Hans-Karl Mayer

Hans-Karl Mayer
Hans-Karl Mayer
Born	8 March 1911; Rufach, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire
Died	17 October 1940 (aged 29); over the English Channel
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Army (1933–35); Luftwaffe (1935–40)
Years of service	1933–40
Rank	Hauptmann (captain)
Unit	Condor Legion; JG 53
Battles/wars	show See battles
Awards	Spanish Cross In Gold with Swords; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans-Karl Mayer (8 March 1911 – 17 October 1940) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.

Career[]

Mayer served with the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War with 1. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88, claiming eight victories. On his return from Spain Oberleutnant Mayer was posted to 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing), becoming Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) in October 1939. He claimed his first victory of World War II on 5 November 1939 downing a French Potez 63. Mayer claimed eight more victories during the Battle of France, including five aircraft shot down on 14 May 1940, making him an "ace-in-a-day".^[1]

During the Battle of Britain he then shot down two Hurricanes over the Isle of Wight on 12 August 1940. On 25 August, Mayer shot down a Hurricane for his 15th victory, possibly that of Flight Lieutenant Alfred Bayne of No. 17 Squadron, who bailed out.^[2] The next day Mayer shot down two Spitfires. One of his victim was ace Sergeant Cyril Babbage of No. 602 Squadron, who bailed out.^[3] Hauptmann Mayer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 3 September.

Mayer was made Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) I. Gruppe of JG 53 on 1 September 1940, he replaced Hauptmann Albert Blumensaat who was transferred. Command of 1. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Hans Ohly.^[4] He recorded his 30th victory on 15 September. On 17 October 1940, Mayer took off in Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 (Werknummer 4138—factory number) on a test flight and never returned, his body washing up on the English coast 10 days later.^[5] He was possibly a victim of Flight Officer Desmond McMullen or Sergeant John Burgess, both from No. 222 Squadron RAF.^[6] He is buried at Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent.^[7]

Summary of career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

According to Obermaier, Mayer was credited with 39 aerial victories, eight in the Spanish Civil War and 31 on the Western Front of World War II.^[8] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 28 aerial victory claims. This number includes six claims during the Spanish Civil War and 22 over the Western Allies.^[9]

showChronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Mayer an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day. This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Forsyth, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Matthews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 –^[9] Spanish Civil War
1	7 February 1938	—	SB-2^[10]		?^{[Note 1]}	10 June 1938	—	SB-2^[9]
2	7 February 1938	—	I-16^[10]		5	13 June 1938	—	I-16^[10]
3	21 February 1938	—	I-16^[10]		6?^{[Note 2]}	16 June 1938	—	SB-2^[10]
4	29 March 1938	—	I-15^[10]
According to Forsyth, Mayer claimed two further aerial victories in Spain.^[10] Matthews and Foreman do not list these claims.^[9]
World War II
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –^[9] "Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940
1	5 November 1939	15:15	Potez 63	west of Losheim am See^[11]	2	21 April 1940	12:05	Hurricane	northwest of Merzig^[11]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 –^[9] Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
3	11 May 1940	07:53	M.S.406	10–15 km (6.2–9.3 mi) south of Metz^[12]	7♠	14 May 1940	16:40	Blenheim	southwest of Sedan^[12]
4♠	14 May 1940	16:23	Hurricane	Sedan^[12]	8♠	14 May 1940	16:55?^{[Note 3]}	Battle?^{[Note 3]}	south of Sedan^[12]
5♠	14 May 1940	16:24	Battle	Sedan^[12]	9	25 May 1940	12:05	Curtiss	south of Attigny^[12]
6♠	14 May 1940	16:30	Blenheim	Sedan^[12]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –^[9] Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 26 June – 31 August 1940
10	12 August 1940	13:20	Hurricane^[13]	off Isle of Wight-Portsmouth	14	24 August 1940	17:40	Spitfire	Isle of Wight^[13]
11	12 August 1940	13:25	Hurricane	English Channel^[13] off Isle of Wight-Portsmouth	15	25 August 1940	18:30	Hurricane	west of Portland^[13]
12	13 August 1940	17:00	Hurricane	Portland^[13]	16	26 August 1940	14:30	Spitfire	east of Portsmouth^[14]
13	15 August 1940	18:45	Hurricane	Salisbury^[13]	17	26 August 1940	17:35	Spitfire	Portsmouth^[14]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –^[9] Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 1 September – 17 October 1940
18	6 September 1940	10:30	Hurricane	northwest of Dungeness^[14]	21	15 September 1940	12:45	Spitfire	15 km (9.3 mi) south of London^[14]
19	7 September 1940	18:00	Hurricane^[14]		22	15 September 1940	13:10	Spitfire	Maidstone^[14]
20	9 September 1940	19:05	Hurricane^[14]

Awards[]

Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939)^[9]
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 September 1940 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 53^[15]^[16]

Notes[]

^ This claim is not listed by Forsyth.^[10]
^ This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.^[9]
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 16:35 as a Bristol Blenheim bomber.^[9]

References[]

Citations[]

^ Page 2020, p. 30.
^ Goss 2020, p. 23.
^ Goss 2017, p. 54.
^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 197.
^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 208.
^ Goss 2017, p. 71.
^ Goss 2020, p. 206.
^ Obermaier 1989, p. 165.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 823.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Forsyth 2011, p. 104.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Prien et al. 2001, p. 369.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Prien et al. 2000, p. 327.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Prien et al. 2002, p. 201.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Prien et al. 2002, p. 203.
^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 305.
^ Scherzer 2007, p. 531.

Bibliography[]

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.
Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8.
Goss, Chris (2017). Jagdgeschwader 53 'Pik-As' Bf 109 Aces of 1940. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1873-7.
Goss, Chris (2020). Brothers in Arms: The Story of a British and a German Fighter Unit, August to December 1940. Havertown: Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-5267-8292-2.
Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
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.
Page, Neil (2020). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1939–42. Philadelphia, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61200-849-3.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—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/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
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.
Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

Military offices
Preceded by Hauptmann Albert Blumensaat	Commander of I. Jagdgeschwader 53 1 September 1940 – 17 October 1940	Succeeded by Hauptmann Hans-Heinrich Brustellin

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[11] This claim is not listed by Forsyth.^[10]

[12] This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.^[9]

[16:55-15] Jump up to: ^a ^b According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 16:35 as a Bristol Blenheim bomber.^[9]

[FOOTNOTEPage202030-1] Page 2020, p. 30.

[FOOTNOTEGoss202023-2] Goss 2020, p. 23.

[FOOTNOTEGoss201754-3] Goss 2017, p. 54.

[FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2002197-4] Prien et al. 2002, p. 197.

[FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2002208-5] Prien et al. 2002, p. 208.

[FOOTNOTEGoss201771-6] Goss 2017, p. 71.

[FOOTNOTEGoss2020206-7] Goss 2020, p. 206.

[FOOTNOTEObermaier1989165-8] Obermaier 1989, p. 165.

[FOOTNOTEMatthewsForeman2015823-9] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 823.

[FOOTNOTEForsyth2011104-10] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Forsyth 2011, p. 104.

[FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2001369-13] Jump up to: ^a ^b Prien et al. 2001, p. 369.

[FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2000327-14] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Prien et al. 2000, p. 327.

[FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2002201-16] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Prien et al. 2002, p. 201.

[FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2002203-17] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Prien et al. 2002, p. 203.

[FOOTNOTEFellgiebel2000305-18] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 305.

[FOOTNOTEScherzer2007531-19] Scherzer 2007, p. 531.

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Hans-Karl Mayer
Born	8 March 1911 Rufach, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire
Died	17 October 1940(1940-10-17) (aged 29) over the English Channel
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Army (1933–35) Luftwaffe (1935–40)
Years of service	1933–40
Rank	Hauptmann (captain)
Unit	Condor Legion JG 53
Battles/wars	show See battles Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain †
Awards	Spanish Cross In Gold with Swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

show v t German Spanish Civil War flying aces
Werner Mölders (14) Wolfgang Schellmann (12) Otto Bertram (9) Herbert Ihlefeld (9) Walter Oesau (9) Reinhard Seiler (9) Hans-Karl Mayer (8) Wilhelm Balthasar (7) Horst Tietzen (7) Walter Grabmann (7) Rolf Pingel (6) Herbert Schob (6) Gotthard Handrick (5) Wolfgang Lippert (5) Günther Lützow (5) Joachim Schlichting (5) Hannes Trautloft (5)
List of Spanish Civil War flying aces