{{Short description|German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient (1916–2003)}} {{Infobox military person | name = Herbert Kaiser | birth_date = 16 March 1916 | death_date = {{death date and age|2003|12|5|1916|3|16|df=y}} | image = | caption = | birth_name = Herbert Höhne | birth_place = Jessen, German Empire | death_place = Felde, Germany | nickname = | allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}} (to 1945)<br/>{{flag|West Germany}} | branch = {{air force|Nazi Germany}}<br />{{air force|West Germany}} | service_years = | rank = ''Leutnant'' (Wehrmacht)<br />''Oberstleutnant'' (Bundeswehr) | unit = JG 77, JG 1, JV 44 | commands = | battles = World War II *Annexation of the Sudetenland *Battle of the Netherlands *Battle of Belgium *Battle of France *Balkans Campaign *Battle of Crete *Operation Barbarossa *North African Campaign *Italian Campaign *Defense of the Reich | awards = Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross | other_work = }}
'''Herbert Kaiser''' (16 March 1916 – 5 December 2003) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was captured by American troops in May 1945. During his career, he flew 1,200 missions and is credited with 68 aerial victories.
==Early life and career== Kaiser was born on 16 March 1916 in Jessen in the Province of Saxony within the German Empire.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=142}} Until 1942, his last name was Höhne, he then changed it to Kaiser.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=362}}
In mid 1938, Kaiser was posted to I. ''Gruppe'' (1st group) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 136 (JG 136—136th Fighter Wing). On 1 November, elements of I./136 formed the new II. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdggruppe'' 186 (II./186—186th Fighter Group), to which Kaiser was posted.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=48}} This group, also known as the ''Trägerjagdgruppe'' (Carrier Fighter Group), was destined to be stationed on the aircraft carrier ''{{ship|German aircraft carrier|Graf Zeppelin||2}}'' which was never completed. II./186 (T) initially consisted of two squadrons, 4./186 (T) equipped with the Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber,{{refn|The suffix 'T' denotes ''Träger'' (carrier) in German use.|group="Note"}} and 6./186 (T).{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=48}} On 15 July 1939, II./186 (T) was augmented by a third squadron, designated 5./186 (T) to which Kaiser was assigned.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=51}}
==World War II== World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. In preparation, 5./186 (T) had been moved to Brüsterort, near Königsberg on 22 August.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=65}} In the early morning hours of 1 September, 5./186 (T) flew its first combat missions, providing fighter protection for 4./186 (T) attacking the naval base of the Polish Navy at Hel and for the old German battleship ''Schleswig-Holstein'' bombarding the Polish military transit depot at Westerplatte in the Free City of Danzig on the Baltic Sea.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=73}} The next, II./186 (T) flew further bomber escort missions and was withdrawn from this theater on 6 September, relocating to Hage, East Frisia.{{sfn|Prien|1992|pp=75, 81}}
On 10 May 1940, the opening day of the Battle of France, Kaiser claimed two Dutch Fokker D.XXI fighters shot down.{{sfn|Weal|1996|pp=45–46}} In support of Operation Weserübung, the Germany assault on Denmark and Norway, II./186 (T) was ordered to relocate to Norway on 2 June. There it augmented II. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) and was based at Trondheim.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=226}}
Following the decision by Adolf Hitler to halt work on the aircraft carrier ''Graf Zeppelin'',{{sfn|Whitley|1985|p=30}} II./186 (T) was redesignated and became the III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=242}} In consequence, Kaiser's ''Staffel'' 5./186 (T) became the 8. ''Staffel'' of JG 77 which was headed by ''Oberleutnant'' Lorenz Weber.{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2376}} A week later, III. ''Gruppe'' was withdrawn from this theater of operations and relocated to Döberitz where it was tasked with fighter protection of Berlin.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=246}} In November, JG 77 was ordered to the English Channel to continue fighting the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the aftermath of the Battle of Britain.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=437}} 8. ''Staffel'' moved to an airfield at Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on 30 November.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=446}}
In preparation for Operation Marita, the German invasion of Greece, III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77 was moved to Deta in western Romania on 4 April 1941.{{sfn|Prien|1992|pp=482–483, 487}} On 16 April, III. ''Gruppe'' had relocated to an airfield at Korinos, three days later the ''Gruppe'' moved to Larissa, reaching Almyros further south on 22 April.{{sfn|Prien|1992|pp=522, 527, 536}} The following day, eight Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters from III. ''Gruppe'' escorted Dornier Do 17 bombers from ''Kampfgeschwader'' 2 (KG 2—2nd Bomber Wing) to Argos. On this mission, Kaiser claimed a Westland Lysander aircraft shot down.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=539}}
===Eastern Front=== In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, III. ''Gruppe'' was moved to Bucharest and was located in the sector of ''Heeresgruppe Süd'' (Army Group South). III. ''Gruppe'' arrived in Bucharest on 16 June.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=628}} Four days later, III. ''Gruppe'' moved to Roman.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=630}} That evening, the pilots and ground crews were briefed of the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union, which opened the Eastern Front.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=632}}
In November 1941, ''Oberst'' Werner Mölders, the ''General der Jagdflieger'', personally directed fighter and dive bomber operations on the Crimea. On 9 November 1941, Mölders took Kaiser on a "teaching" mission against a formation of Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, showing Kaiser how to shoot them down.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=851}}
Kaiser later recalled: "He positioned himself off to one side of-and some distance away from-the last Il-2 in a formation of six. He then turned in quickly and opened fire at the enemy's cockpit from an angle of some 30 degrees. The Il-2 immediately burst into flames and crashed. 'Do you see how it's done?', ''Oberst'' Mölders' voice came over the R/T. 'Right, now you take the next one.' I carried out the same maneuver and, sure enough, the next Il-2 went down on fire. 'And again!' It was like being on a training flight. Another short burst and the third Il-2 was ablaze. The whole lesson had lasted no more than 12 minutes!"{{sfn|Weal|2001|p=29}} In this way, Kaiser scored his 23rd and 24th kills. But because Mölders was officially banned from operational flying, the first Soviet aircraft was never officially credited to him.{{sfn|Weal|2001|p=29}}{{sfn|Prien|1993|pp=851–852}}
===Mediterranean Theater=== On 23 October 1942, the British Eighth Army launched the Second Battle of El Alamein. Preceding this attack, the Luftwaffe had already planned to replace ''Jagdgeschwader'' 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing), which had been fighting in North African theater, with JG 77.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1293}} In preparation for this rotation, III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77 was moved to Munich on 19 October where it was equipped with the Bf 109 G-2/trop. On 23 and 24 October, the ''Gruppe'' moved to Bari in southern Italy.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1296}} The ''Gruppe'' then relocated to Tobruk Airfield on 26 October.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1298}} The following day, the ''Gruppe'' moved to an airfield at Tanyet-Harun.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1301}}
On 27 October, Kaiser attacked six Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters strafing vehicles on the Via Balbia. Attacking the rearmost P-40, he claimed it shot down. While attacking a second P-40, his Bf 109 G-2 (''Werknummer'' 10640—factory number) was hit in the engine and oil cooler, resulting in a forced landing near Mersa Matruh, in a location approximately {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} south of the Via Balbia.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2004|p=333}} His wingman, observed the crash and reported him killed in action. Two days later, Kaiser returned to JG 77 on foot. Consequently, Kaiser was credited with JG 77's first two aerial victories over North Africa.{{sfn|Shores|Massimello|Guest|2012|pp=407–408}} On 31 October, Kaiser claimed another P-40 shot down, and yet another on 3 November.{{sfn|Shores|Massimello|Guest|2012|pp=415–417, 423–429}} The following day at 07:10, he claimed a Hawker Hurricane fighter destroyed.{{sfn|Shores|Massimello|Guest|2012|pp=429–432}}
On 8 January 1943, Kaiser claimed a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter shot down. The authors Shores, Massimello and Guest speculate if the claim relates to the previous day combat. On 7 January, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Twelfth Air Force attacked Tripoli with a formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers escorted by P-38 fighters of the 94th Fighter Squadron. The USAAF formation was intercepted by III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77. During this encounter, the P-38 piloted by Lieutenant J.G.H. Lentz was shot down. Kaiser and ''Oberleutnant'' Arno Potzel were the only German pilots to have claimed a P-38 shot down.{{sfn|Shores|Massimello|Guest|2012|pp=487–489}} In late January, Kaiser was transferred to ''Ergänzungsgruppe Süd'' (Supplementary Fighter Group South) as an instructor.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=142}} His assignment was made due to medical reasons. The constant strain from combat necessitated a period of rest. The Luftwaffe doctor had grounded him as unfit for combat operations and had him flown on a Heinkel He 111 to the airbase Bordeaux-Mérignac at the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux in France where ''Ergänzungsgruppe Süd'' was based.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1427}} Here, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) on 14 March 1943. The presentation was made by ''Oberstleutnant'' Alfed Müller, the commander of ''Ergänzungsgruppe Süd''.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=9}}
Kaiser's tour as an instructor ended on 5 September 1943 when he was transferred to I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77 where he was assigned to 3. ''Staffel''. At the time, the ''Gruppe'' was defending the airspace over southern Italy.{{sfn|Prien|1994|pp=1727–1728}} Based at San Severo, the ''Staffel'' was commanded by ''Leutnant'' Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2011|pp=380–381}} On 22 November, Kaiser who was then flying with the ''Gruppenstab'' of I. ''Gruppe'', claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down near Subiaco.{{sfn|Shores|Massimello|Guest|Olynyk|2018|p=443}}
===Defense of the Reich=== thumb|right|upright=0.6|III./JG 1 emblem In early April 1944, Kaiser was posted to III. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 1 (JG 1–1st Fighter Wing) which was based at an airfield near Paderborn.{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|pp=826–827}} According to the authors Prien and Rodeike, this transfer was considered a disciplinary action, a measure for redemption in combat. The authors state, that particularly ''Oberstleutnant'' Johannes Steinhoff, the commander of JG 77 at the time, had a number of pilots transferred for redemption in defense of the Reich combat, this measure included pilots Kaiser, '' Major'' Heinrich Bär, ''Hauptmann'' Lutz-Wilhelm Burckhardt, ''Leutnant'' Reinert, and ''Oberfeldwebel'' Alexander Preinfalk.{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1994|p=570}} On 11 April, the USAAF Eighth Air Force sent 917 heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry in Oschersleben, Bernburg, Halberstadt, Sorau, present-day Żary, Poland, Cottbus and Arnimswalde, present-day Załom, Poland. This attack force was escorted by a strong fighter defense. III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 1 engaged the escort fighters north of Magdeburg. During this encounter, Kaiser claimed two Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters shot down, his first claims with JG 1.{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|pp=851–854}} On 22 April, the USAAF Eighth Air Force sent 803 heavy bombers against German ground transportation, primarily targeting the marshaling yard in Hamm. JG 1 was scrambled at 17:45 and vectored to a point of intercept over the Rothaar Mountains where III. ''Gruppe'' ran into a large formation of North American P-51 Mustang fighters. For the loss of twelve of their own, III. ''Gruppe'' pilots claimed four P-51 fighters shot down, including one by Kaiser.{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|pp=878–879}}
On 6 August 1944, Kaiser was severely wounded during aerial combat with Spitfire fighters north of Paris. Forced to bail out of his Bf 109 G-6 (''Werknummer'' 413577—factory number), his injuries kept him grounded for many months.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|2018|p=145}} During the escape from his burning aircraft, he collided with the rudder, breaking his right thigh in multiple places. Following hospitalization in France and Germany, he sent to Bad Wiessee.{{sfn|Forsyth|2008|p=51}}
Following the dismissal of ''Generalleutnant'' Adolf Galland as ''General der Jagdflieger'', Galland was given the opportunity by Hitler to prove his ideas about the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. He had hoped that the Me 262 would compensate for the numerical superiority of the Allies. In consequence, Galland formed ''Jagdverband'' 44 (JV 44—44th Fighter Detachment) at Brandenburg-Briest on 24 February 1945. Galland was also given a carte blanche with respect to staffing and began recruiting his pilots.{{sfn|Braatz|2010|p=159}} Kaiser joined this elite unit but his injuries prevented him from flying. Consequently, Kaiser was tasked with directing JV 44's ground operations.{{sfn|Forsyth|2008|p=51}}
==Later life== Following World War II, Kaiser reentered military service in the ''Bundeswehr'' as an ''Oberstleutnant'' in the West German Air Force, at the time referred to as the ''Bundesluftwaffe''.{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=429}} Kaiser died on 5 December 2003 at the age of {{age|1916|3|16|2003|12|5}} in Felde, Germany.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=11}}
==Summary of career==
===Aerial victory claims=== According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Kaiser was credited with 68 aerial victories.{{sfn|Zabecki|2014|p=1616}} Spick also lists him with 68 aerial victories, 42 of which on the Eastern Front, claimed in approximately 1,000 combat missions.{{sfn|Spick|1996|p=239}} Obermaier also lists him with 68 aerial victories, however claimed in approximately 1,200 combat missions.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=142}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the German Federal Archives and state that Kaiser was credited with more than 50 aerial victory claims, including 39 claims on the Eastern Front and at least eleven claims over the Western Allies.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=603–604}}
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = ''Planquadrat''), for example "PQ 3716". The Luftwaffe grid map ({{lang|de|Jägermeldenetz}}) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about {{Convert|360|sqmi|sqkm}}. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area {{Convert|3|x|4|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}} in size.{{sfn|''Planquadrat''}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; text-align:right; width: 100%;" |- ! colspan="10" | Chronicle of aerial victories |- | colspan="10" style="text-align: left;" | {{legend|#faecc8|This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |- !scope="col"| Claim !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Time !scope="col" width="100px"| Type !scope="col"| Location !scope="col" style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | Claim !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Time !scope="col" width="100px"| Type !scope="col"| Location |- ! colspan="10" | – 5. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdggruppe'' 186 (''Trägergruppe'') –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}<br /><small>"Phoney War" — 6 September 1939 – 9 May 1940</small> |- | 1 | 5 May 1940 | 17:30 | Blenheim{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2379}} | {{Convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Terschelling{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001a|p=491}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – 5. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdggruppe'' 186 (''Trägergruppe'') –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}<br /><small>Battle of France — 10 May – 1 June 1940</small> |- | 2 | 10 May 1940 | 06:50 | D.XXI{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2380}} | De Kooy{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|p=396}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed Mathews and Foreman,{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}} nor in the 2001 book by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|p=396}}|group="Note"}} | 10 May 1940 | {{center|—}} | D.XXI{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2380}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}<br /><small>Balkans and Crete — 1 April – 1 June 1941</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed Mathews and Foreman,{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}} nor in the 2003 book by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003a|p=293}}|group="Note"}} | 23 April 1941 | {{center|—}} | Lysander{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2385}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 3 | 16 May 1941 | 16:47 | Hurricane{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2385}} | {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Chania{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003a|p=293}} |- ! colspan="10" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}<br /><small>Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941</small> |- | 4 | 22 June 1941 | 19:02 | style="background:#faecc8" | ZKB-19{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=362}}?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin DB-3.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}|group="Note"|name="DB-3"}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 15 | 29 August 1941 | style="background:#faecc8" | 07:12?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:12 as a Polikarpov R-5.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}|group="Note"|name="07:12 R-Z"}} | style="background:#faecc8" | R-Z{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}}?<ref group="Note" name="07:12 R-Z"/> | |- | 5 | 1 July 1941 | 17:54 | I-15{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=363}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 16 | 1 September 1941 | 10:51 | DB-3 | PQ 3716{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=369}} |- | 6 | 4 July 1941 | 16:05 | Pe-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=363}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 17 | 1 September 1941 | 17:40 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=369}} | |- | 7 | 5 July 1941 | 17:58 | style="background:#faecc8" | ZKB-19{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=363}}?<ref group="Note" name="DB-3"/> | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 18 | 1 September 1941 | 17:41 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=369}} | |- | 8 | 10 July 1941 | style="background:#faecc8" | 11:28?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:48.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}|group="Note"}} | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=364}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 19 | 19 October 1941 | style="background:#faecc8" | 16:12?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:13.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}|group="Note"}} | I-15{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=373}} | |- | 9 | 10 July 1941 | 17:45 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=364}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 20 | 4 November 1941 | 16:10 | I-153{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=374}} | |- | 10 | 10 July 1941 | 17:47 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=364}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 21 | 4 November 1941 | 16:20 | Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=374}} | |- | 11 | 10 July 1941 | 17:48 | I-16 | PQ 972{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=364}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | 22?{{Refn|This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}|group="Note"|name="not listed"}} | 5 November 1941 | {{center|—}} | I-15{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=374}} | |- | 12 | 22 August 1941 | 10:35 | I-15{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | 23?<ref group="Note" name="not listed"/> | 9 November 1941 | {{center|—}} | Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=374}} | |- | 13 | 28 August 1941 | 15:23 | style="background:#faecc8" | R-Z{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}}?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov R-5.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}|group="Note"|name="R-Z"}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | 24?<ref group="Note" name="not listed"/> | 9 November 1941 | {{center|—}} | Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=374}} | |- | 14 | 29 August 1941 | 07:00 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 25 | 3 December 1941 | 09:50 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=374}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}<br /><small>Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 20 March 1942</small> |- | 26 | 31 December 1941 | 12:10 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=322}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 29 | 15 January 1942 | 10:57 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=323}} | |- | 27 | 31 December 1941 | 12:12 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=322}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 30 | 22 February 1942 | 12:35 | I-15{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=323}} | |- | 28 | 5 January 1942 | 11:57 | style="background:#faecc8" | I-153{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=323}}?<ref group="Note" name="DB-3"/> | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 31 | 23 February 1942 | 11:00 | MIG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=323}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}}<br /><small>Eastern Front — 1 May – June 1942</small> |- | | 12 May 1942 | 07:07 | Su-2 (Seversky){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=351}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 7 June 1942 | 12:52 | Il-2 | PQ 35444{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=352}} |- | | 12 May 1942 | 07:09 | style="background:#faecc8" | R-Z{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=351}}?<ref group="Note" name="R-Z"/> | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 7 June 1942 | 12:53 | Il-2 | PQ 35444{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=352}} |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is listed Mathews and Foreman,{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}} and by Prien in his 1995 book.{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2406}} However, it is not listed in the 2006 book by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=352}}|group="Note"}} | 17 May 1942 | 08:00 | MiG-3 | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed Mathews and Foreman,{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}} nor is not listed in the 2006 book by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=352}}|group="Note"|name="Prien 2006"}} | 8 June 1942 | {{center|—}} | unknown{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2408}} | |- | | 18 May 1942 | 16:55 | U-2 | PQ 6083{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=352}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="Prien 2006"/> | 10 June 1942 | {{center|—}} | unknown{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2408}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – 9. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=603–604}}<br /><small>Eastern Front — July – 16 October 1942</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="Prien 2006"/> | 4 July 1942 | {{center|—}} | unknown{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2408}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 22 July 1942 | 10:00 | Yak-1{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=353}} | |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed Mathews and Foreman,{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=603}} nor is not listed in the 1995 book by Prien.{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2410}}|group="Note"}} | 5 July 1942 | 17:17 | Il-2 | Kerch{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=352}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 22 July 1942 | 10:08 | Yak-1{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=353}} | |- | | 10 July 1942 | 09:40 | Yak-1 | Novorossiysk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=353}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 23 July 1942 | 04:50 | I-153{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=353}} | |- | | 15 July 1942 | 08:34 | Yak-1{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=353}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 23 July 1942 | 09:05 | U-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=353}} | |- | colspan="10" style="text-align: center" | According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Kaiser claimed two additional undocumented aerial victories in the timeframe May to October 1942.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=354}} |- | | 24 July 1942 | 07:40 | Yak-1{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=353}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=604}}<br /><small>Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 26 October 1942 – January 1943</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=604}}|group="Note"|name="not listed MF"}} | 27 October 1942 | {{center|—}} | P-40{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2422}} | Via Balbia{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2004|p=331}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 3 November 1942 | style="background:#faecc8" | 14:00?{{Refn|According to the 1995 book by Prien claimed at 14:00.{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2422}}|group="Note"}} | P-40 | PQ 81122{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2004|p=331}} |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="not listed MF"/> | 27 October 1942 | {{center|—}} | P-40{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2422}} | {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Via Balbia{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2004|p=331}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 4 November 1942 | 07:10 | Hurricane | PQ 81143{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2004|p=331}} |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed in the 1995 book by Prien.{{sfn|Prien|1995|pp=2422, 2432}}|group="Note"|name="not listed 1995"}} | 31 October 1942 | 13:05 | P-40 | PQ 62631{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2004|p=331}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | 8 January 1943 | {{center|—}} | P-38{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2011|p=533}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – 3. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=604}}<br /><small>Mediterranean Theater, Italy — 5 September – 31 December 1943</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed Mathews and Foreman,{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=604}} nor is not listed in the 2011 book by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2011|p=387}}|group="Note"|name="Prien 2011"}} | 13 November 1943 | {{center|—}} | Spitfire{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2432}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="Prien 2011"/> | 27 November 1943 | {{center|—}} | B-17{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2432}} | |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="not listed 1995"/> | 22 November 1943 | 11:05 | Spitfire | PQ 14 Ost 3211, vicinity of Subiaco{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2011|p=387}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="Prien 2011"/> | 27 November 1943 | {{center|—}} | B-17{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2432}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – 7. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 1 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=604}}<br /><small>Defense of the Reich — April – 5 June 1944</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed Mathews and Foreman,{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=604}} nor is not listed in the 2018 book by Prien, Stemmer and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|2018|pp=135–136}}|group="Note"|name="Prien 2018"}} | 11 April 1944 | {{center|—}} | P-47{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=1206}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="Prien 2018"/> | 24 April 1944 | {{center|—}} | P-47{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=1207}} | |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="Prien 2018"/> | 11 April 1944 | {{center|—}} | P-47{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=1206}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;"| | 13 May 1944 | 13:30 | P-47 | PQ 15 Ost S/UA-7,{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|2018|p=135}} vicinity of Neumünster{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=1207}} |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="Prien 2018"/> | 22 April 1944 | {{center|—}} | P-51{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=1207}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – 7. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 1 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=604}}<br /><small>Invasion of France — 6 June – 6 August 1944</small> |- | | 12 July 1944 | 19:05 | Spitfire | PQ 15 West TU{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|2018|p=135}}<br />PQ 95 Ost S/UU-7, vicinity of Caen{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=1212}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?<ref group="Note" name="Prien 2018"/> | 30 July 1944 | {{center|—}} | P-47 | |- | | 13 July 1944 | 18:18 | Typhoon | PQ 15 West TU-9{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|2018|p=135}}<br />PQ 95 Ost S/UU-9, vicinity of Caen{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=1212}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |}
===Awards=== * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=10}} * Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (9 August 1941){{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=142}} * German Cross in Gold on 30 March 1942 as ''Leutnant'' in the 8./''Jagdgeschwader'' 77{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=217}} * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943 as ''Oberfeldwebel'' and pilot in the 8./''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 (later ''Jagdgeschwader'' 1){{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=249}}{{refn|According to Scherzer as pilot in the 9./''Jagdgeschwader 77''.{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=429}}|group="Note"}}
==Notes== {{Reflist|group="Note"}}
==References==
===Citations=== {{Reflist|25em}}
===Bibliography=== {{Refbegin|30em}} * {{Cite web |last=Bergström |first=Christer |author-link=:sv:Christer Bergström |work=Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat |title=Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website |url=http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm |access-date=12 November 2024 |ref={{sfnRef|''Planquadrat''}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222042030/http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm |archive-date=22 December 2018 |url-status=dead }} * {{Cite book |last=Braatz |first=Kurt |author-link=:de:Kurt Braatz |year=2010 |title=Walter Krupinski - Jagdflieger, Geheimagent, General |trans-title=Walter Krupinski - Fighter Pilot, Spy, General |language=de |location=Moosburg, Germany |publisher=NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag |isbn=978-3-9811615-5-7 }} * {{Cite book |last=Dixon |first=Jeremy |year=2023 |title=Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945 |location=Barnsley |publisher=Pen and Sword Books |isbn=978-1-39903-073-1 }} * {{Cite book |last=Fellgiebel |first=Walther-Peer |author-link=:de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel |year=2000 |orig-date=1986 |title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile |trans-title=The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches |language=de |location=Friedberg, Germany |publisher=Podzun-Pallas |isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6 }} * {{Cite book |last=Forsyth |first=Robert |year=2008 |title=Jagdverband 44 Squadron of Experten |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y1ibCwAAQBAJ |access-date=27 November 2017 |series=Aviation Elite Units |volume=27 |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-84603-294-3 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Mathews |first1=Andrew Johannes |last2=Foreman |first2=John |year=2015 |title=Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L |location=Walton on Thames |publisher=Red Kite |isbn=978-1-906592-19-6 }} * {{Cite book |last=Obermaier |first=Ernst |year=1989 |title=Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 |trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945 |language=de |location=Mainz, Germany |publisher=Verlag Dieter Hoffmann |isbn=978-3-87341-065-7 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Patzwall |first1=Klaus D. |last2=Scherzer |first2=Veit |year=2001 |title=Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II |trans-title=The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 |language=de |location=Norderstedt, Germany |publisher=Verlag Klaus D. 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Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-68-7 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2003b |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-70-0 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2004 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-74-8 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2005 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-76-2 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2006 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-78-6 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2011 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1 bis 31.12.1943 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-942943-00-0 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Bock |first3=Winfried |year=2018 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/IV—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/IV—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-942943-19-2 }} * {{Cite book |last=Scherzer |first=Veit |year=2007 |title=Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives |trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives |language=de |location=Jena, Germany |publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag |isbn=978-3-938845-17-2 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Shores |first1=Christopher F. |last2=Massimello |first2=Giovanni |last3=Guest |first3=Russell |year=2012 |title=A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945, Volume Two: North African Desert, February 1942 – March 1943 |location=London, UK |publisher=Grub Street |isbn=978-1-909166-12-7 }} * {{cite book |last1=Shores |first1=Christopher |last2=Massimello |first2=Giovanni |last3=Guest |first3=Russell |last4=Olynyk |first4=Frank |last5=Bock |first5=Winfried |last6=Thomas |first6=Andy |title=A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945, Volume Four: Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome, 14 May 1943 – 5 June 1944 |year=2018 |publisher=Grub Street |location=London |isbn=978-1-911621-10-2 }} * {{Cite book |last=Spick |first=Mike |year=1996 |title=Luftwaffe Fighter Aces |location=New York |publisher=Ivy Books |isbn=978-0-8041-1696-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/luftwaffefighter00mike }} * {{Cite book |last=Weal |first=John |year=1996 |title=Bf 109D/E Aces 1939–41 |series=Aircraft of the Aces |volume=11 |location=London, UK |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-85532-487-9 }} * {{Cite book |last=Weal |first=John |year=2001 |title=Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front |series=Aircraft of the Aces |volume=37 |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-84176-084-1 }} * {{Cite book |last=Whitley |first=M.J. |title=Warship 33: Graf Zeppelin, Part 2 |location=Annapolis |publisher=United States Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |volume=IX |isbn=978-0-87021-984-9 }} * {{Cite book |editor-last=Zabecki |editor-first=David T. |editor-link=David T. Zabecki |title=Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History |location=Santa Barbara, California |publisher=ABC-Clio |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-59884-981-3 }} {{Refend}}
{{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 77}} {{Subject bar | portal1=Aviation | portal2=Biography }} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaiser, Herbert}} Category:1916 births Category:2003 deaths Category:Military personnel from the Province of Saxony Category:People from Jessen (Elster) Category:Luftwaffe pilots Category:German World War II flying aces Category:Recipients of the Gold German Cross Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Category:German Air Force personnel Category:German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States Category:Military personnel from Saxony-Anhalt