Hans Beißwenger

Hans Beißwenger (8 November 1916 – 6 March 1943) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. In 500 combat missions, Beißwenger was credited with 152 victories, making him the 34th highest-scoring Luftwaffe fighter pilot of World War II. He was "ace-in-a-day" twice, shooting down five aircraft on a single day. All but one of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. He was reported missing in action in March 1943.

Early life and career Beißwenger was born on 8 November 1916 at Mittelfischach über Sulzbach in the district of Schwäbisch Hall in Württemberg. He was the son of Volksschule, a combined primary and lower secondary school, teacher. Following his graduation, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe on 2 November 1937, initially serving with the Flak artillery. He was assigned to the 8th battery of Flak-Regiment 25 in Göppingen, where he received his basic military training. On 1 April 1938, he was posted to a Jagdfliegerschule for flight and fighter pilot training. In October 1940, more than one year after the start of World War II, Beißwenger was transferred to the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). He was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) of the Reserves on 1 November 1940.

World War II Assigned to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 54 based in France, Beißwenger's posting fell into a period of recuperation following the costly Battle of Britain. I. Gruppe had been the first to leave France and was sent to Jever on 27 September 1940. His II. Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Delmenhorst on 3 December 1940. On 29 March 1941, the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit), II. And III. Gruppe were ordered to relocate to Austria in preparation of the Invasion of Yugoslavia. The Geschwaderstab and II. Gruppe were then both located at Graz.

The order for the invasion had been put forward in "Führer Directive No. 25", which Adolf Hitler issued on 27 March 1941, following the pro-British Yugoslav coup d'état in Belgrade. He claimed his first aerial victory on 7 April 1941, when he shot down a Yugoslav Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane fighter. JG 54 continued flying ground support missions during the Balkans Campaign. Following the surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on 17 April 1941, while stationed at an airfield at Zemun near Belgrade, the Geschwader received orders on 3 May 1941 to turn over all Messerschmitt Bf 109-Es to Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) so they could receive the new Bf 109-F variant. Transition training was completed at Airfield Stolp-Reitz in Pomerania. Following the Balkans Campaign, Beißwenger was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 6 May 1941.

War against the Soviet Union On the Eastern Front, serving with 3./JG 54 (3rd squadron), Beißwenger became a leading scorer in I./JG 54 (1st group). Although he was shot down on 17 July 1941 behind enemy lines, he escaped capture and returned to his base. He claimed his 20th aerial victory over an I-18 fighter, an early German designation for a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighter, on 24 August 1941. By the end of 1941, his total stood at 32 aerial victories. He claimed his 40th victory on 6 April 1942, on 8 May, he achieved his 50th victory, and the following day, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 May 1942 for 50 victories claimed. Beißwenger and Leutnant Horst Hannig received the Knight's Cross from General der Flieger Helmuth Förster at Siverskaya. On 10 August 1942, Beißwenger was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6./JG 54. He succeeded Hauptmann Carl Sattig who was posted as missing in action, assumed killed in action that day.

On 15 August 1942, he claimed his 75th aerial victory and his 100th on 30 September, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 30 September. He was the 25th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. He became "ace-in-a-day" on 23 August during three combat missions, when for the first time he achieved five aerial victories in one day. On 4 September 1942, Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak, his group commander, filed an officer efficiency report requesting a preferential promotion to Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant). The report highlighted that he "has excelled in action as a fighter pilot" and that "during 449 combat flights, he has 97 kills because of his audacity". The report further described Beißwenger as having "good leadership talent" and being "positive as a National Socialist". His promotion was approved and, after a short vacation, Beißwenger returned to combat duty and by the end of 1942, his victory total stood at 119. He claimed his 125th aerial victory on 23 January 1943, 135th by 11 February 1943 and five more on 5 March 1943 (146th – 150th aerial victories).

He did not return to base after an air combat south of Lake Ilmen near Staraja Russa on 6 March 1943 and Oberleutnant Hans Beißwenger, flying Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 14236—factory number) "yellow 4", was posted as missing. His Schwarm had been engaged in a combat with four Soviet fighters. Beißwenger claimed his last two victories, numbers 151 and 152, over Lavochkin LaGG-3 fighters that day. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 of Unteroffizier Georg Munderloh was damaged in a midair collision, and Munderloh reported that he would try to reach his base. Eventually, he had to land in enemy territory. Taken prisoner, he was later told by Soviet pilots involved in the action that they had shot down another German fighter, which could have been Beißwenger. Another German pilot observed Beißwenger's aircraft flying at low altitude, clearly suffering from engine problems, attempting to return to friendly territory. After that, there was no trace of him. Beißwenger was later listed as missing in action. It may be that Beißwenger was brought down by Starshiy Leytenant Ivan Kholodov of 32 GvIAP (Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment—Gvardeyskiy Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk). Kholodov rammed the Bf 109—probably Beißwenger's—that was attacking his wingman, Leytenant Arkadiy Makarov, and managed to bail out of his own damaged craft before it crashed.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Beißwenger was credited with 152 aerial victories. Obermaier also lists Beißwenger with shooting down 152 enemy aircraft, all but one on the Eastern Front. In addition, he claimed the destruction of one tethered balloon. He flew over 500 combat missions during his career. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 150 aerial victory claims. This number includes one claim during the Balkans Campaign and 149 on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 18262". The Luftwaffe grid map covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3x4km in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – 1 1 7 April 1941 17:50 Hurricane south of Neusatz 27 27 17 September 1941 17:00 I-18 (MiG-1) 2 2 22 June 1941 09:50 I-16 28 28 17 September 1941 17:09 I-18 (MiG-1) 3 3 26 June 1941 09:30 SB-2 29 29 23 September 1941 10:33 I-16 4 4 30 June 1941 13:17 SB-2 30 23 September 1941 10:33 tethered balloon 5 5 2 July 1941 18:29 SB-2 31 30 2 October 1941 09:10 I-18 (MiG-1) 6 6 2 July 1941 18:30 SB-2 32 31 27 October 1941 13:00 SB-3 7 7 2 July 1941 18:35 SB-2 33 32 6 November 1941 07:35 I-18 (MiG-1) 8 8 6 July 1941 18:31 DB-3 34 33 16 March 1942 11:45 Pe-2 9 9 7 July 1941 10:55 SB-3 35 34 20 March 1942 09:00 P-40 10 10 17 July 1941 09:37 SB-2 36 35 26 March 1942 09:05 Il-2 11 11 20 July 1941 18:50 I-18 (MiG-1) 37 36 29 March 1942 12:55 P-40 12 12 25 July 1941 08:00 DB-3 38 37 1 April 1942 08:54 I-18 (MiG-3) 13 13 30 July 1941 11:20 I-18 (MiG-1) 39 38 1 April 1942 08:56 I-18 (MiG-3) 14 14 31 July 1941 09:12 SB-2 40 39 6 April 1942 14:05 MiG-3 15 15 31 July 1941 19:15 SB-2 41 40 6 April 1942 14:10 MiG-3 16 16 3 August 1941 12:22 I-16 42 41 18 April 1942 06:26 MiG-3 17 17 18 August 1941 18:36 I-18 (MiG-1) 43 42 19 April 1942 18:15 LaGG-3 18 18 18 August 1941 18:59 I-18 (MiG-1) 44 43 20 April 1942 10:35 Yak-1 19 19 20 August 1941 07:35 I-16 45 44 25 April 1942 10:45 Pe-2 20 20 24 August 1941 17:35 I-18 (MiG-1) 46 45 27 April 1942 16:45 Yak-1 21 21 7 September 1941 11:02 I-16 47 46 29 April 1942 07:25 MiG-3 22 22 7 September 1941 18:35 I-18 (MiG-1) 48 47 29 April 1942 07:28 MiG-3 23 23 8 September 1951 18:35 I-18 (MiG-1) 49 48 7 May 1942 10:19 Il-2 24 24 11 September 1941 18:30 I-18 (MiG-1) 50 49 8 May 1942 16:10 Il-2 25 25 14 September 1941 12:30 I-16 51 50 8 May 1942 16:20 MiG-3 26 26 14 September 1941 16:40 I-18 (MiG-1) – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – 52 51 11 May 1942 11:53 P-40 46 55 28 May 1942 15:10 Pe-2 53 52 13 May 1942 17:38 P-40 57 56 3 June 1942 05:47 MiG-3 54 53 13 May 1942 17:45 MiG-3 58 57 5 June 1942 07:20 MiG-3 55 54 13 May 1942 17:45 MiG-3 – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – 59 58 7 June 1942 14:53 MiG-3 107 106 4 December 1942 10:12 Il-2 southwest of Solzy 60 59 18 July 1942 10:53 MiG-3 Bol MaljestankiMalyushki train station 108 107 4 December 1942 13:05 La-5 south of Strelitzky 61 60 19 July 1942 14:58 MiG-3 SamoscheLamosche 109 108 5 December 1942 07:50 Il-2 north of Strelitzky 62 61 20 July 1942 07:05 Yak-1 MaljutschiMalijutuji 110 109 6 December 1942 11:58 La-5 PQ 18262 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 63 62 27 July 1942 20:25 MiG-3 west of Lake Werschinawest of Vershinaskoye 111 110 12 December 1942 13:58 LaGG-3 east of Lake Werchne 64 63 30 July 1942 18:44 Yak-1 Malaja Nowyje GorkiMalaya Kovejebovki 112 111 25 December 1942 12:12 Il-2 PQ 18292 southeast of Staraya Russa 65 64 2 August 1942 16:15 Yak-1 southwest of Zaluchye 113 112 29 December 1942 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 18292 southeast of Staraya Russa 66 65 4 August 1942 12:23 Yak-1 Lawatitzyvicinity of Lovapischty 114 113 29 December 1942 12:53 P-39 PQ 18261 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 67 66 6 August 1942 15:26 Pe-2 east-southeast of Gzhatsk 115 114 30 December 1942 11:45 LaGG-3 PQ 18153 northwest of Demyansk 68 67 6 August 1942 19:20 Yak-1 east of Zubtsov 116 115 30 December 1942 12:15 La-5 PQ 18264 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 69 68 6 August 1942 19:26 Yak-1 east of Zubtsov 117 116 30 December 1942 14:05 LaGG-3 PQ 28113 northwest of Demyansk 70 69 8 August 1942 16:13 Yak-1 south of Pogareljesoutheast of Pogorskoje 118 117 30 December 1942 14:12 LaGG-3 PQ 19677 east-northeast of Staraya Russa 71 70 9 August 1942 09:36 Yak-1 southwest of Nowaja-Alexandrowkasouthwest of Kowaja-Alekandrovka 119 118 5 January 1943 09:55 La-5 PQ 18231 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 72 71 9 August 1942 09:39 Yak-1 southwest of Nowaja-Alexandrowkasouthwest of Kowaja-Alekandrovka 120 119 5 January 1943 10:15 La-5 PQ 28121 northwest of Demyansk 73 72 9 August 1942 09:42 Yak-1 west of Nikolskaya 121 7 January 1943 09:23 LaGG-3 PQ 18231 74 73 9 August 1942 09:46 Yak-1 west of Nikolskaya 122 120 7 January 1943 10:39 Il-2 PQ 19891 east-northeast of Staraya Russa 75 74 10 August 1942 18:40 Yak-1 northwest of Rzhev 123 121 14 January 1943 12:15 La-5 PQ 10411 east-southeast of Mga 76 75 10 August 1942 18:41 Yak-1 northwest of Rzhev 124 122 14 January 1943 12:45 P-40 PQ 00254 west-southwest of Schlüsselburg 77 76 11 August 1942 09:36 Pe-2 southeast of Ssosnedowosoutheast of Tsossedowo 125 123 15 January 1943 09:50 LaGG-3 PQ 18263 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 78 77 11 August 1942 09:37 Pe-2 southeast of Ssosnedowoeast of Tsossedowo 126 124 15 January 1943 09:55 LaGG-3 PQ 18244 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 79 78 12 August 1942 17:30 Il-2 north-northwest of Rzhev 127 125 15 January 1943 10:05 P-39 PQ 28142 northwest of Demyansk 80 79 14 August 1942 18:30 Yak-1 PQ 47554 northwest of Rzhev 128 126 24 January 1943 08:25 P-40 PQ 00262 southwest of Schlüsselburg 81 80 15 August 1942 05:47 Yak-1 PQ 47344 east-northeast of Zubtsov 129 127 24 January 1943 10:30 LaGG-3 PQ 10182east of Mga 82 81 15 August 1942 10:20 Yak-1 PQ 47592north of Rzhev 130 128 25 January 1943 10:05 PS-40 PQ 00233 west of Schlüsselburg 83 82 19 August 1942 12:23 LaGG-3 PQ 54162 south of Sukhinichi 131 129 26 January 1943 08:55 MiG-3 PQ 00293 west of Mga 84 83 21 August 1942 06:10 Yak-1 PQ 55853 east of Sukhinichi 132 130 26 January 1943 11:05 LaGG-3 PQ 10142south of Schlüsselburg 85 84 21 August 1942 06:23 Yak-1 PQ 55853 east of Sukhinichi 133 131 27 January 1943 14:05 LaGG-3 PQ 10153southeast of Schlüsselburg 86♠ 85 23 August 1942 06:10 Pe-2 PQ 54253 west-northeast of Belyov 134 132 27 January 1943 14:10 LaGG-3 PQ 10142south of Schlüsselburg 87♠ 86 23 August 1942 06:10 Yak-1 PQ 54234 northeast of Belyov 135 133 11 February 1943 10:15 La-5 south of Seninosouth of Lenin 88♠ 87 23 August 1942 11:48 Yak-1 PQ 54234 northeast of Belyov 136 134 18 February 1943 10:20 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10644 east of Luban 89♠ 88 23 August 1942 11:53 Yak-1 PQ 55894 east-southeast of Sukhinichi 137 135 19 February 1943 12:07 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18423 southeast of Staraya Russa 90♠ 89 23 August 1942 14:50 Yak-1 PQ 5426 west-northeast of Belyov 138 136 20 February 1943 12:15 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18463 west of Demyansk 91 90 24 August 1942 14:52 Yak-1 PQ 28131 north of Demyansk 139 137 21 February 1943 08:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18451 west-southwest of Demyansk 92 91 25 August 1942 11:50 Yak-1 PQ 47863 east-southeast of Zubtsov 140 138 21 February 1943 08:38 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18483 west-southwest of Demyansk 93 92 26 August 1942 09:35 Pe-2 PQ 47683 northeast of Zubtsov 141 139 21 February 1943 08:40 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18453 west of Demyansk 94 93 26 August 1942 14:40 Il-2 PQ 37663 west-northwest of Rzhev 142 140 21 February 1943 08:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18414 south-southeast of Staraya Russa 95 94 28 August 1942 05:10 Yak-1 PQ 47552 northeast of Rzhev 143 27 February 1943 15:14 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 18442 96 95 2 September 1942 18:15 Yak-1 PQ 10242 east-southeast of Schlüsselburg 144 141 27 February 1943 15:24 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18367 south of Staraya Russa 97 96 3 September 1942 11:30 LaGG-3 PQ 00244 southeast of Leningrad 145 142 27 February 1943 15:35 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18452 east of Krassnyj 98 97 5 September 1942 11:10 Yak-1 PQ 28433 east-northeast of Demyansk 146 143 2 March 1943 08:38 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18192 south-southeast of Staraya Russa 99 98 26 September 1942 16:17 Yak-1 PQ 28212 north-northeast of Demyansk 147♠ 144 5 March 1943 06:48 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 29773 east-northeast of Staraya Russa 100 99 30 September 1942 08:47 LaGG-3 PQ 29783 north-northwest of Demyansk 148♠ 145 5 March 1943 09:42 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 18221 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 101 100 6 October 1942 07:10 Hurricane PQ 38751 east of Ostraschkow 149♠ 146 5 March 1943 09:43 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 18222 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 102 101 6 October 1942 07:13 Yak-1 PQ 28862 west of Ostraschkow 150♠ 147 5 March 1943 13:50 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18213 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 103 102 6 November 1942 07:20 Pe-2 PQ 28112 northwest of Demyansk 151♠ 148 5 March 1943 13:57 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 18223 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 104 103 7 November 1942 08:58 LaGG-3 PQ 38741vicinity of Ostraschkow 152 149 6 March 1943 14:53 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18364 south of Staraya Russa 105 104 3 December 1942 12:35 Yak-1 southwest of Weretenjsouthwest of Lake Nevatina 153 150 6 March 1943 14:57 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18443 south-southeast of Staraya Russa 106 105 3 December 1942 13:09 LaGG-3 southeast of the airfield Bryansk

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd class (6 May 1941) 1st class (16 August 1941) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) (9 August 1941) Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Gold (20 August 1941) German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1941 as Leutnant of the Reserves in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 9 May 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54 130th Oak Leaves on 30 September 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54