Maximilian Mayerl

Maximilian Mayerl
Born28 May 1917
Aigen im Ennstal, Austria
Died11 February 2010(2010-02-11) (aged 92)
Nîmes, France
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Service years1937–1945
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 51
Conflicts
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Maximilian Mayerl (28 May 1917 – 11 February 2010) was a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross During his career Maximilian Mayerl was credited with 76 aerial victories in 600+ missions.

Early life and career

Mayerl was born on 28 May 1917 in Aigen im Ennstal, Styria, then in Austria-Hungary. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 November 1937.[1] Following flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 1] Mayerl was posted to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 20 (JG 20—20th Fighter Wing) in July 1939.[3] This was a wing in name only, being just a single Gruppe (Fighter Group) that had been set up just prior to the outbreak of war, in July 1939. His commanding officer was the Condor Legion veteran Walter Oesau.[4]

World War II

Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940, the Luftwaffe continued to fight the RAF in the Battle of Britain. On 4 July, I. Gruppe of JG 20 was officially integrated into JG 51, becoming its III. Gruppe. In consequence, Mayerl became a member of the 8. Staffel, a Staffel of III. Gruppe of JG 51. During a period of the battle of Britain referred to as Kanalkampf, Mayerl claimed his second aerial victory on 19 July, a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of Dover.[5]

Eastern Front

By 15 June, JG 51 had completed its preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union and was based at airfields at Siedlce, Stara Wieś, Halasy where III. Gruppe was based and Krzewica, close to the German–Soviet demarcation line.[6][7] The attack on the Soviet Union began at 03:45 on 22 June with JG 51 flying fighter patrols along the Bug River.[8]

On 7 August 1942, Mayerl was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 51. He succeeded Oberleutnant Gottfried Schlitzer who had died the day before from wounds sustained on 3 August.[9]

In September 1943, Mayerl fell ill and was temporarily replaced by Oberleutnant Max-Hermann Lücke. On 23 October, Lücke was severely injured in a mid-air collision, dying on 8 November. In consequence, he was succeeded by Leutnant Heinz Venth. On 8 December, Mayerl was officially replaced by Oberleutnant Günther Schack as commander of 9. Staffel.[10] Following his convalescence, Mayerl was transferred to I. Gruppe of Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2, a replacement training unit.[11]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Mayerl was credited with 76 aerial victories.[12] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 75 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This number includes 71 claims on the Eastern Front and four on the Western Front.[13]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 3766". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) 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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 20 –[15]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 8 June 1940 13:10 Blenheim Allery[16]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[15]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 26 May 1941
2 19 July 1940 13:52 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Dover[17] 4 18 August 1940 14:36 Spitfire south of London[17]
3 8 August 1940 12:55 Spitfire Dover[17]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[15]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
5 26 July 1941 18:45 Pe-2 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Dorogobuzh[18] 11 19 September 1941 10:15 Pe-2 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Konotop[19]
6 26 July 1941 18:45 Pe-2 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Dorogobuzh[18] 12 20 September 1941 07:50 I-61 (MiG-3) 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Novhorod-Siverskyi[19]
7?[Note 2] 27 July 1941 10:10 SB-2 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Yelnya[18] 13 22 September 1941 12:15 I-61 (MiG-3) 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Lebedyn[19]
8 29 July 1941 18:10 DB-3 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Yelnya[18] 14 22 September 1941 12:15 I-61 (MiG-3) 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Lebedyn[19]
9 15 September 1941 15:50 DB-3 40 km (25 mi) east of Konotop[19] 15 22 September 1941 12:35 I-61 (MiG-3) 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Lebedyn[19]
10 19 September 1941 06:22 SB-2 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Konotop[19]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[15]
Eastern Front — 5 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
16 4 February 1942 13:20 I-26 (Yak-1) 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Rzhev[20] 19 16 February 1942 12:30 I-61 (MiG-3) 22 km (14 mi) northwest of Rzhev[20]
17 10 February 1942 11:03 Pe-2 18 km (11 mi) north of Rzhev[20] 20 17 February 1942 08:10 I-61 (MiG-3) 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Rzhev[20]
18 10 February 1942 16:10 I-26 (Yak-1) 37 km (23 mi) northeast of Rzhev[20] 21 22 March 1942 09:23 I-61 (MiG-3) 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Shatalovka[21]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[13]
Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
22 19 May 1942 14:10 Pe-2 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Rzhev[22] 30 11 September 1942 12:47 LaGG-3 8 km (5.0 mi) east of Rzhev[23]
23 28 May 1942 12:35?[Note 3] Il-2 18 km (11 mi) northwest of Yukhnov[22] 31 14 September 1942 10:10 LaGG-3 18 km (11 mi) northwest of Rzhev[23]
24 2 July 1942 04:00 MiG-3 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Olenino[22] 32 15 October 1942 15:08 Il-2 7 km (4.3 mi) southeast of Bely[23]
25 5 July 1942 15:55 Pe-2 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Bely[22] 33 26 October 1942 10:25 MiG-3 45 km (28 mi) west of Bely[23]
26 13 August 1942 19:00 Il-2 25 km (16 mi) north of Zubtsov[24] 34 29 October 1942 12:00 MiG-3 48 km (30 mi) northwest of Bely[23]
27 21 August 1942 09:10 MiG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Zubtsov[24] 35 15 January 1943 12:08 R-10 (Seversky) PQ 3766, north-northwest of Rzhev[25]
28 5 September 1942 17:27 LaGG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Sychyovka[24] 36 27 January 1943 14:30 LaGG-3 PQ 5677, southeast of Temkino[25]
29 11 September 1942 12:41 LaGG-3 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Zubtsov[23]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[13]
Eastern Front — 4 February – September 1943
37 23 February 1943 10:30 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 44282, 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Zhizdra[26] 57 14 July 1943 17:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54277, 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Ulyanovo[27]
38 23 February 1943 10:37 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 44293, 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Zhizdra[26] 58 14 July 1943 17:35 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54418, 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Ulyanovo[27]
39 23 February 1943 14:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54142, 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Zhizdra[26] 59 14 July 1943 18:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54462, 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Ulyanovo[27]
40 24 February 1943 14:20 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 55763, 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Suchinitschi[26] 60 15 July 1943 18:55 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63227, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Archangelskoje[27]
41 8 March 1943 13:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63261, 12 km (7.5 mi) west-southwest of Novosil[26] 61 22 July 1943 17:40 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 54733, 12 km (7.5 mi) north-northeast of Chotynez[28]
42 9 March 1943 10:58 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 63274, 36 km (22 mi) southwest of Novosil[26] 62 22 July 1943 17:42 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 54593, 21 km (13 mi) north of Chotynez[28]
43 9 March 1943 11:03 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 63432, 27 km (17 mi) south-southwest of Novosil[26] 63 1 August 1943 14:14 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54653, 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Bolkhov[28]
44 17 March 1943 11:17 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 5365, 35 km (22 mi) south of Kromy[29] 64 2 August 1943 15:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 53467, 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Kromy[30]
45 18 March 1943 08:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 5353, 36 km (22 mi) southwest of Kromy[29] 65 4 August 1943 06:02 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63146, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Oryol[30]
46 18 March 1943 08:25 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 5347, 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kromy[29] 66 4 August 1943 15:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63142, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Oryol[30]
47 6 July 1943 08:58 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 53663, 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Trosna[31] 67 9 August 1943 14:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 45385, 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Spas-Demensk[32]
48 6 July 1943 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63363, 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Simjewka[33] 68 9 August 1943 14:52 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 45385, 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Spas-Demensk[32]
49 6 July 1943 17:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63531, 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Maloarkhangelsk[33] 69 10 August 1943 13:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 45388, 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Spas-Demensk[32]
50 6 July 1943 19:35 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63563, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk[33] 70 10 August 1943 15:40 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 35486, 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Spas-Demensk[32]
51 8 July 1943 08:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63561, 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Maloarkhangelsk[33] 71 10 August 1943 15:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35495, 17 km (11 mi) north-northwest of Spas-Demensk[32]
52 8 July 1943 08:32 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63532, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Ponyri[33] 72 12 August 1943 09:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35493, 17 km (11 mi) north of Spas-Demensk[32]
53 9 July 1943 17:21 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63551, 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Ponyri[33] 73 12 August 1943 12:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35453, 30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Spas-Demensk[32]
54 12 July 1943 19:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54417, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Ulyanovo[27] 74 23 August 1943 13:55 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 43219, 32 km (20 mi) southwest of Karachev[34]
55 12 July 1943 19:43 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 54442, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Ulyanovo[27] 75 27 August 1943 09:10 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 43765, 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of Sevsk[35]
56 12 July 1943 20:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54418, 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Ulyanovo[27] 76 27 August 1943 09:13 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 43812, 9 km (5.6 mi) northeast of Sevsk[35]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim was unconfirmed.[15]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:33.[15]
  4. ^ a b c The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  5. ^ According to Obermaier on 29 June 1942.[3]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 54.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 166.
  4. ^ Weal 2006, p. 15.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2002, pp. 73, 83.
  6. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 85.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 294.
  8. ^ Aders & Held 1993, pp. 86–87.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 316, 327, 336.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 56, 77.
  11. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 250.
  12. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1615.
  13. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 825–826.
  14. ^ Planquadrat.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 825.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 188.
  17. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002, p. 83.
  18. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 305.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2003, p. 308.
  20. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2005, p. 107.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 108.
  22. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 330.
  23. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 333.
  24. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 332.
  25. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 334.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 60.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 65.
  28. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 66.
  29. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 61.
  30. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 67.
  31. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 63.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 68.
  33. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 64.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 69.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 70.
  36. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 55.
  37. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 300.
  38. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 305.
  39. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 532.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski—A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6 December 1941 bis 30 April 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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