Search Tips  •   Bio & Memorabilia  •   Check Spelling Names in Database  •   Luftwaffe Awards  •   Axis Pages  •   Sources

Data derived from many sources. Perfection is our goal: Corrections and Additions are encouraged and requested. Please Email us

35,000+ Entries in Database (as of October 2025): largest in the world
The only authorised publication of the Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: anything else has been stolen and infringes my copyright.
Please email us any photos you have. We will acknowledge you in the database unless requested otherwise.
This is a non-political research resource. The authors of this material do not condone hatred in any form,
neither do they support oppressive and despotic regimes or political systems. See our Statement
In some cases you can see a pilot's extended record of victories in date order from our Luftwaffe Victories database
To see a list of German WW2 Aces consult German WW2 Aces Database
Click an image to expand. Click Luftwaffe Awards for explanations. Scroll to the right to see all the data.

Major enhancements and additions are being made to the Archive by Christian König and Dave Drury.

See a sample search

There is a rogue group of copyright infringers who have stolen a much earlier version of my data - from at least 10 years ago - and have the affrontery to publish that, along with using my name, on their poorly researched website. They claim this is the 'original' Kracker Archive, a ridiculous claim since my Archive has been in a state of continuous development for over 30 years and nobody - NOBODY - has the original. They have no right to use my name or my data and readers who come across this nonsense should do nothing to encourage theft of this nature. I am outraged by this blatant theft and misrepresentation of my lifetime's work. The ONLY person I have ever authorized to publish my data and use my name is Kelvin Youngs, who earned my trust and respect many years ago and is authorized by me to publish my work on whichever website he organizes, currently this being its present home at the highly respected Aircrew Remembered.

 

---

Our hosting service restricts database searches to a minimum of 4 characters, therefore searching on 3 or less will produce no results even if the name IS in our database. If you know the target's first name, put his full name in the first Search box in the form 'familyname, firstname' thus: Rau, Gunther.

If you only know his family name (for example Alt) then add 'x' to the name and search on that: thus search on Altx

If you need help, EMAIL us with name and database to search and we will perform the search manually for you.

Enter Your search conditions and click Search This
Searching for a 3-character name requires special treatment

AND(Optional)

Exclude Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments Exclude Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments

Restrict to Column

Restrict to Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments

Exact Match Contains Word

These are the results of your search:

You searched for: “Gerlitz”

#	Pilot (↑)	Rank	Born	Place	Score (↑)	Units	Aircraft	Awards	*************Notes*************	Photo	Links	AuthorComments
1	Berlitz, Erich	Hptm			7	Stfkpt 2/JG-27 (9/41 Ain-el-Gazala, Libya)	Bf 109E-7 Werk # Unk (40% dam 9/9/41)	Fighter Operational Clasp	One known victory, an RAF fighter on 9 Sepember, 1941 in Libya (C.Sundin). I believe this name may be misspelled, as I found no claims in the OKL Claims List, nor did I find his name in the LOCS, probably Erich Gerlitz.
2	Gerlitz, Erich	Maj	2/12/1912	Austria	18	3./JG 51 (10/39 CK), Stfkpt 7./JG 2 (03/40 CK), 8./JG 2 (05/40 CK), 1./JG 1 (06/40 CK), Stfkpt Erg.St./JG 27 (10/40-06/41 CK), Stfkpt 7./JG 27 (10-12/41 CK), Kdr II./JG 27 (12/41-05/42 CK), Kdr III./JG 53 (05-10/42 CK), Höheres Kdo. der Jagd- und Zerstörerschulen (03/43 CK), Kdt JFS Galatz/Dt.Lw.-Mission in Romania (05/43-12/43 CK), Kdr I./JG 5 (01-03/44 CK).	Bf 109E-7/Trop "Black 1" in Erg/JG-27, Bf 109F-4/Trop "Blk <<" , Bf 109G-6 Werk # 162471"BF + BU" "Blk <<" (lost 3/16/44) in JG-5	EP(1/25/43) EK 1 & 2 Wound badge probably Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold	KilledInAction (KIA) 16 March, 1944 in aerial combat near Waldhausen, with a P-47 when he was Kdr of I/JG-5. He managed to bail out, but was too low for his chute to deploy. His career began as an Austrian pilot joining the Luftwaffe in April 1938. By November 1938, he was a Hptm and Stfkpt in 3/JG-51. He took command of III/JG-53 in May, 1942 replacing Wilcke, who went to JG-3. One known victory, his 1st, a Potez 63 near Heltersberg, 16 October, 1939, while in 3/JG-51. His 2nd & 3rd, a Bloch 151 at Provins and a Blenheim at Coulommiers on 13 June, 1940. His 4th, a Hurricane S of the Needles on 21 July, 1940. A 5th, a Hurricane over England on 27 July, 1940, serving in 7/JG-27 at the time. 12 victories in the Desert. One desert victory, a Boston near Laib Esem on 10 December, 1941. One known victory, a B-17 by Mühldorf (Bayern) on 22 February, 1944. His wing,man on 16 March, 1944 was Lt. Heinrich von Podiwels. Served in 8/JG-2 in May, 1940. Bowers/Lednicer, 20 victories. LOCS 15 victories	Courtesy Christian König

Results 1 to 2 of 2.