Horst-Günther von Fassong
Horst-Günther von Fassong
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Horst-Günther von Fassong
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Born | Kassel |
27 April 1919
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. near Maastricht, Netherlands |
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/ |
Heer, Luftwaffe |
Rank | Hauptmann |
Unit | JG 51, JG 11 |
Commands held | 10./JG 51, III./JG 11 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Hauptmann Horst-Günther von Fassong (born 27 April 1919 in Kassel – MIA 1 January 1945) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace.[Note 1] A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[3] He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Horst-Günther von Fassong participated in Operation Bodenplatte and was last seen on 1 January 1945 engaged in aerial combat near Maastricht. Unteroffizier Armin Mehling, Von Fassong's wingman, reported that Von Fassong was shot down by two P-47 Thunderbolts over Asch flying a Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 682 792—factory number).[2] The flight was flying at a height of 15 to 20 metres (49 to 66 ft) when they were pounced upon by six P-47s. Von Fassong's aircraft was hit and burned immediately. The aircraft crashed in a big ball of flames.[4]
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 September 1943)[2]
- German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberleutnant in the 10./JG 51[5]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 11[6][7]
Notes
- ↑ According to Spick, Von Fassong is credited with 136 aerial victories, 90 of which claimed over the Eastern Front and 46 in the western theatre of operations, including four heavy bombers.[1] According to Obermaier he is credited with 75, potentially about 80, aerial victories, among them 10 claimed over the Western Front, including four heavy bombers.[2]
References
Citations
Bibliography
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- Manrho, John and Pütz, Ron (2010). Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0686-5.
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External links
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- Articles containing German-language text
- 1919 births
- 1945 deaths
- Luftwaffe pilots
- German World War II flying aces
- German military personnel killed in World War II
- Missing in action of World War II
- People from Kassel
- People from Hesse-Nassau
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross