Английская Википедия:Hermann Greiner

Georg-Hermann Greiner (2 January 1920 – 26 September 2014) was a Luftwaffe night fighter ace who served during World War II. Greiner was recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves—the fourth highest German award by war's end. He was also a squadron commander in the prestigious Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—Night Fighter Wing 1), the most successful night fighter interceptor unit of any nation in the history of aerial warfare.

Greiner primarily engaged British RAF Bomber Command crews in their bombing campaigns over German-occupied Europe and was credited with 51 aerial victories over Allied aircraft: four United States Army Air Force (USAAF) bombers during daylight hours and 47 Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft at night. Only 23 other night fighter pilots—all German World War II serviceman—surpassed Greiner's total which was achieved in three years and six months of operations.

Following the conclusion of the War, Greiner and close friend Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer were arrested illegally crossing the German-Swiss border attempting an escape to Argentina. Both Greiner and Schnaufer were detained in an Allied prisoner of war camp and released in 1947. Greiner went on to study law and returned to service in the German Air Force in 1957, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1972.^{[Note 1]}

Early life and career

Greiner was born on 3 January 1920 in the small Bavarian town of Heidenheim, Middle Franconia. He was the third child of Albrecht and Sophie Greiner. His father moved away to Bochum, located in the German Ruhr to seek work with Reichsbank, Weimar Germany's central bank. Bochum was under the occupation of the French Army after World War I and there was a distinct lack of affordable housing. The family could not follow and the young Greiner rarely saw his father during his early childhood.Шаблон:Sfn When Albrecht had saved sufficient funds he was able to buy a flat in Bochum and he sent for his family. Greiner's father was a strict disciplinarian and the friction caused disharmony in the family. Greiner developed a strong desire to succeed in everything and prove himself worthy of his father's time.Шаблон:Sfn

Greiner joined the German Gymnasts Association (Deutscher Turner Bund) at seven and three years later the German Scout Movement (Deutscher Pfadfinder Bund). In 1933 he travelled to Switzerland and Italy with the scout movement at 13. Greiner had the opportunity to stay in Milan and Rome with German families. Greiner was unusually well travelled for a person of his age and social status at that time.Шаблон:Sfn In 1936 he was invited to participate at the International Youth Camp for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Greiner received invitations to Hungary in 1937, Bulgaria in 1938 and Canada in 1939, but could only visit the Hungarian capital Budapest.Шаблон:Sfn

A consequence of the National Socialist rise to power in 1933 was Greiner's enforced membership in the Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend). After four years in the organisation Greiner took an interest in aviation and joined the Flying Hitler Youth (Flieger Hitlerjugend), which was absorbed into the German Air Sports Association (Deutscher Luftsportscharen), in 1937. Here, Greiner passed the aptitude tests for a career as an officer in the Luftwaffe. All aspiring officers had to complete the Abitur. On 5 April 1938 he achieved the Abitur and then undertook six months of compulsory Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst).Шаблон:Sfn

Luftwaffe

On 8 November 1938 he underwent basic training at the Second Pilot Replacement Unit at Detmold in Westphalia. He completed the course on 20 March 1939. At the conclusion of the course Greiner was rewarded with an acceptance as a Fahnenjunker (officer cadet). He was posted to the Luftkriegsschule 2 (LKS 2—2nd air war school) at Berlin-Gatow to begin flying lessons. There, he learned the rudiments of flying. Greiner flew the Focke-Wulf Fw 44, the Bücker Bü 131 and the Arado Ar 96. On 30 October 1939 he was granted his licence and pilot's badge, and A/B flying certificate, in recognition of his elementary training and qualification on advanced single-engine training aircraft.Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Refn

Greiner moved to Saxony where he attended the Flugzeugführerschule C (Aircraft Advanced School C—advanced flying school) in Lönnewitz. At the school Greiner learned to fly the Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 86. At this school he flew the Messerschmitt Bf 110 for the first time. Greiner attended the Long-Range reconnaissance school at Großenhain, followed by the Blindflugschule (Blind Flying School) at Neuburg an der Donau. From here Greiner was posted to the Zerstörerschule (Destroyer School) at Memmingen. Greiner then moved to the Jagdfliegerschule (Fighter School) at Schleißheim, near Munich. Finally, he completed his course at the Nachtjadgschule (Night Fighter School) at Stuttgart to learn the art of night fighting. Greiner flight training ended in September 1941.Шаблон:Sfn

World War II

Файл:Kammhuber Line Map - Agent Tegal.png

A map of part of the Kammhuber Line. The 'belt' and night fighter 'boxes' are shown.

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight, Royal Air Force (RAF) attacks shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign.Шаблон:Sfn By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector named a Himmelbett (canopy bed) would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers. In 1941, the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar. This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942.Шаблон:Sfn

Night fighter career

On 1 October 1941, Leutnant Greiner reported for duty with Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—Night Fighter Wing 1) at Stade near Hamburg.^{[Note 2]} Greiner was assigned to II. Gruppe (2nd group) under the command of Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) Walter Ehle. Greiner was transferred to 4. Staffel (4th squadron) in mid-January 1942. Along with 6. Staffel it formed the nucleus of II. Gruppe of NJG 1, based at Leeuwarden, Netherlands. In February Greiner participated in Operation Donnerkeil (Thunderbolt), an air superiority mission to provide cover to the German Kriegsmarine (War Navy) and three major warships traversing the English Channel to bases in Germany. The battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the cruiser Prinz Eugen began the risky operation on 11 February. The naval component was called Operation Cerberus, and succeeded.Шаблон:Sfn

On 20 April 1942, Greiner was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).Шаблон:Sfn In 1942 RAF Bomber Command, under the command of Air Officer Commanding, Arthur Harris, embarked on its long campaign of area bombing against German industrial cities and military targets. On the night of the 25/26 June 1942, 960 aircraft attacked Bremen, targeting the city, shipyards and the Focke-Wulf factory. 472 Vickers Wellington, 124 Handley-Page Halifax, 96 Avro Lancaster, 69 Short Stirling, 51 Bristol Blenheim, 50 Handley-Page Hampden, 50 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, 24 Boston, 20 Avro Manchester and four de Havilland Mosquito bombers were used. A further 102 Lockheed Hudson and Wellington bombers of RAF Coastal Command were sent on the operation.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner was able to intercept a Wellington at daybreak, claiming it shot down south of Harlingen for his first victory at 06:00 with Bordfunker Rolf Kissing.Шаблон:Sfn On 6 October 1942, Greiner shot down his second victim west of Harlingen at 23:24.Шаблон:Sfn The bomber, a No. 103 Squadron RAF Halifax II, W1189, PM-E, crashed killing all the crew: Sergeants J. Porter, P. B. J. Butcher, R Carson, Pilot Officers R. Whitelock, A. G. Richards, B. C. H. King and Flight Sergeant B. J. Hardesty (RCAF seconded).Шаблон:Sfn

Greiner was ordered to report to the Nachtjagdschule at Echterdingen as an instructor. Greiner did not want to serve in a teaching role but as a pilot with only two victories in a year of operations, he had little choice. His Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) Hauptmann (Captain) Helmut Lent promised him a return to the Gruppe after six months.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner's stint as instructor began on 23 November 1942. He looked for an opportunity to fly on patrol but the school did not have the required technical equipment. One night in early March 1943, Greiner took off and claimed a Short Stirling shot down near Rastatt. The date and location were not recorded but it was officially granted as his third victory.Шаблон:Sfn

On 18 May 1943, Greiner returned to II. Gruppe of NJG 1 which from the 1 October 1942 had been re-designated IV. Gruppe of NJG 1. In March the British applied their area bombing and bomber stream tactics to the Ruhr. The Bomber Command attacks, which lasted until July 1943, were dubbed the Battle of the Ruhr. On the night of the 25/26 May Greiner claimed two Lancaster bombers that were part of a force attacking Düsseldorf. The first was accounted for west of Den Helder at 03:05 and the second north of Bergen aan Zee at 03:25 over North Holland. The claims were for Greiner's fourth and fifth victories which qualified him as a night fighter ace. One of the bombers was Lancaster I ED695, P-OJ, from No. 467 Squadron RAF. Flying Officer R. S. Giddey, Sergeant S. G. Keirs, W. V. Morris, R. V. Avaan, A.F Birkbeck, Pilot Officers K. R. Langhorne and P. R. Collins were reported missing in action. It transpired Langhorne and Birkbeck has been killed in action, the remainder of the crew were taken prisoner of war.Шаблон:Sfn On 1 June 1943 Greiner was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Sfn

Greiner achieved the last of his successes in the Ruhr campaign the following month. On the night of the 5/6 July 1943, he intercepted a Short Stirling on a "Gardening" sortie. Northwest of Leeuwarden he claimed the only night victory of the Luftwaffe at 02:31.Шаблон:Sfn The bomber was Short Stirling III, EF436, AA-A, of No. 75 Squadron RNZAF. Sergeant William Edward Stobbs was killed with his crew.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner's last victory in the Ruhr campaign came on the 25 July 1943. This night Harris began Operation Gomorrha, a massed air attack on Hamburg. At 02:50 southwest of Den Helder, Greiner claimed a Halifax.Шаблон:Sfn This was most likely Lancaster I, ED878, PM-V, of No. 103 Squadron RAF. Warrant Officer F. F. O'Hanlon was killed with his crew when the bomber crashed west of the Frisian Islands.Шаблон:Sfn

On the night of the 3/4 August 1943 Greiner claimed his ninth and tenth aerial victories northwest of Schiermonnikoog at 03:06 and 03:48 The first was claimed as a Lancaster, the second as a Wellington.Шаблон:Sfn On 24 August Bomber Command mounted an attack on Berlin for the first time using ground-mapping radar. Greiner shot down a Halifax at 01:43 northwest of Berlin.Шаблон:Sfn He recorded his 12th victory over a Lancaster near Bergfeine at 23:48 on 22 September.Шаблон:Sfn The following night he claimed a Lancaster south of Lampertheim at 23:30.Шаблон:Sfn On the night of the 27 September 1943 Greiner intercepted a Halifax over the North Sea. As Greiner approached he saw the bomber was heavily damaged and flying on only two engines just above the waves. Greiner was amazed at the skill of the crew for flying this far. Greiner considered the condition of the bomber and crew, then rocked his wings in salute and flew back to base.Шаблон:Sfn

Squadron leader

On 4 October 1943, Greiner was appointed Staffelkapitän of 10. Staffel of NJG 1.Шаблон:Sfn At this time Greiner's Bf 110G-4 was fitted with Schräge Musik, upward firing armament. The arrangement allowed for German night fighters to approach the British bombers in their blind spot, from underneath. The British four-engine bombers lacked a ball turret and the German crew could take their time in aiming more carefully. The night fighter usually flew to the side of the bomber to avoid it being seen by the tail gunner and then slid underneath. The risk in the conventional tactic of approaching from behind and passing within view of the tail turret was eliminated.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner was to shoot down the majority of his remaining victims using the Schräge Musik.Шаблон:Sfn

Greiner had to wait until Bomber Command flew against Braunschweig on 14/15 January 1944 to use the new armament system. This night the German fighters infiltrated the bomber stream as it crossed the frontier and commenced their attack on the bombers near Bremen. The early interception ensured 11 aircraft were shot down—all Pathfinders. The loss of so many pathfinders prevented the bombers from accurate bombing the city and little damage was done.Шаблон:Sfn Near Saint-Dizier at 20:00 intercepted a Lancaster and shot it down.Шаблон:Sfn The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) daylight raids were also resisted by the Nachtjagd. On 30 January 1944, Greiner intercepted a B-17 Flying Fortress near Osnabrück. At 13:00 he claimed it shot down.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner followed this up with another at the same location at 12:25 on 10 February. It was the only claim filed by a night fighter pilot on this date.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner's 17th claim came on 25 February when he claimed a Lancaster over Saint-Dizier at 22:59.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner recorded the location as "Beacon Leopold".Шаблон:Sfn

Greiner achieved another daylight victory on 6 March 1944. By this time the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt with long-range drop-tanks appeared and it quickly became apparent the zestörer and night fighters could not be committed to day operations without sustaining heavy losses. Greiner's Geschwader was committed to battle nonetheless.Шаблон:Sfn The United States Eighth Air Force (US8AF) operated against Berlin on 6 March. Greiner was not scrambled but undertook a flight test to ready his Bf 110G for action. As he took off he observed a B-17 fly over the aerodrome at low-level and gave chase. As he closed he noticed no obvious signs of damage. The B-17 pilot did not alter course or speed. Greiner stayed out of range of the bomber's 13 M2 Browning machine guns and fired. The aircraft—B-17 42-38118 from the 91st Bomb Group—crash-landed. Pilot Second Lieutenant Ben Fourmay was captured but two of his crew were killed.Шаблон:Sfn At 13:53 the same day, Greiner accounted for a Consolidated B-24 Liberator over Münsterbrück. Greiner's two day victories were two of the six claims submitted by night fighter crews—four others were credited with a single victory one of which was from Greiner's Geschwader. Eight of the B-24's ten-man crew survived.Шаблон:Sfn The bomber, B-24H 42-52306 of 458th Bombardment Group, USAAF flown by Second Lieutenant J. McManus, crash-landed at Münsterlager an Ueltzen.^[1] The daylight operation cost the Americans 69 bombers and 11 fighters. The Luftwaffe lost 64 fighters with eight crew killed and 36 missing.Шаблон:Sfn

On 19 March 1944, Greiner was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Шаблон:Lang) for 15 night and four day victories.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner was transferred to command 11. Staffel of NJG 1 on 15 April 1944.Шаблон:Sfn In April 1944, IV. Gruppe of NJG 1 moved to Sint-Truiden—Saint-Trond in the French pronunciation—Belgium. The Gruppe was now under the command of Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer.Шаблон:Sfn He achieved his first success with 11. Staffel on the night of the 22/23 April 1944 Greiner scrambled for a night patrol when Bomber Command struck Düsseldorf. The 596 bombers (323 Lancaster and 254 Halifax) were supported by 19 Mosquito intruders.Шаблон:Sfn Northwest of the city, Greiner was vectored onto a Lancaster and claimed it shot down at 01:39. The bomber was Greiner's 20th victory.Шаблон:Sfn On 24/25 April Greiner claimed a Halifax near Breda at 02:18.Шаблон:Sfn On the night of the 27/28 April Greiner achieved another double victory. This night 322 Lancaster bombers of 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups bombed Friedrichshafen.Шаблон:Sfn Another 223 aircraft (191 Halifax, 16 Lancaster and 16 Mosquito bombers) were despatched to Aulnoye-Aymeries. A third wave of 120 Halifax, 16 Lancaster and eight Mosquito bombers attacked railway yards at Montzen on the Belgian-German border.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner intercepted the bomber stream over Belgium. West of Genk at 01:58 he claimed a Lancaster then a Halifax southeast of Oerle two minutes later.Шаблон:Sfn The only Lancaster lost this night was JA976, from No. 405 Squadron RCAF. It crashed at Diest. Squadron leader E. W. Blenkinsop DFC, Croix de Guerre, evaded capture and joined with the Belgian Resistance before being captured in December 1944. He died at Neuengamme concentration camp on 23 January 1945.Шаблон:Sfn Blenkinsop was certainly Greiner's 23rd victory.Шаблон:Sfn

Normandy

The Western Allies began a policy of increasing attacks on the Belgian and French rail and communication networks in preparation for Overlord, and the D-Day landings. On 1/2 May 1944 131 Lancaster and eight Mosquito bombers belonging to No. 5 Group attacked the aircraft assembly and an explosives factories in Toulouse. Another 137 aircraft (89 Halifax, 40 Lancaster, 8 Mosquito bombers) from 6 and 8 Groups attacked the railway yards at Saint Ghislain. A follow-up raid 132 aircraft (110 Halifax, 14 Lancaster, 8 Mosquito bombers) of No. 4 and 8 Groups attacked railway targets at Malines. Chambly was also struck by 120 aircraft (96 Lancaster, 16 Stirling, 8 Mosquito bombers) of No. 3 and 8 Groups. 75 Lancasters of No. 1 Group attacked Berliet and Lyon. A further 46 Lancaster and four Mosquitos of No. 5 Group carried out an accurate attack on aircraft-repair workshops at Tours. 28 Mosquitos operated over Ludwigshafen and Achères, while another 34 intruder patrols were flown. 32 Halifax and three Stirlings took part of "Gardening" operations off the French coast and Frisian Islands. 40 aircraft flew supplies to the French Resistance also.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner was scrambled to intercept the stream heading to Saint Ghislain.Шаблон:Sfn At 00:15 south of Brussels Greiner claimed a Halifax. Flying west, Greiner attacked another northwest of Oudenaarde at 00:30. The last of the two inflated his tally to 25.Шаблон:Sfn On 9 May, and successive nights over the 12–13 May, and again on 25 May, Greiner claimed single victories against two Halifax and two Lancaster bombers.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner claimed his last victories of the month on 27/28 May. Bomber Command committed 331 heavy bombers against Leopoldsburg. At 02:29 and 02:48, Greiner claimed two Lancaster bombers, to bring his total to 31 bombers destroyed.Шаблон:Sfn The location of the engagements are recorded as Antwerp.Шаблон:Sfn The last was probably a Lancaster of No. 640 Squadron RAF piloted by Flying Officer F. Williams DFM, who was killed with two other crewmembers.Шаблон:Sfn The month of May was Greiner's most successful of the war.Шаблон:Sfn

On 1 June 1944 Greiner was promoted to Hauptmann. Five days later, Operation Overlord began with the Allied invasion of Normandy. 11./NJG 1, stayed in Sint-Truiden but extended its area of operations deep into France. Bomber Command sent out 225 Lancaster and 86 Halifax bombers to France supported by 18 Mosquitos on 15/16 June 1944. The No. 1, 3, 4 and 8 Groups attacked railway targets at Evreux, Gare de Massy – Palaiseau, Nantes and Tours.Шаблон:Sfn Near Paris at 01:26, Greiner claimed a Halifax for victory 32.Шаблон:Sfn On 15/16 June 1944, 227 aircraft (119 Lancaster, 99 Halifax and nine 9 Mosquito) from 4, 5 and 8 Groups attacked an ammunition dumps at Thorigné-Fouillard and a fuel dump at Châtellerault. The 5 Group raid at Châtellerault destroyed 8 fuel sites out of 35 in the target area without loss. 224 aircraft (184 Lancaster, 30 Stirling, 10 Mosquito bombers) of 3 and 8 Groups attacked railway yards at Lens and Valenciennes. Six Lancasters were lost from the Lens raid and five Lancasters from Valenciennes attack. 31 Mosquitos bombed to Gelsenkirchen, and 34 intruder patrols were carried out. Another seven Stirling and four Halifax bombers flew "Gardening" sorties minelaying off Channel ports. One Mosquito was lost from the Gelsenkirchen raid.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner attacked a Lancaster from an unknown bomber stream northeast of Lille at 00:56.Шаблон:Sfn On 5/6 July he claimed the second to last victory of the night over Dieppe at 02:05.Шаблон:Sfn On 20/21 July he claimed a victory in Grid LN-KN and KL at 01:28 and 01:37 for his 35th and 36th victories.Шаблон:Sfn On 27 July 1944, Greiner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Шаблон:Lang) and the presentation was made by Generalleutnant Joseph Schmid.Шаблон:Sfn

Defence of the Reich

The German front in France and Belgium collapsed in August–September 1944 and NJG 1 was evacuated back to Germany and based at Dortmund on 2 September 1944.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner achieved his last victory at Sint Truiden on 12 August 1944. Bomber Command bombed Braunschweig with 242 Lancasters and 137 Halifaxes. 17 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes were lost ( 7.1 per cent). 297 aircraft including 191 Lancasters, 96 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos attacked Rüsselsheim am Main. 13 Lancasters and seven Halifaxes were lost (6.7 per cent). The target for this raid was the Opel motor factory. Greiner intercepted a Lancaster west of Frankfurt and shot down his 37th bomber.Шаблон:Sfn

Soon after this mission Greiner was called into action again. On 12/13 September 1944, Greiner was ordered to intercept a 378-bomber raid heading for Frankfurt.Шаблон:Sfn That night he flew with his experienced radar operator Oberfeldwebel Rolf Kissing and a new, 18-year old gunner, Greiner was attacked by a de Havilland Mosquito night fighter. The first burst of fire hit Kissing in the head and the inexperienced gunner froze. The port engine was also shattered. The Mosquito did not attack again and out of consideration for Kissing, Greiner did not order a bale out or attempt a forced-landing. Instead he made a wheels-up landing at Düsseldorf airfield using compressed air to lower the landing-gear. Kissing died the same night. Greiner held his funeral oration with difficulty.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner's attacker is unknown. Flight Lieutenant R. D. Doleman and D. C. Bunch from No. 157 Squadron RAF plus Flight Lieutenant W. W. Provan and his radar operator, Warrant Officer Nicol from No. 29 Squadron RAF were the only No. 100 Group RAF Mosquito crews to file claims against Bf 110s in the Frankfurt area. Two other claims were filed for German aircraft shot down over southern Germany.Шаблон:Sfn

Greiner recovered from the death of Kissing and returned to operations within days. On 19–20 September 1944 Bomber Command struck Mönchengladbach with 227 Lancaster bombers and 10 Mosquitos from 1 and 5 GroupsШаблон:Sfn Greiner infiltrated the bomber stream west southwest of the city and at 22:55 and 23:02 claimed a Lancaster destroyed.Шаблон:Sfn On the 23/24 September 1944 Bomber Command attacked the Dortmund–Ems Canal with several hundred bombers. West southwest of Münster Greiner claimed a Lancaster bomber at 23:16 for his 40th victory.Шаблон:Sfn

Group commander

On 1 November, Greiner was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of IV. Gruppe of NJG 1.Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Sfn He succeeded Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer in this capacity.Шаблон:Sfn On 4/5 November 1944 Greiner achieved two more successes against Lancasters at 19:21 and 19:35 west of Essen. Greiner's 42nd victory was his last in 1944.Шаблон:Sfn

On 5/6 January 1945 Greiner had his most successful patrol. Bomber Command attacked Hannover with 340 Halifax and 310 Lancaster bombers supported by 14 Mosquitos. 23 Halifax and eight Lancaster bombers were lost. Greiner claimed three Lancaster bombers in rapid succession over Hannover at 19:12, 19:15, 19:18. Greiner shot down his fourth of the night at 19:22. The claim was his 46th victory of the war.Шаблон:Sfn One of the bombers was Halifax LV952, MH-F, of No. 51 Squadron RAF. Only the gunner, Sergeant Don Thomsett, survived. He met Greiner in May 1998.Шаблон:Sfn On 21/22 February, Greiner shot down two Halifax bombers near Neuss at 23:31 and 23:40.Шаблон:Sfn

On 3 March 1945 No. 4 Group RAF was ordered to destroy the synthetic oil plant at Kamen while 5 Group would attempt to eliminate the aqueduct, safety gates, and canal boats on the Dortmund–Ems Canal at Ladbergen. Nearly 5,000 RAF airmen prepared to take part in 817 heavy bombers which were fueled and armed in the evening. The Luftwaffe planned a counter-attack this night. Named Operation Gisela, a large wave of night fighters were detailed to return with the bomber stream to their bases in England and attack them. Greiner was not scheduled to take part in the operation. His unit was ordered to engagement the incoming bomber stream. Near Dortmund at 21:57, 22:08 and 22:12 he claimed a Lancaster bomber. This brought his final tally to 51 Allied bombers destroyed—47 RAF and four USAAF. These interceptions were his last of the war.Шаблон:Sfn

On on the night of 7/8 April 1945, he was ordered to intercept a Bomber Command attack on Dessau but became disorientated. The radio ceased working and the crew were lost. Fearing they were drifting eastwards towards Soviet lines, the crew sought to find a landmark without success. Greiner was low on fuel, he pointed the nose of the Bf 110 G-4 (Werknummer 160127—factory number) due west and flew for as long as possible until the tanks were exhausted. After bailing out Greiner's parachute became entangled on the night fighter for a brief time until it tore a strip away, freeing him and allowing Greiner to deploy the ripcord. Greiner was wounded when he landed requiring treatment in a hospital until the war ended.Шаблон:Sfn On 17 April 1945, Greiner became the 840th serviceman of the Wehrmacht to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Sfn He also received the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Night Fighters in Gold (Шаблон:Lang) for flying over 200 missions on 20 April 1945.Шаблон:Sfn

Later life

Greiner was held as a prisoner of war. In the autumn, 1945, he was transferred to a prisoner of war camp run by the United States Army, near Frankfurt. Greiner was discharged and returned to his mother's home near Stuttgart. Months of inactivity Greiner yearned to fly again. He met with Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer to discuss the possibility of becoming a civil pilot and starting an aviation business. There was no opportunities in Europe or the United States. The two men decided to travel to South America to seek employment. The nearest consulates were in Bern, Switzerland. Greiner moved to the border town of Offenbach, across the frontier from Basle. After the arrangements with the embassies in Bern were made, they crossed the border on 23 September 1946. Schnaufer could not be away from his family's wine business for too long and suggested crossing the border illegally. The negotiations failed and the two were caught on their return. The Swiss handed Greiner and Schnaufer over to the French Army and imprisoned for six months without charge in Lörrach.Шаблон:Sfn

Greiner moved to Bonn and studied law. After marrying in 1949 he gave up his studies for financial reasons and became a sales representative for a textiles firm. In 1956 the Federal Republic of Germany was remilitarised and the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) was founded. Greiner joined the Bundesluftwaffe as Hauptmann in August 1957. Over the next 15 years he served at the Pilot's School at Landsberg, rising to the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). Greiner retired in 1972.Шаблон:Sfn Greiner died on 26 September 2014 in Wangen im Allgäu.Шаблон:Sfn

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Scutts, Greiner was credited with 51 aerial victories.Шаблон:Sfn Obermaier also lists him with 51 aerial victories, 47 nocturnal victories and four by daytime, claimed in 204 combat missions.Шаблон:Sfn Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 51 nocturnal victory claimsШаблон:Sfn Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Vinke with 48 claims, including four four-engined bombers by day, plus two further unconfirmed claims.Шаблон:Sfn

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost LN-KN". The Luftwaffe grid map (Шаблон:Lang) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about Шаблон:Convert. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area Шаблон:Convert in size.Шаблон:Sfn

Chronicle of aerial victories
Шаблон:Legend Шаблон:Legend
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Serial No./Squadron No.
– 10. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –Шаблон:Sfn
1?Шаблон:Refn	26 June 1942	06:00	Wellington	south of Harlingen Шаблон:Sfn	Wellington DV935/No. 15 Operational Training Unit RAFШаблон:Sfn
– 11. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –Шаблон:Sfn
2	6 October 1942	23:24	Halifax	Шаблон:Convert west of HarlingenШаблон:Sfn	Halifax W1189/No. 103 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Refn	26 February 1943	02:52	Stirling	vicinity of RastattШаблон:Sfn	Stirling BF410/No. 90 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
3?Шаблон:Refn	1 May 1943	02:52	Stirling	Шаблон:Convert southwest of Dokkum Шаблон:Sfn
4?^{[Note 3]}	5 May 1943	02:47	HalifaxШаблон:Sfn
5	26 May 1943	03:05	Lancaster	Шаблон:Convert west of Den Helder Шаблон:Sfn	Wellington HE235/No. 166 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
6	26 May 1943	03:25	Lancaster	Шаблон:Convert north of Bergen aan Zee Шаблон:Sfn	Lancaster ED695/No. 467 Squadron RAAF Шаблон:Sfn
7	6 July 1943	02:31	Stirling	Шаблон:Convert northwest of Leeuwarden Шаблон:Sfn	Stirling EF436/No. 75 Squadron RNZAF Шаблон:Sfn
8	25 July 1943	02:50	Halifax	Шаблон:Convert southwest of Den HelderШаблон:Sfn	Lancaster ED389/No. 103 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
9	3 August 1943	03:06	Lancaster	Шаблон:Convert northwest of Schiermonnikoog Шаблон:Sfn	Lancaster ED688/No. 100 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
10	3 August 1943	03:48	Wellington	Шаблон:Convert southwest of SchiermonnikoogШаблон:Sfn	Wellington HE464/No. 166 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
– 10. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –Шаблон:Sfn
11	24 August 1943	01:43	Halifax	northwest of Berlin Шаблон:Sfn
12	22 September 1943	23:28	Halifax	Bergfeine Шаблон:Sfn	Halifax EB253/No. 76 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
13	23 September 1943	23:30	Lancaster	Шаблон:Convert south of Lampertheim Шаблон:Sfn	Lancaster W4991/No. 12 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
14	14 January 1944	20:00	Lancaster	vicinity of Saint-Dizier Шаблон:Sfn
15	30 January 1944	13:00	B-17 Шаблон:Sfn		B-17 42-31181/385th Bombardment Group Шаблон:Sfn
16	10 February 1944	12:25	B-17	near Osnabrück Шаблон:Sfn
17	15 February 1944	22:59	Lancaster	beacon "Leopold"Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Refn	Lancaster JB420/No. 57 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
18	6 March 1944	12:46	B-17	Шаблон:Convert southwest of Quakenbrück Шаблон:Sfn
19	6 March 1944	13:53	B-24	MünsterbrückШаблон:Sfn
– 11. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –Шаблон:Sfn
20	23 April 1944	01:39	Lancaster	Шаблон:Convert northwest of Düsseldorf Шаблон:Sfn
21	25 April 1944	02:18	Halifax	vicinity of Breda Шаблон:Sfn	Halifax MZ503/No. 420 Squadron RCAF Шаблон:Sfn
22	28 April 1944	01:58	Lancaster	Шаблон:Convert west of Genk Шаблон:Sfn	Halifax LK842/No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron RCAF Шаблон:Sfn
23	28 April 1944	02:00	Halifax	Шаблон:Convert southeast of Oerle Шаблон:Sfn
24	2 May 1944	00:15	Halifax	Шаблон:Convert south of Brussels Шаблон:Sfn
25	2 May 1944	00:30	Halifax	Шаблон:Convert northwest of Oudenaarde Шаблон:Sfn
26	9 May 1944	03:57	Halifax	Шаблон:Convert north-northeast of Kortrijk Шаблон:Sfn	Halifax MZ521/No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron RCAFШаблон:Sfn
27	12 May 1944	00:27	Halifax	Leuven Шаблон:Sfn	Lancaster LL752/No. 15 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
28	13 May 1944	00:27	Halifax	Lieren, near AppeldoornШаблон:Sfn
29	25 May 1944	00:29	Lancaster	Шаблон:Convert south of Aachen Шаблон:Sfn
30	28 May 1944	02:29	LancasterШаблон:Sfn
31	28 May 1944	02:48	LancasterШаблон:Sfn
32	11 June 1944	01:26	HalifaxШаблон:Sfn
33	16 June 1944	00:56	Lancaster	Шаблон:Convert northeast of Lille Шаблон:Sfn
34	5 July 1944	02:05	Halifax	vicinity of DieppeШаблон:Sfn
35	21 July 1944	01:28	Lancaster	PQ 05 Ost LN-KNШаблон:Sfn	Lancaster HK571/No. 514 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
36	21 July 1944	01:37	Lancaster	PQ 05 Ost KLШаблон:Sfn	Lancaster ND752/No. 75 Squadron RNZAFШаблон:Sfn
37	13 August 1944	00:26	Lancaster	west of Frankfurt am MainШаблон:Sfn
38	19 September 1944	22:55	Lancaster	west-southwest of MönchengladbachШаблон:Sfn
39	19 September 1944	23:02	Lancaster	west-southwest of MönchengladbachШаблон:Sfn	Lancaster PB405/No. 619 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
40	23 September 1944	23:16	Lancaster	west-southwest of MünsterШаблон:Sfn	Lancaster ME732/No. 61 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
41	4 November 1944	19:21	Halifax	west of EssenШаблон:Sfn
42	4 November 1944	19:35	Halifax	west of EssenШаблон:Sfn
43	5 January 1945	19:12	Lancaster	vicinity of HannoverШаблон:Sfn
44	5 January 1945	19:15	Lancaster	vicinity of HannoverШаблон:Sfn
45	5 January 1945	19:18	Lancaster	vicinity of HannoverШаблон:Sfn	Halifax NP817/No. 432 Squadron RCAF Шаблон:Sfn
46	5 January 1945	19:22	Halifax	vicinity of HannoverШаблон:Sfn	Halifax NZ360/No. 77 Squadron RAF Шаблон:Sfn
47	21 February 1945	23:31	Halifax	vicinity of NeussШаблон:Sfn
48	21 February 1945	23:40	Halifax	vicinity of NeussШаблон:Sfn
49	3 March 1945	21:57	Lancaster	vicinity of DortmundШаблон:Sfn
50	3 March 1945	22:08	Lancaster	vicinity of DortmundШаблон:Sfn
51	3 March 1945	22:12	Lancaster	vicinity of DortmundШаблон:Sfn

Awards

Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (26 June 1942)Шаблон:Sfn
- 1st Class (1 June 1943)Шаблон:Sfn
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- in Bronze on 1 October 1942Шаблон:Sfn
- in Silver on 4 September 1943Шаблон:Sfn
- in Gold on 15 February 1944Шаблон:Sfn
Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 28 February 1944 as Oberleutnant and pilot.Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Refn
German Cross in Gold on 29 March 1944 as Oberleutnant in the 10./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1Шаблон:Sfn
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 27 July 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 11./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Sfn
- 840th Oak Leaves on 17 April 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Sfn

Notes

Шаблон:Reflist

References

Citations

Шаблон:Reflist

Bibliography

Шаблон:Refbegin

Шаблон:Refend

Шаблон:S-start Шаблон:S-mil Шаблон:Succession box Шаблон:S-end

Шаблон:Top German World War II night fighter aces

Шаблон:Subject bar

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↑ Шаблон:Cite web

[3] Шаблон:Cite web

[Note 1]

[Note 2]

[1]

[Note 3]

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