# Alexander Preinfalk

Alexander Preinfalk (6 February 1920 – 12 December 1944) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Alexander Preinfalk was shot down on 12 December 1944 by an American P-47 over Bruchsal, Germany and died after he bailed out. He was credited with between 78 and 85+ aerial victories.

## Career

Preinfalk was born on 6 February 1920 in Baku, at the time the capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Following flight training, he was briefly posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in 1941 before he was transferred to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing).
Om 26 March 1943, Preinfalk claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northeast of El Hamma. On 4 April, he claimed another Spitfire shot, this time 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of Maknassy. In June 1943, Preinfalk was posted to 1. Staffel of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Süd—a supplementary training unit—as a fighter pilot instructor.

### Defense of the Reich and death

In July 1944, Preinfalk was posted to II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) based in Hustedt in northwestern Germany. The Gruppe under command of Hauptmann Julius Meimberg was fighting in defense of the Reich and largely staffed by inexperienced young pilots. In consequence, Meimberg made Preinfalk a leader of a Schwarm, a flight of four aircraft, within 6. Staffel led by Oberleutnant Alfred Hammer. According to the authors Prien and Rodeike, this transfer was considered a disciplinary action, a measure for redemption in combat. The authors state, that particularly Oberstleutnant Johannes Steinhoff, the commander of JG 77 at the time, had a number of pilots transferred for redemption in defense of the Reich combat, this measure included pilots Preinfalk, Major Heinrich Bär, Hauptmann Lutz-Wilhelm Burckhardt, Leutnant Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert, and Oberfeldwebel Herbert Kaiser.
In early December 1944, II. Gruppe was based at Malmsheim Airfield, flying missions against the fighter-bombers of the USAAF Ninth Air Force. Preinfalk was killed in action on 12 December in aerial combat with a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) southwest of Graben-Neudorf. Although he managed to escape of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14/AS (Werknummer 165741—factory number) at low altitude, his parachute failed to fully deploy and he fell to his death.

## Summary of career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Preinfalk was credited with 78 aerial victories. Spick also lists him with 78 aerial victories, approximately 50 of which on the Eastern Front with the remaining claims over the Western Allies, claimed in an unknown number combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 80 aerial victory claims, including 60 claims on the Eastern Front and 30 claims over the Western Allies.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 82121". 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 Preinfalk an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in one day.  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Unit | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Unit |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front – Operation Barbarossa — June – December 1941 ||||||||||||
| 1 | 17 October 1941 | 11:17 | I-16 | | 5./JG 77 | 2 | 26 October 1941 | 14:20 | I-15 | | 5./JG 77 |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front – March – April 1942 ||||||||||||
| 3 | 19 March 1942 | 12:02 | I-15 | | 5./JG 77 | 5 | 27 April 1942 | 17:30 | Yak-1 | Yevpatoria | 5./JG 77 |
| 4 | 9 April 1942 | 17:45 | I-16 | | 5./JG 77 | | | | | | |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front – Kerch, Sevastopol, Izium — May/June 1942 ||||||||||||
| 6 | 9 June 1942 | 19:30 | I-153 | | 5./JG 77 | 8 | 13 June 1942 | 18:31 | Il-2 | | 5./JG 77 |
| 7 | 13 June 1942 | 12:20 | MiG-1 | | 5./JG 77 | 9 | 14 June 1942 | 14:52 | LaGG-3 | | 5./JG 77 |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Eastern Front – Summer offensive — 28 June – 7 November 1942 ||||||||||||
| 10 | 6 July 1942 | 14:30 | Boston | | 5./JG 77 | 36♠ | 6 August 1942 | 18:08 | Pe-2 | PQ 82121 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 11 | 9 July 1942 | 18:25 | LaGG-3 | | 5./JG 77 | 37 | 12 August 1942 | 05:54 | Il-2 | PQ 83592 50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 12 | 9 July 1942 | 18:36 | MiG-3 | | 5./JG 77 | 38 | 12 August 1942 | 05:56 | Yak-1 | PQ 83863 55 km (34 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 13 | 16 July 1942 | 14:15 | Pe-2 | | 5./JG 77 | 39 | 12 August 1942 | 14:03? | MiG-1 | PQ 83812 50 km (31 mi) south of Yelets | 5./JG 77 |
| 14 | 16 July 1942 | 14:20 | Pe-2 | | 5./JG 77 | 40 | 12 August 1942 | 14:11 | MiG-1 | PQ 83532 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Yelets | 5./JG 77 |
| 15 | 17 July 1942 | 18:47 | Pe-2 | | 5./JG 77 | 41 | 13 August 1942 | 10:52 | Il-2 | PQ 83673 30 km (19 mi) south of Yelets | 5./JG 77 |
| 16 | 21 July 1942 | 18:41 | Hurricane | | 5./JG 77 | 42 | 18 August 1942 | 14:57 | MiG-3 | PQ 83673 30 km (19 mi) south of Yelets | 5./JG 77 |
| 17 | 21 July 1942 | 19:16 | Hurricane | | 5./JG 77 | 43 | 23 August 1942 | 10:26 | LaGG-3 | PQ 92791 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Sloboda | 5./JG 77 |
| 18 | 23 July 1942 | 19:08 | Il-2 | | 5./JG 77 | 44 | 5 September 1942 | 17:14 | LaGG-3 | PQ 82173 65 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Tim | 5./JG 77 |
| 19 | 23 July 1942 | 19:14 | Il-2 | | 5./JG 77 | 45 | 5 September 1942 | 17:20 | Il-2 | PQ 82151 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 20 | 24 July 1942 | 05:36 | LaGG-3 | | 5./JG 77 | 46 | 5 September 1942 | 17:22 | LaGG-3 | PQ 82121 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 21 | 24 July 1942 | 05:48 | LaGG-3 | | 5./JG 77 | 47 | 9 September 1942 | 15:46 | Il-2 | PQ 82752 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Sloboda | 5./JG 77 |
| 22 | 24 July 1942 | 11:25 | Pe-2 | | 5./JG 77 | 48 | 13 September 1942 | 15:00 | P-39 | PQ 92114 | 5./JG 77 |
| 23 | 25 July 1942 | 18:42 | Pe-2 | | 5./JG 77 | 49 | 15 September 1942 | 17:03 | LaGG-3 | PQ 92141 25 km (16 mi) north of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 24 | 26 July 1942 | 10:31 | Il-2 | | 5./JG 77 | 50 | 15 September 1942 | 17:04 | LaGG-3 | PQ 92143 25 km (16 mi) north of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 25 | 28 July 1942 | 06:27 | MiG-3 | | 5./JG 77 | 51 | 17 September 1942 | 05:51 | LaGG-3 | PQ 92123 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 26 | 28 July 1942 | 18:18 | P-39 | PQ 92393 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 | 52 | 17 September 1942 | 05:52 | LaGG-3 | PQ 92154 25 km (16 mi) north of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 27 | 29 July 1942 | 06:51 | MiG-1 | PQ 93554 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Lipetsk | 5./JG 77 | 53 | 17 September 1942 | 05:54 | Il-2 | PQ 92132 30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 28 | 31 July 1942 | 15:45 | Il-2 | PQ 82194 60 km (37 mi) northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 | 54 | 17 September 1942 | 05:57 | Il-2 | PQ 92122 30 km (19 mi) north of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 29 | 31 July 1942 | 15:50 | Il-2 | PQ 83761 60 km (37 mi) south-southwest of Yelets | 5./JG 77 | 55 | 18 September 1942 | 17:16 | MiG-1 | PQ 92173 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 30 | 5 August 1942 | 08:46 | Hurricane | PQ 83463 25 km (16 mi) east of Yelets | 5./JG 77 | 56 | 18 September 1942 | 17:19 | MiG-1 | PQ 92312 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 31♠ | 6 August 1942 | 10:25 | Pe-2 | PQ 93314 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Lipetsk | 5./JG 77 | 57 | 18 September 1942 | 17:24 | MiG-1 | PQ 92443 25 km (16 mi) east of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 32♠ | 6 August 1942 | 11:11 | MiG-1 | PQ 83852 60 km (37 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 | 58 | 22 September 1942 | 15:33 | Il-2 | PQ 92152 vicinity of Devitsa | 5./JG 77 |
| 33♠ | 6 August 1942 | 11:13 | MiG-1 | PQ 83892 50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 | 59 | 22 September 1942 | 15:37 | LaGG-3 | PQ 92352 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 34♠ | 6 August 1942 | 18:05 | Pe-2 | PQ 82174 65 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Tim | 5./JG 77 | 60 | 1 October 1942 | 15:38 | LaGG-3 | PQ 92454 40 km (25 mi) east of Voronezh | 5./JG 77 |
| 35♠ | 6 August 1942 | 18:06 | Pe-2 | PQ 82142 65 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Tim | 5./JG 77 | | | | | | |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Western Front – Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 1 January – May 1943 ||||||||||||
| 61? | 26 March 1943 | 10:37 | Spitfire | 28 km (17 mi) southwest of El Hamma | 5./JG 77 | 67 | 7 April 1943 | 09:10 | Spitfire | 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Skhira | 5./JG 77 |
| 62 | 31 March 1943 | 18:49 | P-40 | 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of El Guettar | 5./JG 77 | 68 | 20 April 1943 | 17:15 | P-51 | 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Mateur | 5./JG 77 |
| 63 | 1 April 1943 | 10:42 | Spitfire | 62 km (39 mi) northwest of La Fauconnerie | 5./JG 77 | 69 | 21 April 1943 | 09:28 | Spitfire | 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Tunis | 5./JG 77 |
| 64 | 2 April 1943 | 19:12 | Boston | 32 km (20 mi) northwest of Gafsa | 5./JG 77 | 70 | 21 April 1943 | 12:58 | P-40 | 40 km (25 mi) east of Tunis | 5./JG 77 |
| 65 | 4 April 1943 | 17:17 | Spitfire | 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Meknassy | 5./JG 77 | 71 | 25 April 1943 | 13:05 | Spitfire | 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Majaz al Bab | 5./JG 77 |
| 66 | 6 April 1943 | 15:28 | Spitfire | 60 km (37 mi) southwest of La Fauconnerie | 5./JG 77 | | | | | | |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 on the Western Front – Mediterranean Theater, Italy — May/June 1944 ||||||||||||
| 72 | 31 May 1944 | 17:09 | Spitfire | PQ 14 Ost S/2372, Tuscania | 1./JG 77 | 74 | 9 June 1944 | 09:23 | P-51 | 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Udine | 2./JG 77 |
| 73 | 31 May 1944 | 17:12 | Spitfire | PQ 14 Ost S/2375 | 1./JG 77 | | | | | | |
| – Claims with Jagdgeschwader 53 on the Western Front – Defense of the Reich — August – 12 December 1944 ||||||||||||
| 75 | 26 August 1944 | 15:07 | P-47 | PQ 05 Ost TC-4/2 Rouen | 6./JG 53 | 79 | 25 November 1944 | 12:42 | P-51 | PQ 04 Ost N/AQ-6/3 Haguenau | 6./JG 53 |
| 76 | 2 October 1944 | 15:07? | P-51 | PQ 04 Ost N/BN-9 north of Vézelise/Nancy | 6./JG 53 | 80 | 1 December 1944 | 16:00 | P-51 | PQ 04 Ost N/AR-5, southwest of Rastatt | 6./JG 53 |
| 77 | 6 October 1944 | 16:53 | P-47 | PQ 04 Ost N/FN-5/1 Thionville | 6./JG 53 | 81 | 12 December 1944 | 14:02 | P-47 | PQ 05 Ost UR-4 Linkenheim | 6./JG 53 |
| 78 | 20 October 1944 | 10:50 | P-47 | PQ 04 Ost N/CP southwest of Strasbourg | 6./JG 53 | | | | | | |

### Awards

* Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
* Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September 1942 as Unteroffizier and pilot
* German Cross in Gold on 3 October 1942 as Unteroffizier in the II./Jagdgeschwader 77
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 October 1942 as Unteroffizier and pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 77