Hans Schleef
Encyclopedia
Hans Schleef was a German
Luftwaffe
fighter ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II
.
In late 1940, Unteroffizier Schleef was posted to 7 staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3
then flying over the Channel front. He claimed his first victory on 5 February 1941, when he shot down a Hurricane over St Omer
. His second claim was on 31 May, a Bristol Blenheim
. Transferring with the unit to the Eastern front, Schleef claimed 14 victories for July 1941. On 4 August, he then claimed three Russian I-16 'Ratas' downed. On 7 April Schleef was shot down in combat and managed to bale out safely behind enemy lines. He evaded capture, and returned to his unit four days later. Feldwebel Schleef was awarded the Ritterkreuz in May 1942 for 41 victories. He was then transferred to Ergänzung-Jagdgruppe Ost as an instructor in May 1942.
Leutnant Schleef returned, in January 1943, to 7./JG 3, and in April recorded his 60th victory, his 70th following on 2 June. On 5 July he was again shot down, forced-landing in the German lines. He later that day shot down another three enemy aircraft. On 6 July, Schleef claimed his 80th victory and his 90th on 30 July. In early August 1943, 7./JG 3 was transferred to Germany to fly anti-bomber sorties with Defense of the Reich
.
He shot down his first B-17 bomber on 12 August, though he himself was shot down on 17 August. On 15 October 1943, Oberleutnant Schleef was appointed Staffelkapitän, 3./JG 3. On 23 March, Schleef taxied his Bf 109 G-5 into a taking off He 177 slipstream, which flipped Schleef’s aircraft over; Schleef was rescued with only minor injuries.
Schleef was transferred as Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 5 in July 1944. In October 1944, 8./JG 5 was redesignated 16./JG 4. Schleef was killed in aerial combat with RAF Spitfires near Bad Durkheim
in a Bf 109 G-10 on 31 December 1944.
Hans Schleef was credited with 99 (and at least 2 unconfirmed) victories in over 500 missions. He recorded 91 victories over the Eastern front, including 15 Il-2 Sturmoviks. Of his eight victories recorded over the Western front, 2 were four-engine bombers.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In late 1940, Unteroffizier Schleef was posted to 7 staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. The Geschwader operated on all the German fronts in the European Theatre of World War II. It was named after Ernst Udet in 1942.-Campaign in the West :...
then flying over the Channel front. He claimed his first victory on 5 February 1941, when he shot down a Hurricane over St Omer
Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
. His second claim was on 31 May, a Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
. Transferring with the unit to the Eastern front, Schleef claimed 14 victories for July 1941. On 4 August, he then claimed three Russian I-16 'Ratas' downed. On 7 April Schleef was shot down in combat and managed to bale out safely behind enemy lines. He evaded capture, and returned to his unit four days later. Feldwebel Schleef was awarded the Ritterkreuz in May 1942 for 41 victories. He was then transferred to Ergänzung-Jagdgruppe Ost as an instructor in May 1942.
Leutnant Schleef returned, in January 1943, to 7./JG 3, and in April recorded his 60th victory, his 70th following on 2 June. On 5 July he was again shot down, forced-landing in the German lines. He later that day shot down another three enemy aircraft. On 6 July, Schleef claimed his 80th victory and his 90th on 30 July. In early August 1943, 7./JG 3 was transferred to Germany to fly anti-bomber sorties with Defense of the Reich
Defense of the Reich
The Defence of the Reich is the name given to the strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe over German occupied Europe and Germany itself during World War II. Its aim was to prevent the destruction of German military and civil industries by the Western Allies...
.
He shot down his first B-17 bomber on 12 August, though he himself was shot down on 17 August. On 15 October 1943, Oberleutnant Schleef was appointed Staffelkapitän, 3./JG 3. On 23 March, Schleef taxied his Bf 109 G-5 into a taking off He 177 slipstream, which flipped Schleef’s aircraft over; Schleef was rescued with only minor injuries.
Schleef was transferred as Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 5 in July 1944. In October 1944, 8./JG 5 was redesignated 16./JG 4. Schleef was killed in aerial combat with RAF Spitfires near Bad Durkheim
Bad Dürkheim
Bad Dürkheim is a spa town in the Rhine-Neckar urban agglomeration, and is the seat of the Bad Dürkheim district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
in a Bf 109 G-10 on 31 December 1944.
Hans Schleef was credited with 99 (and at least 2 unconfirmed) victories in over 500 missions. He recorded 91 victories over the Eastern front, including 15 Il-2 Sturmoviks. Of his eight victories recorded over the Western front, 2 were four-engine bombers.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(23 September 1941) - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (4 May 1942) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(9 May 1942)
External links
- Horrido1 - WWII Autographed Photos at home.pacbell.net