to decisively interfere with the enemy withdrawal movements by heavily damaging a bridge in Starji Oskol. This crossing was extremely important to the enemy, and so it was protected by powerful anti-aircraft defenses. However these were not enough to defy Oberleutnant Czekay’s ruthless devotion to duty here.

Oberleutnant Czekay repeatedly attacked the city of Voronezh (heavily protected by anti-aircraft guns and fighters) under the most difficult of weather conditions. By doing so he brought significant relief to those elements of the Heer fighting there.

On the 12.07.1942 Oberleutnant Czekay succeeding in setting afire a fully-loaded tanker train (of valuable importance for the enemy) through a direct hit.

The enemy withdrawal movements in the Forstadt area were effectively disrupted by Oberleutnant Czekay when he damaged a local bridge on the 16.07.1942. He achieved this success after two bombing runs, and despite the presence of strong anti-aircraft defenses. On the 21.07.1942 Oberleutnant Czekay knocked out two goods trains (each requiring one sortie) at Persianowka and Nowotscherkassk.

On the 09.08.1942 Oberleutnant Czekay damaged an armoured train that was blocking our advance in the Tinguta area via a near miss.

Oberleutnant Czekay repeatedly demonstrated his skill and readiness for duty during the operations in and around Stalingrad. In this time he knocked out individual housing blocks, battery positions and resistance nests (many of which were very near friendly lines) by launching attacks of his own from the lowest possible altitude.

During an attack against a battery position near Kotluban, Oberleutnant Czekay was forced to bail out of his aircraft after it received a direct Flak hit. However he was once again in action against the enemy on the very same day.

Oberleutnant Czekay thus appears worthy of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross on account of his excellent flying abilities, outstanding bravery and proven track record of success on the field of battle.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)