Franz Schwaiger
Encyclopedia
Franz Schwaiger was a German
Luftwaffe
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. Franz Schwaiger (February 1, 1918 in Ulm - April 24, 1944) after completing his training as a fighter pilot in the summer of 1941, was appointed to serve as along the Unteroffizier 6./JG 3, then fighting on the Eastern Front.Schwaiger earned his first air victory on 16.08.1941 and by the end of that year, had reached a total of eight kills.On April 24, 1944, while fighting a formation of American bombers and their fighter escort, Schwaiger shot down a P-51 Mustang but his Bf 109G had problems Fuel supply, forcing him to abandon the fight and return to base.On the way back, his plane was intercepted by U.S. fighters and shot down, killing Schwaiger.Upon his death, Leutnant Franz Schwaiger had killed a total of 67 enemy planes, 56 on the Russian front, including 13 Il-2 Sturmovik and the remainder (including four four engine bombers) on the western front.
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....
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...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Franz Schwaiger (February 1, 1918 in Ulm - April 24, 1944) after completing his training as a fighter pilot in the summer of 1941, was appointed to serve as along the Unteroffizier 6./JG 3, then fighting on the Eastern Front.Schwaiger earned his first air victory on 16.08.1941 and by the end of that year, had reached a total of eight kills.On April 24, 1944, while fighting a formation of American bombers and their fighter escort, Schwaiger shot down a P-51 Mustang but his Bf 109G had problems Fuel supply, forcing him to abandon the fight and return to base.On the way back, his plane was intercepted by U.S. fighters and shot down, killing Schwaiger.Upon his death, Leutnant Franz Schwaiger had killed a total of 67 enemy planes, 56 on the Russian front, including 13 Il-2 Sturmovik and the remainder (including four four engine bombers) on the western front.
Awards
- FlugzeugführerabzeichenAviator BadgeAn Aviator Badge is an insignia used in most of the world’s militaries to designate those who have received training and qualification in military aviation...
- Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- 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 (16 November 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...
- Knight's Cross on 23 October 1942 as UnteroffizierUnteroffizierUnteroffizier is both a specific military rank as well as a collective term for non-commissioned officers of the German military that has existed since the 19th century. The rank existed as a title as early as the 17th century with the first widespread usage occurring in the Bavarian Army of the...
and Flugzeugführer in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"
- Knight's Cross on 23 October 1942 as Unteroffizier