Hans Hahn (night fighter pilot)

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Hans Hahn
Born 21 February 1919
Rheydt
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Grantham, England
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1940–1941
Rank Leutnant
Unit NJG 2
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans Hahn (21 February 1919 – 11 October 1941) was a Luftwaffe night fighter 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; his was the first awarded to a night fighter.[1]

Victories

During his career he claimed twelve aerial victories, all of them at night.[Note 1]

Most successful Night Fighter pilot until his death. On five occasions, he returned to his base at Gilze-Rijen on one engine. Once he returned with a balloon cable wrapped around his wing in his C-4.[1]

Before his last mission, he had brought down ten British planes in England:

  • His first known victory, a Wellington near Linton-on-Ouse on the night of 24–25 October 1940.
  • His 2nd, a Whitley on the East Anglia coast, 50 km east of Withernsea, the night of 2–3 January 1941.
  • His 3rd, a Hudson at Leeming on the night of 12–13 March 1941.
  • His 4th, a Blenheim over England on the night of 13–14 March 1941.
  • His 5th, a Hampden at Upwood, 8 April 1941.
  • His 6th, a Wellington at Wellingore on 8 April 1941.
  • His 7th, a Hampden SE of Waddington the night of 16–17 April 1941.
  • His 8th, a Herford at Digby on 21 April 1941.
  • His 9th, a Fulmar at Stoke Holy Cross on 3–4 May 1941.
  • His 10th, a Blenheim at Feltwell, 5 May 1941.[1]

Death

File:Hans Hahn - Helmut Scheidt.JPG
Graves of Hans Hahn (1919–1941) and Helmut Scheidt (1919–1941), Deutsch Soldatenfriedhof Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, England (Block 3 Row 10 Graves 305 & 306)

Hans Hahn was killed near Grantham, England, on 11 October 1941 after his JU 88 collided with a RAF Oxford trainer aircraft he targeted. He is buried at Cannock Chase German war cemetery (Block 3, Grave 306) alongside his flight crew of Unteroffizier Helmut Scheidt (flight engineer) and Unteroffizier Ernst-Wilhelm Meissler (wireless operator).[2]

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces
  2. ↑ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 3./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2.[4]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 [1] Kracker Database of World War II Luftwaffe aircrew.
  2. ↑ [2] Aircrew Remembrance Society web page.
  3. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 211.
  4. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 361.

Bibliography

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External links

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