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Andorfer, Anton

Date of birth:
December 23rd, 1919 (Linz/Upper Austria, Austria)
Date of death:
April 11th, 1945 (Cottbus/Brandenburg, Germany)
Nationality:
Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)

Biography

Anton Andorfer was born on 23rd December 1919 in Linz as the son of a professional officer and joined the Luftwaffe on 1st Oktober 1939. After his training he was placed as Stuka-Flugzeugführer in the Winter of 1941/42 with I. / Stukageschwader 77.
He took over command of a staffel on 16th July 1943. Until March 1944, Andorfer was able to destroy 45 tanks, 50 guns, 6 Flak guns and several bridges within 726 operational sorties. Further he sank 10 freighters with a tonnage of 13.000 BRT, a destroyer and a MTB. After being trained for flying with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, he flew with 2.Staffel another 200 sorties over the Eastern Front. After being promoted to Hauptmann, commanded the 2.Staffel on 11 April 1945 in the Battle for Berlin and was shot down by Soviet Anti-Aircraft guns near Cottbus. With round the 70 tanks destroyed he is aknowledged as one of the most effective "Panzerknacker" (Tankdestroyers) with the Luftwaffe.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer
Awarded on:
November 2nd, 1942
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (Pilot Officer)
Unit:
1. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
May 17th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Staffelführer, 2.Staffel, I. Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 77, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
March 26th, 1944
Awarded after flying 726 ground attack sorties. By this time he had destroyed the following enemy materiel:

45 tanks
50 guns
6 anti-aircraft batteries
10 freighters (with 13000 GRT)
1 gun boat
Several river bridges.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources