Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein

Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein
Black-and-white photograph showing the face and shoulders of a young man in uniform. The front of his shirt collar bears an Iron Cross decorations, black with light outline.
Nickname(s)Heinz
Born(1916-08-14)14 August 1916
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died21 January 1944(1944-01-21) (aged 27)
Lübars, Free State of Prussia, Nazi Germany
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery, Netherlands (re-interred)
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service1937–1944
RankMajor (major)
UnitKG 1, KG 51, NJG 2, NJG 3, NJG 5
CommandsIV./NJG 5, II./NJG 3, II./NJG 2, NJG 2
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (14 August 1916 – 21 January 1944) was a German night fighter pilot and flying ace during World War II. At the time of his death, Sayn-Wittgenstein was the highest-scoring night fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe and still the third highest by the end of World War II, with 83 aerial victories to his credit.

Born on 14 August 1916 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn joined the cavalry of the German Wehrmacht in spring of 1937. He was accepted for flight training and transferred to the emerging Luftwaffe. He initially served as an observer and then as a pilot in Kampfgeschwader 1 (KG 1) Hindenburg and Kampfgeschwader 51 (KG 51) Edelweiss. He saw action with these units in the Battle of France, Battle of Britain, and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, before he transferred to the night fighter force. He claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 6/7 May 1942. By October 1942, he had accumulated 22 aerial victories, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 October 1942. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 31 August 1943, for 54 aerial victories.

Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein was appointed to command Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2) in January 1944, and was killed in action on the night of 21 January 1944. Posthumously he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.