Josef Priller

Infobox Military Person
name=Josef Priller
born=birth date|1915|7|27|df=y
died=death date and age|1961|5|20|1915|7|27|df=y
placeofbirth=Ingolstadt
placeofdeath=Böbing


caption=Josef Priller
nickname="Pips"
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1935-1945
rank=Oberstleutnant
commands=JG 26
unit=JG 71, JG 51 and JG 26
battles=World War II
awards=Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
laterwork=Manager at a Brewery

Josef "Pips" Priller (27 July 1915 – 20 May 1961) was a Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. He has become famous because of the publicity regarding his Fw 190A-8's single strafing pass attack on the Normandy Beaches on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), accompanied by his wingman Heinz Wodarczyk. This act was first brought to world attention by the book, and then the film, "The Longest Day", which show this, the only known and documented daylight attack by the Luftwaffe against the Normandy landing.

Early life

Priller was born in Ingolstadt. He joined the Luftwaffe in the mid 1930s.

World War II

The outbreak of war saw Priller serving with I./JG 71 [For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization] (redesignated II./JG 51) becoming "Staffelkapitän" of 6./JG 51 soon after. He made his first victory claims in May 1940 over Dunkirk versus RAF fighters. He claimed six victories during the French campaign, and by the end of August his victory total was 15. In October Priller claimed his 20th kill, resulting in the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. In November 1940 Priller was transferred as "Staffelkapitän" to 1./JG 26.

Between 16 June and the 11 July 1941 he claimed 19 RAF aircraft. He was awarded the Eichenlaub in October 1941 for 41 victories. Now a Hauptmann, Priller became Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 26 in December 1941, with his score at 58. Five feet four inches tall, of stocky build and jovial character, Priller was a popular commander with his men, and, in spite of a reputation for talking back to his superiors, he skillfully utilised the limited resources of JG26 in North West Europe in order to inflict the maximum damage on the RAF Fighter Command fighter sweeps through the summer campaigns of 1941-43. He recorded his 70th victory in May 1942. By the end of 1942 Priller had added 11 more confirmed victories to his tally.

January 1943 Priller became "Geschwaderkommodore" of JG 26. By now the increasing US bomber offensive was putting pressure on the Jagdwaffe in the west, and JG 26's losses rose alarmingly through 1943. The night prior to the Normandy invasion, Priller and his wing-man Heinz Wodarczyk got drunk and subsequently attacked the beachhead while hung-over. They were the only Luftwaffe airmen to attack the invading forces that day-orders from higher up saw the fighter wing he commanded scattered to bases further inland, despite his vehement protests. Oberstleutnant Priller brought down his 100th claim in July 1944 (a USAAF B-24). On New Year's day 1945, he led JG 26 in the ill-fated mass attack on Allied airfields, Operation Bodenplatte (an operation that saw his long-serving wingman Wodarczyk killed). Later that month Priller was appointed to the staff job of Inspector of Day Fighters (East).

Josef Priller flew 1307 combat missions to claim 101 victories. All his victories were recorded over the Western Front, and consisted of 11 USAAF heavy bombers, 68 Spitfires (the highest Luftwaffe ace's tally for these aircraft),11 Hurricanes, 5 medium bombers, and 5 USAAF fighters.

Post war

Post-war “Pips” Priller managed a brewery business.He was one of several D-day combatants to advise on the making of the film "The Longest Day", in which he was portrayed by Heinz Reincke.

He died suddenly in 1961 from a heart attack in Böbing, Upper Bavaria.

Decorations

* Wound Badge in Black
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "300"
* Combined Pilots-Observation Badge
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 19 October 1940
* Knight's Cross With Oak leaves 20 July 1941
* German Cross in Gold 9 December 1941
* Knight's Cross With Swords 2 July 1944
* Mentioned two times in the Wehrmachtbericht

References

* Berger, Florian. "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.