 "Staffel" (7th squadron) of JG 2 "Richthofen", based at Saint-Pol-Brias.He claimed his 19th and 20th victory on 23 July 1941 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () on 1 August 1941 after his 21st aerial victory.He received the award with fellow JG 2 "Richthofen" pilots "Oberleutnant" Erich Leie and "Oberleutnant" Rudolf Pflanz on that day.