Herbert Findeisen (11 July 1913 – 11 May 1963) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. During his career Herbert Findeisen was credited with 67 aerial victories, all on the Eastern Front.
Herbert Findeisen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 July 1913 Crimmitschau, German Empire |
| Died | 11 May 1963 (aged 49) Heide, Schleswig-Holstein, West Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1933–1945 |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit | Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 4 Jagdgeschwader 54 |
| Commands | II./JG 54 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Career
editFindeisen was born on 11 July 1913 in Crimmitschau, at the time in Province of Saxony, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia within the German Empire. He joined the military service of the Reichsheer in 1933 and transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935 where he was trained as an aerial observer.[1]
On 29 February 1944, Findeisen was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 36 aerial victories claimed.[2] In February 1945, Findeisen succeeded Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer, who was transferred, as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). Findeisen led this Gruppe until the German surrender on 8 May 1945. At the time, II. Gruppe was based at Libau, present-day Liepāja, and was fighting in the Courland Pocket.[3]
Findeisen was killed in an automobile accident on 11 May 1963 in Heide.[4]
Summary of career
editAerial victory claims
editAccording to US historian David T. Zabecki, Findeisen was credited with 67 aerial victories.[5] Spick also list him with 67 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, claimed in an unknown number of combat missions, including 42 claims as an aerial reconnaissance pilot.[6]
Awards and decorations
edit- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 26 November 1943 as Hauptmann in the 2./Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 4[7]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 February 1944 as Hauptmann and pilot and observer in the 2.(H)/Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 4[8][Note 1]
Notes
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 110.
- ^ Weal 2007, p. 67.
- ^ Weal 2001, pp. 116, 118.
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 309.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 239.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 113.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 180.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 307.
Bibliography
edit- 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.
- 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.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
- 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.
- 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.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 "Grünherz". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 6. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9.
- Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 76. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
