Franz Beyer (pilot)

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For other people named Franz Beyer, see Franz Beyer.

Franz Beyer
Born22 April 1918
Berlin-Grunewald
Died11 February 1944(1944-02-11) (aged 25)
south of Liège, Belgium
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery
Plot L-row 11-grave 263
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1940–44
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 3
Battles/wars
See battles
AwardsKnight'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 81 aerial victories, 4 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[]

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[]

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.[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[]

Aerial victory claims[]

According to Spick, Beyer was credited 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.[21] Matthews 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.[22]

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 × 4 km in size.[23]

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[22]
  2. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[37]
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock attributed this claim to Leutnant Hans-Georg Beyer from 9. Staffel.[43]
  4. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 12:04.[38]
  5. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 3.[55]

References[]

Citations[]

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

Bibliography[]

  • Bergström, Christer. "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 (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.
  • Matthews, 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 [Messerschmidt 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.
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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