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Karl-Heinz Leesmann

Karl-Heinz Leesmann
Born3 May 1915
Osnabrück
Died25 July 1943(1943-07-25) (aged 28)
North Sea, off Heligoland
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1936–1943
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 52, JG 1
CommandsI./JG 52
III./JG 1
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl-Heinz Leesmann (3 May 1915 – 25 July 1943) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. He was the first member of Jagdgeschwader 52 to receive this distinction. Leesmann was shot down on 25 July 1943, by a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber that he was attacking. During his career he was credited with 37 aerial victories, 27 on the Western Front and 10 on the Eastern Front.

Early life and career

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Leesmann was born on 3 May 1915 in Osnabrück in the Province of Hanover within the German Empire.[1] He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe and following completion of his flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 1] Leesmann was posted to Luftwaffe staff position holding the rank of Leutnant (second lieutenant).[3]

On 18 February 1939, Oberleutnant Alfons Klein, the commander of 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 433 (JG 433—433rd Fighter Wing), was killed in a flight accident. The Junkers Ju 52 on which he was travelling as a passenger crashed in heavy snowfall. In consequence, Leesmann was briefly appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 3. Staffel. He led the Staffel until 1 March when Oberleutnant Helmut Kühle was officially appointed its new commander.[4][5] On 20 March, I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 433 was redesignated and became I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). That day, I. Gruppe moved to Böblingen.[6]

World War II

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World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. That day, I. Gruppe moved to Bonn-Hangelar Airfield [de], protecting the German border during the "Phoney War".[7] In preparation for Operation Sea Lion (Unternehmen Seelöwe), the proposed amphibious invasion of Great Britain, I. Gruppe of JG 52 moved to an airfield at Coquelles near the English Channel on 3 August 1940. Here on 24 August, Leesmann claimed his first aerial victory, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire shot down east of Margate.[8]

I./JG 52 insignia

On 27 August, Leesmann was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3. Staffel of JG 52. He replaced Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald who was appointed commander of I. Gruppe of JG 52.[9] On 15 September, also known as Battle of Britain Day, Leesmann claimed two Hawker Hurricane fighters over the Thames Estuary on fighter escort mission for Junkers Ju 88 bombers heading for London, taking his total to ten aerial victories.[10][11] Leesmann was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 5 October.[12]

On 24 May 1941, Leesmann was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 52. He succeeded Ewald who was transferred.[13] Five days later, the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) of I. Gruppe relocated to Leeuwarden Airfield. Here on 30 June, Leesmann claimed two Bristol Blenheim bombers shot down northwest of Texel, taking his total to 22.[14] Following his 22nd aerial victory claimed, Leesmann was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 23 July 1941. He was the first member of JG 52 to receive this distinction.[15]

War against the Soviet Union

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On 22 June, German forces had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. On 21 September 1941, I. Gruppe of JG 52 was ordered to relocate to the Eastern Front. With stopovers at Dortmund, Magdeburg, and Warsaw, the Gruppe arrived in Orsha on 29 September. In support for Operation Typhoon, also known as the Battle of Moscow, the Gruppe moved to an airfield named Ponyatovka, located approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Roslavl, on 2 October. There, the Gruppe was initially subordinated to the Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing) and supported German forces fighting in the Battle of Vyazma as part of Operation Typhoon, the code name of the German offensive on Moscow.[16][17][18]

On 20 October, the Gruppe moved to an airfield named Kalinin-Southwest, present-day Tver, and located on the Volga, and to Staritsa on 31 October and then to Ruza located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Moscow, on 3 November.[19] Here on 22 October, Leesmann claimed his 25th aerial victory when he shot down an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber.[20] On 6 November, Leesmann was severely wounded in combat when his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 9181—factory number) was hit by enemy fire resulting in an emergency landing at Ruza. In consequence, command of I. Gruppe was passed to Oberleutnant Carl Lommel.[21] Leesmann returned to active service following a lengthy period of convalescence on 6 May 1942. At the time, I. Gruppe was based at Olmütz, present-day Olomouc in the Czech Republic, where they received new Bf 109 F-4 aircraft. The Gruppe then redeployed to the Eastern Front. On 13 June, Leesmann had to again transfer command of I. Gruppe, this time to Hauptmann Helmut Bennemann. The injuries he had sustained on 6 November 1941 had prevented him from further operational flying.[22] On 27 July, Leesmann was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).[23]

In defense of the Reich and death

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In consequence of the newly created Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) on 31 March 1943, a new III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) was formed and placed under command of Leesmann.[24][25][26]

On 25 July during Blitz Week, a period of United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aerial bombardment during the 1943 Combined Bomber Offensive, the USAAF VIII Bomber Command targeted Hamburg and Warnemünde. III. Gruppe was scrambled at 16:15 and vectored to a point of intercept over the Elbe estuary where they encountered a formation of approximately 100 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. Leading his formation, Leesmann approached the bombers in a head-on attack. Following the attack, he radioed that his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 20073) had taken hits. Leesmann was killed in action when his Bf 109 crashed into the North Sea in an area southeast of Heligoland.[27] Command of III. Gruppe was then passed to Hauptmann Robert Olejnik.[28]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 34 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 10 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 24 over the Western Allies, including one four-engined heavy bomber.[29]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost 148". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[30]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Leesmann did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[31]
Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 3–26 August 1940
1 24 August 1940 17:12 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Margate[32] 2 26 August 1940 12:50 Spitfire Dover[32]
Thames Estuary
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[29]
Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 27 August – 30 October 1940
3 31 August 1940 13:50?[Note 2] Hurricane southern edge of London[32] 10 15 September 1940 15:40 Hurricane Thames Estuary[33]
4 31 August 1940 14:00 Spitfire Benchley[32] 11 18 September 1940 13:50?[Note 3] Hurricane Tilbury[34]
5 31 August 1940 19:30 Hurricane[32] 12 24 September 1940 14:35 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) off Dover[34][34]
6 1 September 1940 11:50?[Note 4] Spitfire Sittingbourne[32] 13 24 September 1940 14:40 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) off Dover[34][34]
7 5 September 1940 11:05 Spitfire[33]
—
?[Note 5] 		27 September 1940 14:55 Spitfire[35]
8 7 September 1940 18:10 Spitfire Maidstone[33] 14 11 October 1940 12:10 Hurricane[34]
9 15 September 1940 15:25 Hurricane Thames Estuary[33]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[35]
On the Western Front — 27 December 1940 – 23 May 1941
15 15 February 1941 13:20 Hurricane Ostend[36]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[35]
On the Western Front — 24 May – 23 September 1941
16 25 May 1941 16:35 Blenheim north of Nordeney[36] 20 13 June 1941 06:17 Hudson 120 km (75 mi) west of Texel[37]
17 28 May 1941 20:55?[Note 6] Blenheim 200 km (120 mi) north-northwest of Texel[36]
200 km (120 mi) north-northwest of Terschelling 		21?[Note 7] 30 June 1941 14:47 Blenheim 150 km (93 mi) northwest of Texel[37]
18 28 May 1941 21:00 Blenheim 200 km (120 mi) north-northwest of Texel[36]
200 km (120 mi) north-northwest of Terschelling 		22 30 June 1941 14:51 Blenheim 160 km (99 mi) northwest of Texel[37]
19 12 June 1941 21:05?[Note 8] Blenheim?[Note 8] PQ 05 Ost 148[37]
North Sea
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[35]
Operation Barbarossa — 2 October – 6 November 1941
23 17 October 1941 15:35 I-18 (MiG-1)[38] 27 28 October 1941 15:05 Pe-2[38]
24 18 October 1941 11:50 SB-2 (Seversky)[38] 28 29 October 1941 08:06 I-18 (MiG-1)[38]
25 22 October 1941 10:59 DB-3[38] 29 5 November 1941 08:52 I-26 (Yak-1)[38]
26 28 October 1941 13:50?[Note 9] I-18 (MiG-1)[38] 30 6 November 1941 11:25 I-16[38]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[35]
On the Eastern Front — 19 May – 13 June 1942
31 26 May 1942 15:41 Il-2[39] 32 4 June 1942 18:45 Il-2[40]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 11 –[35]
On the Eastern Front — Defense of the Reich — 1 April – 26 July 1943
33?[Note 10] 25 June 1943
—
 B-17[41] 35 18 July 1943 20:44 Beaufighter 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Den Helder[42]
34 18 July 1943 20:44 Beaufighter 8 km (5.0 mi) west of Den Helder[42] 36 25 July 1943 17:45 B-17[42]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:50.[31]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:49.[31]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:47.[31]
  5. ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[34]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 21:03.[35]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[35]
  8. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 21:15 over a Lockheed Hudson.[35]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:49.[35]
  10. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[35]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 155.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 81.
  4. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 11, 348.
  5. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 82.
  6. ^ Barbas 2006, p. 11.
  7. ^ Barbas 2006, p. 42.
  8. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 95, 387.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 129.
  10. ^ Weal 2004, p. 33.
  11. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 106, 387.
  12. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 110–111.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 63.
  14. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 141–142, 389.
  15. ^ Weal 2004, p. 52.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 12.
  17. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 59.
  18. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 143–144.
  19. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 63.
  20. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 145, 390.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 17, 23.
  22. ^ Barbas 2006, pp. 171–174, 347.
  23. ^ a b Barbas 2006, p. 350.
  24. ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 75.
  25. ^ Weal 2006, pp. 20–21.
  26. ^ Weal 1996, p. 21.
  27. ^ Prien et al. 2008, pp. 165, 198.
  28. ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 190.
  29. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 730–731.
  30. ^ Planquadrat.
  31. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 730.
  32. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2002, p. 133.
  33. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2002, p. 135.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2002, p. 138.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 731.
  36. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003a, p. 68.
  37. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003a, p. 69.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2003b, p. 20.
  39. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 428.
  40. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 429.
  41. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1994, p. 635.
  42. ^ a b c Prien & Rodeike 1994, p. 636.
  43. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 287.
  44. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 498.
  45. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 272.

Bibliography

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  • Barbas, Bernd (2006). Die Geschichte der I. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 1st Group of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-79-3.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  • Caldwell, Donald; Muller, Richard (2007). The Luftwaffe Over Germany: Defense of the Reich. MBI Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85367-712-0.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter (1994). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945: Teil 1, 1939–1943 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11: Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945] (in German). Vol. I 1939–1943. Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-21-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2008). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/II—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/II—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-85-4.
  • 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.
  • Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
  • Weal, John (1996). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 9. Osprey. ISBN 978-1-85532-595-1.
  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 15. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.
  • Weal, John (2006). Bf 109 Defence of the Reich Aces. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 68. Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84176-879-3.
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Military offices
Preceded by
Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald
 Commander of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52
25 May 1941 – 6 November 1941 		Succeeded by
Oberleutnant Carl Lommel
Preceded by
Major Walter Spies
 Commander of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1
1 April 1943 – 25 July 1943 		Succeeded by
Hauptmann Robert Olejnik