Ján Gerthofer
| Ján Gerthofer | |
|---|---|
| Born |
May 27, 1910 Láb |
| Died |
August 9, 1991 (aged 81) Podbrezová |
| Allegiance | Slovakia |
| Service/branch | Slovak Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1944 |
| Rank | Nadporocik |
| Unit | 13 JG 52 |
| Awards |
War Victory Cross Iron Cross 1st Class |
Ján Gerthofer (27 May 1910 – 9 August 1991) was the third-highest scoring fighter ace from Slovakia during WWII. He accumulated 26 kills.[1]
Gerthofer had joined the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1927 flying bombers. In 1939, he became a pilot in the Air Force of newly independent Slovakia. After completing training on Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft in October 1942,[2] he was appointed deputy commanding officer of 13 JG 52, the Slovak air contingent on the Eastern Front. In 175 sorties he shot down 26 Soviet aircraft.[3]
In the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944, Gerthofer joined the insurgents, but was taken prisoner on 31 August and spent the rest of the war in Stalag XVIII-A.[3]
After the war, Gerthofer served in the re–formed Czechoslovak Air Force before being discharged for political reasons in 1951.[3]
References
- ↑ "Gerthofer, Ján : G". Forum.valka.cz. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ↑ Raijlich, Boshniakov, Mandjukov, p. 66.
- 1 2 3 Raijlich, Boshniakov, Mandjukov, p. 67.
Bibliography
- Rajlich, Jiri; Boshniakov, Stephan; Mandjukov, Petko (2004). Slovakian and Bulgarian Aces of World War 2. Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 58. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 66–67. ISBN 1841766526.