Hans-Heinz Augenstein
Encyclopedia
Hans-Heinz Augenstein was a German Luftwaffe
fighter
and flying ace
during World War II
. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator
credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft
during aerial combat. Operating as a night fighter ace, he was credited with 46 victories, of which 45 were four-engine bombers.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces
downed near Ahlhorn. In late 1942, Augenstein transferred to 7 staffel. He claimed four victories on 27-28 May. In March 1944 Augenstein was made Staffelkapitän of 12./NJG 1 and awarded the Ritterkreuz on 9 June 1944.
During 1944 Augenstein claimed 42 victories. On the night of 6-7 December 1944, Augenstein’s Bf 110 G-4 was shot down near Münster-Handorf by a Mosquito night fighter of the Fighter Interception Unit
, flown by RAF ace F/L ER Hedgecoe DFC. Augenstein and his Bordfunker Gunther Steins were killed but his Bordschütze Uzz. Kurt Schmidt baled out unhurt.
Hans-Heinz Augenstein was credited with 46 victories, all recorded at night and including 45 four-engine bombers.
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
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
and flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
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...
. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
during aerial combat. Operating as a night fighter ace, he was credited with 46 victories, of which 45 were four-engine bombers.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces
Career
Leutnant Augenstein first served with 3./NJG 1 during mid 1942. He claimed his first victory on the night of 31 July-1 August, a Vickers WellingtonVickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
downed near Ahlhorn. In late 1942, Augenstein transferred to 7 staffel. He claimed four victories on 27-28 May. In March 1944 Augenstein was made Staffelkapitän of 12./NJG 1 and awarded the Ritterkreuz on 9 June 1944.
During 1944 Augenstein claimed 42 victories. On the night of 6-7 December 1944, Augenstein’s Bf 110 G-4 was shot down near Münster-Handorf by a Mosquito night fighter of the Fighter Interception Unit
Fighter Interception Unit
The Fighter Interception Unit was a special interceptor aircraft unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was part of Air Defence of Great Britain....
, flown by RAF ace F/L ER Hedgecoe DFC. Augenstein and his Bordfunker Gunther Steins were killed but his Bordschütze Uzz. Kurt Schmidt baled out unhurt.
Hans-Heinz Augenstein was credited with 46 victories, all recorded at night and including 45 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...
(17 January 1944) - 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 on 16 January 1944 as Leutnant in the 7./NJG 1 - 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...
on 9 June 1944 as OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
and StaffelführerStaffelkapitänStaffelkapitän 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 7./NJG 1