Background
Meurer was born on 8 September 1919 in Hamburg, joining the Luftwaffe in 1938, as part of a flak battalion before undergoing flying training in 1939.
Meurer was born on 8 September 1919 in Hamburg, joining the Luftwaffe in 1938, as part of a flak battalion before undergoing flying training in 1939.
Meurer was credited with 65 aerial victories claimed in 130 combat missions. The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. In late 1941 he was posted to 9./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing) as a Leutnant.
Meurer claimed his first victory on his first combat mission on 26–27 March 1942.
By the end of the year he had claimed a further seven victories. In January 1943 he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3 staffel, NJG 1.
On 14–15 February he claimed three heavy bombers and on 12–13 March, a further four. In April 1943 he was awarded the Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross.
On 5 August 1943 Hauptmann Meurer was transferred as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of World War II/Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5—5th Night Fighter Wing) before returning to NJG 1 in September 1943 as Gruppenkommandeur of I.
I gruppe flew the Heinkel He 219 and Meurer gained five victories flying this type. On the night of 21–22 January 1944 he collided with an Avro Lancaster raiding Berlin. His He 219A-0 crashed and Meurer and his radar operator Oberfeldwebel Gerhard Scheibe were killed.
Bibliography.