Paul Zorner

Paul Zorner

Paul Zorner
Birth name Paul Zloch
Born 31 March 1920
Roben district of Leobschütz, Upper Silesia
Died 27 January 2014 (aged 93)
Allegiance  Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch  Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939–45, 1956–57
Rank Major
Unit NJG 2, NJG 3, NJG 5, NJG 100
Commands held 8./NJG 3, III./NJG 5, II./NJG 100
Battles/wars
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work mechanical engineering

Paul Anton Guido Zorner, born Paul Zloch (31 March 1920 – 27 January 2014),[1] was a German night fighter pilot in World War II. He was born in Roben district of Leobschütz, Upper Silesia. Zorner is credited with 59 night-time aerial victories claimed in 272 missions, including 110 night fighter missions.[Note 1]

Career

Zorner joined the Luftwaffe in October 1938. In March 1941 Zorner was posted to transport wing to fly the Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft. He flew over 160 missions in the Mediterranean area, and in August 1941 operated over the Ukraine. In October 1941 Zorner commenced training as a night fighter pilot. He was then posted to 8./ NJG 2 based at to fly the Junkers Ju 88 C night fighter. In December 1942 Zorner was posted to command 2./NJG 3 flying the Bf 110 and Do 217 night fighters. On the night of 17–18 January 1943, Zorner claimed his first victory. By March, he claimed six victories.

In August 1943 Zorner was made Staffelkapitän of 8./NJG 3 and then group commander of III./NJG 5 in April 1944. On the night of 27–28 April, Zorner claimed three Lancasters shot down attacking Friedrichshafen to take his total to 46. Zorner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in June for 48 victories. He shot down four bombers targeting railway installations in support of the Normandy invasion on the night of 10–11 June and then three Halifaxes targeting V-1 launch sites in the Pas-de-Calais on 24–25 July. Zorner was awarded the Oakleaves on 17 September for 58 victories. In October 1944 Zorner was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./NJG 100 equipped with Ju 88 night-fighters. In February 1945 II./NJG 100 was relocated to Wien-Seyring. Zorner claimed his 59th and last victory on 5–6 March 1945, a B-24 bomber near Graz.

Zorner surrendered his Gruppe to United States troops near Karlsbad on 10 May 1945. He was then handed over to Soviet Forces on 17 May. He returned to Germany after years of incarceration in December 1949. Zorner studied mechanical engineering in Stuttgart and entered the field of refrigeration engineering before he rejoined the Bundesluftwaffe in 1956. He was not passed fit to fly jet fighters and returned to civilian life in May 1957. He was employed within the chemical industry. He retired in 1981 as a chief engineer with Hoechst near Frankfurt. Zorner was credited with 59 victories recorded at night in 272 missions, of which 110 were night fighter missions.

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
  2. ↑ According to Obermaier on 31 August 1943.[4]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ http://saarbruecker-zeitung.trauer.de/Traueranzeige/Paul-Zorner
  2. 1 2 Thomas 1998, p. 477.
  3. ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 225.
  4. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 69.
  5. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 533.
  6. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 459.
  7. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 88.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. 
  • Zorner, Paul (2007). Nächte im Bomberstrom: Erinnerungen 1920–1950 [Nights in the Bomber Stream: Memories 1920–1950] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: Neunundzwanzigsechs/SVK. ISBN 978-3-9807935-9-9. 
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