Georg Dörffel (27 July 1914 – 26 May 1944) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. He joined the military service in Infanterie-Regiment 22 (22nd
infantry regiment) in 1933. In 1935 he transferred to the Luftwaffe
holding the rank of Oberfähnrich (senior officer candidate). At first he
served as an observer in a Kampfgeschwader (ground attack wing) before
transferring as to the 5.(Schlacht)/Lehrgeschwader 2 (5.(S)/LG 2—5th
ground attack squadron of the 2nd demonstration wing) flying the
Henschel Hs 123 ground attack aircraft.
With this squadron as
part of the II.(Schlacht)/LG 2 (2nd ground attack group of the 2nd
demonstration wing) he flew as a Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) and pilot
during the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France. The group was
responsible of repelling a large enemy tank formation north of Cambrai
on 17 May 1940 which threatened the flank of the German advance. Dörffel
received the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class for this action on 21 May
1940.
Dörffel was shot down twice during the campaign in the
west, the first time on 14 May 1940 near Tirlemont, Belgium and in June
1940 near Dunkirk. He was wounded on both occasions. In October 1940 he
was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 5.(S)/LG 2, which
was re-designated 5./Schlachtgeschwader 1 (5th squadron of the 1st
ground attack wing) in early 1942. In this role and position he flew in
the Battle of Britain and from April 1941 in the Balkans Campaign.
With
the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the
Soviet Union in June 1941, Dörffel was transferred to the Eastern Front,
particularly in support of the central and southern sectors, providing
air support to the German ground forces. Together with the squadron
leader of the 2.(S)/LG 2, Oberleutnant Alfred Druschel, he was awarded
the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 August 1941 after over 200
combat missions. He was shot down near Skvorin at the Don River on 1
July 1942. Dörffel flew his 600th combat mission on 16 August 1942. He
was appointed acting Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the I./SG 1
(1st group of the 1st ground attack wing) on 2 March 1943 followed by
his official appointment as group leader on 11 June 1943.
Dörffel
flew his 800th mission of the war in July 1943 followed by his 900th
mission one month later. He was promoted to Major on 1 September 1943.
In early October 1943 he flew 19 combat missions on one day against the
attacking Red Army forces crossing the Dnieper River near Kiev. He flew
his 1,000th combat mission of the war on 6 October 1943, claiming his
30th aerial victory on that flight. He was grounded one day later and
transferred and appointed commander of the Schlachtfliegerschule (ground
attack fliers school) at Prossnitz. In early May 1944 he took command
of Schlachtgeschwader 4 (SG 4—4th ground attack wing) stationed in Italy
as Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander).
Georg Dörffel was
killed in action on 26 May 1944 north-west of Rome, Italy. Dörffel was
forced to bail out of his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-8 (Werknummer—factory
number—580 464) following an attack on a four-engined bomber formation.
He probably struck his head on the tailplane; his parachute failed to
open. He was buried in Pomezia, Italy, and posthumously promoted to
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel).
Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?yearfrom=&yearto=&query=D%C3%B6rffel#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_D%C3%B6rffel
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2412079#p2412079
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/29083/D%C3%B6rffel-Georg.htm
