Franz Beyer (pilot)
Franz Beyer | |
---|---|
Born | 22 April 1918 Berlin-Grunewald |
Died | 11 February 1944 south of Liège, Belgium | (aged 25)
Buried | Ysselsteyn German war cemetery Plot L-row 11-grave 263 |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | Luftwaffe |
Years of service | 1940–44 |
Rank | Major (major) |
Unit | JG 3 |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
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]
Career
[edit]Beyer was born on 22 April 1918 in Berlin-Grunewald at the time the capital of the German Empire.[2] On 12 July 1941, Beyer was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). He replaced Oberleutnant Winfried Schmidt who had been wounded the day before.[3] On 1 April 1943, Beyer claimed his 80th aerial victory over a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter.[4]
Group commander and death
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/host-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Deutscher_Soldatenfriedhof_Ysselsteyn_-_Franz_Beyer.jpg/220px-Deutscher_Soldatenfriedhof_Ysselsteyn_-_Franz_Beyer.jpg)
On 31 May 1943, Beyer was transferred and command of 8. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Emil Bitsch.[5] 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).[6] 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.[7]
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.[8] Due to the advancing Allied forces, the airfield had to be abandoned on 15 July, forcing the Gruppe to retreat to Leverano.[9] Beyer claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operations on 19 July when he shot down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]
IV. Gruppe was ordered back to Germany on 24 September where it was initially again based at Neubiberg Airfield.[13] 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).[14] 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.[15]
On 28 January 1944, IV. Gruppe relocated to Venlo Airfield.[16] 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.[17] Flying Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 411036—factory number), he was chased by Spitfire fighters and collided with a tree south of Liège.[18] Beyer was buried with military honors at Venlo on 17 February and later reinterred at the Ysselsteyn German war cemetery.[19] 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.[20]
Summary of career
[edit]Aerial victory claims
[edit]According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Beyer was credited with 83 aerial victories.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]
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.[24]
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 –[25] At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 9 June 1941 | |||||||||
1 | 14 August 1940 | 13:50 | Hurricane[26] | 3 | 7 September 1940 | 18:10 | Hurricane[27] | ||
2 | 5 September 1940 | 11:10 | Spitfire[27] | ||||||
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[25] Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 11 July 1941 | |||||||||
4 | 22 June 1941 | 07:29 | I-16[28] | 11 | 2 July 1941 | 09:30 | I-153[29] | ||
5 | 22 June 1941 | 18:55 | I-153[28] | 12 | 2 July 1941 | 11:30 | V-11 (Il-2) | 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Klevan[29] | |
6 | 23 June 1941 | 09:58 | SB-2 | Wojnica-Zaturcze[28] | 13?[Note 1] | 7 July 1941 | 18:54 | I-16 | west of Vinnytsia airfield[30] |
7 | 25 June 1941 | 08:55 | SB-2[28] | 14 | 7 July 1941 | 18:55 | I-16 | Vinnytsia airfield[30] | |
8 | 25 June 1941 | 09:12 | DB-3[31] | 15 | 10 July 1941 | 19:31 | TB-3(ANT-6)[30] | ||
9 | 28 June 1941 | 18:15 | SB-2 | 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zdolbernow[31] | 16 | 10 July 1941 | 19:35 | TB-3 (ANT-6)[30] | |
10 | 2 July 1941 | 06:05 | I-16[31] | ||||||
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[25] Operation Barbarossa — 12 July – 6 November 1941 | |||||||||
17 | 13 July 1941 | 06:10 | ZKB-19 (DB-3) | west of Kiev[32] | 30 | 27 July 1941 | 18:40 | I-15[33] | |
18 | 13 July 1941 | 06:10 | ZKB-19 | northeast of Kiev[32] | 31 | 27 July 1941 | 18:41 | I-15[33] | |
19 | 15 July 1941 | 15:00 | I-153[32] | 32 | 7 September 1941 | 18:00 | I-16[34] | ||
20 | 15 July 1941 | 15:07 | I-153 | 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Berdychiv[32] | 33 | 20 September 1941 | 16:18 | DB-3[34] | |
21 | 17 July 1941 | 16:03 | SB-3[33] | 34 | 24 September 1941 | 09:46 | SB-3[35] | ||
22 | 17 July 1941 | 16:05 | SB-3[33] | 35 | 3 October 1941 | 16:35 | Il-2[35] | ||
23 | 17 July 1941 | 19:10 | DB-3[33] | 36 | 5 October 1941 | 16:07 | Il-2[35] | ||
24 | 20 July 1941 | 18:45 | I-17 (MiG-1)[33] | 37 | 6 October 1941 | 15:57 | I-16[35] | ||
25 | 21 July 1941 | 10:47 | I-16 | 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Bila Tserkva[33] | 38 | 11 October 1941 | 13:20 | Il-2[35] | |
26 | 23 July 1941 | 12:45 | DB-3[33] | 39 | 11 October 1941 | 13:25 | Il-2[35] | ||
27 | 23 July 1941 | 13:47 | SB-3[33] | 40 | 12 October 1941 | 09:40 | Il-2 | 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Mtsensk[36] | |
28 | 24 July 1941 | 18:45 | I-17 (MiG-1)[33] | 41 | 18 October 1941 | 07:00 | Pe-2[36] | ||
29 | 24 July 1941 | 18:48 | I-17 (MiG-1)[33] | 42 | 25 October 1941 | 13:48 | I-16[36] | ||
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[23] Eastern Front – 10 February 1942 – 14 April 1942 | |||||||||
43 | 13 February 1942 | 09:57 | Il-2[37] | 49 | 28 February 1942 | 10:30 | I-301 (LaGG-3) | southeast of Staraya Russa[38] | |
44 | 16 February 1942 | 12:02 | R-5[37] | ?[Note 2] | 12 March 1942 | 13:08 | BB-22 (Seversky) | 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Soltsy[39] | |
45 | 22 February 1942 | 16:04 | R-5 | 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Staraya Russa[37] | 50 | 12 March 1942 | 13:58 | Yak-4 | 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Soltsy[38] |
46 | 23 February 1942 | 08:55 | R-5 | 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Kresttsy[37] 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[40] |
47?[Note 1] | 26 February 1942 | 08:55 | R-5[37] | 52 | 31 March 1942 | 12:57 | I-61 (MiG-3) | 30 km (19 mi) east of Staraya Russa[41] | |
48 | 26 February 1942 | 17:07 | R-5 | 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Konjuchowo[37] | |||||
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[39] Eastern Front – 14 April 1942 – 3 February 1943 | |||||||||
53 | 20 May 1942 | 05:15 | Il-2 | north-northeast of Kharkiv[42] | 66 | 9 August 1942 | 18:30 | Il-2 | northeast of Kalach[43] |
54 | 20 May 1942 | 15:42 | MiG-1 | 10 km (6.2 mi) east-northeast of Vovchansk[42] | ?[Note 3] | 20 August 1942 | 16:23 | Pe-2 | west of Lake Sweyliya[39] |
55 | 26 May 1942 | 06:20 | Il-2 | 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Chuhuiv[42] | ?[Note 3] | 2 September 1942 | 06:38 | LaGG-3 | 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Hrebinka[39] |
56 | 29 May 1942 | 16:13 | Yak-4 | 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Chuhuiv[45] | ?[Note 3] | 7 September 1942 | 16:41 | Il-2 | 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Orlowka[39] |
57 | 29 May 1942 | 16:15 | Yak-4 | 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Chuhuiv[45] | 67 | 10 December 1942 | 07:40 | Il-2 | north of Pitomnik Airfield[46] |
58 | 26 June 1942 | 08:54 | Il-2[45] | 68 | 10 December 1942 | 08:44 | MiG-3 | 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Pitomnik Airfield[46] | |
59 | 1 July 1942 | 12:32 | MiG-3[47] | 69 | 10 December 1942 | 08:50 | Il-2 | 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Kriwomusginskaja[46] | |
60 | 5 July 1942 | 18:27 | Boston[48] | 70 | 11 December 1942 | 09:40 | MiG-3 | 30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Pitomnik Airfield[46] | |
61 | 5 July 1942 | 18:30 | Boston[48] | 71 | 11 December 1942 | 10:45 | La-5 | 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Pitomik Airfield[46] | |
62 | 11 July 1942 | 03:23 | Boston | Nishne Kisljay[48] | 72 | 11 December 1942 | 11:53 | MiG-3 | 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pitomik Airfield[46] |
63 | 28 July 1942 | 09:03 | LaGG-3 | northeast of Kalach[49] | 73 | 19 December 1942 | 11:10 | Boston | 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Bokorskaja[50] |
64 | 3 August 1942 | 11:40 | MiG-3 | east of Kalach[43] | 74 | 28 December 1942 | 10:40 | Yak-1 | north of Chernyshkovsky[50] |
65 | 9 August 1942 | 18:27 | Il-2 | PQ 3936[43] | 75 | 28 December 1942 | 14:05 | Il-2 | 12 km (7.5 mi) north-northeast of Morozovskaya[50] |
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[39] Eastern Front – 4 February – 31 May 1943 | |||||||||
76 | 12 February 1943 | 11:18 | Il-2 | east of Sloviansk[51] | 79 | 22 March 1943 | 12:13 | LaGG-3 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Rostov[51] |
77 | 12 February 1943 | 11:20 | Il-2 | east of Sloviansk[51] | 80?[Note 1] | 1 April 1943 | 08:32 | MiG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 91321, Menshulin[52] |
78 | 6 March 1943 | 10:05 | Il-2 | 7 km (4.3 mi) north of Andreyevka[51] | |||||
– Stab VI. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[39] Mediterranean theater – 1 July – 28 September 1943 | |||||||||
81 | 19 July 1943 | 15:10 | Spitfire | Troina[53] Sicily |
82 | 21 August 1943 | 14:14 | B-24 | 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Marcianise[53] 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Pomigliano d'Arco |
– Stab VI. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[39] Defense of the Reich – 28 September – 31 December 1943 | |||||||||
83 | 19 December 1943 | 12:24?[Note 4] | B-17 | south of Innsbruck[54] |
Awards
[edit]- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 August 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3.[55][Note 5]
- German Cross in Gold on 19 September 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3[57]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[23]
- ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[38]
- ^ a b c Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock attributed this claim to Leutnant Hans-Georg Beyer from 9. Staffel.[44]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:04.[39]
- ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3.[56]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 442.
- ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 88.
- ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 135.
- ^ Weal 2013, Chptr. 5.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 124.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 1.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 4–5.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 7.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 9.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 352.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 12–15.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 18.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 42, 46.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 46–47.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 49, 354.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 52.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 60.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 336.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 61.
- ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, p. 330.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
- ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 98–99.
- ^ Planquadrat.
- ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 98.
- ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 244.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 245.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 107.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 109.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 110.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 108.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 142.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2003, p. 144.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 147.
- ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 148.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 149.
- ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2005, p. 33.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 34.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 99.
- ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 35.
- ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 36.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 214.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 220.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 220, 222–223.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 215.
- ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 227.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 216.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 217.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 219.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 228.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 127.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 128.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2010, p. 136.
- ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 342.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 220.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 41.
Bibliography
[edit]- 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.
- 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'. 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.
- 1918 births
- 1944 deaths
- Military personnel from Berlin
- Military personnel from the Province of Brandenburg
- German World War II flying aces
- Luftwaffe pilots
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Aviators killed by being shot down
- Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II
- Burials at Ysselsteyn German war cemetery