Werner Gerth was born on 10 May 1923 at Pforzheim. Gerth
was serving with JG 53, based in Italy, in late summer 1943. Leutnant Gerth
was assigned to 7./JG 53. He sustained wounds in a RAF bombing attack on
the airfield at Ciampino on 17 September 1943. In January 1944, Gerth volunteered
to join Sturmstaffel 1 under the command of Major Hans-Günter von Kornatzski.
He shot down his first four-engine bomber on 22 February 1944. On 6 March,
he shot down two USAAF B-17 four-engine bombers and, on 11 April,
two USAAF B-24 four-engine bombers. On 20 April 1944, Gerth was appointed
Staffelkapitän of 11.(Sturm)/JG 3, but still served with Sturmstaffel 1.
Later, Sturmstaffel 1 members joined his 11th Staffel, which was then renamed
the 14th Staffel, on 10 August 1944. Sturmstaffel 1 attacked a force of
about 40 B-17s on 29 April 1944 and, during a 30-minute battle, shot down
almost half of the American bombers. Gerth shot down one B-17 and recorded
a B-17 Herauschuss in this action for his 7th and 8th victories. On 7 July,
he again shot down two B-24s (13-14). By the end of July 44, Gerth had
amassed a score of 20 four-engine bombers shot down, including multiple
victories on at least three occasions. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on
29 October 1944 after 26 victories. On 2 November 1944, Gerth was hit by
return fire while in the process of shooting down a B-17 over Halle. According
to some sources he then rammed it and baled out, but his parachute did
not open. He was flying a Fw 190A-8/R-2 Sturmbock (W.Nr. 682 057). There
is little evidence to support Gerth’s ramming of the bomber on the day
of his death. His wingman, Feldwebel Oscar Bösch
(18 victories) cannot confirm that Gerth died after ramming a bomber but
indicates Gerth was shot down by fighters. Gerth was posthumously promoted
to the rank of Hauptmann and awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold.
Werner Gerth was credited with 27 victories. All
his victories were recorded over the Western front,
including 22 four-engine bombers. He was shot
down twelve times himself.
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22.8.1943
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B-26 | 7./JG 53 | 60km SW Capri |
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22.2.1944
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B-17 | Sturmst. 1 | Bielefeld |
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6.3.1944
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B-17 e.V. | Sturmst. 1 | Braunschweig |
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6.3.1944
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B-17 | Sturmst. 1 | Braunschweig |
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11.4.1944
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B-17 | Sturmst. 1 | Haldersleben |
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11.4.1944
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B-17 | Sturmst. 1 | Hildesheim |
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13.4.1944
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B-17 | Sturmst. 1 | NE Mannheim |
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29.4.1944
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B-17 | Sturmst. 1 | NE Gifhorn |
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29.4.1944
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B-17 | Sturmst. 1 | Miesterhorst |
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13.5.1944
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B-17 | 11./JG3 | Jördenstorf-Demmin |
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19.5.1944
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B-17 | 11./JG3 | Fehmarn Belt |
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19.5.1944
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B-17 | 11./JG3 | Mecklanberger Bucht |
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20.5.1944
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P-51 | 11./JG3 | - |
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7.7.1944
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B-24 | 11./JG3 | Oschersleben area |
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7.7.1944
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B-24 | 11./JG3 | Oschersleben area |
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18.7.1944
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B-17 | 11./JG3 | SE Kempten |
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18.7.1944
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B-17 | 11./JG3 | SE Kempten |
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19.7.1944
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B-17 | 11./JG3 | Kempten area |
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29.7.1944
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P-51 | 11./JG3 | - |
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30.7.1944
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P-38 | 11./JG3 | Kamond |
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3.8.1944
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B-24 | 11./JG3 | Lechtaler Alpen |
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9.8.1944
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B-17 | 11./JG3 | - |
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9.8.1944
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P-51 | 11./JG3 | - |
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15.8.1944
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B-17 | 14./JG3 | Daun-Kyllberg area |
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11.9.1944
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B-17 | 14./JG3 | Hettstedt-Querfurt |
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11.9.1944
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P-51 | 14./JG3 | Quedlingburg |
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7.10.1944
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B-17 | 14./JG3 | Artern-Naumburg |
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2.11.1944
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B-17 | 14./JG3 | NW Halle / Rammed? |
Victories : 27
Awards : Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (1 January 1945)
Ritterkreuz (29 October 1944)
Units : JG 53, Sturmstaffel 1, JG 3