After 73 kills, of which 65 were claimed at night, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords ("Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern") on 2 August 1943 and notified by telegram on 4 August.
1. januarja 1943 je bil povišan v "Majorja" in bil 1. avgusta istega leta imenovan za "Geschwaderkommodore" Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 3).