Kurt Welter

Kurt Welter
Kurt Welter
Born	(1916-02-25)25 February 1916 Cologne-Lindenthal, German Empire
Died	7 March 1949(1949-03-07) (aged 33) Leck, Allied-occupied Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1934–1945
Rank	Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)
Unit	JG 301, JG 300, NJGr 10, Kdo Stamp, Kdo Welter and NJG 11
Commands	Kdo Welter, 10./NJG 11
Battles / wars	World War II Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Kurt Welter (25 February 1916 – 7 March 1949) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and the most successful Jet Expert of World War II.^{[Note 1]} A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.^[1] He claimed a total of 63 aerial victories—that is, 63 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—achieved in 93 combat missions. He recorded 56 victories at night, including 33 Mosquitos, and scored more aerial victories from a jet fighter aircraft than anyone else in World War II and possibly in aviation history.^[2] However this score is a matter of controversy; research of Royal Air Force losses suggests Welter overclaimed Mosquito victories considerably. Against this, Luftwaffe claims were very strict, requiring confirmation and proof by witnesses: The remains of aircraft shot down and crashed would be verifiable and recorded on the ground in the sector claimed.

Welter was born in Cologne-Lindenthal on 25 February 1916. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe in 1934 and was trained as a pilot. He showed a strong natural ability as a pilot and was subsequently selected for flight instructor training and served many years as a flight instructor. In 1943 Welter transferred to an operational night fighter unit flying contemporary piston engine fighter aircraft. On 18 October 1944, after 40 combat missions, Welter was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. In early 1945, Welter transferred to an experimental jet night fighter unit flying the Messerschmitt Me 262. On 11 March 1945 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves for 48 aerial victories. Welter survived the war and was killed in an accident at a railroad crossing on 7 March 1949.^[3]

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