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Hans Beißwenger〔His name, in German, is spelled with a "sharp S"; see ß.〕 (8 November 1916 – 6 March 1943) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.〔Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.〕 In 500 combat missions, Beißwenger was credited with 152 victories, making him the 34th highest-scoring Luftwaffe fighter pilot of World War II. He was "ace-in-a-day" twice, shooting down five aircraft on a single day. He claimed all but one of his victories over the Eastern Front.〔MacLean 2007, p. 61.〕 He was reported missing in action in March 1943. ==Military career== Hans Beißwenger was born on 8 November 1916 at Mittelfischach in the district of Schwäbisch Hall in Württemberg, the son of a teacher.〔MacLean 2007, p. 60.〕〔''Helden der Wehrmacht II'' 2003, p. 38.〕 In 1937, he transferred from the army to the Flak artillery, serving with Flak-Regiment 25 in Göppingen.〔 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 Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing).〔For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization〕 ''Leutnant'' (Second Lieutenant) Beißwenger was assigned to 6./JG 54 (6th squadron) and claimed his first victory on 7 April 1941, when he shot down a Yugoslav Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane fighter during the Balkans Campaign.〔Weal 2001b, p. 39.〕〔Obermaier 1989, p. 54.〕 JG 54 had been moved to the Balkan theater to counter the pro-British ''coup d’état'' in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, known as Operation Marita.〔Weal 2001b, p. 38.〕 On the Eastern Front, serving with 3./JG 54 (3rd squadron), Beißwenger became a leading scorer in I./JG 54 (1st group). Although he was shot down on 17 July 1941 behind enemy lines, he escaped capture and returned to his base. He claimed his 20th aerial victory over an I-18 fighter on 24 August 1941. By the end of 1941, his total stood at 32 aerial victories. He claimed his 40th victory on 6 April 1942, on 8 May, he achieved his 50th victory, and the following day, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes'') on 9 May 1942 for 50 victories claimed. Beißwenger and ''Leutnant'' Horst Hannig received the Knight's Cross from ''Generalleutnant'' Helmuth Förster at Siverskaya.〔〔Bergström and Mikhailov 2001, p. 209.〕 On 11 August 1942, Beißwenger was appointed ''Staffelkapitän'' of 6./JG 54.〔 On 15 August 1942, he claimed his 75th aerial victory and his 100th on 26 September, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub'') on 30 September.〔Weal 2001b, p. 60.〕 He was the 25th ''Luftwaffe'' pilot to achieve the century mark.〔Obermaier 1989, p. 243.〕 He became "ace-in-a-day" on 23 August during three combat missions, when for the first time he achieved five aerial victories in one day. On 4 September 1942, ''Hauptmann'' Dietrich Hrabak, his group commander, filed an officer efficiency report requesting a preferential promotion to ''Oberleutnant'' (First Lieutenant).〔 Tall, slender appearance. Very good attributes as an athlete. Open, sincere character. Decisive and mature. Good general knowledge. Officer without criticism with well-rooted, clear opinions and appropriate demeanor. Very good military personality, self-assured. Very talented as a flyer, he has excelled in action as a fighter pilot. During 449 combat flights, he has 97 kills because of his audacity. As a flight and squadron leader in the air, he demonstrated discretion and good leadership talent. He enjoys the full confidence of the other pilots. His promotion was approved and, after a short vacation, Beißwenger returned to combat duty and by the end of 1942, his victory total stood at 119. He claimed his 125th aerial victory on 23 January 1943, 135th by 11 February 1943 and five more on 5 March 1943 (146th – 150th aerial victories)〔 He did not return to base after an air combat south of Lake Ilmen near Staraja Russa on 6 March 1943 and ''Oberleutnant'' Hans Beißwenger, flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (''Werknummer'' 14236—factory number) "yellow 4", was posted as missing. His ''Schwarm'' had been engaged in a combat with four Soviet fighters. Beißwenger claimed his last two victories, numbers 151 and 152, over Lavochkin LaGG-3 fighters that day.〔 The Messerschmitt Bf 109 of ''Unteroffizier'' Georg Munderloh was damaged in a midair collision, and Munderloh reported that he would try to reach his base. Eventually, he had to land in enemy territory. Taken prisoner, he was later told by Soviet pilots involved in the action that they had shot down another German fighter, which could have been Beißwenger. Another German pilot observed Beißwenger's aircraft flying at low altitude, clearly suffering from engine problems, attempting to return to friendly territory. After that, there was no trace of him. Beißwenger was later listed as missing in action.〔Weal 2001b, pp. 78–79.〕 It may be that Beißwenger was brought down by ''Starshiy Leytenant'' Ivan Kholodov of 32 GIAP (Guard Fighter Air Regiment). Kholodov rammed the Bf 109—probably Beißwenger's—that was attacking his wingman, ''Leytenant'' Arkadiy Makarov, and managed to bail out of his own damaged craft before it crashed. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hans Beißwenger」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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