Gerlach, Heinrich (XI-Fliegerkorps)

Date of birth:: December 18th, 1912 (Liegnitz/Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:: October 20th, 1993 (Helsa/Hesse, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:: Flugzeugführer beim Kommandierender General, XI. Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:: September 19th, 1943

Hauptmann Gerlach was the personal pilot of General der Fallschirmtruppe Kurt Student starting from May 1943, and for his demonstrated quality in this role Student selected him to participate in Operation Oak, which had the aim of rescuing Mussolini from his mountaintop hotel. Gerlach was to pilot the Fieseler Fi-156 Storch that would transport Mussolini away from the building following his release. Due to Skorzeny insisting on being in the aircraft as well, the plane was dangerously overloaded. The ensuing liftoff was fraught with danger, but Gerlach’s skills proved true and he was able to avoid catastrophe. For his role in ensuring the success of the mission Gerlach would receive the Knight’s Cross.