Gerhard Raht
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
Died when: 56 years 219 days (679 months)Star Sign: Gemini
Gerhard Ferdinand Otto Raht (6 June 1920 – 11 January 1977) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 58 aerial victories claimed in 171 combat missions making him the tenth most successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare.
All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Bomber Command.
Born in Reinfeld, Schleswig-Holstein, Raht grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.Following graduation from school, he joined the military service in 1939 and was trained as a pilot.
In early-1941, he transferred to Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing) where he became a night fighter pilot and claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 26/27 July 1942.
In Oktober 1943, Raht was appointed Staffelkapitän.Following his 34th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 June 1944 and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I.
Gruppe (1st group) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2—2nd Night Fighter Wing).He claimed his last five aerial victories on 15/16 March 1945 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 15 April 1945.
Raht, who later served as a Hauptmann der Reserve (captain of the reserves) in the German Air Force, died on 11 January 1977 in Reinfeld, Schleswig-Holstein.
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German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient