Theodor Weissenberger

Infobox Military Person
name=Theodor Weissenberger
born=birth date|1914|12|21|df=y
died=death date and age|1950|6|10|1914|12|21|df=y
placeofbirth=Mühlheim am Main
placeofdeath=Nürburgring


caption=Theodor Weissenberger
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1936-1945
rank=Major
commands=III./JG 6, I./JG 7, JG 7
unit=JG 77, JG 5, JG 7
battles=World War II
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=

Major Theodor Weissenberger (born 21 December 1914 in Mühlheim am Main, killed in a car racing accident 10 June 1950 on the Nürburgring) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the end of World War II in 1945. He flew more than 500 combat missions claiming 208 enemy aircraft shot down. 33 claims were made on the Western Front, including some 7 heavy bombers.

World War II

Despite his excellent talents as a fighter pilot, Weissenberger's casual often 'non-military' attitude meant he often got into trouble with his superiors regarding discipline.

Between September 1941 and May 1944, he flew some 350 missions in Jagdgeschwader 5 on the Arctic Front and claimed some 175 victories over the Soviet Air Forces.

I/JG 5 transferred to the Western Front in mid 1944 and through June and July 1944, Weissenberger flew 26 sorties and was credited with 25 victories over the Invasion Front at Normandy (his claims were half the total score by the whole unit, I./JG 5, during this period).

Weissenberger converted to the Messerschmitt Me 262 Jet fighter in the second half of 1944. In November 1944 he was asked to command I./JG 7.

On New Year's Day 1945 Theo Weissenberger merried his teenage love Cilly Vogel. Best man at his wedding was Walter Schuck. [Walter Schuck, Abschuss! page 184]

Promoted to Major on 1 January 1945, Weissenberger was put in command of JG 7 as Geschwaderkommodore. He is credited with 8 confirmed victories while flying the Me 262. [For a list of Luftwaffe Jet aces see "List of German World War II Jet aces"] .

Weissenberger became a motor racing driver after the war and was killed at the infamous Nürburgring circuit on 10 June 1950.

Awards

* German Cross in Gold (8 September 1942)
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (13 November 1942)
** 266. Oak Leaves (2 August 1943)
* Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht

He was recommended by Oberstleutnant Johannes Steinhoff for the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords after his 200th aerial victory. This request was declined on 20 February 1945 [Florian Berger, page 395] .

References

* Berger, Florian. "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Wien, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
*cite web |title=Lexikon der Wehrmacht|work=Theodor Weissenberger|url=http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/WeissenbergerT-R.htm|accessdate=27 March|accessyear=2007
* Murawski, Erich. "Der deutsche Wehrmachtbericht 1939 - 1945, vom 1.7.1944 bis zum 9.5.1945". Schriften des Bundesarchivs 9, Boppoard am Rhein: Harald Boldt Verlag, 1962
* Patzwall, Klaus D. & Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
* Schaulen, Fritjof, "Eichenlaubträger 1940-1940 Band III Radusch-Zwernemann". Pour le Mérite, 2005. ISBN 3-932381-22-X.
* Schuck, Walter (2007), "Abschuss! Von der Me 109 zur Me 262 Erinnerungen an die Luftkämpfe beim Jagdgeschwader 5 und 7". Helios Verlags- und Buchvertriebsgesellschaft, 2007. ISBN 978-3-938208-44-1.