Gerhard Michalski Gerhard Michalski ( 25 June 1917 in Augsdorf – 22 February 1946 in Kaltenkirchen ) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ( ) . The Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership . Military career . Michalski joined 6 Staffel , Jagdgeschwader 53 ( JG 53 — 53rd Fighter Wing ) in 1940 . His first victory was on 31 March 1940 , when he downed a French Morane Saulnier MS 406 fighter over the French border . Flying through the Battle of Britain , he gained eight more victories . In October 1940 , Michalski was appointed Adjutant in II . / JG 53 . With JG 53 participating in the invasion of Russia from June 1941 onward , Michalski claimed 13 further victories by the end of August 1941 for a total of 22 . By October 1941 " Oberleutnant " Michalski was " Staffelkapitän " of 4 . / JG 53 based at Leeuwarden in the Netherlands . Top Malta ace . In November II . / JG 53 were relocated to Sicily for operations against Malta . Michalski was to become the most successful German fighter pilot in the Siege , claiming 26 victories against the island ' s defenders . Michalski became " Gruppenkommandeur " II . / JG 53 in June 1942 and was awarded the " Ritterkreuz " for 41 victories in September . On 15 October Michalski was shot down by No 126 Squadron Spitfires , flown by F / L . Jones and F / Sgt Varey . off Marsaxlokk Bay . He bailed out of his Bf 109 G - 2 , landing in the sea , and was rescued by the German air - sea rescue service . North Africa . In October 1942 II . / JG 53 were sent to Tunisia . Following the fall of Tunisia , II . / JG 53 relocated to bases in Sicily in May 1943 . On 18 June Michalski was again shot down , near Donnafucata in Sicily by F / O G . Keith RCAF , flying a Spitfire of 72 Squadron . He bailed out wounded in the leg and with a broken ankle , landing in the sea , from where he was rescued by the German air - sea rescue service . Hospitalised , he returned to JG 53 in August 1943 . Reich defence 1944 - 45 . In November 1943 , II . / JG 53 was relocated to airfields in Austria , operating on " Reichsverteidigung " ( Defense of the Reich ) duties . Michalski claimed his 60th victory on 2 November . In April 1944 , Michalski was made " Geschwaderkommodore " of JG z . b . V . at Kassel in Germany . The unit was formed to control III . / JG 3 , I . / JG 5 , II . / JG 27 , III . / JG 54 and II . / JG 53 . On 1 May , he was once more shot down and wounded in aerial combat . Following a swift recovery , Michalski was transferred to the " Verbandsführerschule " of the " General der Jagdflieger " on 20 May 1944 . On 21 July , he joined the Stabsstaffel , I . / Jagdgeschwader 11 before being appointed " Geschwaderkommodore " of Jagdgeschwader 4 on 18 August 1944 . " Major " Michalski was awarded the Oak Leaves to the " Ritterkreuz " on 25 November for 72 victories . In early 1945 he participated in the conspiracy against the Reichsmarschall and chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring in what is referred to as the " Fighter Pilots Revolt " . He gained his 73rd and final victory on 8 March 1945 , over the Eastern front . Gerhard Michalski was credited with 73 aerial victories in 652 missions , of which 59 victories were achieved over the Western front including 13 four - engine bombers and 29 Supermarine Spitfire fighters . Michalski was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 22 February 1946 and died in a hospital in Kaltenkirchen . His brother Werner was killed in action as a " Leutnant " on 10 April 1942 serving with Jagdgeschwader 26 " Schlageter " .