caption serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards battles birth_date rank image article_title name
ernst-wilhelm reinert 1939 -- 45 1956 -- 72 18px 18px '' luftwaffe '' -lrb- '' bundeswehr '' -rrb- '' luftwaffe '' -lrb- '' wehrmacht '' -rrb- 1 jg 27 , 12 . / jg 27 . / jg 77 , 8 . / bad pyrmont 5 september 2007 cologne-lindenthal nazi germany -lrb- to 1945 -rrb- west germany jg 77 , jg 27 knight leaves and swords 's cross of the iron cross with oak world war ii 2 february 1919 hauptmann oberstleutnant ernst-wilhelm reinert.jpg ernst-wilhelm reinert
 ernst-wilhelm reinert
ernst-wilhelm reinert

ernst-wilhelm reinert -lrb- 2 february 1919 -- 5 september 2007 -rrb- was a german former luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the knight 's cross of the iron cross with oak leaves and swords during world war ii .
a flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat .
the knight 's cross of the iron cross and its higher grade oak leaves and swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership .
