Karl-Heinz Greisert

Who was Karl-Heinz Greisert?

Major Karl-Heinz Greisert was German World War II Luftwaffe Ace and a Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2 and recipient of the German Cross in Gold on 5 June 1942.

During the Spanish Civil War Leutnant Greisert was assigned to 2. Staffel of J 88. He claimed his first and only victory during this conflict on 30 November 1937 when he shot down a Russian made Republican flown Polikarpov I-16 fighter.

After fighting on the Western Front for two years and accumulating 22 victories over the French and British, Greisert was transferred to JG 3 on the Eastern Front in the spring of 1942. Beginning in May 1942 he continued his aerial success with victories against the Soviet Air Force. In July 1942, while involved in a low level dogfight, Greisert was shot down and killed when he attempted to bail out of his aircraft and his parachute failed to open before he struck the ground.

Greisert was credited with 34 victories. He recorded 11 victories over the Eastern front, including six Il-2 Sturmoviks. Included in his total are eleven Spitfires.