Willi Nemitz  Willi Nemitz (1 November 1910 – 11 April 1943) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Willi Nemitz was one of the oldest operational fighter pilots.His first known Soviet victory, was a LaGG-3 on 22 June 1942.He was killed on April 11, 1943 after aerial combat with Russian fighters over Anapa/Krasnodar.Willi Nemitz was credited with 81 victories in about 500 missions. All his victories were recorded over the Eastern Front and includes at least 11 Il-2 Sturmoviks.