Hans Weik was a former German

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...

. He is credited with 36 victories achieved in only 85 comabt missions, including 25 victories over the Western Front

Western Front (World War II)

The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...

.

In the Luftwaffe

Weik joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941. After the following completion of his flying training, Weik was posted to I./JG 3 based on the Eastern front. After promoted to a Leutnant, he joined the JG 3, on 21 February 1943. His first victory was achieved on 9 March 1943 when he shot down a Russian Yak-1 fighter. After returning from eastern front he became an instructor. But returned to combat soon and he downed his first four-engined bomber, a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress in September 1943. Between February and July 1944, Weik claimed 23 victories, including 20 four-engined bombers.

In April 1945, Weik remained as a trainer of Me 262 jet fighters at Lechfeld. Hans Weik was credited with 36 victories in only 85 missions. He was one of the leading 'Viermottöters'

Post war

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

Awards

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
  Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
  The 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...
  
   (15 May 1944)
• German Cross
  German Cross
  The 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 (1 October 1944)
• 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...
  
   on 27 July 1944 as Leutnant and Staffelführer
  Staffelkapitän
  Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
  
  of the 10./JG 3 "Udet"

External links

• http://www.military-art.com/mall/profiles.php?SigID=1022
• http://home.pacbell.net/horrido1/photos.htm
• http://www.axishistory.com/index
• http://www.feldgrau.com/KnightsCrossHolders