Ján Gerthofer

Ján Gerthofer (27 May 1910 – 9 August 1991) was the third-highest scoring fighter ace from Slovakia during World War II. He accumulated 26 kills.[1]

Ján Gerthofer
Born(1910-05-27)May 27, 1910
Láb
DiedAugust 9, 1991(1991-08-09) (aged 81)
Podbrezová
AllegianceSlovakia
Service/branchSlovak Air Force
Years of service1939–1944
RankNadporučík - Oberleutnant
Unit13 JG 52
AwardsWar Victory Cross
Iron Cross 1st Class

Gerthofer had joined the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1927 flying bombers. In 1939, he became a pilot in the Air Force of newly independent Slovakia. After completing training on Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft in October 1942,[2] he was appointed deputy commanding officer of 13 JG 52, the Slovak air contingent on the Eastern Front. In 175 sorties he shot down 26 Soviet aircraft.[3]

In the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944, Gerthofer joined the insurgents, but was taken prisoner on 31 August and spent the rest of the war in Stalag XVIII-A.[3]

After the war, Gerthofer served in the re–formed Czechoslovak Air Force before being discharged for political reasons in 1951.[3]

References
  1. "Gerthofer, Ján : G". Forum.valka.cz. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  2. Raijlich, Boshniakov, Mandjukov, p. 66.
  3. Raijlich, Boshniakov, Mandjukov, p. 67.

Bibliography
  • Rajlich, Jiri; Boshniakov, Stephan; Mandjukov, Petko (2004). Slovakian and Bulgarian Aces of World War 2. Osprey Aircraft of the Aces. 58. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 66–67. ISBN 1841766526.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


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