serviceyears branch death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
? -- 1945 luftwaffe near emsland 4 january 1945 fürth nazi germany jg 26 knight 's cross of the iron cross world war ii 5 december 1917 leutnant wilhelm mayer
 wilhelm mayer
wilhelm mayer

wilhelm mayer -lrb- 5 december 1917 -- 4 january 1945 -rrb- was a german 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 .
on 4 january 1945 , wilhelm mayer was killed after being ambushed by raf spitfires near emsland , germany .
he was posthumously awarded the knight 's cross on 12 march 1945 .
during his career he was credited with 27 aerial victories , all on the western front .
