Robert Weiß (pilot)

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Robert Weiß
Robert Weiß.jpg
Robert Weiß
Nickname(s)"Bazi"
Born(1920-04-21)21 April 1920
Baden bei Wien, Austria
Died29 December 1944(1944-12-29) (aged 24)
near Lengerich
Buried
Helenen cemetery in Baden bei Wien
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–44
RankHauptmann
UnitJG 26, JG 54
Commands held3./JG 54, III./JG 54
Battles/wars
See battles
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Robert "Bazi" Weiß (21 April 1920 – 29 December 1944) was a Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace who served from 1939 until his death on 29 December 1944. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life and career[]

Weiß was born on 21 April 1920 in Baden bei Wien, Austria. He was the oldest son of a higher city secretary (Stadtobersekretär), a public servant, and police commissioner (Polizei-Inspektor).[2]

In the beginning of his military career, he served with a flak regiment before transferring to learn to fly in early 1940. In early 1941, Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) Weiß was a pilot with 6. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) flying on the Channel Front.[Note 1] He claimed a Supermarine Spitfire shot down in September 1941. In September 1942, Weiß was transferred to 1. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), based on the Eastern Front, flying operations on the Leningrad front. His victory score grew slowly, and by April 1943, he had claimed 30 victories. Falling ill in May 1943, he was hospitalised until July 1943.

After Oberleutnant Franz Eisenach was wounded in combat on 8 July, Weiß temporarily replaced him as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 54 until his return on 15 September 1943.[3] On 2 August 1943, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold). By October, he had 68 claims and was Staffelkapitän 10./JG 54. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 98 claims in March 1944.

Western Front and death[]

Weiß was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 1 July 1944.[4] On 21 July 1944, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 54. At the time, the Gruppe was based at Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base, France on the Western Front and fought in German retreat following the Invasion of Normandy. The Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations on 5 September, relocating to Oldenburg where it became the first unit to receive the new Fw 190 D-9.[5] On 28 September, Weiß was credited with the destruction of a Supermarine Spitfire fighter, his 119th victory claim. His opponent was Flight Lieutenant Duncan McCuaig from the Royal Air Force (RAF) No. 541 Squadron, a photographic reconnaissance squadron.[6]

III. Gruppe became fully operational on 25 December with all three squadrons uniting at Varrelbusch airfield. On 27 December, III. Gruppe fought Hawker Tempest fighters from the No. 486 Squadron, a New Zealand fighter squadron of the RAF. In this encounter, III. Gruppe lost five aircraft for one victory claimed. On 29 December, Weiß led his Gruppe in combat against Allied fighters of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. Vectored by ground control to the Münster-Rheine area, the engagement ended with the destruction of 17 German fighters, 13 pilots killed and two wounded. In return III. Gruppe claimed eight aircraft shot down.[5] Weiß led the Stab, III./JG 54 and 11./JG 54 into a large formation of Spitfires from 331 and 501 Squadrons. None of Weiß's Schwarm returned, with 17 aircraft lost and 13 pilots, including Weiß, killed, while claiming six fighters.

Weiß was one of the pilots killed, he was shot down in his Fw 190 D-9 (Werknummer 210 060—factory number) "Black 10" near Lengerich.[7] His victor was Flight Sergeant K. F. Haanes of the RAF No. 331 Squadron, a Norwegian squadron. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 12 March 1945, the 782nd officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored. Initially he was interred on the new cemetery in Lingen. In 1958, his remains were moved and reinterred to the war cemetery at Baden bei Wien and again moved to the Helenen cemetery where he now rests in a family grave.[2]

Summary of career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

"Bazi" Weiß is officially credited with 121 aerial victories in claimed 471 missions. 26 of his victories were claimed over the Western Front. Included in his total are 40 Ilyushin Il-2s, 12 Supermarine Spitfires and five P-38 Lightnings.[7]

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 122 aerial victory claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 96 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 26 Western Front, including three four-engined bombers.[8]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 10191". 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.[9]

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
  2. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 11:57.[10]
  3. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 14:10.[10]
  4. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-7.[10]
  5. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 11:57.[28]
  6. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 15:43.[28]
  7. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 15:47.[28]
  8. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[29]
  9. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 09:12.[28]
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b According to Matthews and Foreman claimed over a Lavochkin La-5 at 13:50.[28]
  11. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 09:11.[28]
  12. ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän in the IV./Jagdgeschwader 54.[38]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Stockert 2008, p. 164.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 165, 191.
  4. ^ Stockert 2008, p. 165.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Manrho & Putz 2010, p. 279.
  6. ^ The Herald—Flying after ghosts.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Obermaier 1989, p. 74.
  8. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1390–1392.
  9. ^ Planquadrat.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 1390.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 533.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 371.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 372.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 96.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 99.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 169.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
  19. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1390–1391.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 171.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2012, p. 181.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 172.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 173.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 179.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 180.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 183.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 1391.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 184.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 185.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2012, p. 350.
  32. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1391–1392.
  33. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 1392.
  34. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 214.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b Thomas 1998, p. 428.
  36. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 504.
  37. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 440.
  38. ^ Jump up to: a b Scherzer 2007, p. 776.
  39. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 99.

Bibliography[]

  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  • 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.
  • Manrho, John; Putz, Ron (2010). Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-1-4617-5072-7.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 7—Heimatverteidigung—1. January bis 31 Dezember 1942—Einsatz im Westen—1. Januar bis 31. Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 7—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1942—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-73-1.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—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/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
  • 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.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Stockert, Peter (2008). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 8 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 8] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3932915017. OCLC 76072662.
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
  • "Flying after ghosts". The Herald. 27 July 1996. ISSN 0965-9439. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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