Georg Dörffel Georg Dörffel ( 27 July 1914 – 26 May 1944 ) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II , and one of only 882 recipients 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 . Georg Dörffel was killed on 26 May 1944 , north of Rome . During his career he flew 1004 missions as a ground assault pilot . He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant . Career . Georg Dörffel joined the military service in " Infanterie - Regiment 22 " ( 22nd infantry regiment ) in 1933 . In 1935 he transferred to the Luftwaffe holding the rank of " Oberfähnrich " ( senior officer candidate ) . At first he served as an observer in a Kampfgeschwader ( ground attack wing ) before transferring as to the 5 . ( Schlacht ) / Lehrgeschwader 2 ( 5 . ( S ) / LG 2 — 5th ground attack squadron of the 2nd demonstration wing ) flying the Henschel Hs 123 ground attack aircraft . With this squadron as part of the II . ( Schlacht ) / LG 2 ( 2nd ground attack group of the 2nd demonstration wing ) he flew as a " Leutnant " ( Second Lieutenant ) and pilot during the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France . The group was responsible of repelling a large enemy tank formation north of Cambrai on 17 May 1940 which threatened the flank of the German advance . Dörffel received the Iron Cross ( ) 2nd and 1st Class for this action on 21 May 1940 . Dörffel was shot down twice during the campaign in the west , the first time on 14 May 1940 near Tirlemont , Belgium and in June 1940 near Dunkirk . He was wounded on both occasions . In October 1940 he was appointed " Staffelkapitän " ( squadron leader ) of the 5 . ( S ) / LG 2 , which was re - designated 5 . / Schlachtgeschwader 1 ( 5th squadron of the 1st ground attack wing ) in early 1942 . In this role and position he flew in the Battle of Britain and from April 1941 in the Balkans Campaign . With the beginning of Operation Barbarossa , the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 , Dörffel was transferred to the Eastern Front , particularly in support of the central and southern sectors , providing air support to the German ground forces . Together with the squadron leader of the 2 . ( S ) / LG 2 , " Oberleutnant " Alfred Druschel , he was awarded the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 August 1941 after over 200 combat missions . He was shot down near Skvorin at the Don River on 1 July 1942 . Dörffel flew his 600th combat mission on 16 August 1942 . He was appointed acting " Gruppenkommandeur " ( group commander ) of the I . / SG 1 ( 1st group of the 1st ground attack wing ) on 2 March 1943 followed by his official appointment as group leader on 11 June 1943 . Dörffel flew his 800th mission of the war in July 1943 followed by his 900th mission one month later . He was promoted to " Major " on 1 September 1943 . In early October 1943 he flew 19 combat missions on one day against the attacking Red Army forces crossing the Dnieper River near Kiev . He flew his 1 , 000th combat mission of the war on 6 October 1943 , claiming his 30th aerial victory on that flight . He was grounded one day later and transferred and appointed commander of the " Schlachtfliegerschule " ( ground attack fliers school ) at Prossnitz . In early May 1944 he took command of Schlachtgeschwader 4 ( SG 4 — 4th ground attack wing ) stationed in Italy as " Geschwaderkommodore " ( wing commander ) . Georg Dörffel was killed in action on 26 May 1944 north - west of Rome , Italy . Dörffel was forced to bail out of his Focke - Wulf Fw 190 F - 8 ( " Werknummer " — factory number — 580 464 ) following an attack on a four - engined bomber formation . He probably struck his head on the tailplane ; his parachute failed to open . He was buried in Pomezia , Italy , and posthumously promoted to " Oberstleutnant " ( Lieutenant Colonel ) .