Hans Beißwenger

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Template other 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn He was the son of Volksschule, a combined primary and lower secondary school, teacher.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

World War II

Assigned to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 54 based in France,Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn He claimed his first aerial victory on 7 April 1941, when he shot down a Yugoslav Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane fighter.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn 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. Template:Sfn Following the Balkans Campaign, Beißwenger was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class () on 6 May 1941.Template:Sfn

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 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.Template:Refn Beißwenger and Leutnant Horst Hannig received the Knight's Cross from General der Flieger Helmuth Förster at Siverskaya.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

On 15 August 1942, he claimed his 75th aerial victory and his 100th on 30 September,Template:Sfn for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves () on 30 September.Template:Sfn He was the 25th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.Template:Sfn 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).Template:Sfn 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".Template:Sfn 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).Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Beißwenger an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.   This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.   This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.
Claim!	Claim#	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim!	Claim#	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Template:Sfn
1	1	7 April 1941	17:50	Hurricane	south of NeusatzTemplate:Sfn	27	27	17 September 1941	17:00	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
2	2	22 June 1941	09:50	I-16Template:Sfn		28	28	17 September 1941	17:09	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
3	3	26 June 1941	09:30	SB-2Template:Sfn		29	29	23 September 1941	10:33	I-16Template:Sfn
4	4	30 June 1941	13:17	SB-2Template:Sfn		30		23 September 1941	10:33	tethered balloonTemplate:Sfn
5	5	2 July 1941	18:29	SB-2Template:Sfn		31	30	2 October 1941	09:10	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
6	6	2 July 1941	18:30	SB-2Template:Sfn		32	31	27 October 1941	13:00	SB-3Template:Sfn
7	7	2 July 1941	18:35	SB-2Template:Sfn		33	32	6 November 1941	07:35	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
8	8	6 July 1941	18:31	DB-3Template:Sfn		34	33	16 March 1942	11:45	Pe-2Template:Sfn
9	9	7 July 1941	10:55	SB-3Template:Sfn		35	34	20 March 1942	09:00	P-40Template:Sfn
10	10	17 July 1941	09:37	SB-2Template:Sfn		36	35	26 March 1942	09:05	Il-2Template:Sfn
11	11	20 July 1941	18:50	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn		37	36	29 March 1942	12:55	P-40Template:Sfn
12	12	25 July 1941	08:00	DB-3Template:Sfn		38	37	1 April 1942	08:54	I-18 (MiG-3)Template:Sfn
13	13	30 July 1941	11:20	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn		39	38	1 April 1942	08:56	I-18 (MiG-3)Template:Sfn
14	14	31 July 1941	09:12	SB-2Template:Sfn		40	39	6 April 1942	14:05	MiG-3Template:Sfn
15	15	31 July 1941	19:15	SB-2Template:Sfn		41	40	6 April 1942	14:10	MiG-3Template:Sfn
16	16	3 August 1941	12:22	I-16Template:Sfn		42	41	18 April 1942	06:26	MiG-3Template:Sfn
17	17	18 August 1941	18:36	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn		43	42	19 April 1942	18:15	LaGG-3Template:Sfn
18	18	18 August 1941	18:59	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn		44	43	20 April 1942	10:35	Yak-1Template:Sfn
19	19	20 August 1941	07:35	I-16Template:Sfn		45	44	25 April 1942	10:45	Pe-2Template:Sfn
20	20	24 August 1941	17:35	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn		46	45	27 April 1942	16:45	Yak-1Template:Sfn
21	21	7 September 1941	11:02	I-16Template:Sfn		47	46	29 April 1942	07:25	MiG-3Template:Sfn
22	22	7 September 1941	18:35	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn		48	47	29 April 1942	07:28	MiG-3Template:Sfn
23	23	8 September 1951	18:35	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn		49	48	7 May 1942	10:19	Il-2Template:Sfn
24	24	11 September 1941	18:30	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn		50	49	8 May 1942	16:10	Il-2Template:Sfn
25	25	14 September 1941	12:30	I-16Template:Sfn		51	50	8 May 1942	16:20	MiG-3Template:Sfn
26	26	14 September 1941	16:40	I-18 (MiG-1)Template:Sfn
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Template:Sfn
52	51	11 May 1942	11:53	P-40Template:Sfn		46	55	28 May 1942	15:10	Pe-2Template:Sfn
53	52	13 May 1942	17:38	P-40Template:Sfn		57	56	3 June 1942	05:47	MiG-3Template:Sfn
54	53	13 May 1942	17:45	MiG-3Template:Sfn		58	57	5 June 1942	07:20	MiG-3Template:Sfn
55	54	13 May 1942	17:45	MiG-3Template:Sfn
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Template:Sfn
59	58	7 June 1942	14:53	MiG-3Template:Sfn		107	106	4 December 1942	10:12	Il-2	southwest of SolzyTemplate:Sfn
60	59	18 July 1942	10:53	MiG-3	Bol MaljestankiTemplate:Sfn Malyushki train station	108	107	4 December 1942	13:05	La-5	south of StrelitzkyTemplate:Sfn
61	60	19 July 1942	14:58	MiG-3	SamoscheTemplate:Sfn Lamosche	109	108	5 December 1942	07:50	Il-2	north of StrelitzkyTemplate:Sfn
62	61	20 July 1942	07:05	Yak-1	MaljutschiTemplate:Sfn Malijutuji	110	109	6 December 1942	11:58	La-5	PQ 18262Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
63	62	27 July 1942	20:25	MiG-3	west of Lake WerschinaTemplate:Sfn west of Vershinaskoye	111	110	12 December 1942	13:58	LaGG-3	east of Lake WerchneTemplate:Sfn
64	63	30 July 1942	18:44	Yak-1	Malaja Nowyje GorkiTemplate:Sfn Malaya Kovejebovki	112	111	25 December 1942	12:12	Il-2	PQ 18292Template:Sfn southeast of Staraya Russa
65	64	2 August 1942	16:15	Yak-1	southwest of ZaluchyeTemplate:Sfn	113	112	29 December 1942	12:35	LaGG-3	PQ 18292Template:Sfn southeast of Staraya Russa
66	65	4 August 1942	12:23	Yak-1	LawatitzyTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Lovapischty	114	113	29 December 1942	12:53	P-39	PQ 18261Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
67	66	6 August 1942	15:26	Pe-2	east-southeast of GzhatskTemplate:Sfn	115	114	30 December 1942	11:45Template:Refn	LaGG-3	PQ 18153Template:Sfn northwest of Demyansk
68	67	6 August 1942	19:20	Yak-1	east of ZubtsovTemplate:Sfn	116	115	30 December 1942	12:15	La-5	PQ 18264Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
69	68	6 August 1942	19:26	Yak-1	east of ZubtsovTemplate:Sfn	117	116	30 December 1942	14:05	LaGG-3	PQ 28113Template:Sfn northwest of Demyansk
70	69	8 August 1942	16:13	Yak-1	south of PogareljeTemplate:Sfn southeast of Pogorskoje	118	117	30 December 1942	14:12	LaGG-3	PQ 19677Template:Sfn east-northeast of Staraya Russa
71	70	9 August 1942	09:36	Yak-1	southwest of Nowaja-AlexandrowkaTemplate:Sfn southwest of Kowaja-Alekandrovka	119	118	5 January 1943	09:55	La-5	PQ 18231Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
72	71	9 August 1942	09:39	Yak-1	southwest of Nowaja-AlexandrowkaTemplate:Sfn southwest of Kowaja-Alekandrovka	120	119	5 January 1943	10:15	La-5	PQ 28121Template:Sfn northwest of Demyansk
73	72	9 August 1942	09:42	Yak-1	west of NikolskayaTemplate:Sfn	121		7 January 1943	09:23	LaGG-3	PQ 18231Template:Sfn
74	73	9 August 1942	09:46	Yak-1	west of NikolskayaTemplate:Sfn	122	120	7 January 1943	10:39Template:Refn	Il-2	PQ 19891Template:Sfn east-northeast of Staraya Russa
75	74	10 August 1942	18:40	Yak-1	northwest of RzhevTemplate:Sfn	123	121	14 January 1943	12:15	La-5	PQ 10411Template:Sfn east-southeast of Mga
76	75	10 August 1942	18:41	Yak-1	northwest of RzhevTemplate:Sfn	124	122	14 January 1943	12:45	P-40	PQ 00254Template:Sfn west-southwest of Schlüsselburg
77	76	11 August 1942	09:36	Pe-2	southeast of SsosnedowoTemplate:Sfn southeast of Tsossedowo	125	123	15 January 1943	09:50	LaGG-3	PQ 18263Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
78	77	11 August 1942	09:37	Pe-2	southeast of SsosnedowoTemplate:Sfn east of Tsossedowo	126	124	15 January 1943	09:55	LaGG-3	PQ 18244Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
79	78	12 August 1942	17:30	Il-2	north-northwest of RzhevTemplate:Sfn	127	125	15 January 1943	10:05	P-39	PQ 28142Template:Sfn northwest of Demyansk
80	79	14 August 1942	18:30	Yak-1	PQ 47554Template:Sfn northwest of Rzhev	128	126	24 January 1943	08:25	P-40	PQ 00262Template:Sfn southwest of Schlüsselburg
81	80	15 August 1942	05:47	Yak-1	PQ 47344Template:Sfn east-northeast of Zubtsov	129	127	24 January 1943	10:30	LaGG-3	PQ 10182Template:Sfn east of Mga
82	81	15 August 1942	10:20	Yak-1	PQ 47592Template:Sfn north of Rzhev	130	128	25 January 1943	10:05	PS-40	PQ 00233Template:Sfn west of Schlüsselburg
83	82	19 August 1942	12:23	LaGG-3	PQ 54162Template:Sfn south of Sukhinichi	131	129	26 January 1943	08:55	MiG-3	PQ 00293Template:Sfn west of Mga
84	83	21 August 1942	06:10	Yak-1	PQ 55853Template:Sfn east of Sukhinichi	132	130	26 January 1943	11:05	LaGG-3	PQ 10142Template:Sfn south of Schlüsselburg
85	84	21 August 1942	06:23	Yak-1	PQ 55853Template:Sfn east of Sukhinichi	133	131	27 January 1943	14:05	LaGG-3	PQ 10153Template:Sfn southeast of Schlüsselburg
86♠	85	23 August 1942	06:10	Pe-2	PQ 54253Template:Sfn west-northeast of Belyov	134	132	27 January 1943	14:10	LaGG-3	PQ 10142Template:Sfn south of Schlüsselburg
87♠	86	23 August 1942	06:10	Yak-1	PQ 54234Template:Sfn northeast of Belyov	135	133	11 February 1943	10:15	La-5	south of SeninoTemplate:Sfn south of Lenin
88♠	87	23 August 1942	11:48	Yak-1	PQ 54234Template:Sfn northeast of Belyov	136	134	18 February 1943	10:20	La-5	PQ 36 Ost 10644Template:Sfn east of Luban
89♠	88	23 August 1942	11:53	Yak-1	PQ 55894Template:Sfn east-southeast of Sukhinichi	137	135	19 February 1943	12:07Template:Refn	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18423Template:Sfn southeast of Staraya Russa
90♠	89	23 August 1942	14:50	Yak-1	PQ 5426Template:Sfn west-northeast of Belyov	138	136	20 February 1943	12:15	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18463Template:Sfn west of Demyansk
91	90	24 August 1942	14:52	Yak-1	PQ 28131Template:Sfn north of Demyansk	139	137	21 February 1943	08:35	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18451Template:Sfn west-southwest of Demyansk
92	91	25 August 1942	11:50	Yak-1	PQ 47863Template:Sfn east-southeast of Zubtsov	140	138	21 February 1943	08:38	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18483Template:Sfn west-southwest of Demyansk
93	92	26 August 1942	09:35	Pe-2	PQ 47683Template:Sfn northeast of Zubtsov	141	139	21 February 1943	08:40	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18453Template:Sfn west of Demyansk
94	93	26 August 1942	14:40	Il-2	PQ 37663Template:Sfn west-northwest of Rzhev	142	140	21 February 1943	08:45	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18414Template:Sfn south-southeast of Staraya Russa
95	94	28 August 1942	05:10	Yak-1	PQ 47552Template:Sfn northeast of Rzhev	143		27 February 1943	15:14	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 18442Template:Sfn
96	95	2 September 1942	18:15	Yak-1	PQ 10242Template:Sfn east-southeast of Schlüsselburg	144	141	27 February 1943	15:24	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18367Template:Sfn south of Staraya Russa
97	96	3 September 1942	11:30	LaGG-3	PQ 00244Template:Sfn southeast of Leningrad	145	142	27 February 1943	15:35	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 18452Template:Sfn east of Krassnyj
98	97	5 September 1942	11:10Template:Refn	Yak-1	PQ 28433Template:Sfn east-northeast of Demyansk	146	143	2 March 1943	08:38	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18192Template:Sfn south-southeast of Staraya Russa
99	98	26 September 1942	16:17Template:Refn	Yak-1	PQ 28212Template:Sfn north-northeast of Demyansk	147♠	144	5 March 1943	06:48	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 29773Template:Sfn east-northeast of Staraya Russa
100	99	30 September 1942	08:47	LaGG-3	PQ 29783Template:Sfn north-northwest of Demyansk	148♠	145	5 March 1943	09:42	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 18221Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
101	100	6 October 1942	07:10	Hurricane	PQ 38751Template:Sfn east of Ostraschkow	149♠	146	5 March 1943	09:43	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 18222Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
102	101	6 October 1942	07:13	Yak-1	PQ 28862Template:Sfn west of Ostraschkow	150♠	147	5 March 1943	13:50	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 18213Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
103	102	6 November 1942	07:20	Pe-2	PQ 28112Template:Sfn northwest of Demyansk	151♠	148	5 March 1943	13:57	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 18223Template:Sfn east-southeast of Staraya Russa
104	103	7 November 1942	08:58	LaGG-3	PQ 3874Template:Sfn1 vicinity of Ostraschkow	152	149	6 March 1943	14:53	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18364Template:Sfn south of Staraya Russa
105	104	3 December 1942	12:35	Yak-1	southwest of WeretenjTemplate:Sfn southwest of Lake Nevatina	153	150	6 March 1943	14:57	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 18443Template:Sfn south-southeast of Staraya Russa
106	105	3 December 1942	13:09	LaGG-3	southeast of the airfield BryanskTemplate:Sfn

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd class (6 May 1941)Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
  • 1st class (16 August 1941)Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) (9 August 1941)Template:Sfn
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Gold (20 August 1941)Template:Sfn
• German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1941 as Leutnant of the Reserves in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54Template:Sfn
• 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 54Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Refn
  • 130th Oak Leaves on 30 September 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Refn

See also

• List of people who disappeared