Military figure. Werner Streib joined the Wermacht as an infantryman. A transfer to Goering's Luftwaffe, as an observer in a reconnaissance unit followed, and later he trained as a fighter pilot. In 1937, he was assigned to JG 2 Richthofen at Jüterbog-Damm. He then became a Bf-110 Zerstorer pilot in Wolfgang Falck's ZG 1 as the war began. His first victory and only daylight victory was over a RAF Bristol Blenheim on 5/10/1940, the day the invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium and France started. In May 1940 the Nachtjagd was created and on July 20, as part of 2./NJG 1, Streib claimed his first night victory and the first official Nachtjagd victory. By October 1940 Streib was commanding of I gruppe, NJG 1, based at Venlo, Holland in order to more easily intercept the known RAF bomber routes into targets in the Ruhr. He would be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10/6/1940 as an Oberleutnant with eight victories claimed. By May 1941 he had 26 confirmed victories. He was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross on 2/26/1943 as a Major and Kommodore of NJG 1 with 42 confirmed victories. On the night of June 11–12, 1943, he flew a prototype version of the Heinkel He 219 and claimed to have shot down 5 Lancaster bombers within just 30 minutes. However, when returning to Venlo Streib misjudged the landing approach and used the flaps at too high a speed. The Heinkel crashed on landing, Streib and his radio operator, escaping with slight injuries. On 3/11/1944 he was awarded the Swords to his Knights Cross for 66 confirmed victories. On 3/23/1944 he was made Inspector of Night Fighters and would stay in this post as Oberst until the end of the war. Streib was officially credited with shooting down 66 enemy aircraft, with 65 claimed at night. He was the first night fighter pilot to be honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. After the war he worked in the grocery business before joining the Bundeswehr on 3/16/1956 as pilot instructor for three years where he attained the rank of Brigade General.