Helmut Bergmann
German World War II fighter pilot / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Helmut Bergmann (26 May 1920 – 6 August 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 36 enemy aircraft shot down in 135 combat missions. [Note 1] All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in nocturnal Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command.
Helmut Bergmann | |
---|---|
Born | 26 May 1920 Bochum |
Died | 6 August 1944(1944-08-06) (aged 24) Mortain, German-occupied France |
Buried | |
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/ | Luftwaffe |
Years of service | 1939–1944 |
Rank | Hauptmann (Captain) |
Unit | NJG 4, NJG 1 |
Commands held | 8./Nachtjagdgeschwader 4 |
Battles/wars | See battles |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Born in Bochum, Bergmann volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1939 after finishing school. Following flight training, he was initially posted to Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing) in 1941 before he transferred to Nachtjagdgeschwader 4 (NJG 4—4th Night Fighter Wing). He claimed his first aerial victory on 19/20 September 1942 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944. Two months later, on 6 August 1944, he and his crew were killed in action during Operation Lüttich.