Hans Beißwenger

Infobox Military Person
name=Hans Beißwenger
lived=8 November 1916 – 6 March 1943
placeofbirth=Mittelfischach, Schwäbisch Hall
placeofdeath=south of Staraya Russa, Soviet union


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
serviceyears=1937-1943
rank=Oberleutnant
branch=Luftwaffe
commands=6./JG 54
unit=JG 54
battles=World War II
*Balkans Campaign
*Operation Barbarossa
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=

Hans Beißwenger (born 8 November 1916 in Mittelfischach, Schwäbisch Hall, Killed in action on 7 August 1944 south of Staraya Russa, Soviet union) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II.

Biography

Hans Beißwenger was born on 8 November 1916 at Mittelfischach in the district of Schwäbisch Hall, Württemberg.

In 1937 he transferred from the army to the Flak artillery. In 1938, he underwent fighter pilot training and became an instructor and served in this role until winter 1940. In the winter 1940, Beißwenger was transferred to JG 54. Leutnant Beisswenger was assigned to 6./JG 54 and claimed his first victory on 7 April 1941, when he shot down a Yugoslavian Hawker Hurricane fighter during the Balkans Campaign.

Over the Eastern front front, serving with 3./JG 54, Beißwenger became a leading scorer in I./JG 54. Leutnant Beißwenger was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 May 1942 for 50 victories. On 11 August 1942, Beißwenger was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 54. Beißwenger was awarded the Oak Leaves on 30 September. By the end of 1942 his victory total stood at 119.

Oberleutnant Hans Beisswenger was posted as missing after an air combat near Lake Ilmen on March 6, 1943. His Schwarm was engaged in a combat with four Soviet fighters. Beißwenger claimed his last two victories, numbers 151 and 152, that day. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 of his wingman Unteroffizier Georg Munderloh was damaged, and Munderloh reported that he would try to reach his base. He was later listed as missing in action. After that, there was no trace of Beißwenger. It is assumed that Beißwenger was brought down by "Starshiy Leytenant" Ivan Kholodov of 32 GIAP. Kholodov rammed the Bf 109 that was attacking his wingman, "Leytenant" Arkadiy Makarov, and managed to bail out.

Hans Beißwenger was credited with 152 victories in over 500 combat missions. He claimed all but one of his victories over the Eastern front.

Awards

* German Cross in Gold (17 October 1941)
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (9 May 1942)
** 130. Oak Leaves (30 September 1942)

References

*cite web|title=Aces of the Luftwaffe|work=Hans Beißwenger| url= http://www.luftwaffe.cz/beisswenger.html| accessdate=17 December|accessyear=2007
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* 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.