Werner Streib was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a general officer in the post-war Bundeswehr. A leading night fighter ace, he was credited with 68 enemy aircraft shot down in roughly 150 combat missions, including one daytime victory and 67 nocturnal victories, all claimed over the Western Front in Defence of the Reich operations against RAF Bomber Command. He was the first Luftwaffe pilot to achieve a confirmed night victory, introduced innovative tactics that shaped the Nachtjagd, and rose to command Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 before serving as Inspector of Night Fighters. For his achievements he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, becoming one of the highest-decorated night fighter pilots of the war. After 1945 he worked in commerce before rejoining the military in 1956 and retiring as Brigadegeneral in 1966.
Streib was born on 13 June 1911 in Pforzheim, at that time in the Grand Duchy of Baden within the German Empire. He was the son of merchant Reinhold Streib and Sofie Pauline Beller. After completing his Abitur he worked for three years in banking and finance. In 1934 he enlisted in the Reichswehr as a Fahnenjunker with Infanterie-Regiment 14 of the 5th Infantry Division based in Konstanz. On 1 October 1935, as an Oberfähnrich, he transferred to the newly formed Luftwaffe and was commissioned Leutnant on 1 April 1936. He initially served as an aerial observer in a reconnaissance unit before qualifying as a pilot. In 1938 he was posted to II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 132 Richthofen, later redesignated I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 1, where he flew the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter.
At the outbreak of war in September 1939 Streib was serving with the airport operational company of I./ZG 1. During the invasion of Poland he flew daytime missions but recorded no victories. On the first day of the Battle of France, 10 May 1940, he claimed his first aerial victory by shooting down an RAF Bristol Blenheim bomber while flying a Bf 110. For this success he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 17 May 1940 and the Iron Cross 1st Class on 20 June 1940. On 6 June 1940 he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2. Staffel of ZG 1. When that unit was redesignated 2. Staffel of the newly formed Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 on 26 June 1940, Streib became one of the first operational night fighter pilots.
The creation of the Nachtjagd force under Generalmajor Josef Kammhuber began in mid-1940. On the night of 19/20 July 1940 Streib achieved the Luftwaffe's first confirmed nocturnal victory, shooting down an RAF Armstrong Whitworth Whitley at 02:15 near Saerbeck. Two nights later he claimed another Whitley. On the night of 30/31 August 1940 he downed a Vickers Wellington and a Handley Page Hampden. Further successes followed on 30 September/1 October 1940 with two Wellingtons and another Hampden, bringing his total to eight victories, seven of them at night. On 6 October 1940, as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of 2./NJG 1, he became the first night fighter pilot to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and only the second member of the Nachtjagd to be so honoured. The following day he was promoted Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG 1.
Throughout the autumn and winter of 1940-1941 Streib continued to score steadily within the Kammhuber Line, a radar-guided ground-controlled interception system consisting of Himmelbett sectors. On the night of 14/15 October 1940 he claimed a Hampden near Calbe. In March 1941 he downed a Hampden southwest of Venlo and a Wellington near Helenaveen. April brought two more Hampdens and a Wellington. By July 1941 his score stood at 16. He received the Luftwaffe Honour Goblet on 13 September 1940 and was mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on several occasions in 1941 and 1942. On 26 February 1942 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold.
In 1942 Streib claimed pairs of Wellingtons on multiple nights, including 26/27 March, 10/11 April, and 30/31 May, as well as Whitleys and further Wellingtons. His last victory of the year came on 20/21 December against a Wellington southeast of 's-Hertogenbosch. On the night of 9/10 January 1943 he reached his 40th nocturnal victory with a Lancaster west of Venlo. Four nights later he claimed two more Lancasters. On 2/3 February 1943 two additional four-engined bombers brought his total to 45. On 26 February 1943, as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG 1, he received the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross as the 197th recipient. He was presented the award personally by Adolf Hitler in Berlin on 11 May 1943. Additional claims in March and April 1943, including a Wellington from No. 166 Squadron RAF and three Halifax bombers during the Essen raid, continued his success.
Streib participated in the operational testing of the Heinkel He 219 Uhu night fighter. On 25 March 1943 he flew the prototype in mock combat against a Ju 188 at Rechlin, demonstrating the He 219's superior speed and manoeuvrability. On the night of 11/12 June 1943, flying the pre-production He 219 A-0/R2 G9+FB with radar operator Unteroffizier Helmut Fischer, Streib was vectored against a large RAF raid on Düsseldorf. In a single patrol he shot down five four-engined bombers: three Halifaxes and two Lancasters between 01:05 and 02:22 in the Roermond-Rheinberg-Nijmegen area. This ace-in-a-day performance raised his nocturnal total to 55. On landing at Venlo the aircraft crashed due to cockpit icing, retracted flaps, and excessive speed; both crew members escaped with only minor injuries.
On the night of 12/13 June 1943 Streib claimed a Lancaster south of Doetinchem. Further victories followed, including a Stirling on 22 June and a Halifax on 24/25 June. On 1 July 1943 he was promoted Oberstleutnant and appointed Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 1, succeeding Wolfgang Falck. On 25/26 July 1943 he claimed four bombers in one night, reaching his 60th nocturnal victory. By early 1944 his score stood at 65 or 66 nocturnal victories depending on confirmation sources. On 11 March 1944 he received the Swords to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves as the 54th recipient of the award. Shortly afterwards he was withdrawn from operational flying and appointed Inspector of Night Fighters on the staff of General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland, where he remained until the end of the war in the rank of Oberst. He contributed significantly to the evolution of tactics from the Kammhuber Line to the more flexible Zahme Sau methods.
At the end of the war Streib was taken into Western Allied captivity and released in 1946. He initially worked as managing director of a wholesale grocery company. On 16 March 1956 he joined the newly formed Bundeswehr with the rank of Oberst. He commanded Flugzeugführerschule A in Landsberg am Lech for three years, responsible for basic pilot training on the North American T-6 Texan. After six months at NATO headquarters in Paris he served as Flight Leader South and, from 1 January 1961, as commander of Fliegerdivision Süd in Karlsruhe. From October 1962 he commanded Training Brigade 2 in Fürstenfeldbruck, followed by a posting to the Luftwaffe leadership staff in Köln-Wahn from October 1963. He retired on 31 March 1966 as Brigadegeneral and Inspector of Flying Forces.
Werner Streib died on 15 June 1986 in Munich, two days after his 75th birthday. He was buried at the Ostfriedhof in Munich. Throughout his career he was known for his pioneering role in night fighting and his leadership in one of the most technically demanding branches of the Luftwaffe. His 68 confirmed victories, combined with his tactical innovations and high command positions, placed him among the most influential figures in the history of German night air defence.
Streib was born on 13 June 1911 in Pforzheim, at that time in the Grand Duchy of Baden within the German Empire. He was the son of merchant Reinhold Streib and Sofie Pauline Beller. After completing his Abitur he worked for three years in banking and finance. In 1934 he enlisted in the Reichswehr as a Fahnenjunker with Infanterie-Regiment 14 of the 5th Infantry Division based in Konstanz. On 1 October 1935, as an Oberfähnrich, he transferred to the newly formed Luftwaffe and was commissioned Leutnant on 1 April 1936. He initially served as an aerial observer in a reconnaissance unit before qualifying as a pilot. In 1938 he was posted to II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 132 Richthofen, later redesignated I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 1, where he flew the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter.
At the outbreak of war in September 1939 Streib was serving with the airport operational company of I./ZG 1. During the invasion of Poland he flew daytime missions but recorded no victories. On the first day of the Battle of France, 10 May 1940, he claimed his first aerial victory by shooting down an RAF Bristol Blenheim bomber while flying a Bf 110. For this success he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 17 May 1940 and the Iron Cross 1st Class on 20 June 1940. On 6 June 1940 he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2. Staffel of ZG 1. When that unit was redesignated 2. Staffel of the newly formed Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 on 26 June 1940, Streib became one of the first operational night fighter pilots.
The creation of the Nachtjagd force under Generalmajor Josef Kammhuber began in mid-1940. On the night of 19/20 July 1940 Streib achieved the Luftwaffe's first confirmed nocturnal victory, shooting down an RAF Armstrong Whitworth Whitley at 02:15 near Saerbeck. Two nights later he claimed another Whitley. On the night of 30/31 August 1940 he downed a Vickers Wellington and a Handley Page Hampden. Further successes followed on 30 September/1 October 1940 with two Wellingtons and another Hampden, bringing his total to eight victories, seven of them at night. On 6 October 1940, as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of 2./NJG 1, he became the first night fighter pilot to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and only the second member of the Nachtjagd to be so honoured. The following day he was promoted Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG 1.
Throughout the autumn and winter of 1940-1941 Streib continued to score steadily within the Kammhuber Line, a radar-guided ground-controlled interception system consisting of Himmelbett sectors. On the night of 14/15 October 1940 he claimed a Hampden near Calbe. In March 1941 he downed a Hampden southwest of Venlo and a Wellington near Helenaveen. April brought two more Hampdens and a Wellington. By July 1941 his score stood at 16. He received the Luftwaffe Honour Goblet on 13 September 1940 and was mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on several occasions in 1941 and 1942. On 26 February 1942 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold.
In 1942 Streib claimed pairs of Wellingtons on multiple nights, including 26/27 March, 10/11 April, and 30/31 May, as well as Whitleys and further Wellingtons. His last victory of the year came on 20/21 December against a Wellington southeast of 's-Hertogenbosch. On the night of 9/10 January 1943 he reached his 40th nocturnal victory with a Lancaster west of Venlo. Four nights later he claimed two more Lancasters. On 2/3 February 1943 two additional four-engined bombers brought his total to 45. On 26 February 1943, as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG 1, he received the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross as the 197th recipient. He was presented the award personally by Adolf Hitler in Berlin on 11 May 1943. Additional claims in March and April 1943, including a Wellington from No. 166 Squadron RAF and three Halifax bombers during the Essen raid, continued his success.
Streib participated in the operational testing of the Heinkel He 219 Uhu night fighter. On 25 March 1943 he flew the prototype in mock combat against a Ju 188 at Rechlin, demonstrating the He 219's superior speed and manoeuvrability. On the night of 11/12 June 1943, flying the pre-production He 219 A-0/R2 G9+FB with radar operator Unteroffizier Helmut Fischer, Streib was vectored against a large RAF raid on Düsseldorf. In a single patrol he shot down five four-engined bombers: three Halifaxes and two Lancasters between 01:05 and 02:22 in the Roermond-Rheinberg-Nijmegen area. This ace-in-a-day performance raised his nocturnal total to 55. On landing at Venlo the aircraft crashed due to cockpit icing, retracted flaps, and excessive speed; both crew members escaped with only minor injuries.
On the night of 12/13 June 1943 Streib claimed a Lancaster south of Doetinchem. Further victories followed, including a Stirling on 22 June and a Halifax on 24/25 June. On 1 July 1943 he was promoted Oberstleutnant and appointed Geschwaderkommodore of NJG 1, succeeding Wolfgang Falck. On 25/26 July 1943 he claimed four bombers in one night, reaching his 60th nocturnal victory. By early 1944 his score stood at 65 or 66 nocturnal victories depending on confirmation sources. On 11 March 1944 he received the Swords to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves as the 54th recipient of the award. Shortly afterwards he was withdrawn from operational flying and appointed Inspector of Night Fighters on the staff of General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland, where he remained until the end of the war in the rank of Oberst. He contributed significantly to the evolution of tactics from the Kammhuber Line to the more flexible Zahme Sau methods.
At the end of the war Streib was taken into Western Allied captivity and released in 1946. He initially worked as managing director of a wholesale grocery company. On 16 March 1956 he joined the newly formed Bundeswehr with the rank of Oberst. He commanded Flugzeugführerschule A in Landsberg am Lech for three years, responsible for basic pilot training on the North American T-6 Texan. After six months at NATO headquarters in Paris he served as Flight Leader South and, from 1 January 1961, as commander of Fliegerdivision Süd in Karlsruhe. From October 1962 he commanded Training Brigade 2 in Fürstenfeldbruck, followed by a posting to the Luftwaffe leadership staff in Köln-Wahn from October 1963. He retired on 31 March 1966 as Brigadegeneral and Inspector of Flying Forces.
Werner Streib died on 15 June 1986 in Munich, two days after his 75th birthday. He was buried at the Ostfriedhof in Munich. Throughout his career he was known for his pioneering role in night fighting and his leadership in one of the most technically demanding branches of the Luftwaffe. His 68 confirmed victories, combined with his tactical innovations and high command positions, placed him among the most influential figures in the history of German night air defence.
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Boiten, Theo. Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945.
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945.
Mathews, Andrew Johannes & Foreman, John. Luftwaffe Aces - Biographies and Victory Claims - Volume 4.
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