Date of birth:

August 5th, 1919 (Bismarckhütte/Silesia, Germany)

Date of death:

May 20th, 2011 (Essen/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Erich Taeger was born on August 5th 1919 in Bismarckhütte Kreis Beuthen/Opplen/Schlesien and exchanged the quietness of his hometown for the busy Potsdam where he finished his school. After his military service, he volunteered for the Luftwaffe. After being trained at the Kriegsschule and his pilot course to Flugzeugführer, the promoted to Leutnant Taeger came to France with the Kampfgeschwader "Hindenburg" 1in 1940.

As Staffeloffizier of the 7.Staffel within the III.Gruppe he flew against targets in England. Soon it became obvious that he was a successful pilot and he earned the EK II Class. During his entire career he stayed very successful as a bomber pilot, as proven by the large amount of decorations he received. After England, followed the war on the Eastern Front. During his many attacks he and his crew managed to destroy many enemy targets. On April 20th 1942 after 166 flights, he received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold after which he was promoted to Staffelkapitän of the 7.Staffel Kampfgeschwader "Hindenburg" 1. Until his recommendation for the Knights Cross he flew 329 missions of which 278 on the Eastern Front.
Promoted Oberleutnant, he was appointed to tot Technischen Offizier der III Gruppe des KG 1 "Hindenburg", in the summer of 1942.
From October 1st 1944 until April 16th 1945 he was appointed to the Luftkriegsakademie Berlin-Gatow and after that he worked with the I.Gruppe des Lehrgeschwader 1 until the end of the war.

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• Photo 1: Known to STIWOT
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