Date of birth:

November 4th, 1910 (Saarlouis/Rhine Province/Kingdom of Prussia, Germany)

Date of death:

May 2nd, 1994 (Saarlouis/Saarland, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Karl-Hermann Lion entered the Reichsmarine in 1929. In 1934 he was given a pilot course with the Deutschen Verkehrsfliegerschule and was transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935. During the Second World War he reached the rank of Major and flew a total of 680 operaitonal sorties. After the Second World War he served form 1959 until in 1968 with the Bundeswehr, reaching the rank of Oberstleutnant.

Promotions:
?: Leutnant;
?: Oberleutnant;
?: Hauptmann;
1944: Major;
1956: Major (Bundeswehr);
?: Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr).

Career:
1929: Reichsmarine;
1934: Deutschen Verkehrsfliegerschule;
1935: Luftwaffe;
?: Küstenjagdstaffel, 2./136, Kiel;
1938: Flugzeugträger-Gruppe, Flugzeugträger "Graf Zeppelin";
1939: Leiter Stuka-Vorschule, Parow-Stralsund;
1939: Flugzeugträgerstaffel 4./186;
1940: Stab Flugzeugträger-Gruppe 186;
?: III. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 1;
1941: Staffelführer 9. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 1;
October 11th, 1943: Kommandeur I. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 101;
October 18th, 1943 - March 10th, 1945: Kommandeur I. / Schlachtgeschwader 103;
?: Stab Inspizient Kampfverbände der Luftwaffe, Luftwaffenamt (Bundeswehr).

Lion flew a total of 670 ground attack sorties by war's end, including 80 with the Fw 190. In this time he destroyed the following enemy materiel...

- 5 aerial victories
- 1 destroyer
- 1 minelayer
- 2 gunboats
- 2 supply ships (with 11000 GRT)
- 8 important bridges

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• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - OBERMAIER, ERNST, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Verlag Dieter Hoffmann, Mainz, 1976.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - Lexikon der Wehrmacht
  - Luftwaffe Officer Career
  - Die Ritterkreuzträger des Saarlandes 1939-45, Gerd Nietrug, VDM, 2004
  - Dienstalterliste 1967 (2293/OTL/67)