Wikipedia

Franz Beyer (pilot)

For other people named Franz Beyer, see Franz Beyer.

Franz Beyer (22 April 1918 – 11 February 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Beyer was killed on 11 February near Venlo, the Netherlands after dog-fighting with British Spitfires. During his career he was credited with 83 aerial victories, 6 on the Western Front and 77 on the Eastern Front. On 1 June 1943, Beyer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3.[1]

Franz Beyer
Born22 April 1918
Berlin-Grunewald
Died11 February 1944(1944-02-11) (aged 25)
south of Liège, Belgium
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery
Plot L-row 11-grave 263
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1938–1944
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 3
Battles / wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Early life and career

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Beyer was born on 22 April 1918 in Berlin-Grunewald at the time the capital of the German Empire.[2] He joined the Luftwaffe in 1938 and following flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 1] Beyer was posted to 8. Staffel (8th squadron) Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) in early 1940, a Staffel of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 3.[4]

World War II

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World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 28 March 1940, III. Gruppe of JG 3 was considered operationally ready and transferred to Detmold Airfield where it was tasked with defending Germany's western border during the "Phoney War".[5] On 10 April, the Gruppe relocated to Hopsten Airfield.[6] In preparation for the Battle of France, III. Gruppe was subordinated to Luftflotte 2, supporting Army Group Bs attack into the Netherlands.[6] Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940, III. Gruppe was ordered to Dieppe on 29 June where the unit was tasked with patrolling the French coast at the English Channel.[7]

Beyer claimed his first aerial victory on 14 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Around midday, III. Gruppe flew a combat air patrol to the area of Folkestone and Dover where they encountered a formation of Hawker Hurricane fighters. In this engagement, III. Gruppe pilots claimed four Hurricane fighters shot down, including one by Beyer, for the loss of one of their own pilots killed in action.[8] He claimed his second aerial victory on 5 September, a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down on a mission over southern England. Two days later on 7 September, the Luftwaffe launched Operation "Loge", 350 bombers escorted by 648 fighters, attacked various targets in the greater London area. The Gruppe protected those bombers returning from the docks in the East End of London. That day, Beyer claimed a Hurricane fighter shot down.[9]

On 15 February 1941, III. Gruppe was ordered to Gütersloh Airfield in Germany for a period of rest and replenishment.[10] At Gütersloh, the Gruppe received a full complement of the then new Bf 109 F-2 variant. On 3 May, III. Gruppe moved back to the English Channel front where it was based at Lillers.[11] On 9 June, III. Gruppe was withdrawn again from the west and ordered to transfer to Breslau-Gandau, now known as 'Wrocław Airport' in Poland.[12]

War against the Soviet Union

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The Gruppe relocated to an airfield at Moderówka on 18 June where the Gruppe concluded their last preparations for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. At the start of the campaign, JG 3 was subordinated to the V. Fliegerkorps (5th Air Corps), under command of General der Flieger Robert Ritter von Greim, which was part of Luftflotte 4 (4th Air Fleet), under command of Generaloberst Alexander Löhr. These air elements supported Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South), with the objective of capturing Ukraine and its capital Kiev.[13]

On 12 July 1941, Beyer was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 8. Staffel of JG 3. He replaced Oberleutnant Winfried Schmidt who had been wounded the day before.[14] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes) on 30 August 1941 for 30 aerial victories and further destroying ten aircraft on the ground.[4]

On 27 February 1943, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Pavlohrad, supporting German forces fighting in the Third Battle of Kharkov.[15] Here on 1 April, Beyer claimed his 80th aerial victory over a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter, his last on the Eastern Front.[16][17]

Group commander and death

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German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn - Franz Beyer

On 31 May 1943, Beyer was transferred and command of 8. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Emil Bitsch.[18] As part of the Luftwaffe plan to expand its fighter force, a fourth Gruppe was to be added to every Geschwader. This was achieved by transferring some of the other Gruppen's personnel and equipment. This created the nucleus of a newly formed Gruppe. IV. Gruppe of JG 3 was officially created on 1 June 1943 at Neubiberg Airfield and Beyer was selected as its first Gruppenkommandeur (group commander).[19] The Gruppe was initially equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6, some carrying a pair of 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons installed in conformal gun pods under the wings. Beyer was not given much time to prepare his pilots for combat, already in mid-June, the Gruppe was ordered to Italy to fight in the Mediterranean theater.[20]

On 11 July, IV. Gruppe was ordered to an airfield at Ramacca, Sicily. There, the Gruppe supported German forces defending against the Allied invasion of Sicily.[21] Due to the advancing Allied forces, the airfield had to be abandoned on 15 July, forcing the Gruppe to retreat to Leverano.[22] Beyer claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operations on 19 July when he shot down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter.[23] On 23 July, the airfield at Leverona came under a heavy attack, killing one pilot and injuring six. The ground personnel suffered 30 killed and further 31 men were wounded. In the attack, the Gruppe lost 40 Bf 109s destroyed. In consequence, the airfield was abandoned by IV. Gruppe on 26 July, relocating to San Severo Airfield.[24] On 21 August, approximately 50 to 60 Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers without fighter escort were intercepted by Luftwaffe fighters from IV. Gruppe of JG 3 and I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Bomber Wing) in the vicinity of Naples. Luftwaffe fighter pilots claimed four bombers shot down, including one by Beyer who was credited with his 82nd aerial victory.[25]

IV. Gruppe was ordered back to Germany on 24 September where it was initially again based at Neubiberg Airfield.[26] Over the following weeks, the Gruppe was assigned new pilots and aircraft and trained for Defense of the Reich missions. The head on attack was practiced in mock combat against Heinkel He 111 bombers from III. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 53 (KG 53—53rd Bomber Wing).[27] The Gruppe flew its first combat mission against United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 19 December. The day the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force attacked Innsbruck and the Messerschmitt factory at Augsburg. Defending against this attack, Beyer claimed a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber shot down.[28]

On 28 January 1944, IV. Gruppe relocated to Venlo Airfield.[29] On 11 February, the USAAF Eighth Air Force targeted the German railroad infrastructure at Frankfurt. In parallel to this attack, a formation of Martin B-26 Marauder bombers, escorted by Spitfire fighters, attacked various targets in Belgium. IV. Gruppe intercepted this formation in the vicinity of Liège. In this encounter, IV. Gruppe claimed two aerial victories but lost Beyer.[30] Flying Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 411036—factory number), he was chased by Spitfire fighters and collided with a tree south of Liège.[31] Beyer was buried with military honors at Venlo on 17 February and later reinterred at the Ysselsteyn German war cemetery.[32] Command of IV. Gruppe was temporarily passed to Hauptmann Heinz Lang before command was officially handed to Major Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller on 26 February.[33]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Beyer was credited with 83 aerial victories.[34] Spick lists Beyer with 81 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions. This figure includes 70 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and eleven over the Western Allies.[35] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 84 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 78 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and six on the Western Front, including two four-engined bombers.[36]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 3936". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[37]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 –[38]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 9 June 1941
1 14 August 1940 13:50 Hurricane[39] 3 7 September 1940 18:10 Hurricane[40]
2 5 September 1940 11:10 Spitfire[40]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[38]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 11 July 1941
4 22 June 1941 07:29 I-16[41] 11 2 July 1941 09:30 I-153[42]
5 22 June 1941 18:55 I-153[41] 12 2 July 1941 11:30 V-11 (Il-2) 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Klevan[42]
6 23 June 1941 09:58 SB-2 Wojnica-Zaturcze[41] 13?[Note 2] 7 July 1941 18:54 I-16 west of Vinnytsia airfield[43]
7 25 June 1941 08:55 SB-2[41] 14 7 July 1941 18:55 I-16 Vinnytsia airfield[43]
8 25 June 1941 09:12 DB-3[44] 15 10 July 1941 19:31 TB-3(ANT-6)[43]
9 28 June 1941 18:15 SB-2 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zdolbernow[44] 16 10 July 1941 19:35 TB-3 (ANT-6)[43]
10 2 July 1941 06:05 I-16[44]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[38]
Operation Barbarossa — 12 July – 6 November 1941
17 13 July 1941 06:10 ZKB-19 (DB-3) west of Kiev[45] 30 27 July 1941 18:40 I-15[46]
18 13 July 1941 06:10 ZKB-19 northeast of Kiev[45] 31 27 July 1941 18:41 I-15[46]
19 15 July 1941 15:00 I-153[45] 32 7 September 1941 18:00 I-16[47]
20 15 July 1941 15:07 I-153 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Berdychiv[45] 33 20 September 1941 16:18 DB-3[47]
21 17 July 1941 16:03 SB-3[46] 34 24 September 1941 09:46 SB-3[48]
22 17 July 1941 16:05 SB-3[46] 35 3 October 1941 16:35 Il-2[48]
23 17 July 1941 19:10 DB-3[46] 36 5 October 1941 16:07 Il-2[48]
24 20 July 1941 18:45 I-17 (MiG-1)[46] 37 6 October 1941 15:57 I-16[48]
25 21 July 1941 10:47 I-16 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Bila Tserkva[46] 38 11 October 1941 13:20 Il-2[48]
26 23 July 1941 12:45 DB-3[46] 39 11 October 1941 13:25 Il-2[48]
27 23 July 1941 13:47 SB-3[46] 40 12 October 1941 09:40 Il-2 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Mtsensk[49]
28 24 July 1941 18:45 I-17 (MiG-1)[46] 41 18 October 1941 07:00 Pe-2[49]
29 24 July 1941 18:48 I-17 (MiG-1)[46] 42 25 October 1941 13:48 I-16[49]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[36]
Eastern Front – 10 February 1942 – 14 April 1942
43 13 February 1942 09:57 Il-2[50] 49 28 February 1942 10:30 I-301 (LaGG-3) southeast of Staraya Russa[51]
44 16 February 1942 12:02 R-5[50] ?[Note 3] 12 March 1942 13:08 BB-22 (Seversky) 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Soltsy[52]
45 22 February 1942 16:04 R-5 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Staraya Russa[50] 50 12 March 1942 13:58 Yak-4 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Soltsy[51]
46 23 February 1942 08:55 R-5 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Kresttsy[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa 		51 17 March 1942 16:22 I-61 (MiG-3) 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Mury[53]
47?[Note 2] 26 February 1942 08:55 R-5[50] 52 31 March 1942 12:57 I-61 (MiG-3) 30 km (19 mi) east of Staraya Russa[54]
48 26 February 1942 17:07 R-5 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Konjuchowo[50]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[52]
Eastern Front – 14 April 1942 – 3 February 1943
53 20 May 1942 05:15 Il-2 north-northeast of Kharkiv[55] 66 9 August 1942 18:30 Il-2 northeast of Kalach[56]
54 20 May 1942 15:42 MiG-1 10 km (6.2 mi) east-northeast of Vovchansk[55] ?[Note 4] 20 August 1942 16:23 Pe-2 west of Lake Sweyliya[52]
55 26 May 1942 06:20 Il-2 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Chuhuiv[55] ?[Note 4] 2 September 1942 06:38 LaGG-3 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Hrebinka[52]
56 29 May 1942 16:13 Yak-4 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Chuhuiv[58] ?[Note 4] 7 September 1942 16:41 Il-2 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Orlowka[52]
57 29 May 1942 16:15 Yak-4 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Chuhuiv[58] 67 10 December 1942 07:40 Il-2 north of Pitomnik Airfield[59]
58 26 June 1942 08:54 Il-2[58] 68 10 December 1942 08:44 MiG-3 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Pitomnik Airfield[59]
59 1 July 1942 12:32 MiG-3[60] 69 10 December 1942 08:50 Il-2 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Kriwomusginskaja[59]
60 5 July 1942 18:27 Boston[61] 70 11 December 1942 09:40 MiG-3 30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Pitomnik Airfield[59]
61 5 July 1942 18:30 Boston[61] 71 11 December 1942 10:45 La-5 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Pitomik Airfield[59]
62 11 July 1942 03:23 Boston Nishne Kisljay[61] 72 11 December 1942 11:53 MiG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pitomik Airfield[59]
63 28 July 1942 09:03 LaGG-3 northeast of Kalach[62] 73 19 December 1942 11:10 Boston 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Bokorskaja[63]
64 3 August 1942 11:40 MiG-3 east of Kalach[56] 74 28 December 1942 10:40 Yak-1 north of Chernyshkovsky[63]
65 9 August 1942 18:27 Il-2 PQ 3936[56] 75 28 December 1942 14:05 Il-2 12 km (7.5 mi) north-northeast of Morozovskaya[63]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[52]
Eastern Front – 4 February – 31 May 1943
76 12 February 1943 11:18 Il-2 east of Sloviansk[64] 79 22 March 1943 12:13 LaGG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Rostov[64]
77 12 February 1943 11:20 Il-2 east of Sloviansk[64] 80?[Note 2] 1 April 1943 08:32 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 91321, Menshulin[65]
78 6 March 1943 10:05 Il-2 7 km (4.3 mi) north of Andreyevka[64]
– Stab IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[52]
Mediterranean theater – 1 July – 28 September 1943
81 19 July 1943 15:10 Spitfire Troina[66]
Sicily 		82 21 August 1943 14:14 B-24 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Marcianise[66]
4 km (2.5 mi) east of Pomigliano d'Arco
– Stab IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[52]
Defense of the Reich – 28 September – 31 December 1943
83 19 December 1943 12:24?[Note 5] B-17 south of Innsbruck[67]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[3]
  2. ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[36]
  3. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[51]
  4. ^ a b c Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock attributed this claim to Leutnant Hans-Georg Beyer from 9. Staffel.[57]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:04.[52]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3.[69]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 442.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 88.
  3. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  4. ^ a b c Dixon 2023, p. 113.
  5. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 1, 3.
  6. ^ a b Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 3.
  7. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 25, 36.
  8. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 40, 475.
  9. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 42, 475.
  10. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 49.
  11. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 91.
  12. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 93.
  13. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 105.
  14. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 135.
  15. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 203.
  16. ^ Weal 2013, Chptr. 5.
  17. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 205–206, 496.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 124.
  19. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 1.
  20. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 4–5.
  21. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 7.
  22. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 9.
  23. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 352.
  24. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 12–15.
  25. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 18.
  26. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 42, 46.
  27. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 46–47.
  28. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 49, 354.
  29. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 52.
  30. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 60.
  31. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 336.
  32. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 61.
  33. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 330.
  34. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  35. ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
  36. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 98–99.
  37. ^ Planquadrat.
  38. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 98.
  39. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 244.
  40. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 245.
  41. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 107.
  42. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 109.
  43. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 110.
  44. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 108.
  45. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 142.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2003, p. 144.
  47. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 147.
  48. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 148.
  49. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 149.
  50. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2005, p. 33.
  51. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 34.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 99.
  53. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 35.
  54. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 36.
  55. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 214.
  56. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 220.
  57. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 220, 222–223.
  58. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 215.
  59. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 227.
  60. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 216.
  61. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 217.
  62. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 219.
  63. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 228.
  64. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 127.
  65. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 128.
  66. ^ a b Prien et al. 2010, p. 136.
  67. ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 342.
  68. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
  69. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 220.
  70. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 41.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard (1996). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III./Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-33-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-63-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2008). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/II—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/II—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-85-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
  • 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2013). Aces of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet". Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 116. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-300-6.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
Military offices
Preceded by
None
 Commander of IV./Jagdgeschwader 3
1 June 1943 – 11 February 1944 		Succeeded by
Hauptmann Heinz Lang
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