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Hans Beisswenger Victories : 152 ----------------------------- Country : Germany Fought in : WW2 Fought for : Axis Died : 6th March 1943 Knights Cross Oak Leaves Hans “Beisser” Beisswenger was born on 8 November 1916 at Mittelfischhach in the Schwäbisch-Hall region of Württemberg. In 1937, he was serving in the army but transferred to Flak artillery. In 1938, he underwent fighter pilot training. Beisswenger became an instructor and served in this role until winter 1940. In winter 1940, Beisswenger was transferred to JG 54. Leutnant Beisswenger was assigned to 6./JG 54. He recorded his first victory on 7 April 1941, when he shot down a Yugoslavian Hurricane fighter during the invasion of the Balkans. Later, over the Eastern front, serving with 3./JG 54, Beisswenger became a leading scorer in I. Gruppe. He recorded his 20th victory on 24 August and by the end of 1941 had 32 victories to his tally. On 6 April 1942, Beisswenger recorded his 40th victory and his 50th on 8 May. Leutnant Beisswenger was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 9 May for 50 victories. On 11 August 1942, Beisswenger was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 54. He recorded his 75th victory on 15 August. On 23 August, Beisswenger shot down five Russian aircraft (88-92). He recorded his 100th victory on 26 September. Beisswenger was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 130) on 30 September. By the end of 1942, Beisswenger’s victory total stood at 119. Oberleutnant Beisswenger recorded his 125th victory on 23 January 1943 and his 135th on 11 February. He shot down five enemy aircraft on 5 March (146-150). Beisswenger shot down two Russian LaGG-3 fighters near Lake Ilmen on 6 March 1943. However, while attacking another, his Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 14236) “Yellow 4” was rammed by Soviet ace Starshii Leitenant Ivan Kholodov (26 victories) of 32 GIAP, VVS. Kholodov successfully baled out but Beisswenger crashed to his death. Oberleutnant “Beisser” Beisswenger was credited with 152 victories in over 500 missions. He recorded all but one of his victories over the Eastern front.

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Hans Beisswenger

Aircraft for : Hans Beisswenger
A list of all aircraft associated with Hans Beisswenger. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Squadron	Info
Me109 Click the name above to see prints featuring Me109 aircraft. Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Production Began : 1937 Retired : 1945 Number Built : 33984	Me109 Willy Messerschmitt designed the BF109 during the early 1930s. The Bf109 was one of the first all metal monocoque construction fighters with a closed canopy and retractable undercarriage. The engine of the Me109 was a V12 aero engine which was liquid-cooled. The Bf109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and flew to the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftwaffe fighter squadrons. During the Battle of Britian the Bf109 was used in the role of an escort fighter, a role for which it was not designed for, and it was also used as a fighter bomber. During the last days of May 1940 Robert Stanford-Tuck, the RAF ace, got the chance to fly an Me109 which they had rebuilt after it had crash landed. Stanford-Tuck found out that the Me109 was a wonderful little plane, it was slightly faster than the Spitfire, but lacked the Spitfire manoeuvrability. By testing the Me109, Tuck could put himself inside the Me109 when fighting them, knowing its weak and strong points. With the introduction of the improved Bf109F in the spring of 1941, the type again proved to be an effective fighter during the invasion of Yugoslavia and during the Battle of Crete and the invasion of Russia and it was used during the Siege of the Mediteranean island of Malta. The Bf109 was the main fighter for the Luftwaffe until 1942 when the Fw190 entered service and shared this position, and was partially replaced in Western Europe, but the Me109 continued to serve on the Eastern Front and during the defence of the Reich against the allied bombers. It was also used to good effect in the Mediterranean and North Africa in support of The Africa Korps. The Me109 was also supplied to several German allies, including Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia. The Bf109 scored more kills than any other fighter of any country during the war and was built in greater numbers with a total of over 31,000 aircraft being built. The Bf109 was flown by the three top German aces of the war war. Erich Hartmann with 352 victories, Gerhard Barkhorn with 301 victories and Gunther Rall with 275 kills. Bf109 pilots were credited with the destruction of 100 or more enemy aircraft. Thirteen Luftwaffe Aces scored more than 200 kills. Altogether this group of pilots were credited with a total of nearly 15,000 kills, of which the Messerschmitt Bf109 was credited with over 10,000 of these victories. The Bf109 was the most produced warplane during World War II, with 30,573 examples built during the war, and the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945. Bf109s remained in foreign service for many years after World War II. The Swiss used their Bf109Gs well into the 1950s. The Finnish Air Force did not retire their Bf109Gs until March 1954. Romania used its Bf109s until 1955. The Spanish Hispanos flew even longer. Some were still in service in the late 1960s.

Known Claims : 131