Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber
Major

Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber

    Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber was born on 10 August 1914 at Oppershausen in the Mühlhausen region of Thüringen. Von Eichel-Streiber participated in the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion as a bomber pilot. He was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwerten for his service in this conflict. In spring 1940, von Eichel-Streiber served with III./JG 52. Von Eichel-Streiber served as Adjutant of III./JG 77 in 1941. During the invasion of Greece and Crete, he shot down a RAF Hurricane fighter on 14 May 1941 for his first victory. However, his aircraft was heavily damaged by flak and he had to crash-land on return to his base at Molaoi in Greece. Von Eichel-Streiber participated in the invasion of Russia. On 26 June 1941, he shot down four Russian SB-2 twin-engine bombers near Jassy to record his 2nd through 5th victories. Later, von Eichel-Streiber was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1.(Erg.)/JG 77. When the unit was disbanded on 31 January 1942, he was transferred to 10./JG 1. This unit was redesignated 1./JG 5 on 10 March 1942. On 4 October 1942, von Eichel-Streiber was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 51 based at Jesau, re-equipping with Fw 190s, before returning to the Russian front. On 26 November 1942, 6./JG 51 was redesignated as the Stabsstaffel, being deployed under the direct control of the Geschwaderkommodore, mainly in the Jabo (fighter-bomber) role. It was during this period that von Eichel-Streiber would record the majority of his victories, being particularly successful against the heavily armoured Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attck aircraft. He claimed two Russian fighters shot down on 30 May 1943 to record his 10th and 11th victories. On 8 June, he claimed four Russian fighters shot down (12-15). Von Eichel-Streiber recorded his 20th victory, a Russian MiG-3 fighter, shot down on 10 July. He claimed 19 victories in July, including three Russian fighters shot down on 4 August (30-32), four Il-2s shot down on 11 August (33-36) and three more Il-2s on 18 August (37-39), 19 August (40-45) and 20 August (43-45). On 2 September, von Eichel-Streiber claimed two further Il-2s shot down to record his 49th and 50th victories. On 15 December 1943, he recorded eight victories, including seven Il-2s shot down (60-67).

Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27 Hauptmann Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber after training sortie at Hoya in September 1944

Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27 Hauptmann Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber after training sortie at Hoya in September 1944. Note he hasn`t Knight`s Cross on his neck although recieved him in April 1944.

    Hauptmann von Eichel-Streiber was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 5 April 1944 for 73 victories. He was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51 on 1 May, a position he held until 24 August 1944. On 30 July, von Eichel-Streiber claimed five enemy aircraft shot down (82-86). His 90th victory victory followed on 11 August, when he shot down yet another Il-2. On 25 August 1944, von Eichel-Streiber was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27 serving on Reichsverteidigung duties. He recorded his 96th, and last, victory on 28 November when he shot down a USAAF P-47 fighter. He remained with the unit until 30 November 1944. Von Eichel-Streiber then underwent training on the Me 262 jet fighter at Lechfeld. He then supervised jet fighter conversion courses for bomber pilots from IX. (J) Flieger corps. He became disillusioned with this role and was able to arrange a transfer to JV 44. He was destined not to fly with JV 44 spending the last weeks of the war recuperating from the shock of the loss of many family and friends in the bombing attack on Dresden and the sentencing to death of his uncle who had been implicated in the conspiracy to kill Hitler on 20 July 1944. Von Eichel-Streiber survived the war and emmigrated to the USA where he became a successful Volkswagen distributor in Modesto, California.
    Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber was credited with 96 victories. He recorded 94 victories over the Eastern front, including 42 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location
1
14.5.1941
6:06
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 77 Crete
2
26.6.1941
-
 SB-2 Stab III./JG 77 Jassy
3
26.6.1941
-
 SB-2 Stab III./JG 77 Jassy
4
26.6.1941
-
 SB-2 Stab III./JG 77 Jassy
5
26.6.1941
-
 SB-2 Stab III./JG 77 Jassy
6
4.3.1943
16:05
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 36 121: at 600m
7
15.3.1943
17:10
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 16 851: at 300m
8
16.3.1943
16:08
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 16 461
9
28.5.1943
11:18
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 154: at 50m
10
30.5.1943
7:10
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 554: at 1.000m
11
30.5.1943
7:24
 P-39 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 551: at 3.000m
12
8.6.1943
12:33
 LaGG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 590: at 3.500m
13
8.6.1943
19:07
 LaGG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 172: at 4.000-2.000m
14
8.6.1943
19:15
 Yak-1 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 122: at 4-5.000m
15
8.6.1943
19:27
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 64 821
16
28.6.1943
7:05
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 511: at 2-3.000m
17
6.7.1943
9:40
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 54 882
18
8.7.1943
9:34
 Il-4 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 53 698: at 500m
19
9.7.1943
12:13
 Il-4 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 585: at 400m
20
10.7.1943
13:01
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 556: at 2.000m
21
12.7.1943
8:56
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 233: at 2.500m
22
13.7.1943
9:44
 P-39 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 254: at 800m
23
13.7.1943
9:45
 P-39 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SE Novossil
24
14.7.1943
18:30
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 65 859: at 2.000m
25
19.7.1943
11:35
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 136: at 300m
26
20.7.1943
14:37
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 64 799: 2.000-1.800m
27
20.7.1943
14:45
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 63 133: at 4.000m
28
3.8.1943
18:41
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 54 753 at 300m
29
3.8.1943
18:43
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 54 565 at 150m
30
4.8.1943
11:43
 LaGG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 53 264 at 5.000-600m
31
4.8.1943
15:20
 Yak-1 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 74 753 at 400m
32
4.8.1943
18:31
 LaGG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 54 575 at 1.000-500m
33
11.8.1943
11:21
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 30km NW Spas-Demensk: 500m
34
11.8.1943
14:38
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 45 512: at 500m
35
11.8.1943
16:04
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 22km NW Spas-Demensk: 500m
36
11.8.1943
17:29
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 45 525: at 2.000m
37
18.8.1943
18:36
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 25km SW Spas-Demensk
38
18.8.1943
18:37
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 25km SW Spas-Demensk
39
18.8.1943
18:40
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 681: at 300m
40
19.8.1943
9:33
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 645: at 400m [SW Spas-Demensk]
41
19.8.1943
9:34
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 654: at 400m
42
19.8.1943
17:49
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 654: at 450m [SW Yel'nya]
43
20.8.1943
15:22
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 7km SW Spas-Demensk
44
20.8.1943
15:33
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 653: at 300m
45
20.8.1943
19:28
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 17km NW Spas-Demensk: 300m
46
28.8.1943
11:50
 Pe-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 43 821: at 2.000m
47
1.9.1943
11:17
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 362: at 2.000m
48
1.9.1943
18:13
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 25 492: at 400m
49
2.9.1943
11:10
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 25 495: at 600m
50
2.9.1943
11:12
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 25 492: at 100m
51
5.9.1943
18:02
 Yak-9 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SSW Dukhovshchina: 5.000m
52
11.9.1943
9:58
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NW Bryansk: at 1.000m
53
20.10.1943
15:09
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NNW Radul: at 400m
54
28.10.1943
12:50
 Boston III Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SE Ketschiza: at 2.500m
55
6.11.1943
9:42
 Yak-7 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 Nevel: at 4.000m
56
10.11.1943
12:21
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 S Nevel: at 600m
57
11.11.1943
13:44
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 E Vitebsk: at 200m
58
8.12.1943
13:40
 R-10 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 S Slobin: at 3.000m
59
12.12.1943
12:15
 Yak-9 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 426: at 750m
60
15.12.1943
8:20
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 03 179: at 150m
61
15.12.1943
10:06
 Yak-9 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 294: at 800m
62
15.12.1943
10:10
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 434: at 600m
63
15.12.1943
10:10
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 431: at 600m
64
15.12.1943
10:14
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 423: at 400m
65
15.12.1943
10:14
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 423: at 400m
66
15.12.1943
-
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 -
67
15.12.1943
-
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 -
68
10.1.1944
11:14
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 644: at 300m
69
10.1.1944
11:16
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 641: at 200m
70
10.1.1944
11:18
 Yak-9 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 564: at 800m
71
12.1.1944
12:04
 Pe-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 96 344 at 3.500m
72
3.4.1944
9:11
 Yak-9 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 42 814: at 3.000m
73
3.4.1944
9:12
 Yak-9 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 42 739: at 3.000m
74
24.6.1944
10:28
 Il-2 Stab III./JG 51 93 339: at 400m
75
24.6.1944
15:22
 P-39 Stab III./JG 51 94 853: at 1.000m
76
25.6.1944
8:22
 Yak-7 Stab III./JG 51 93 178: at 1.500m
77
4.7.1944
10:51
 Yak-7 Stab III./JG 51 62 118: at 600m
78
9.7.1944
17:57
 Yak-9 Stab III./JG 51 55 319: at 3.000m
79
17.7.1944
18:57
 Yak-9 Stab III./JG 51 50 175: at 3.500m
80
18.7.1944
18:23
 P-39 Stab III./JG 51 41 737: at 2.000m
81
29.7.1944
17:23
 Il-2 Stab III./JG 51 35 686: at 800m
82
30.7.1944
12:22
 Yak-9 Stab III./JG 51 35 756: at 1.500m
83
30.7.1944
12:22
 Yak-9 Stab III./JG 51 35 756: at 1.500m
84
30.7.1944
12:27
 Yak-9 Stab III./JG 51 35 847/5: at 800m
85
30.7.1944
12:27
 Yak-9 Stab III./JG 51 35 847/5: at 800m
86
30.7.1944
15:45
 Il-2 Stab III./JG 51 35 448 c: at 500 m
87
1.8.1944
18:00
 Yak-9 Stab III./JG 51 35 396 at 1.500m
88
2.8.1944
15:00
 Il-2 Stab III./JG 51 24 296 at 400m
89
4.8.1944
9:01
 Il-2 Stab III./JG 51 24 293: at 400m
90
11.8.1944
18:13
 Il-2 Stab III./JG 51 34 511 at 500m
91
13.8.1944
19:23
 La-5 Stab III./JG 51 24 536: tiefflug
92
14.8.1944
9:27
 Il-2 Stab III./JG 51 24 566 at 300m
93
17.8.1944
9:34
 La-5 Stab III./JG 51 36 371 at 800m
94
17.8.1944
16:30
 Yak-9 Stab III./JG 51 36 179 at 4.000m
95
24.8.1944
16:17
 Il-2 Stab III./JG 51 27 636: at 400m
96
28.11.1944
14:13
 P-47 Stab I./JG 27 Aachen area

Victories : 96
Awards : Ehrenpokal (13 September 1943)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (10 January 1944)
                Ritterkreuz (5 April 1944)
Units : JG 52, JG 77, JG 1, JG 5, JG 51, JG 27, JV 44

Home