Background
Plenzat was born in Insterburg, East Prussia.
Plenzat was born in Insterburg, East Prussia.
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade "with Oak Leaves" was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. On 1 April 1933, he joined the 10th company of the 2nd Infantry-Regiment. In 1935, he transferred to the 11th company of the 44th Infantry-Regiment only to join the Luftwaffe in July 1938.
He was trained as a Stuka pilot and was transferred via the Ergänzungsgruppe of the 2nd Stuka-Geschwader StG 2 to the 2nd Staffel of the Geschwader.
Feldwebel Plenzat flew his first combat sortie in 1940 over the English Channel. In the spring of 1941 he participated in the Balkans Campaign and the Battle of Crete.
From June 1941 on, Plenzat fought on the Eastern Front over Russia. On 14 October, he was awarded the Ehrenpokal of the Luftwaffe.
Since the end of 1943, after being promoted to Leutnant, he led the 2nd Staffel of the now renamed Schlachtgeschwader 2 Immelmann.
On 18 October 1944, Plenzat flew his 1,000th mission over Hungary. By the end of the war, Plenzat had flown 1,234 combat sorties and is listed fourth on the list of Stuka-Aces. He was shot down seven times, claimed four aerial victories, and destroyed approximately 80 tanks.
After the take-over of eastern Germany by the Soviet Union, Plenzart found refuge in West Germany and in 1957 he joined the Bundeswehr.
In 1971, he retired holding the rank of Hauptmann. He died in Cologne.
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