Bf 109 was piloted by a decorated pilot from the 4th Air Fleet commanded by General  Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen  (a distant relative of the  Red Baron ) the 11-victory ace, three-time recipient[ clarification needed ] of the  Iron Cross , Staff Sergeant Erwin Maier of the 2nd Staffel of  Jagdgeschwader 53 . Maier parachuted