Hans von Hahn

German fighter pilot during World War II (1914–1957) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hans von Hahn (7 August 1914 – 5 November 1957) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he was credited with 34 aerial victories, 15 on the Western Front and 19 on the Eastern Front.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Hans von Hahn
Born7 August 1914
Frankfurt am Main, German Empire
Died5 November 1957(1957-11-05) (aged 43)
Frankfurt am Main, West Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Kriegsmarine (1934–1935)
 Luftwaffe (1935–1945)
Years of service1934–45
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 53, JG 3, JG 1, JG 103
Jagdfliegerführer Oberitalien
CommandsI./JG 3, II./JG 1, JG 103
Jagdfliegerführer Oberitalien
Battles / wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Close

World War II

Summarize
Perspective

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 18 September 1939, Hahn was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing). He was the first commander of the Staffel which was part of the newly created III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 53 under the command of Hauptmann Werner Mölders.[1] Hahn claimed his first aerial victory on 22 December 1939 during "Phoney War". That day, he claimed a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane fighter from the No. 73 Squadron.[2]

On 27 August 1940, Hahn was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). He replaced Oberleutnant Lothar Keller who had temporarily led the Gruppe after its former commander Hauptmann Günther Lützow had been Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 3 on 21 August.[3] Command of 8. Staffel of JG 53 was given to Oberleutnant Hans Kunert.[4]

War against the Soviet Union

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Dub on 18 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.[5]

Summary of career

Summarize
Perspective

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Hahn was credited with 34 aerial victories claimed in over combat missions. This figure includes 19 claims on the Eastern Front and 15 over the Western Allies.[6] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 31 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 19 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 12 on the Western Front.[7]

More information Chronicle of aerial victories, Claim ...
Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Hahn did not receive credit.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[7]
"Phoney War" — 26 September 1939 – 9 May 1940
1 22 December 1939 15:05 Hurricane 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Metz[8]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[7]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
2 21 May 1940 19:10 LeO 451 Châlons[9] 4 31 May 1940 19:08 Curtiss Abbeville[9]
21 May 1940
M.S.406 east of Paris[9] 5 3 June 1940 14:35 Hurricane Paris[9]
21 May 1940
Curtiss east of Paris[9]
3 June 1940
M.S.406 Paris[10]
3 24 May 1940 18:15 Curtiss[9] 6 7 June 1940 16:53 M.S.406 Compiègne[10]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[7]
Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 26 June – 26 August 1940
7 25 August 1940 18:27 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Portland[11]
Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –[7]
Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 27 August 1940 – 9 June 1941
8 5 September 1940
Spitfire vicinity of London[12] 11 7 October 1940
Hurricane Thames Estuary[12]
9 15 September 1940
Spitfire north of London[12] 12 10 January 1941 14:35 Blenheim 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Nieuwpoort[12]
10 7 October 1940
Hurricane Thames Estuary[12]
Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –[7]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 16 September 1941
13 25 June 1941 15:10 I-153 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Dubno[13] 23 10 July 1941 15:15 SB-2 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Barbolok[14]
14 26 June 1941 06:10 DB-3 northeast of Brody[13] 24 12 July 1941 14:55 DB-3 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Zhytomyr[15]
15 26 June 1941 06:15 DB-3 northeast of Brody[13] 25 14 July 1941 14:30 DB-3 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Berdychiv[15]
16 26 June 1941 14:20 SB-2 Szczurowcze[13] 26 14 July 1941 14:31 DB-3 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Berdychiv[15]
17 29 June 1941 15:00 I-153 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Brody[16] 27 14 July 1941 14:32 DB-3 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Berdychiv[15]
18 29 June 1941 15:05 I-153 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Brody[16] 28 11 August 1941 06:45 SB-2 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Wihenkij[15]
19 5 July 1941 11:45 Pe-2 northwest of Gudnow[17] 29 11 August 1941 06:48 SB-2 6 km (3.7 mi) west of Boryspil[15]
20 6 July 1941 15:40 DB-3 southeast of Shepetivka[17] 30 14 August 1941 12:50 I-16 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Kaniv[18]
21 6 July 1941 15:45 DB-3 southeast of Shepetivka[17] 31 16 August 1941 10:00 I-17 (MiG-1) 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Kaniv[18]
22 10 July 1941 15:10 I-17 (MiG-1) 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Kurin[14]
Close

Awards

References

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.