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- Ernst-Georg Drünkler (8 July 1920 – 12 March 1997) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 47 aerial victories, including two by day, claimed in 102 combat missions making him the thirtieth most successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command. Born in Bernburg, Drünkler grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Following flight training in 1942, he was posted to Zerstörergeschwader 2 (ZG 2—2nd Destroyer Wing) operating on the Eastern Front, flying a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter. In October 1942, Drünkler transferred to Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing), and later to Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5—5th Night Fighter Wing), where he was trained as a night fighter pilot. Flying with NJG 1, he claimed his first nocturnal aerial victory on 13 June 1943. Following his 40th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 March 1945 as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of NJG 5. Following the war, he became a teacher and died aged 76 in Sottrum. (en)
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