Horst-Günther von Fassong
| Horst-Günther von Fassong | |
|---|---|
|
Horst-Günther von Fassong | |
| Born |
27 April 1919 Kassel |
| Died |
1 January 1945 (aged 25) near Maastricht, Netherlands |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Heer, Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit | JG 51, JG 11 |
| Commands held | 10./JG 51, III./JG 11 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Hauptmann Horst-Günther von Fassong (born 27 April 1919 in Kassel – MIA 1 January 1945) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace.[Note 1] A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[3] He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Horst-Günther von Fassong participated in Operation Bodenplatte and was last seen on 1 January 1945 engaged in aerial combat near Maastricht. Unteroffizier Armin Mehling, Von Fassong's wingman, reported that Von Fassong was shot down by two P-47 Thunderbolts over Asch flying a Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 682 792—factory number).[2] The flight was flying at a height of 15 to 20 metres (49 to 66 ft) when they were pounced upon by six P-47s. Von Fassong's aircraft was hit and burned immediately. The aircraft crashed in a big ball of flames.[4]
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 September 1943)[2]
- German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberleutnant in the 10./JG 51[5]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 11[6][7]
Notes
- ↑ According to Spick, Von Fassong is credited with 136 aerial victories, 90 of which claimed over the Eastern Front and 46 in the western theatre of operations, including four heavy bombers.[1] According to Obermaier he is credited with 75, potentially about 80, aerial victories, among them 10 claimed over the Western Front, including four heavy bombers.[2]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- 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.
- 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.
- Manrho, John and Pütz, Ron (2010). Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0686-5.
- 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.
- 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.
