Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gaiser claimed his first kill on 16 March 1943. That day, he shot down a Soviet LaGG-3 fighter near Vyazma.
Gaiser claimed 17 victories in August, including five Soviet Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft shot down on 14 August (his 24th through 28th victories).
On 22 January 1944, Gaiser was last seen in combat with Il-2 Sturmovik fighters near Berdychiv, Ukraine. He has remained missing to this day.
lieutenant is thought he became a victim of the Soviet ground defences. On 9 June 1944 he was posthumously awarded the Knight"s Cross and promoted to Leutnant.
Before his death, Gaiser was credited with 66 victories in 380 missions.
In addition he claimed eight unconfirmed victories. Bibliography.