Georg-Peter Eder

Georg-Peter "Schorsch" Eder (8 March 1921 – 11 March 1986) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 78 aerial victories achieved in 572 combat missions, including 150 combat missions with the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. This figure includes 10 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further 68 victories over the Western Allies, including 36 four-engined bombers. Born in Oberdachstetten, Eder grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1939. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in late 1940. Flying with this wing, Eder claimed his first aerial victory on 22 June 1941, the first day of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Following a ground accident in August 1941, he was assigned to a fighter pilot. In November 1942, Eder was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) fighting on the Western Front. He was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 12. Staffel (12th squadron) of JG 26 in September 1941 and in February 1943. In November 1943, he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) where he was given command of 6. Staffel, a position he held briefly until he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 2 on 11 November. On 24 June 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. In October, Eder was transferred to Kommando Nowotny, a Me 262 jet fighter unit tasked with testing its operational readiness. Following further aerial victories, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 25 November 1944. He ended the war flying with Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing), the first operational...