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Dipl.-Ing. Helmut Eberspächer〔In German an engineer's degree is called ''Diplom-Ingenieur'' (abbreviated ''Dipl.-Ing.'')〕 (18 November 1915 – 19 June 2011) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ((ドイツ語:Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes)) during World War II. The Knight's Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership. Helmut Eberspächer was credited with 7 victories, each resulting in the destruction of an enemy aircraft. In 1950, he and his cousin Walter took over the family business (Eberspächer ), which now, among other products, manufactures engine block heaters for the automobile industry. He ran the business as chairman until 1988, and remained as an honorary chairman until 2005. He also served on the board of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) and the German Automotive Industry Association. Under his leadership, Eberspächer became one of the leading automobile industry suppliers in Germany, with approximately 5,600 employees world wide and 1.9 billion Euros in sales in 2010.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Helmut Eberspächer: a socio-politically committed entrepreneur )〕 In 1989 he was fined for tax evasion. ==Early life and military career== Eberspächer was born on 18 November 1915 in Tübingen, at that time part of the Kingdom of Württemberg, a federated state of the German Empire. In 1934 he volunteered for military service in the Reichswehr, and served in an armoured reconnaissance battalion. In parallel to his military service he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Stuttgart. Following his graduation in 1939, he transferred to the Luftwaffe. From July 1940 to January 1943 he served with the 7.(''Fernaufklärungs''-) ''Staffel'' of Lehrgeschwader 2 (7th Long Range Reconnaissance Squadron of the 2nd Demonstration Wing) on both Western and Eastern Fronts.〔For an explanation of ''Luftwaffe'' unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.〕 He then converted to a ground attack role, and from March 1943 served with Schnellkampfgeschwader 10 (SKG 10—10th Fast Bomber Wing), flying fighter-bomber missions over southern England and anti-shipping operations in the English Channel. He was promoted to the rank of ''Hauptmann'' (captain) on 1 May 1944 and appointed as ''Staffelkapitän'' (leader of the squadron) in Kurt Dahlmann's I./SKG 10 (1st Group).〔Obermaier 1989, p. 105.〕 Early on D-Day 6 June 1944, Hauptmann Eberspächer was ordered to lead four Focke-Wulf Fw 190s of 3/SKG 10 (3rd Squadron of SKG 10) over Normandy. Two hours later, the flight landed at Evreux having achieved the first Luftwaffe aerial victories of D-Day. At 05:01 they had intercepted a formation of Royal Air Force Avro Lancasters, and in the next three minutes, four were shot down. The first fell over Isigny-sur-Mer and the others near Carentan. Three were claimed as downed by Eberspächer, one of them being Lancaster ND739 of No. 97 Squadron RAF, flown by the squadron's commanding officer, W/C Jimmie Carter. His seven-man crew had earned four Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Distinguished Flying Medals. The wreckage of ND739 was located and excavated in 2012. An assortment of items were recovered including the wedding ring belonging to crew member Albert Chambers.〔Zaloga 2011, pp. 28–29.〕 Eberspächer was awarded the Knight's Cross on 24 January 1945, after 170 ''Jabo'' (German abbreviation for ''Jagdbomber''—fighter-bomber) missions over the Western Front. He flew sorties during the Battle of the Bulge and against the Remagen bridge and the established US Army bridgehead. His unit, I/SKG 10 (1st Group of SKG 10), was assigned to Kampfgeschwader 51 as III. ''Gruppe'' (3rd Group) on 30 June 1944. His squadron was then redesignated as the 3. Staffel/''Nachtschlachtgruppe'' 20 night harassment attack squadron in October 1944. He survived the war and was credited with a total of seven aerial victories, including three at night.〔Brütting 1995, p. 190.〕 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「Helmut Eberspächer」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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