
Oskar Dinort

Oskar Dinort (23 June 1901 – 27 May 1965) was a German general and ground attack aircraft pilot during World War II. 
Early life and career.
Oskar Dinort was born in Berlin-Charlottenburg. He volunteered for military service in 1919 and joined the "Freikorps der Gardekavallerie-Schützendivision", becoming a "Fähnrich" in "Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2" in 1921. He was promoted to "Leutnant" in 1923. He was an enthusiastic glider pilot. Soon after he was promoted to "Oberleutnant" in 1928, he set a 14 hours and 43 minutes Gliding World Record. He won the " in 1931. He had participated in the second FAI International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930, finishing in 10th place.
Dinort was transferred to the still secret Luftwaffe in 1934 where he was posted to the "Reklamestaffel Mitteldeutschland"" (Advertisement "Staffel"). His next posting was as a "Hauptmann" (captain) in the "Stab" of I./Jagdgeschwader 132 (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing) and "Gruppenkommandeur" (group commander) of III./Jagdgeschwader 134 (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) until he was called into the "Reichsluftfahrtministerium" (Ministry of Aviation) by Ernst Udet on 31 March 1935.
World War II.
After commanding I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" (StG 2) in Poland, Major Dinort served as "Geschwaderkommodore" (wing commander) of StG 2 from October 1939 to October 1941. On 4 July 1940, in between the official dated given for the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, he led a highly successful attack on Convoy OA 178. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves in July 1941.
During operations over Greece and Crete in April–May 1941 crews of StG 2 believed the blast effect of their bombs used against troops in Greece was greatly reduced because the bombs penetrated the ground before exploding. The solution was to fit 60 cm metal rods welded to the front of the bombs, with an 8 cm metal disc on the end of the rod. The rods themselves received the nickname "Dinort-stäbe", or "Dinort's rods" — similar in concept to the daisy cutter device of American invention) after the originator of the idea, Oskar Dinort, which caused the bombs to detonate some 30 cm above the ground, maximising their blast.
On 15 October 1941 Dinort left StG. 2, taking up a staff position. In 1944 he was appointed to command "3. Fliegerschuldivision" and in late 1944 promoted to Generalmajor. Held by the British after the war ended, Dinort remained in captivity until 1947. He eventually settled in Dortmund after his release.
He later worked in aviation research in Chile.
Dinort died in Cologne, West Germany, on 27 May 1965.