Hans Schleef

Hans Schleef
Born	19 July 1920 Groß Börnecke, Germany
Died	31 December 1944 Bad Durkheim, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–44
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	JG 3, JG 5, JG 4
Battles/wars	World War II Eastern Front Operation Zitadelle Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans Schleef (19 July 1920 – 31 December 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. He is one of the two pilots that most probably shot down the famous Soviet female fighter pilot, Lydia Litvyak.

During the war

Schleef was born in Groß Börnecke, today part of Hecklingen, in the Province of Saxony, a province of the Free State of Prussia. In late 1940, Unteroffizier Schleef was posted to 7./JG 3 (7th staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3) then flying over the Channel front. He claimed his first victory on 5 February 1941, when he shot down a Hurricane over St Omer.^[1] His second claim was on 31 May, a Bristol Blenheim. Transferring with the unit to the Eastern Front, Schleef claimed 14 victories in July and on 4 August, he then claimed three Russian I-16 'Ratas' downed.

From November, over the winter, III./JG 3 was rotated from the front for recuperation, and including a short stint in Italy in January before returning to the Eastern Front in February. Quickly re-acclimatising to the Russian conditions, Hans scored 13 victories in March 1942 and two more unconfirmed.

On 7 April Schleef was shot down in combat and managed to bale out safely behind enemy lines. He evaded capture, and returned to his unit four days later. Feldwebel Schleef was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 9 May 1942 for 41 victories. He was then transferred to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost as an instructor in May 1942.

Now commissioned, Leutnant Schleef returned to 7./JG 3 in January 1943, and in April recorded his 60th victory, his 70th following on 2 June. For Operation Zitadelle, the attack on the Kursk salient, III./JG 3 was stationed at Bessonovka supporting the southern flank. On 5 July, the opening day, he shot down a Lavochkin La-5 at 6:30am, but was forced to make a crash-landing in the German lines. However, he got back to his unit and later that same day he shot down another three enemy aircraft.^[2] The next day, Schleef claimed his 80th and 81st victories. But within a week, his unit was transferred and fighting defensive battles in the Ukraine. He achieved his 90th on 30 July. Two days later, on August the 1st, he claimed his final victory on the Mius Front - a LaGG-3 that was, most probably, the Yak-1 flown by Soviet female ace, Lydia Litvyak. A few days after that, in early August 1943, 7./JG 3 was transferred to Germany to fly anti-bomber sorties in the Defense of the Reich. Hans Schleef arrived in Germany with 93 victories to his name.

He shot down his first B-17 bomber on 12 August, though he himself was shot down on 17 August (Bf 109G-6 "White 4" Werknummer 20444—factory number).^[3] On 15 October 1943, Oberleutnant Schleef was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 3. On 23 March, Schleef inadvertently taxied his Bf 109G-5 "Yellow 4" (Werknummer 110215) into the slipstream of an Heinkel He 177 just as it was taking off, which flipped Schleef’s aircraft over; Schleef was rescued with only minor injuries.

On 21 July 1944 Schleef was transferred as Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 5 in August, which was redesignated as 16./JG 4 in October 1944. Schleef was killed in aerial combat with Royal Air Force Spitfires near Bad Durkheim in his Bf 109 G-10 "Blue 4" (Werknummer 490758) on 31 December 1944.^[4]

Hans Schleef was credited with 99 victories (and at least 2 more unconfirmed) in over 500 missions. He recorded 91 victories over the Eastern Front, including 15 Il-2 Sturmoviks. Of his eight victories recorded over the Western Front, 2 were four-engine bombers.

Awards

Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (23 September 1941)^[5]
German Cross in Gold on 4 May 1942 as Feldwebel in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 3^[6]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 May 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"^[7]

Victories

No	Date	Time	Unit & Airfield	Gruppe Kommandeur^[8]	Location / Planquad	Claimed Aircraft	Source / Comments^[9]
1-	5 February 1941	13.40	7./JG 3 - Desvres	Hptm Walter Oesau		Hurricane	C.2036/II, Nr.60067/41
2	31 May ‘41	17.43	7./JG 3 - Lillers	Hptm Walter Oesau		Blenheim
-	24 Jun ‘41	?	7./JG 3 - Moderovka	Hptm Walter Oesau		?
-	27 Jun ‘41	?	7./JG 3 - Hostynne	Hptm Walter Oesau		?
3	2 Jul ‘41	18.06	7./JG 3 - Hostynne	Hptm Walter Oesau		I-16	Prien/Bock
4	2 Jul ‘41	18.10	7./JG 3 - Hostynne	Hptm Walter Oesau		I-16
5	6 Jul ’41	17.25	7./JG 3 - Hostynne	Hptm Walter Oesau		SB-2	Prien/Bock
6	10 Jul ’41	18.38	7./JG 3 - Polonnoje	Hptm Walter Oesau		I-16	Prien/Bock
7	15 Jul ’41	15.51	7./JG 3 - Polonnoje	Hptm Walter Oesau		I-16	Prien/Bock
8	15 Jul ’41	16.02	7./JG 3 - Polonnoje	Hptm Walter Oesau		DB-3	Prien/Bock
9	16 Jul ’41	15.26	7./JG 3 - Polonnoje	Hptm Walter Oesau		SB-3	Prien/Bock
10	16 Jul ’41	15.26	7./JG 3 - Polonnoje	Hptm Walter Oesau		SB-2	Prien/Bock
11	23 Jul ’41	13.41	7./JG 3 – Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Walter Oesau		DB-3	Prien/Bock
12	24 Jul ’41	14.04	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Walter Oesau		DB-3	Prien/Bock
13	25 Jul ’41	18.53	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Walter Oesau		SB-3	Prien/Bock
14	26 Jul ’41	6.42	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Walter Oesau		I-153	Prien/Bock
15	26 Jul ’41	10.02	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Walter Oesau	8 km SE of Taraschtscha	SB-3	Prien/Bock
16	26 Jul ’41	10.04	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Walter Oesau	8 km SE of Taraschtscha	SB-3	Prien/Bock
17	29 Jul ’41	7.36	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	-		R-5	Prien/Bock
18	29 Jul ’41	7.42	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	-		Pe-2	Prien/Bock
19	4 Aug ’41	6.08	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Werner Andres		I-16	Prien/Bock
20	4 Aug ’41	6.12	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Werner Andres		I-16	Prien/Bock
21	4 Aug ’41	7.52	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Werner Andres		I-16	Prien/Bock
22	10 Aug ’41	10.40	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Werner Andres		I-16	Prien/Bock
23	11 Aug ’41	5.24	7./JG 3 - Bjelaja Cerkov	Hptm Werner Andres		SB-2	Prien/Bock
24	20 February 1942	12.36	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100561/43
25	22 Feb ’42	13.18	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100561/43
26	27 Feb ’42	10.48	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100561/43
27	4 Mar ’42	9.06	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		U-2	C.2036/II, Nr.100561/43
28	9 Mar ’42	9.00	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100561/43
29	17 Mar ’42	9.48	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100561/43
-	18 Mar ’42	17.38	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres	10 km NW Mury: 2000m	I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2034 – not confirmed
-	18 Mar ’42	18.10	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres	N of Ramenschewo: low level	U-2	C.2034 – not confirmed
30	19 Mar ’42	15.56	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100561/43
31	19 Mar ’42	16.03	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		SB-3	C.2036/II, Nr.100561/43
32	20 Mar ’42	7.30	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
33	22 Mar ’42	13.15	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		Il-2	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
34	23 Mar ’42	10.33	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		?
35	28 Mar ’42	13.52	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
36	28 Mar ’42	13.54	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-301 (LaGG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
37	29 Mar ’42	7.53	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		U-2	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
38	30 Mar ’42	9.58	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
39	30 Mar ’42	15.22	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		I-61 (MiG-3)	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
40	6 Apr ’42	16.41	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		Il-2	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
41	6 Apr ’42	16.43	7./JG 3 - Szolzy	Hptm Werner Andres		Il-2	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
42	22 May ’42	18.03	7./JG 3 - Tschugujev	Maj Karl-Heinz Greisert		Il-2	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
43	22 May ’42	18.05	7./JG 3 - Tschugujev	Maj Karl-Heinz Greisert		MiG-3	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
44	23 May ’42	6.30	7./JG 3 - Tschugujev	Maj Karl-Heinz Greisert		MiG-3	C.2036/II, Nr.100562/43
45	23 May ’42	12.32	7./JG 3 - Tschugujev	Maj Karl-Heinz Greisert	3 km E of Weskloje: 500m	Il-2	C.2034, A. Nr.177
46	27 May ’42	4.18	7./JG 3 - Tschugujev	Maj Karl-Heinz Greisert		MiG-3	C.2036/II, Nr.102276/43
47	30 Jun ‘42	7.42	7./JG 3 - Schtschigry	Maj Karl-Heinz Greisert		Il-2	C.2036/II, Nr.103289/43
48	27 Feb ‘43	14.30	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	9 km SE of Izyum: low level	P-2	C.2035/I, A.Nr.209
49	27 Feb ‘43	14.40	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	1km W of Gregenskoye: 50m	U-2	C.2035/I, A.Nr.210
50	27 Feb ‘43	?	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald		?
51	2 Mar ‘43	14.30	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	1km S of Wolinskaya: 600m	MiG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.211
52	12 Mar ‘43	8.08	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	1km S of Kupyansk: 100m	MiG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.213
53	13 Mar ‘43	11.34	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	S of Pchetanoye: 50m	Il-2	C.2032/II, A.Nr.215
54	15 Mar ‘43	6.54	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	60 130: 800m	Boston	C.2032/II, A.Nr.216
55	18 Mar ‘43	9.45	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	7km N of Cherkoff: 300m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.222
56	22 Mar ‘43	12.32	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	Rostov: 2000m	LaGG-5	C.2032/II
57	31 Mar ‘43	10.00	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	10km S of Bataysk: 4800m	MiG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.224
58	3 Apr ‘43	13.15	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	1km SW of Izyum: 2500m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.229
59	3 Apr ‘43	16.40	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	6km SW of Izyum: 50m	Il-2	C.2032/II, A.Nr.230
60	4 Apr ‘43	9.56	7./JG 3 - Pavlograd	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	1km S of Izyum: 100m	Il-2	C.2032/II, A.Nr.232
61	7 May ‘43	4.13	7./JG 3 - Krasmatorskaya	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	NW of Slaviansk: 1500m	Boston	C.2032/II, A.Nr.237
62	7 May ’43	4.14	7./JG 3 - Krasmatorskaya	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	NW Slaviansk: 1500m	Boston	C.2032/II, A.Nr.238
63	22 May ‘43	12.13	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	W of Olschawka: 900m	La-5	C.2032/II, A.Nr.240
64	22 May ‘43	12.18	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	E of Wesselyj: 500m	MiG-3	C.2032/II, A Nr.241
65	22 May ‘43	12.32	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	Eof Gresnoje: 50m	MiG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.242
66	29 May ‘43	6.58	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	SE of Platowo: 3000m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.243
67	29 May ‘43	7.04	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	SE of Platowo: 3500m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.244
68	29 May ‘43	17.05	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	N of Dsershinsk: 4500m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.245
69	29 May ‘43	17.20	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	W of Nowo-Aidar: 50m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr.246
70	2 Jun ‘43	10.35	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	S of Kursk: 5500m	La-5	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 247
71	10 Jun ‘43	8.30	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	E of Novo-Astrakhan: 3000m	La-5	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 248
72	14 Jun ‘43	14.33	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	W of Nishnaja-Duwenka: 2500m	La-5	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 250
73	15 Jun ‘43	17.32	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	N of Starobelsk: 3500m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 251
74	15 Jun ‘43	17.36	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	N of Starobelsk: 3000m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 252
75	16 Jun ‘43	18.20	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	NE of Starobelsk: 4000m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 253
76	5 Jul ‘43	6.35	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	N of Tomarewka: 2000m	La-5	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 260
77	5 Jul ‘43	15.22	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	E of Belgorod: 800m	Il-5 (?)	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 268
78	5 Jul ‘43	15.24	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	E of Belgorod: 800m	Il-2	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 270
79	5 Jul ‘43	15.26	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	E of Belgorod: 1000m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 271
80	6 Jul ‘43	15.10	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	W of Nikolskoye: 1000m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 278
81	6 Jul ‘43	19.15	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	S of Goroditsche	La-5	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 270
82	9 Jul ‘43	6.20	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	NNE of Prokorovka: low-level	La-5	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 289
83	11 Jul ‘43	10.06	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	W of Prokorovka: 300m	Il-2	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 284
84	14 Jul ‘43	12.33	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	W of Leski: 3800m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 288
85	14 Jul ‘43	12.49	7./JG 3 - Bessonovka	Maj Wolfgang Ewald	W of Wesselyj: 1500m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 290
86	17 Jul ‘43	15.20	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	-	1 km N of Chervonyy-Oskol: 1800m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 292
87	21 Jul ‘43	9.43	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Hptm Walther Dahl	1 km S of Bogoroditskoye: 100m	P-39	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 294
88	21 Jul ‘43	9.46	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Hptm Walther Dahl	2 km SE of Bogoroditskoye: 200m	Il-2	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 296
89	21 Jul ‘43	9.49	7./JG 3 - Feldflugplatz "Uhu"	Hptm Walther Dahl	5 km E of Bogoroditskoye: 250m	Il-2	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 297
90	30 Jul ‘43	11.00	7./JG 3 - Makejevka	Hptm Walther Dahl	3 km E of Marinovka: 200m	Il-2	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 307
91	30 Jul ‘43	11.05	7./JG 3 - Makejevka	Hptm Walther Dahl	E of Marinovka: 400m	LaGG-3	C.2032/II, A.Nr. 305
92	31 Jul ‘43	7.32	7./JG 3 - Makejevka	Hptm Walther Dahl		?
93	1 Aug ‘43	5.25	7./JG 3 - Makejevka	Hptm Walther Dahl	SE of Stepanowka: 2500m	LaGG-3	C.2035/I; Lydia Litvyak of 296.IAP
94	12 Aug ‘43	9.18	7./JG 3 - Makejevka	Hptm Walther Dahl	3 km N of Konigswinter: 8500m	B-17	C.2031/II, A.Nr 316
95	6 Sep ‘43	11.32	7./JG 3 - Makejevka	Hptm Walther Dahl		B-17	Prien: JG 3 list f.501
96	22 February 1944	12.17	3./JG 3 - Mönchen-Gladbach	Hptm Josef Haiböck	S of Tilburg [LL-1]: 6100m	P-47	C.2025/I, A.Nr 62
97	8 Mar '44	13.40	3./JG 3 - Magdeburg	Hptm Karl-Heinz Langer	near Loburg-Görzke: 7500m	P-51	C.2025/I, A.Nr 165
98	12 Dec '44	15.45	16./JG 4 - Frankfurt	Hptm Franz-Josef Wienhusen	W of Ludwigshaven [05OstS/SR8]: 1200m	P-47	C.2027/II
99	23 Dec '44	9.41	16./JG 4 - Frankfurt	Hptm Ernst-Albert Laube	near Wittlich [05OstS/RO]: 3600m	P-47	C.2027/II
†	31 Dec '44	?	16./JG 4 - Frankfurt	Hptm Ernst-Albert Laube	near Bad Durkheim	-	^[10]

References

Citations

↑ Aces of the Luftwaffe website.
↑ Bergström 2007, p. 31.
↑ Aces of the Luftwaffe website.
↑ Aces of the Luftwaffe website.
↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 195.
↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 407.
↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 378.
↑ Luftwaffe Air Units: Single–Engined Fighters website.
↑ Aces of the Luftwaffe website.
↑ Aces of the Luftwaffe website.

Bibliography

Bergström. Christer (2007). Kursk – The Air Battle, July 1943. Classic Publications ISBN 1903223881
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
Jackson, Robert. Air Aces of WWII. Ramsbury, MarloboRugh, Vital Guide, Airlife Crowood Press, 2003. ISBN 1-84037-412-8.
Milanetti, Gian Piero (2011). Le Streghe della Notte: La storia non detta delle eroiche ragazze-pilota dell'Unione Sovietica nella Grande Guerra Patriottica (in Italian). Istituto Bibliografico Napoleone, Roma, Italia. ISBN 88-7565-100-0.
Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Weal, John (2007). More Bf109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-84176-084-6.
Weal, John (2006). Bf109 Defence of the Reich Aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-84176-879-0.

External links

"Aces of the Luftwaffe". Hans Schleef. Retrieved 20 February 2008. with complete victory list
Horrido1 - World War II Autographed Photos at home.pacbell.net

Military offices
Preceded by Hptm Rudolf Germeroth	Squadron Leader of 3./JG 3 15 October 1943 – 20 July 1944	Succeeded by Ltn Dietrich Stiebler
Preceded by Oblt Lorenz Andresen	Squadron Leader of 8./JG 5 21 July 1944 – 20 October 1944	Succeeded by unit renamed 16./JG 4
Preceded by new unit	Squadron Leader of 16./JG 4 20 October 1944 – 31 December 1944	Succeeded by unknown

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"

Viktor Bauer (Oak Leaves) Franz Beyer Emil Bitsch Eberhard von Boremski Kurt Brändle (Oak Leaves) Max Bucholz Walther Dahl¹ (Oak Leaves) Kurt Ebener Siegfried Engfer Wolf-Udo Ettel (Oak Leaves) Wolfgang Ewald Gustav Frielinghaus Hans Fuß Werner Gerth Gordon Gollob² (Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds) Hans Grünberg Horst Haase Ludwig Häfner Hans von Hahn Josef Haiböck Alfred Heckmann Ekhard Hübner Lothar Keller Heinz Kemethmüller Joachim Kirschner (Oak Leaves) Karl-Heinz Langer Wilhelm Lemke (Oak Leaves) Werner Lucas Günther Lützow (Oak Leaves & Swords) Helmut Meckel Helmut Mertens Georg Michalek Wilhelm Moritz Leopold Münster (Oak Leaves) Klaus Neumann Walter Oesau³ (Oak Leaves & Swords) Walter Ohlrogge Klaus Quaet-Faslem Detlev Rohwer Helmut Rüffler Franz Ruhl Georg Schentke Hans Schleef Winfrid Schmidt Werner Schröer⁴ (Oak Leaves & Swords) Franz Schwaiger Kurt Sochatzy Ekkehard Tichy Willy Unger Hans Weik Franz von Werra Otto Weßling (Oak Leaves) Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke⁵ (Oak Leaves & Swords) Oskar Zimmermann

¹ Oak Leaves with JG 300. ² Swords and Diamonds with JG 77. ³ Knight's Cross with JG 51. ⁴ Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves with JG 27. ⁵ Knight's Cross with JG 53.

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