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Kraft, Josef

Date of birth:
February 8th, 1921 (Vienna, Austria)
Date of death:
October 16th, 1994 (Fürstenfeldbruck/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:
Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (Pilot Officer)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer
Awarded on:
May 1st, 1944
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
8. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 6
Awarded on:
July 23rd, 1944
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer II. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 6
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1944
Awarded after 44 aerial victories (most at night).
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän 12. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
Awarded on:
April 17th, 1945
Awarded for his 56 aerial victories achieved over the course of 129 sorties. 12 of these were by day, the rest at night. Kraft particularly distinguished himself while shooting down Allied aircraft supplying partisans in Hungary by night. In this capacity he shot down 13 Wellingtons, 4 four-engined bombers and 4 Soviet Li-2s.

838th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 5th, 1943
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1943
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Sources

Photo