Alfred Schreiber

Who was Alfred Schreiber?

Alfred Schreiber, nicknamed "Bubi", was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace. He is noted for claiming the first aerial victory by a jet fighter in aviation history. He was born on 11 November 1923 in Keplachowitz.

On 26 July 1944, Leutnant Schreiber, a former Zerstörergeschwader 26 pilot, intercepted and attacked a Mosquito PR XVI, a photo-reconnaissance aircraft from No. 540 Squadron RAF, while flying Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 130 017. It is often referred to as the first aerial victory by a jet fighter in aviation history. Although damaged, the Mosquito, did in fact, manage to return to an Allied held airfield in Italy and the aircraft was lost in the crash landing. Schreiber would be credited with a further four aerial victories before being killed on 26 November 1944, making him one of the first jet aces in history. Schreiber was killed in a crash landing at Lechfeld flying the same Me 262 A-1a WNr. 130 017. His wheels caught the lip of a slit trench, causing his Me 262 to cartwheel.