The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Willy Lehnert joined the Luftwaffe in 1937. He flew his first combat mission from Sicily in March 1940.
In July 1941 he was able to shoot down two of twelve attacking British fighters and so saved the Junkers Ju 88 from destruction.
Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class and 1st Class Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 1 September 1941 as Feldwebel in a Lehrgeschwader German Cross in Gold on 17 November 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the III./Kampfgeschwader 6 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 April 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and wireless radio operator in the Stab/Kampfgeschwader 6.
Lehnert was a member of the Hermann Hogeback bomber crew.
