Hans Weik

Hans Weik
Born(1922-07-06)6 July 1922
Heilbronn, Weimar Republic
Died5 June 2001(2001-06-05) (aged 78)
Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1941–1945
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 3, EJGr Ost, EJG 2
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other workArchitect

Hans Weik (6 July 1922 – 5 June 2001) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. He is credited with 36 victories achieved in only 85 combat missions, including 25 victories over the Western Front. Following World War II, Weik became an architect and died on 5 June 2001 in Heidenheim an der Brenz.

Early life and career

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Weik was born on 6 July 1922 in Heilbronn in the Free People's State of Württemberg of the Weimar Republic.[1] He joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941 and following his flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 1], Weik was posted to the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) on 21 February 1943 holding the rank of Leutnant (second lieutenant).[3] At the time, the Geschwaderstab was based at Tatsinskaya Airfield and had been fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad.[4]

World War II

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World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In June 1941, German forces had invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. Following the German defeat at Stalingrad in early 1943. The Geschwaderstab under command of Major Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke, fought in operations against the Kuban bridgehead as part of the IV. Fliegerkorps (4th Air Corps). In March 1943, the Geschwaderstab was based at Anapa located on the northern coast of the Black Sea near the Sea of Azov. Here, Weik claimed his first aerial victory on 9 March, a Soviet Yakovlev Yak-1. In total, pilots of the Geschwaderstab claimed 38 aerial victories in March and April 1943, including eleven by Weik. In early May 1943, the Geschwaderstab was ordered out of actions and returned to München-Gladbach, present-day Mönchengladbach.[5] For his achievements on the Eastern Front, Weik was awarded the both classes of the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz).[3]

Weik was then posted to 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost, a supplementary fighter pilot training unit based at La Rochelle. Flying with this unit, Weik claimed his first four-engined heavy bomber on 16 September, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. In November 1943, Weik was transferred to 9. Staffel of JG 3, a squadron of III. Gruppe (3rd group).[6][7] In November 1943, 9. Staffel was commanded by Leutnant Ekkehard Tichy and based at Bad Wörishofen and fighting in defense of the Reich.[8] On 19 December, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Fifteenth Air Force attacked railroad infrastructure at Innsbruck and the Messerschmitt factories at Augsburg. III. Gruppe of JG 3 was vectored to intercept the formation heading for Innsbruck. There, the Gruppe without loss of their own claimed eight B-17 bombers shot down, including one by Weik.[9]

Squadron leader and end of war

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On 10 February 1944, Weik was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 10. Staffel of JG 3. He succeeded Oberleutnant Alfred Humer who had been killed in action.[10] The Staffel was subordinated to IV. Gruppe of JG 3, at the time based at Venlo Airfield and placed under command of Major Friedrich-Karl Müller. On 19 February, Weik logged his first practice flight with IV. Gruppe.[11] On 6 March, the USAAF Eighth Air Force sent a force of 730 heavy bombers escorted by 800 fighters on mission to Berlin. At 11:37, IV. Gruppe took off from their airfield at Salzwedel and intercepted the bombers near Braunschweig. In a frontal attack, Weik claimed one of the B-17 bombers shot down. Shortly after, the Gruppe regrouped and flew a second frontal attack and Weik claimed his second B-17 bomber shot down that day.[12][13]

Combat box of a 12-plane B-17 squadron. Three such boxes completed a 36-plane group box.
  1. Lead Element
  2. High Element
  3. Low Element
  4. Low Low Element

On 15 April 1944, Generalmajor Adolf Galland, at the time the General der Jagdflieger (General of Fighters), visited IV. Gruppe of JG 3 at the airfield in Salzwedel. Galland announced that the IV. Gruppe would be converted to a Sturmgruppe (assault group), the first of such units, as a means to combat the bomber formations of the USAAF. Similar to the experimental Sturmstaffel 1 (1st Assault Squadron) of JG 3, the Gruppe was equipped with the heavily armored variant of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A series. Every pilot of the Gruppe was asked to sign a contract, declaring that they would commit themselves to pressing attacks on the bombers to point-blank range, and that aerial ramming should be considered. Three days later, Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz was officially appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the IV. Sturmgruppe of JG 3. He replaced Hauptmann Heinz Lang, who had temporarily led the Gruppe after its former commander, Major Friedrich-Karl Müller had been appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) on 11 April.[14][15][16] On 8 May, Weik claimed two Consolidated B-24 Liberator and a single B-17 bomber shot down. One of the B-24 bombers claimed was in fact an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from its combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.[17] For this, Weik was awarded the the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) two days later.[18]

Downed B-24 of the 492nd Bomb Group after an aerial battle over Oschersleben on 7 July 1944

On 7 July, a force of 1,129 B-17 and B-24 bombers of the USAAF Eighth Air Force had set out from England to bomb aircraft factories in the Leipzig area and the synthetic oil plants at Boehlen, Leuna-Merseburg and Lützkendorf. This formation was intercepted by a German Gefechtsverband (combat formation) consisting of IV. Sturmgruppe of JG 3, led by Moritz, escorted by two Gruppen of Bf 109s from Jagdgeschwader 300 (JG 300—300th Fighter Wing) led by Major Walther Dahl. Dahl and Moritz drove the attack to point-blank range behind the Liberators of the 492d Bombardment Group before opening fire. 492d Bombardment Group was temporarily without fighter cover. Within about a minute the entire squadron of twelve B-24s had been annihilated. The Germans claimed 28 USAAF 2nd Air Division B-24 bombers that day and were credited with at least 21. The majority to the Sturmgruppe attack.[19] This figure includes one B-24 bomber claimed shot down by Weik.[20] In total, Luftwaffe pilots claimed the destruction of 60 bombers while actual losses were 28 bombers destroyed and further bombers returned with various levels of combat damage.[21] The authors Prien, Stemmer and Bock state that the consolidated attack flown in close formation by the Sturmgruppe resulted in overclaiming of aerial victories caused by the confusing combat situation. During these attacks, multiple pilots may have simultaneously fired at the same bomber. It was therefore unclear who was responsible for the destruction of the bomber.[22]

On 18 July, the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force sent approximately 500 B-17 and B-24 bombers to targets in southern Germany, northern Italy. Memmingen Airfield was targeted by over 200 bombers, escorted by North American P-51 Mustang and Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters. At 09:38, IV. Sturmgruppe of JG 3 was scrambled at Memmingen Airfield. A formation of B-17 bombers was intercepted over Lake Starnberg. In this encounter, Weik claimed one of the B-17 bombers shot down, but was also hit by the defensive fire and wounded.[23][24] His Fw 190 A-8/R2 (Werknummer 680747—factory number) crashed near Kempten. Consequently command of 10. Staffel was briefly passed to Leutnant Walther Hagenah before Oberleutnant Tichy took command of the Staffel on 3 August.[25] During his convalescence, Weik was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 July for 36 aerial victories claimed and promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 1 September.[26][18]

Following his convalescence in April 1945, Weik served with III. Gruppe of Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2, also known as Erprobungskommando Lechfeld, a replacement training unit which flew the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter Lechfeld.[18]

Post war

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After the war, Weik became an architect. He planned and built many schools, sports auditoriums and other buildings. In retirement, he indulged his passion for model shipbuilding. Weik died on 5 June 2001 at the age of 78 in Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany.[18]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to Obermaier, Weik was credited with 36 aerial victories claimed in 85 combat missions, including 25 victories over the Western Front.[1] Forsyth states that he was credited with 22 heavy bombers shot down, making him one of the leading fighter pilots against the heavy bombers.[27] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 34 aerial victories, plus two further unconfirmed claims. Of this figure, he claimed eleven aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 23 over the Western Allies, including 22 four-engined bombers.[6]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 98344". 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.[28]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
  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
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[6]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 10 May 1943
1 9 March 1943 11:36 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 98344, 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Marijewka[29] 7 15 April 1943 16:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85142, 6 km (3.7 mi) west of Abinskaya[30]
2 23 March 1943 11:27 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8089, Spewakowka[30] 8 16 April 1943 15:10 P-39 7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of Krymskaya[30]
3 27 March 1943 11:30 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 9881, southwest of Rostov[30] 9 17 April 1943 15:05 P-39 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Kholmskaya[30]
30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Taganrog
4 31 March 1943 16:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 9057, Golodajew[30] 10 21 April 1943 11:05 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75457, south of Novorossiysk[30]
5 11 April 1943 05:35 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 8531, 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Krymskaja[30] 11 21 April 1943 11:08 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75461, 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Kabardinka[30]
6 11 April 1943 12:03 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8594, 12 km (7.5 mi) north of Krymskaja[30]
– 4. Staffel of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost –[31]
Western Front — September 1943
12 16 September 1943 18:59 B-17 2 km (1.2 mi) south of La Rochelle[31]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[31]
Defense of the Reich – 8 August – 31 December 1943
13 19 December 1943 12:26 B-17 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Innsbruck[32]
– 10. Sturmstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[31]
Defense of the Reich – 1 January – 7 June 1944
13?[Note 2] 20 February 1944 15:20 P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/OM, Liège[33]
Koblenz-Aachen 		25 24 April 1944 13:45 B-17 PQ 04 Ost S/CF, south of Landshut[34]
15 21 February 1944 14:38 B-17* PQ 05 Ost S/JU, Hannover[33]
vicinity of Holzminden 		26 24 April 1944 13:46 B-17* PQ 04 Ost S/CF, south of Landshut[34]
16 25 February 1944 13:20 B-17* southeast of Crailsheim[33] 27 29 April 1944 11:05 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/HB-1, Helmstedt[34]
17 4 March 1944 13:10 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/EF-4, Neuruppin[33] 28 29 April 1944 11:20 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/HD-3, Burg[34]
18 6 March 1944 12:47 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/GD-5[33]
south of Tangerhütte 		29 8 May 1944 10:09 B-24 PQ 15 Ost S/FA-1[35]
south of Sülze-Südheide
19 6 March 1944 12:52 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/GE-5, west of Brandenburg[33]
north of Braunschweig 		30 8 May 1944 10:14 B-24* PQ 15 Ost S/FA-9, northwest of Braunschweig[35]
20 8 March 1944 13:30 B-17* PQ 15 Ost S/HD-2[33]
Celle-Rathenow 		31 8 May 1944 12:10?[Note 3] B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/FT-1, northwest of Nienburg[35]
southwest of Hoya
21?[Note 2] 8 March 1944 13:56 P-51 PQ 15 Ost S/HE-8, southwest of Dessau[33]
Celle-Rathenow 		32 12 May 1944 12:30 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/PR, northeast of Frankfurt[35]
22 23 March 1944 11:20 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/KQ-9, Recklingen[33]
southeast of Dissen 		33 12 May 1944 12:37 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/PS, northeast of Frankfurt[35]
Bad Nauheim-Fulda
23 30 March 1944 16:30 P-47 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Mönchengladbach[33] 34 13 May 1944 14:24 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/UG-7, south of Grimmen[35]
24 24 April 1944 13:36 B-17 PQ 04 Ost S/CE, northeast of Munich[34]
– 10. Sturmstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[31]
Defense of the Reich – 1–18 July 1944
35 7 July 1944 09:42 B-24 PQ 15 Ost S/HC, Oschersleben[36] 36 18 July 1944 10:50 B-17 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Memmingen[36]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim is unconfirmed.[31]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:12.[31]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 221.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b c Dixon 2023, p. 141.
  4. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 12.
  5. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2002, pp. 13, 396.
  6. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1386–1387.
  7. ^ Page 2020, p. 61.
  8. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 443, 509.
  9. ^ Prien & Stemmer 1996, pp. 279, 501.
  10. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, pp. 373, 384.
  11. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 59, 330, 367.
  12. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 82–83, 354.
  13. ^ Weal 2006, p. 67.
  14. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 100–102.
  15. ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 71.
  16. ^ Weal 2008, p. 36.
  17. ^ Weal 2008, pp. 40–41.
  18. ^ a b c d Dixon 2023, p. 142.
  19. ^ Weal 1996, p. 78.
  20. ^ Prien 1996, p. 358.
  21. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 367.
  22. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 368.
  23. ^ Prien 1996, pp. 184–185, 187.
  24. ^ Weal 2008, pp. 61–62.
  25. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, pp. 373, 388.
  26. ^ Weal 2013, p. 86.
  27. ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 90.
  28. ^ Planquadrat.
  29. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 37.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2012, p. 38.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1387.
  32. ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 329.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 377.
  34. ^ a b c d e Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 378.
  35. ^ a b c d e f Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 379.
  36. ^ a b Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 380.
  37. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 214.
  38. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 501.
  39. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 439.
  40. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 773.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • 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.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2011). Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942–45. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 101. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-438-3.
  • Mathews, 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.
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  • 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 (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 (1996). IV./Jagdgeschwader 3—Chronik einer Jagdgruppe—1943 – 1945 [IV./Jagdgeschwader 3—Chronic of a Fighter Group—1943 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-36-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard (2002). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: Stab and I./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-1681-4.
  • 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 (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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2018). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/IV—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/IV—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-19-2.
  • 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.
  • Weal, John (1996). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 9. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-595-1.
  • Weal, John (2006). Bf 109 Defence of the Reich Aces. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 68. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-879-3.
  • Weal, John (2008) [2005]. Luftwaffe Sturmgruppen. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 20 (4th ed.). London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-908-0.
  • Weal, John (2013). Aces of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet". Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 116. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-298-6.
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