German
Career Summaries - Luftwaffe Officers 1935 - 1945
Section L - R
PRILLER, Josef ("Pips"). (DOB: 27.06.15 in Ingolstadt/Bayern). (RES, DKG). 1935 Fahnenjunker
with Infanterieregiment 19. 1936 trf from the Heer to the Luftwaffe. 10.36 began flight training at
Salzwedel. 01.04.37 Ofhr., RLM pool (Schul.Etat), promo to Lt.(RDA 01.04.36). 01.04.37 trf to
I./JG 135. 01.04.37 promo to Lt. 01.11.38 trf to I./JG 233 due to unit renaming. 01.05.39 Oblt., trf
to I./JG 51 due to unit renaming. 15?.07.39 trf to I./JG 71. 01.08.39 promo to Oblt., I./JG 51.
16.10.39 trf to II./JG 51 due to unit renaming. 20.10.39 appt Staka 6./JG 51 (to 19.11.40). 28.05.40
Oblt., 6./JG 51. 26.06.40 Oblt., 6./JG 51 appt Staka 6./JG 53 (acting?). 19.10.40 Oblt., awarded
Ritterkreuz, Staka 6./JG 51. 20.11.40 Oblt., appt Staka 1./JG 26 (to 05.12.41). 16.06.41 Oblt., 1./JG
26. 20.07.41 Oblt., awarded Eichenlaub, Staka 1./JG 26. 17.09.41 Hptm., 1./JG 26. 21.10.41
Hptm., 1./JG 26. 08.11.41 Hptm., 1./JG 26. 06.12.41 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./JG 26 (to 10.01.43).
20.12.41 Oblt., awarded DKG, 6./JG 51. 17.04.42 made a forced-landing due to bad weather - results
unknown. 01.01.43 promo to Maj. 11.01.43 appt Kommodore JG 26 (to 27.01.45). 20.01.43 Maj.,
Stab/JG 26. 08.03.43 Maj., Stab/JG 26. 05.04.43 Maj., Stab/JG 26. 22.06.43 Maj., Stab/JG 26.
19.08.43 Obstlt., Stab/JG 26. 21.09.43 Obstlt., Stab/JG 26. 20.10.43 Obstlt., Stab/JG 26. 30.12.43
Obstlt., appt acting Jagdfliegerführer 4 (4. Jagddiv.) (to 03.44). 01.01.44 promo to Obstlt., promo to
Kommodore JG 26 ( to 1945). 13.04.44 Maj., Stab/JG 26. 06.06.44 was one of the two fighter
pilots to oppose the D-Day landings. 02.07.44 Obstlt., awarded Schwerter, Kommodore JG 26.
15.08.44 Maj., Stab/JG 26 unhurt - Fw 190 A-8 (Black 13) crashed vic La Neuville, SE of Rouen.
12.10.44 Obstlt., Stab/JG 26. 01.01.45 promo to Oberst. 09.02.45 (28.01.45?) appt Inspekteur der
Tagjäger West *(to 08.05.45). Credited with 101 air victories in 1,307 combat missions [Obermeier
says 307 missions!]. (n.d.) post war he managed the Riegele family brewery business. †20.05.61 in
Böbing/Oberbayern of a heart attack. Buried at the Westfriedhof in Augsberg. Was an advisor for
the film The Longest Day. Author of: J.G. 26 Geschichte enies Jagdgeschwaders. [* ww2awards.com
says "28.01.45 appt Inspekteur der Jagdflieger Ost"]
- http://www.ww2.dk/Lw Offz - L-R Apr 2024.pdf
- WW2 Feldpostkarte Oberstleutnant Josef "Pips" Priller | eBayGerman