Ludwig Franzisket

Infobox Military Person
name=Ludwig Franzisket
lived=birth date|1917|6|26|df=y — death date and age|1988|11|23|1917|6|26|df=y


caption=Ludwig Franzisket
nickname=
placeofbirth=Düsseldorf
placeofdeath=Münster
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=193?-1945
rank=Major
commands=Jagdgeschwader 27
unit=Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 1
Jagdgeschwader 27
battles=World War II
*Invasion of Poland
*Battle of France
*Battle of Britain
*North African Campaign
*Defense of the Reich
awards=Knight's Cross
laterwork=

Major Ludwig Franzisket (born 26 June, 1917 in Düsseldorf – died 23 November, 1988 in Münster) was a German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He scored all of his 43 victories against the Western Allies in over 500 combat missions whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

War Time Service

Franzisket initially served with JG 26 prior to the out break of war, and then transferred 1./JG 1 on the 1 August 1939. On 11 May 1940, Franzisket claimed his first two victories, ending the French campaign with nine kills. On 9 July 1./JG 1 was redesignated 7./JG 27.

On 1 October 1940 Franzisket was appointed Adjutant of I./JG 27. Franzisket had achieved 14 victories at the time of the units relocation to North Africa. A notable success in this period occurred on 14 June 1941 when Franzisket intercepted and shot down South African ace Captain Ken Driver. Oberleutnant Franzisket was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 July for 22 victories in 204 missions.

Franzisket was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 27 on 6 December 1941. With his score at 39, Frankisket was shot down on 29 October 1942 by RAF Spitfires. As he baled out of Bf 109 (W.Nr. 10616) he struck the vertical stabilizer, a fate suffered by his close friend and fellow ace Hans-Joachim Marseille just four weeks before, breaking his leg.

After recovering Franzisket led 1./Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Süd unit from 1 July 1943 and was then appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27 based in Germany. On 12 May 1944 Franzisket’s Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 441097) was badly wounded in combat with USAF bombers. On 15 December 1944 Franzisket joined the Geschwaderstab of JG 27, and then was appointed "Kommodore" of JG 27 on 30 December 1944.

Franzisket surrendered with the remnants of his unit to American Forces at Salzburg, Austria on 8 May 1945.

Awards

* Iron Cross
** 2nd Class
** 1st Class
* Knight's Cross
** Knight's Cross (23 July 1941)
* German Cross in Gold (12 January 1943)

References

* Scutts, Jerry. "Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean". London: Osprey Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85532-448-2.
* Weal, John. "Jagdgeschwader 27 'Afrika"'. London: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-841765-38-4.
* Kurowski, Franz. "German Fighter Ace: Hans-Joachim Marseille: Star of Africa". Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 1994. ISBN 0-88740-517-7.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.