Franz Schwaiger

Franz Schwaiger (1 February 1918 – 24 April 1944) was a 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 - for the fighter pilots, it was a quantifiable measure of skill and success.

Franz Schwaiger
Born1 February 1918
Ulm
Died24 April 1944(1944-04-24) (aged 26)
Rain am Lech
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1941–44
RankLeutnant
UnitJG 3
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Military career

Franz completed his pilot training in the summer of 1941, just as the German invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) opened.[1] He was posted, as an Unteroffizier, with 6./JG 3, a part of II./JG 3 under the command of Gordon Gollob and fighting with Army Group South. Schwaiger quickly earned his first air victory, on 16.08.1941, but by the end of the year had reached a total of eight victories at which time his unit was rotated back to the Reich for rest and re-equipping.[2]

A short secondment for his Gruppe to the Mediterranean Theatre, from January to April 1942, yielded no further success for Franz, but upon their return to the Eastern Front in May he started scoring steadily. Again covering Army Group South and the advance across the Ukraine toward Stalingrad, he scored his 20th victory on 31 July. The next week he was transferred to 2./JG 3, in the same sector. He scored his 30th victory on 17 August, and his 40th on 29 September, between which he had been transferred again, this time to 3./JG 3. Promoted to Feldwebel in early October, he scored his 50th victory on the 9th before being awarded the Knight's Cross, for 53 victories, on 29 October.

At the start of 1943 as the disaster at Stalingrad unfolded, and with 56 victories, Franz was sent for officer-training. Commissioned as a Leutnant, he returned to I./JG 3 as their highest-scoring pilot. In the intervening months the Gruppe had been recalled to Germany for Defence of the Reich duties against the increasingly intensive bombing raids of the 8th United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). This was a completely different type of aerial warfare - at high altitude and against the slow but very heavily armed box-formations of American bombers. Based around the industrial Ruhr heartland and Holland for the next year, he slowly added to his score.

He was made Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 3 on 9 March 1944. However, only 6 weeks later on April 24, while fighting a formation of American bombers and their fighter escort, Schwaiger shot down his 67th victory - a P-51 Mustang - but his Bf 109G had problems with its fuel supply, forcing him to break off and return to base. On the way back, and flying alone, his plane was intercepted by U.S. fighters near Augsburg. Forced to crash-land, he was killed by American pilots strafing him as he attempted to escape from his aircraft[3][4] .

At the time of his death, Leutnant Franz Schwaiger had 67 victories comprising 56 on the Russian front (including 13 Il-2 Sturmovik bombers) and 11 on the Western Front (including four four-engined bombers).

Victories

NoDateTimeUnit & AirfieldGruppe Kommandeur[5]Location / PlanquadClaimed AircraftSource / Comments
116 August 19416:556/JG 3 - Signajewka, UkraineHptm Gordon Gollob-DB-3Prien/Bock
219 August 194113:556/JG 3 - Kirovograd, UkraineHptm Gordon Gollob-I-153Prien/Bock
321 August 19417:556/JG 3 - Stschastliwaja, UkraineHptm Gordon Gollob-DB-3Prien/Bock
421 August 19417:586/JG 3 - Stschastliwaja, UkraineHptm Gordon Gollob-DB-3Prien/Bock
526 August 194116:156/JG 3 - Stschastliwaja, UkraineHptm Gordon GollobE of DneprpropetrovskPe-2Prien/Bock
63 September 19417:556/JG 3 - Mironovka, UkraineHptm Gordon Gollob-Pe-2Prien/Bock
78 September 194113:476/JG 3 - Mironovka, UkraineHptm Gordon Gollob-SB-2Prien/Bock
86 October 19419:206/JG 3 - Sechtschinskaja, UkraineHptm Gordon Gollob-Pe-2Prien/Bock
927 May 194212:506/JG 3 - Tschuguyev, UkraineMaj Kurt Brändle3 km NNW of Izyum: low levelIl-2C.2034 AnerkNr 71
1029 May 194218:356/JG 3 - Tschuguyev, UkraineMaj Kurt Brändle-V-11C.2036/II #102276/43
1129 May 194218:406/JG 3 - Tschuguyev, UkraineMaj Kurt Brändle-V-11C.2036/II #102276/43
124 June 194217:276/JG 3 - Tschuguyev, UkraineMaj Kurt Brändle-Il-2C.2036/II #103293/43
1311 June 194212:276/JG 3 - Tschuguyev, UkraineMaj Kurt Brändle-Il-2C.2036/II #103293/43
1422 July 19425:006/JG 3 - Novy CholanMaj Kurt Brändle-I-16C.2036/II #104773/43
1524 July 194213:206/JG 3 - Novy CholanMaj Kurt Brändle-Yak-1C.2025/I
1626 July 19428:156/JG 3 - Novy CholanMaj Kurt Brändle-Il-2C.2036/II #104926/43
1726 July 19428:206/JG 3 - Novy CholanMaj Kurt Brändle-Il-2C.2036/II #104926/43
1827 July 194211:406/JG 3 - Novy CholanMaj Kurt Brändle39251: 50mYak-1C.2025/I AnerkNr88
1931 July 194213:556/JG 3 - FrolovMaj Kurt Brändle39192: 600mIl-2C.2025/I AnerkNr98
2031 July 194214:006/JG 3 - FrolovMaj Kurt Brändle39184: 600mLaGG-3C.2025/I AnerkNr100
214 August 194216:302/JG 3 - FrolovHptm Georg Michalek38285: 50mMiG-1C.2025/I AnerkNr47
225 August 194217:372/JG 3 - FrolovHptm Georg Michalek49739: 400mLaGG-3C.2025/I AnerkNr50
239 August 194211:472/JG 3 - FrolovHptm Georg Michalek39417: 4500mYak-1C.2032/II AnerkNr57
249 August 194212:002/JG 3 - FrolovHptm Georg Michalek49183: low-levelYak-1C.2032/II
2512 August 19424:222/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradHptm Georg Michalek39460: 200mLaGG-3C.2032/II AnerkNr561
2613 August 194217:542/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradHptm Georg Michalek39432: 300mMiG-1C.2032/II AnerkNr65
2717 August 194216:512/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradHptm Georg Michalek30894: 700mIl-2C.2032/II AnerkNr75
2817 August 194216:522/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradHptm Georg Michalek40773: 400mIl-2C.2032/II AnerkNr77
2917 August 194216:582/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradHptm Georg Michalek40793: 200mIl-2C.2032/II AnerkNr80
3020 August 194210:252/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49613: 500mPe-2C.2032/II AnerkNr83
3120 August 194210:322/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49451: 300mLaGG-3C.2032/II AnerkNr85
3221 August 194218:422/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49124LaGG-3C.2032/II AnerkNr88
3328 August 19425:182/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem40894: 200mMiG-1C.2032/II AnerkNr94
3429 August 194213:502/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49361: 3000mP-40C.2032/II AnerkNr95
3531 August 194216:072/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49333Il-2C.2032/II AnerkNr97
363 September 19424:552/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem40813: 3500mLaGG-3C.2032/II AnerkNr110
374 September 194217:012/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49241: 3500mYak-1C.2032/II AnerkNr120
386 September 194217:052/JG 3 - Tusov, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49134: 1500mLaGG-3C.2032/II AnerkNr124
3929 September 194210:053/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49251: 200mIl-2C.2032/II AnerkNr86
4029 September 194210:083/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49222: 50mIl-2C.2032/II AnerkNr87
4129 September 194215:503/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem59162: 500mMiG-1C.2032/II AnerkNr89
4230 September 194214:453/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem40753: 1500mLaGG-3C.2032/II
434 October 194216:073/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)49623: 300mLa-5C.2035/I
445 October 19427:123/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)40424: 100mMiG-1C.2035/I AnerkNr91
456 October 194214:023/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)40442: 400mIl-2C.2035/I AnerkNr92
466 October 194214:143/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)40432: 1800mMiG-1C.2035/I AnerkNr93
477 October 19428:583/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)8 km E of Kotluban: 800mYak-1C.2035/I AnerkNr94
488 October 19428:403/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)50672: 5000mLaGG-3C.2035/I AnerkNr95
499 October 194214:383/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)49131: 2500mLaGG-3C.2035/I AnerkNr99
509 October 194214:433/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)49124: 1500mLaGG-3C.2035/I AnerkNr100
5115 October 19427:583/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)59314: 50mR-5C.2035/I AnerkNr110
5215 October 19428:583/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)-Yak-1Prien JG3 lists f.557
5329 October 194214:153/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)59324: 1500mLaGG-3C.2035/I AnerkNr122
5431 October 194213:203/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradOlt Helmut Mertens (temp)50171: 800mLaGG-3C.2035/I AnerkNr124
552 November 19426:203/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49431: 50mLaGG-3C.2035/I AnerkNr126
562 November 19426:583/JG 3 - Pitomnik, StalingradMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem49434: 100mR-5C.2035/I AnerkNr167
?12 August 19439:301/JG 3 - Mönchen-GladbachMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem-B-17Prien JG3 lists f.561
?19 August 194320:151/JG 3 - Mönchen-GladbachMaj Klaus Quaet-Faslem-B-17Prien JG3 lists f.561
?19 April 194410:551/JG 3 - BurgHptm Helmut MertensS of Munden: 100mMustangC.2027/I AnerkNr89
6724 April 1944-1/JG 3 - BurgHptm Helmut Mertensnear AugsburgMustang
24 April 1944-1/JG 3 - BurgHptm Helmut MertensRain am Lech

Awards

Notes

  1. According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[8]

References

Citations

  1. Luftwaffe 39-45 Historia website.
  2. Luftwaffe Air Units: Single–Engined Fighters website.
  3. Luftwaffe 39-45 Historia website.
  4. Musciano 1989, pp.109.
  5. Luftwaffe Air Units: Single–Engined Fighters website.
  6. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 434.
  7. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 394.
  8. Scherzer 2007, p. 694.

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.
  • 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.
  • Barbas, Bernd (1985). Planes of the Luftwaffe Fighter Aces Vol I Kookaburra Technical Publishing. ISBN 0-85880-048-9 incl a colour profile of his aircraft [p62]
  • Musciano, Walter (1989). Messerschmitt Aces Tab Books ISBN 0-8306-8379-8
  • Spick, Mike (2006). Aces of the Reich Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-675-6
  • Scutts, Jerry (1994). Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-448-0.
  • Weal, John (2007). More Bf109 Aces of the Russian Front Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84603-177-X.
  • Weal, John (1999). Bf109F/G/K Aces of the Western Front Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85532-905-0.
  • Weal, John (2006). Bf109 Defence of the Reich Aces Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84176-879-0.
Military offices
Preceded by
Ltn Hans Frese
Squadron Leader of 1./JG 3
7 March 1944 – 24 April 1944
Succeeded by
Hptm Ernst-Albert Laube
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