1. This is usually the lowest rank for pilots in the U.S. military, although there were exceptions where enlisted pilots flew, but it was rare.
2. Usually the lowest rank for a pilot in the RAF. There were exceptions.
3. This was typically the lowest rank that a German pilot in training would normally hold. Given the one year of flight training and then advanced training, the average enlisted pilot would be a feldwebel or higher, although there were a few gefreiters and obergefreiters who flew. This also applies to the RAF pilots.
| Office or Formation | Rank of Commander |
|---|---|
| Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe | Reichsmarschall (Supreme Air Force Commander) |
| Chef des Generalstabes der Luftwaffe | General der Flieger or Generaloberst (Chief of Air Staff) |
| Fliegerkorps (Air Corps) | General der Flieger or Generalleutnant |
| Fliegerdivision (Air Division) | General der Flieger, Generalleutnant or Generalmajor |
| Geschwader (Wing) | Generalmajor, Oberst, Oberstleutnant, or Major, with title of Kommandeur |
| Gruppe (Group) | Oberstleutnant, Major, or Hauptmann (in rare cases) with title of Kommandeur. |
This table is an operational matrix that was not engraved in stone. Many times, an officer with great ability but not holding the rank was placed in a command far above his pay grade. Also, combat attrition and the rapid redeployment of units and personnel issues factored into the equation as well.
This table remained more or less as stated above from 1939 to 1943, with few exceptions until 1942, when even more junior officers took higher levels of command responsibility. By 1944, this rank requirement was even lower in some cases.
Order of the Iron Cross and Knight’s Cross
The Iron Cross and its subsequent higher levels was not just a medal awarded for valor on the battlefield. It was both a valor award and also based on an award scale, progressing from the lowest to this highest order, as listed below.
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Iron Cross 1st Class
Knight’s Cross—Approximately 7,500 awarded.
Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves—Only 860 awarded.
Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords—Only 159 awarded.
Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds—Only 27 awarded, 10 to Luftwaffe pilots, 9 to fighter pilots. The one exception was Stuka pilot Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel.
Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds—Only awarded to Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel.
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross—Only awarded to Reichsmarschall Hermann Wilhelm Göring.
Appendix 3
Additional Me 262 Data