- Wilhelm Crinius
Infobox Military Person
name=Wilhelm Crinius
lived=1 December 1920 –26 April 1997
placeofbirth=Hohenhausen inKalletal
placeofdeath=
caption=Wilhelm Crinius
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
serviceyears=
rank=Leutnant
branch=Luftwaffe
commands=
unit=JG 53
battles=World War II
*Siege of Malta (1940)
*Eastern Front
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=Wilhelm Crinius (
1 December 1920 –26 April 1997 ) is a German formerLuftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.Crinius was born in Hohenhausen,
Kalletal and on13 January 1943 Crinius engaged in aerial combat withRAF Supermarine Spitfire fighters nearEl Kala , Crinius’ aircraft was hit and he was wounded in the thigh. Breaking off combat, he headed for his base but his engine then caught fire. He ditched his damaged Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 10805) in the sea. He spent 24 hours in the water before being rescued by French sailors and Arabs. After hospitalisation for his wounds, Crinius became aprisoner of war .Wilhelm Crinius is credited with 114 victories claimed in approximately 400 combat missions. He recorded 100 victories over the Eastern front. Of his 14 victories claimed over the
Western front , one was a four-engined bomber.Awards
*
Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (23 September 1942)
** 127. Oak Leaves (23 September 1942)References
*cite web | title=Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945|work=Wilhelm Crinius|url=http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php4?modul=search_result_det&wert1=913&searchword=crinius| accessdate=6 June| accessyear=2007
*cite web | title=Aces of the Luftwaffe|work=Wilhelm Crinius|url=http://www.luftwaffe.cz/crinius.html|accessdate=6 June|accessyear=2007
*cite web | title=Lexikon der Wehrmacht|work=Wilhelm Crinius|url=http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/C/CriniusW.htm|accessdate=6 June|accessyear=2007
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
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