Background
Fellerer was born in Vienna, Austria on 7 June 1919.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Leopold Fellerer
Edit Profile
Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. In November 1940 he was posted as a bomber pilot, before being assigned as Technical Officer to World War II/Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1). He claimed his first victory on 11 February 1941, a Handley Page Hampden of Number.
49 Squadron north of Bergen-Alkmaar.
He was transferred to 4./NJG 1 in June 1941. In October 1942 Fellerer was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3./NJG 1 before being posted to Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5) in December 1942.
Promoted to Hauptmann, Fellerer became Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of World War II/NJG 5 in December 1943. During this period, Fellerer raised his score to 18 victories.
In January 1944 Fellerer claimed two United States Army Air Forces (United States Army Air Force) heavy bombers in daylighta Consolidated B-24 Liberator on 4 January, and a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress on 11 January.
On the night of 20/21 January 1944 he claimed five Royal Air Force (Royal Air Force) bombers. He then moved to command III./Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 (NJG 6) in May 1944. During August–October 1944 Fellerer and III./NJG 6 also flew operations to counter supply operations from Italy to the Polish Home Army uprising in Warsaw.
He claimed two Douglas District of Columbia-3"s and two Liberators during this time, his final kill coming in October 1944.
In 450 missions Leopold Fellerer claimed 41 aerial victories, 39 of them at night. 32 were four engine heavy bombers.
During the 1950s, he served with the Austrian Air Force, becoming Commander of the Langenlebarn Airbase in Tulln on the River Donau, retiring as a Oberstleutnant. Leopold Fellerer died on 15 July 1968 in an air crash, his Cessna L-19 coming down near Krems.
Bibliography.
Achievements
-
Aviator badge Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (16 November 1942) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 1st Class German Cross in Gold on 5 February 1944 as Hauptmann in the 5./Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 April 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the World War II/Nachtjagdgeschwader 5.
-
Born
-
Died
July 16, 1968 (aged 49)
Awards
-
German Cross; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; German Cross in Gold German Cross; Iron Cross; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Aviator badge Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (16 November 1942) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 1st ClassGerman Cross; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; German Cross in Gold German Cross; Iron Cross; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Aviator badge Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (16 November 1942) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 1st Class