serviceyears branch death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1938 -- 42 heer -- 42 -rrb- -lrb- 1938 -- 39 -rrb- luftwaffe -lrb- 1939 tobruk , libya 1 june 1942 vienna , austria nazi germany gebirgsjäger-regiment 100 zg 26 knight 's cross of the iron cross world war ii 21 may 1919 oberleutnant alfred wehmeyer
 alfred wehmeyer
alfred wehmeyer

alfred wehmeyer -lrb- 21 may 1919 -- 1 june 1942 -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 .
alfred wehmeyer was credited with 18 aerial victories , all against western forces .
his messerschmitt bf 110 was shotdown by british antiaircraft fire near tobruk , libya on 1 june 1942 .
he was posthumously awarded the knight 's cross of the iron cross on 4 september 1942 .
