# Heinrich Sterr

Heinrich Sterr (24 September 1919 – 26 November 1944) was a World War II Luftwaffe military aviator. As a flying ace, he is credited with 130 aerial victories predominantly claimed on the Eastern Front. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. On 26 November 1944, he was shot down and killed in action by USAAF fighters.

## Early life and career

Sterr was born on 24 September 1919 in Ortenburg, Lower Bavaria as part of the Free State of Bavaria. Unlike many other flying aces in the Luftwaffe, he was not a member of the pre-war Luftwaffe (he had only just turned 20 when war broke out) and he missed the early warfare over Poland, France and the first year in the East. After completing his pilot-training in 1942, Sterr was sent as an Unteroffizier, to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), a squadron of II. Gruppe (2nd group).

## World War II

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. In June 1941, German forces had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. At the time of Sterr's posting to JG 54, II. Gruppe was based at Ryelbitzi, west of Lake Ilmen covering the battles around Demyansk Pocket as the Soviets continued to try and break through the German forces in front of Leningrad where he scored his first victory on 6 April when he shot down a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter aircraft.
In late 1942, II. Gruppe was scheduled to be reequipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 at Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo. On 7 January 1943, Sterr was shot down and wounded in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 13609—factory number) by Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighters in the vicinity of Ramushevo on the Lovat River. By the end of March 1943, Sterr had over 30 victories, and on 30 April he was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe). In June, Luftflotte 1 staged a last big effort to blow the railway bridges of the vital supply link to Leningrad. In July, most other fighter Gruppen were assembled around the Kursk salient for the next German offensive - Operation Zitadelle. Although II./JG 54 was kept back guarding Leningrad, it appears several of its pilots, including Oberfeldwebel Sterr, went with II. Gruppe to Orel. In the fortnight or so that it was where he scored a further ten victories to add to his tally of shootdowns. On 23 July, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).
On 12 September 1943, Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer, at the time Sterr's group commander, filed a special report requesting his promotion to wartime officer. On 16 September, Major Hubertus von Bonin, wing commander of JG 54, concurred in the assessment, emphasizing on his ability as a mentor to other pilots, and stated that Sterr is well suited for promotion to wartime officer. In consequence, Sterr was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 1 November 1943 with a rank age dated 1 January 1944.
Eventually the German forces were stretched too thin across the Eastern Front to provide constant air cover and were increasingly being used as "fire brigades", as new Soviet offensives broke out up and down the line. Sterr's victory list is a case in point, on the nomadic existence of II./JG 54 from here on: early August gave 15 victories over Leningrad, then later in the month a clutch of victories south-east of Smolensk. On 8 October 1943, Sterr became an "ace-in-a-day" for the second time, claiming six Lavochkin La-5 fighters shot down north of Kiev. That day, Sterr was also shot down in his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 530353) 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) northeast of Dymer. He managed to bail out but was wounded nevertheless.
Oberfeldwebel Sterr was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 5 December 1943 (nominally for 86 victories) and sent home for officer-training. Returning as a Leutnant in January he was back to Ukraine where he shot down more Soviet aircraft. On 31 March 1944, Sterr was credited with his 100th aerial victory, making him the 68th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. In March, he was then briefly posted to 3. Staffel of JG 54 in Estonia for a couple of months. On 3 April, Sterr was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6. Staffel of JG 54, replacing Leutnant Albin Wolf who had been killed in action the day before. On 29, II. Gruppe received orders to send a fully staffed Staffel for fighting in defense of the Reich. In consequence, 6. Staffel, augmented by pilots from the other Staffeln, was detached and became a fourth Staffel of IV. Gruppe of JG 54.
IV. Gruppe of JG 54 had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front on 25 May and sent to Illesheim Airfield for conversion training to the Fw 190. Here, the Gruppe was placed under command of Major Wolfgang Späte and was joined by the pilots of 6. Staffel led by Sterr. On 22 June, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, attacking Army Group Centre in Byelorussia, with the objective of encircling and destroying its main component armies. In consequence, IV. Gruppe was not sent to the Western Front but was ordered to relocate east on 26 June. The following day, the Gruppe arrived at an airfield near Baranavichy located approximately 130 kilometers (81 miles) southwest of Minsk. On 20 August, the Jagdwaffe (Luftwaffe fighter force) had a major unit re-organization. Within IV. Gruppe, the 10. Staffel became the 13., the 11. was renamed to 14., the 12. to 15., and Sterr's 6. Staffel was made the 16. Staffel of JG 54.

### Defense of the Reich

On 14 September, IV. Gruppe was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and relocated to Löbnitz. Three days later, the Allied Forces launched Operation Market Garden to seize the bridges to Arnhem. This forced the urgent transfer of IV. Gruppe of JG 54 to Plantlünne where the unit was subordinated to the 3. Jagd Division (3rd Fighter Division). This was now a different air war - not the low-level dogfighting and pursuits of the Eastern Front, but the high-altitude engagement against the massive American bomber formations, and their hundreds of escort fighters. With such odds stacked against them, it was often just luck if a pilot would survive. In just 3 weeks, IV. Gruppe of JG 54 lost 30 pilots for only 10 victories - and was soon pulled out the line to reform for the second time in a month.
Flying Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 171684), Sterr was killed in action on 26 November 1944 during his landing approach at an airfield at Vörden. He was shot down by a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt piloted by Captain P.L. Larsen from the 78th Fighter Group. He was nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). He was succeeded by Leutnant Paul Brandt as commander of 16. Staffel of JG 54.

## Summary of career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Sterr was credited with 129 aerial victories. Spick lists Sterr with 130 aerial victories in an unknown number of combat missions, all but three on the Eastern Front. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 108 aerial victories, all but two claimed on the Eastern Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 28142". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km$^2$). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.
Chronicle of aerial victories :
| This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Sterr an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.  This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — 20 January – 30 April 1942 ||||||||||
| 1 | 6 April 1942 | 14:05 | MiG-3 | | | | | | |
| – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 ||||||||||
| 2 | 9 June 1942 | 10:04 | Pe-2 | | 9 | 25 December 1942 | 12:13 | Il-2 | 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of Strelitzky |
| 3 | 19 July 1942 | 14:44 | Il-2 | Pola railway station | 10 | 29 December 1942 | 11:05 | LaGG-3 | PQ 28142 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Demyansk |
| 4 | 28 September 1942 | 13:06? | LaGG-3 | PQ 18242 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa | 11 | 29 December 1942 | 12:45? | Il-2 | PQ 28171 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Demyansk |
| 5 | 29 September 1942 | 09:05 | Yak-1 | PQ 18254 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa | 12 | 30 December 1942 | 09:45 | Il-2 | PQ 28114 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Demyansk |
| 6 | 6 December 1942 | 12:30 | Pe-2 | PQ 28354 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Demyansk | 13 | 30 December 1942 | 12:17 | LaGG-3 | PQ 18262 30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Staraya Russa |
| 7 | 12 December 1942 | 14:00 | LaGG-3 | 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Lake Werchne | 14 | 7 January 1943 | 10:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 18294 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa |
| 8 | 17 December 1942 | 13:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 28653 30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Demyansk | 15 | 25 January 1943 | 09:53 | LaGG-3 | PQ 00291 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mga |
| – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 ||||||||||
| 16 | 11 February 1943 | 10:19 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10621 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Lyuban | 46 | 13 July 1943 | 14:14 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 63273 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Bolkhov |
| 17 | 23 February 1943 | 13:47 | P-40 | PQ 35 Ost 19842 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Staraya Russa | 47 | 13 July 1943 | 14:16 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 63254 40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Oryol |
| 18 | 27 February 1943 | 15:26 | P-40 | PQ 35 Ost 28311 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Demyansk | 48 | 14 July 1943 | 14:15 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 54362 45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Zhizdra |
| 19 | 27 February 1943 | 15:38 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 18492 30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Demyansk | 49 | 14 July 1943 | 14:20 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 54333 45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Zhizdra |
| 20 | 28 February 1943 | 13:55 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 18382 45 km (28 mi) north of Chełm | 50 | 17 July 1943 | 06:47 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 54613 25 km (16 mi) west of Bolkhov |
| 21 | 28 February 1943 | 13:57 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 18382 45 km (28 mi) north of Chełm | 51 | 18 July 1943 | 19:18 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 54455 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Bolkhov |
| 22 | 5 March 1943 | 16:16 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 18364 40 km (25 mi) south of Staraya Russa | 52 | 19 July 1943 | 11:41 | Yak-7 | PQ 35 Ost 54623 20 km (12 mi) west of Bolkhov |
| 23 | 5 March 1943 | 16:17 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 18362 40 km (25 mi) south of Staraya Russa | 53 | 19 July 1943 | 11:43 | Yak-7 | PQ 35 Ost 54622 20 km (12 mi) west of Bolkhov |
| 24 | 7 March 1943 | 09:22 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 18274 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa | 54 | 21 July 1943 | 07:13 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63211 35 km (22 mi) east of Oryol |
| 25 | 7 March 1943 | 15:55 | P-39 | PQ 35 Ost 18472 55 km (34 mi) west-southwest of Demyansk | 55 | 28 July 1943 | 09:15 | Pe-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10243 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shlisselburg |
| 26 | 7 March 1943 | 15:57 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 18473 55 km (34 mi) west-southwest of Demyansk | 56 | 28 July 1943 | 09:18 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10172 vicinity of Mga |
| 27 | 14 March 1943 | 13:58? | P-40 | PQ 35 Ost 18452 40 km (25 mi) west of Demyansk | 57 | 28 July 1943 | 14:56 | Yak-7 | PQ 36 Ost 10441 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Mga |
| 28 | 15 March 1943 | 15:53 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 18272 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa | 58 | 29 July 1943 | 08:05 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10194 east of Mga |
| 29 | 18 March 1943 | 09:18 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 18221 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Staraya Russa | 59 | 29 July 1943 | 08:08 | Yak-7 | PQ 36 Ost 10413 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Mga |
| 30 | 19 March 1943 | 15:24 | Pe-2 | PQ 36 Ost 00412 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin | 60 | 29 July 1943 | 08:11 | Yak-7 | PQ 36 Ost 10191 south of Shlisselburg |
| 31 | 23 March 1943 | 08:06 | P-40 | PQ 36 Ost 00411 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin | 61 | 31 July 1943 | 13:54 | P-39 | PQ 36 Ost 10142 south of Shlisselburg |
| 32 | 17 May 1943 | 05:09 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10742 30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Lyuban | 62 | 1 August 1943 | 06:31 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10142 south of Shlisselburg |
| 33 | 22 May 1943 | 10:56 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 21893 | 63♠ | 2 August 1943 | 10:25 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10182 east of Mga |
| 34 | 22 May 1943 | 10:58 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 20222 | 64♠ | 2 August 1943 | 12:55 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10322 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Mga |
| 35 | 30 May 1943 | 13:44 | Yak-1 | PQ 36 Ost 10113 vicinity of Shlisselburg | 65♠ | 2 August 1943 | 12:57 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10323 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Mga |
| 36 | 30 May 1943 | 20:16 | P-40 | PQ 36 Ost 11773 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Spaskaja-Polist | 66♠ | 2 August 1943 | 13:24 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10331 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Mga |
| 37 | 3 June 1943 | 12:57? | Pe-2 | PQ 26 Ost 90141 30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Lomomosov | 67♠ | 2 August 1943 | 13:25 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 10183 east of Mga |
| 38 | 10 June 1943 | 15:52 | LaGG-3 | PQ 26 Ost 90121 20 km (12 mi) west of Lomomosov | 68♠ | 2 August 1943 | 17:34 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10113 vicinity of Shlisselburg |
| 39 | 17 June 1943 | 05:07 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 20224 20 km (12 mi) east of Volkhov | 69♠ | 2 August 1943 | 19:21 | La-5 | PQ 36 Ost 10354 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Mga |
| 40 | 17 June 1943 | 05:17 | Hurricane | PQ 36 Ost 20174 vicinity of Volkhov | 70 | 11 August 1943 | 05:10 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 45724 15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Kirov |
| 41 | 18 June 1943 | 12:12 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 10262 25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg | 71 | 12 August 1943 | 07:50 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 45751 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Kirov |
| 42 | 23 June 1943 | 20:07 | P-39 | PQ 36 Ost 11741 20 km (12 mi) north of Shlisselburg | 72 | 12 August 1943 | 07:59 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 45761 5 km (3.1 mi) north-northeast of Kirov |
| 43 | 24 June 1943 | 11:11 | Yak-1? | PQ 36 Ost 20191 west of Volkhov | 73 | 12 August 1943 | 16:02 | Yak-7 | PQ 35 Ost 45742 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kirov |
| 44 | 9 July 1943 | 08:42 | Yak-9 | PQ 36 Ost 10264 25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg | 74 | 14 August 1943 | 04:59 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 45751 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Kirov |
| 45 | 12 July 1943 | 18:19 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 64882 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Mtsensk | 75 | 14 August 1943 | 05:02 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 45753 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Kirov |
| The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock have an unaccounted gap of six aerial victories, ranging from aerial victory 76 to 81. According to Mathews and Foreman, these six aerial victories are also not documented. ||||||||||
| 82 | 7 October 1943 | 13:39 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 11794 over Lake Ladoga | 86♠ | 8 October 1943 | 05:57 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 01131 over Lake Ladoga |
| 83 | 7 October 1943 | 14:03 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 10124 east of Shlisselburg | 87♠ | 8 October 1943 | 08:24 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 01411 over Lake Ladoga |
| 84♠ | 8 October 1943 | 05:51 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 02793 | 88♠ | 8 October 1943 | 08:25 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 01413 over Lake Ladoga |
| 85♠ | 8 October 1943 | 05:53 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 02794 | 89♠ | 8 October 1943 | 08:27 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 01413 over Lake Ladoga |
| – 6. Staffel with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — 1 January – 29 May 1944 ||||||||||
| 90 | 11 January 1944 | 13:42 | Yak-4 | PQ 26 Ost 80792 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Narva | 100 | 31 March 1944 | 17:12 | Pe-2 | PQ 25 Ost 78243 |
| 91 | 25 January 1944 | 10:46 | La-5 | PQ 26 Ost 90571 35 km (22 mi) southwest of Lissino | 101 | 1 April 1944 | 12:45 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 88392 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Selo |
| 92 | 25 January 1944 | 10:48 | Il-2 | PQ 26 Ost 80661 40 km (25 mi) east of Narva | 102 | 2 April 1944 | 14:40 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 88413 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Pskov |
| 93 | 28 January 1944 | 15:10 | La-5 | PQ 26 Ost 80663 40 km (25 mi) east of Narva | 103 | 8 April 1944 | 05:33 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 78291 30 km (19 mi) west of Pskov |
| 94 | 19 March 1944 | 09:36 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 88133 15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Pskov | 104 | 28 April 1944 | 17:52 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 87694 vicinity of Idritsa |
| 95 | 27 March 1944 | 06:20 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 78532, east-northeast of Petseri | 105 | 28 April 1944 | 17:54 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 97572 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Idritsa |
| 96 | 27 March 1944 | 06:22 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 78254, east-northeast of Petseri | 106 | 1 May 1944 | 11:10 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 96513 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Polotsk |
| 97 | 27 March 1944 | 06:24 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 7826, east-northeast of Petseri | 107 | 1 May 1944 | 11:13 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 96381 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Dretun |
| 98 | 27 March 1944 | 06:26 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 78264, Kriwska, east-northeast of Petseri | 108 | 1 May 1944 | 11:14 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 96381 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Dretun |
| 99 | 31 March 1944 | 12:43 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 88334 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Pskov | | | | | |
| – 6. Staffel with IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — June – 20 August 1944 ||||||||||
| | 9 July 1944 | 09:39 | P-40 | PQ 25 Ost 41165 | | 21 July 1944 | 04:15 | Yak-9 | |
| | 15 July 1944 | 13:48 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 50155 over sea in the middle of the Gulf of Finland | 118 | 12 August 1944 | 10:15 | Yak-9 | Warka |
| The authors Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that Sterr claimed 13 undocumented aerial victories in the timeframe June to September 1944 while serving with 6. and 16. Staffel. These claims are also not listed by Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||
| – 16. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Western Front — September 1944 ||||||||||
| 126 | 23 September 1944 | 18:45 | P-47 | PQ 05 Ost 62256 vicinity of Nijmegen | 127 | 25 September 1944 | 18:05 | B-25 | PQ 05 Ost 52238 |

### Awards

* Iron Cross (1939)
** 2nd Class (30 June 1942)
** 1st Class (8 January 1943)
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots
** in Bronze (10 April 1942)
** Silver (22 July 1942)
** Gold (14 September 1942)
* Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 30 April 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot
* German Cross in Gold on 23 July 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 December 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54