Hans-Heinz Augenstein
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Hans-Heinz Augenstein?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Hans-Heinz Augenstein (11 July 1921 – 7 December 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator 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.[1] Operating as a night fighter pilot, he was credited with 46 aerial victories, of which 45 were four-engine bombers, all of which claimed in Defense of the Reich.[2][Note 1]
Hans-Heinz Augenstein | |
---|---|
Born | (1921-07-11)11 July 1921 Pforzheim, Germany |
Died | 7 December 1944(1944-12-07) (aged 23) Münster, Germany |
Cause of death | Killed in action |
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/ | Luftwaffe |
Rank | Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) |
Unit | NJG 1 |
Commands held | 12./NJG 1 |
Battles/wars | See battles |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Born in Pforzheim-Brötzingen, Augenstein grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe and was trained as a night fighter pilot. Following flight training, he was posted to Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Fighter Wing) in 1942. Flying with this wing, Augenstein claimed his first aerial victory on 13/14 May 1943 over a Royal Air Force bomber aircraft. In March 1944, he was appointed squadron leader of 12. Staffel (12th squadron) of NJG 1 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 for 35 nocturnal aerial victories claimed. On 7 December 1944, Augenstein was killed in action when he was shot down by a RAF night fighter near Münster.