Ludwig Franzisket

Ludwig Franzisket

Ludwig Franzisket
Born 26 June 1917(1917-06-26)
Düsseldorf
Died 23 November 1988(1988-11-23) (aged 71)
Münster
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 193? – 1945
Rank Major
Unit Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 1
Jagdgeschwader 27
Commands held Jagdgeschwader 27
Battles/wars

World War II
Awards Knight's Cross
Other work director of the Westfälisches Museum für Naturkunde

Prof. Dr. Ludwig Franzisket (born 26 June 1917 in Düsseldorf – died 23 November 1988 in Münster) was a German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] He scored all of his 43 victories against the Western Allies in over 500 combat missions whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

Contents

War Time Service

Franzisket initially served with Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) prior to the out break of war, and then transferred 1./Jagdgeschwader 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./Jagdgeschwader 27 (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 Royal Air Force (RAF) Spitfires. As he bailed 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 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bombers. On 15 December 1944 Franzisket joined the Geschwaderstab of JG 27, and then was appointed Geschwaderkommodore 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. His younger brother Max, born 22 August 1918 in Düsseldorf, was a Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1) and was killed in action on 19 July 1943 on the Eastern Front.

Academic career

After World War II Ludwig Franzisket went to the University of Münster and attained a Doctor of Philosophy (German: Doktor abbreviated Dr.) in Biology. He later became a Professor and director of the Westfälisches Museum für Naturkunde.

Awards

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Friday, 4 July 1941 In Luftkämpfen der letzten Tage errang Hauptmann Oesau seinen 54., Oberleutnant Franziskat seinen 21. Luftsieg.[6] Hauptmann Oesau achieved his 54th, Oberleutnant Franziskat his 21st aerial victory in aerial combat of the last days.

Works

References

Citations
  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ Prien, Rodeike and Stemmer 1998, p. 437.
  3. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 113.
  4. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 317.
  5. ^ Patzwall and Scherzer 2001, p. 121.
  6. ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 1, p. 606.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Kurowski, Franz. German Fighter Ace: Hans-Joachim Marseille: Star of Africa. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History, 1994. ISBN 0-88740-517-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
  • Prien, Jochen & Rodeike, Peter & Stemmer, Gerhard (1998). Messerschmidt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei Stab und I./Jagdgeschwader 27 1939 - 1945. struve-druck, Eutin. ISBN 3-923457-46-4.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939 - 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Scutts, Jerry. Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean. London: Osprey Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85532-448-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 0-8041-1696-2.
  • Weal, John. Jagdgeschwader 27 'Afrika'. London: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-841765-38-4.
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941. München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 3-423059443. 

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Gustav Rödel		 Commander of Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika
30 December 1944 – 8 May 1945		 Succeeded by
none