Gildner, Paul, born 01-02-1914 in Nimptsch,
Silesia, Following graduation from school and a vocational education in metalworking, he completed his compulsory labour service.



In early 1933, Gildner joined the military service of the Reichswehr as a cadet with Infanterie-Regiment 7 in Schweidnitz, an infantry regiment of the 3rd Division. In 1935, he was transferred to the newly emerging Luftwaffe
of the Wehrmacht. In 1937, he began flight training, and was promoted to Unteroffizier on 01-9-1937. After he completed flight training, Gilder was posted to an aerial reconnaissance unit where he served as a pilot. In the fall of 1938, he was posted to the 6. Staffel (6th Squadron)
of Jagdgeschwader 132 “Richthofen” (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing), named after the after World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen.
This squadron was subordinated to the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 132. On 01-11-1938, II. Gruppe was detached from JG 132 and was reassigned as I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 141 (ZG 141—141st Destroyer Wing), under command of Major Joachim-Friedrich Huth.
I./ZG 141 was based at Jüterbog-Damm and was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1. On 01-05-1939, I./ZG 141 was renamed again and became the I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 1
(ZG 1—1st Destroyer Wing) and was the equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter.






Gildner is on the Western battle air with the night fighters and soon has his first night victory with his Messerschmitt Bf 110. He of 3./NJG1
under command of Oberst Wolfgang Falck,
shot down a Hampden bomber on the night of 2/3 September 1940 and achieved one of the first recorded night victories of the war. Wolfgang Falck, on retirement from business in 1986, lived in St Ulrich in Austria. He continued his love of flying post war, joining many flying clubs. Wolfgang Falck is credited with seven victories in about 90 missions, all gained while flying the Bf 110. All his victories were scored in daylight. He died 13-03-2007, aged 96, in St. Ulrich, Austria.


Gildner
was one of the early innovators in the organisation. His radio operator was Unteroffizer Müller. After 11 skills he received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and was promoted to Oberfeldwebel on 09-07-1944. He became a Leutnant on 01-08-1941 and Oberleutnant on 01-04-1942. He earned both the Iron Crosses after the Western invasion and the battle of Britain.

Death and burial ground of Gildner, Paul.






He was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight’s Cross on 02-03-1944. Also buried there the personalities, Generalleutnant der Infanterie, Kommandeur der 526th Reserve-Division, Kurt Schmidt, Generalmajor der Infanterie, Kommandeur der 376th Infanterie Regiment, Oskar von der Hagen, Major, Kommandeur III./N.J.G. 1, Egmond Prinz zur Lippe Weissenfeld,
Major, Kommandeur I./N.J.G. 100, Heinrich Prinz zur Sayn Wittgenstein,
Oberleutnant with I./ZG 76, 24 victories, Helmut Woltersdorf and Oberleutnant in the 26th JG, Air Fighter Squadron, Karl Willius Flyer aces Hauptmann, August Geiger,






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