Josef Kraft (8 February 1921 – 16 October 1994) was a German military aviator in the Luftwaffe during World War II and an officer in the postwar German Air Force. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 56 aerial victories claimed in 129 combat missions, making him the thirteenth, a shared distinction, most successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare.[1] All of his victories were claimed in Defense of the Reich missions, the majority against the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Bomber Command and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on the Western Front and four against the Soviet Air Forces on the Eastern Front.
Born in Vienna, Kraft grew up in the First Austrian Republic, the Federal State of Austria and Nazi Germany. Following graduation from school, he joined the military service in 1940, initially serving with an anti-aircraft artillery he was later trained as a pilot. In 1942, he was posted to Nachtjagdgeschwader 4 (NJG 4—4th Night Fighter Wing) and to Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5—5th Night Fighter Wing) in 1943. Kraft claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 27/28 August 1943. In May 1944, his Gruppe was subordinated to Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 (NJG 6—6th Night Fighter Wing) based in Hungary. Following his 44th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944, shortly after, he was appointed squadron leader of 7. Staffel (7th squadron) of NJG 6. Kraft claimed his last aerial victories on 22/23 March 1945 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves 17 April.
Following the rearmament of the Federal Republic of Germany, Kraft joined the German Air Force in July 1956. He died on 16 October 1994 in Fürstenfeldbruck.
JosefKraft (8 February 1921 – 16 October 1994) was a German military aviator in the Luftwaffe during World War II and an officer in the postwar German...
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Kraft also acted in the TV series Ein Fall für Männdli episode Die Verrückte. She gained fame for the portrayal of the title heroine in Franz Josef Gottlieb's...
Gerhard Raht (58) Wilhelm Herget (57) Kurt Welter (56) Gustav Francsi (56) JosefKraft (56) Heinz Strüning (56) Hans-Dieter Frank (55) Heinz Vinke (54) August...
Defense of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Defense of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Knight's Cross KIA 14 December 1942 JosefKraft 56/51 NJG 4, NJG 5, NJG 6, NJG 1 Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves Josef Krahforst* 11 NJG 4 KIA 27/28 September...
fighter pilots pursued RAF bombers into Swiss airspace that night and both JosefKraft and Gerhard Friedrich both filed claims, but returned to base. Johnen...
Josef Jennewein 86/83 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross MIA 27 July 1942 JosefKraft 56 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld...
Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
claimed two; Hauptmann (Captain) Hermann Greiner claimed three; Hauptmann JosefKraft claimed two, while Major Martin Drewes claimed one. No. 4 Group attacked...
Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
NS Gemeinschaft Kraft durch Freude (German for 'Strength Through Joy'; KdF) was a German NSDAP-operated leisure organization in Nazi Germany. It was part...
at 01:45 near Geyspers. By mid-1940 by Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber...
Global Information
Nazi Germany (1940–45)
West Germany (1956–80)