Franz Schwaiger
Born1 February 1918
Ulm
Died24 April 1944(1944-04-24) (aged 26)
Rain am Lech
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1941–44
RankLeutnant
UnitJG 3
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Franz Schwaiger (1 February 1918 – 24 April 1944) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership - for the fighter pilots, it was a quantifiable measure of skill and success.

Military career

Schwaiger was born on 1 February 1918 in Ulm in the Kingdom of Württemberg within the German Empire. Following flight training as a fighter pilot in the summer of 1941,[Note 1] he was posted, as an Unteroffizier, to 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing).[2] This squadron was part of II./JG 3 under the command of Gordon Gollob and fighting with Army Group South. Schwaiger quickly earned his first air victory, on 16.08.1941, but by the end of the year had reached a total of eight victories at which time his unit was rotated back to the Reich for rest and re-equipping.[3]

A short secondment for his Gruppe to the Mediterranean Theatre, from January to April 1942, yielded no further success for Franz, but upon their return to the Eastern Front in May he started scoring steadily. Again covering Army Group South and the advance across the Ukraine toward Stalingrad, he scored his 20th victory on 31 July. The next week he was transferred to 2./JG 3, in the same sector. He scored his 30th victory on 17 August, and his 40th on 29 September, between which he had been transferred again, this time to 3./JG 3. Promoted to Feldwebel in early October, he scored his 50th victory on the 9th before being awarded the Knight's Cross, for 53 victories, on 29 October.

At the start of 1943 as the disaster at Stalingrad unfolded, and with 56 victories, Franz was sent for officer-training. Commissioned as a Leutnant, he returned to I./JG 3 as their highest-scoring pilot. In the intervening months the Gruppe had been recalled to Germany for Defence of the Reich duties against the increasingly intensive bombing raids of the 8th United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). This was a completely different type of aerial warfare - at high altitude and against the slow but very heavily armed box-formations of American bombers. Based around the industrial Ruhr heartland and Holland for the next year, he slowly added to his score.

Squadron leader and death

On 28 February 1944, I. Gruppe moved to Burg bei Magdeburg where the 1. Jagd-Division (1st Fighter Division) was concentrating fighter forces.[4] In March, Schwaiger was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel of JG 3 following the death of its former commander Leutnant Hans Frese on 8 March.[5] On 24 April, the USAAF Eighth Air Force sent 745 heavy bombers, escorted by 867 fighter aircraft, against the German aircraft industry. At 12:15, I. Gruppe took off and joined up with other elements of JG 3. At approximately 13:15, the Luftwaffe fighters intercepted a bomber formation north of Augsburg. The Luftwaffe fighters flew several attacks against the bomber formation. Following this engagement, Schwaiger made a successful forced landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-5 (Werknummer 110186—factory number) near Neuburg an der Donau but was then killed by strafing North American P-51 Mustang fighters after he had left his aircraft.[6][7][8] Command of 1. Staffel remained vacant until 10 May when Hauptmann Ernst Laube was appointed its Staffelkapitän.[5]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Schwaiger was credited with 67 aerial victories.[9] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 56 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This figure of confirmed claims includes 55 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and one on the Western Front.[10]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 4931". 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.[11]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Schwaiger did not receive credit.
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
  This along with the & (ampersand) indicates a endgültige Vernichtung (final destruction)—a coup de grâce inflicted on an already damaged heavy bomber.
  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
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[12]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 1 November 1941
1 16 August 1941 06:55 DB-3[13] 5 26 August 1941 16:15 Pe-2 east of Dnipropetrovsk[14]
2 19 August 1941 13:55?[Note 2] I-153[15] 6 3 September 1941 07:55 Pe-2[14]
3 21 August 1941 07:55 DB-3[15] 7 8 September 1941 13:47 SB-2[14]
4 21 August 1941 07:58 DB-3[15] 8 6 October 1941 09:20 Pe-2[16]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[12]
Eastern Front — 26 April – 31 July 1942
9 27 May 1942 12:50 Il-2[17] 15 24 July 1942 13:20 Yak-1 PQ 4931[18]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Bassargino
10 29 May 1942 18:35 V-11 (Il-2)[17] 16 26 July 1942 08:15 Il-2[18]
11 29 May 1942 18:40 V-11 (Il-2)[17] 17 26 July 1942 08:20 Il-2[18]
12 4 June 1942 17:27 Il-2[17] 18 27 July 1942 11:40 Yak-1 PQ 39251[18]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Pitomnik
13 11 June 1942 12:27 Il-2[17] 19 31 July 1942 13:55 Il-2 PQ 39192, Kalach[19]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Kalach
14 22 July 1942 05:00 I-16[20] 20 31 July 1942 14:00 LaGG-3 PQ 39184[19]
20 km (12 mi) west of Kalach
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[10]
Eastern Front — August – September 1942
21 4 August 1942 16:30 MiG-1 PQ 35 Ost 38285[21]
30 km (19 mi) south of Shutow		 31 20 August 1942 10:32 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 49451[22]
Leninsk airfield
22 5 August 1942 17:37 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 49739[22] 32 21 August 1942 17:42 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 49124[22]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Gumrak
23 9 August 1942 11:50?[Note 3] Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 39417[22]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Kalach		 33 28 August 1942 05:18 MiG-1 PQ 35 Ost 40894[23]
24 9 August 1942 12:00 Yak-1 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Nadeshda[22]
vicinity of Bassargino		 34 29 August 1942 13:50 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 49261[23]
20 km (12 mi) south of Stalingrad
25 12 August 1942 04:22 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 3946[22] 35 31 August 1942 16:07 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 49333[23]
vicinity of Stalingrad
26 13 August 1942 17:54 MiG-1 PQ 35 Ost 39432[22]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Pitomnik		 36 3 September 1942 04:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 40813[23]
27 17 August 1942 16:51 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 30894[22]
20 km (12 mi) north of Pitomnik		 37 4 September 1942 17:10?[Note 4] Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 49241[23]
5–10 km (3.1–6.2 mi) northeast of Stalingrad
28 17 August 1942 16:52 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 40773, Katschalinskaja[22] 38 6 September 1942 17:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 49134[23]
5 km (3.1 mi) north of Grebenka
29 17 August 1942 16:59?[Note 5] Il-2 PQ 40793[22]
vicinity of Spartak		 39 29 September 1942 10:05 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 49251, northeast of Stalingrad[23]
20 km (12 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad
30 20 August 1942 10:21?[Note 6] Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 49631[22] 40 29 September 1942 10:08 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 49222[23]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Stalingrad
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[24]
Eastern Front — September 1942
41 29 September 1942 15:50 MiG-3?[Note 7] PQ 35 Ost 59161[23]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[24]
Eastern Front — September 1942
42 30 September 1942 14:45 LaGG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Kotluban railway station[25]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[24]
Eastern Front — October – November 1942
43 4 October 1942 16:07 La-5 6 km (3.7 mi) east of Tschagarniki[25] 50 9 October 1942 14:43 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 49124[26]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Gumrak
44 5 October 1942 07:12 MiG-1 PQ 35 Ost 40424[25] 51 15 October 1942 07:58 R-5 PQ 35 Ost 59314[26]
45 6 October 1942 14:02 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 40442[25] 52 29 October 1942 14:15 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 59321[27]
46 6 October 1942 14:14 MiG-1 PQ 35 Ost 40432[25] 53 31 October 1942 13:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 50171[27]
47 7 October 1942 08:58 Yak-1 8 km (5.0 mi) east of Kolobowka[26] 54 2 November 1942 06:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 49491[27]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
48 8 October 1942 08:40 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 50672[26] 55 2 November 1942 06:58 R-5 PQ 35 Ost 49434[27]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
49 9 October 1942 14:38 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 49931[26]
5 km (3.1 mi) north of Grebenka
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[24]
Defense of the Reich — 1 May – 22 October 1943
—
?[Note 8]		 30 July 1943
—
 B-17&[28] 56?[Note 9] 19 August 1943 19:00 B-17* PQ 05 Ost S/KL[28]
—
?[Note 10]		 12 August 1943 09:30 B-17[24]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[24]
Defense of the Reich — 9 January – 24 April 1944
57 19 April 1944 10:55 P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/LU-6[29]
south of Hannoversch Münden, east of Kassel

Awards

Notes

  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.[1]
  2. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:55.[12]
  3. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:47.[12]
  4. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:01.[24]
  5. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:58.[12]
  6. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:25.[12]
  7. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1.[24]
  8. ↑ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[24]
  9. ↑ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[24]
  10. ↑ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[28]
  11. ↑ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[32]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  2. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 204.
  3. ↑ Luftwaffe Air Units: Single–Engined Fighters website.
  4. ↑ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 264.
  5. 1 2 Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 273.
  6. ↑ Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 264.
  7. ↑ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 281.
  8. ↑ Musciano 1989, p. 109.
  9. ↑ Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  10. 1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1196–1197.
  11. ↑ Planquadrat.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1196.
  13. ↑ Prien et al. 2003, p. 112.
  14. 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2003, p. 114.
  15. 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2003, p. 113.
  16. ↑ Prien et al. 2003, p. 115.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2006, p. 144.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2006, p. 149.
  19. 1 2 Prien et al. 2006, p. 150.
  20. ↑ Prien et al. 2006, p. 148.
  21. ↑ Prien et al. 2006, p. 101.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Prien et al. 2006, p. 102.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prien et al. 2006, p. 103.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1197.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2006, p. 104.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2006, p. 105.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2006, p. 106.
  28. 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2008, p. 249.
  29. ↑ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 277.
  30. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 434.
  31. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 394.
  32. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 694.

Bibliography

  • 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 11 October 2023.
  • 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 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • Musciano, Walter (1989). Messerschmitt Aces. New York: Aero. ISBN 978-0-8306-8379-6.
  • 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; Stemmer, Gerhard (2002). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: Stab and I./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-1681-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • 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.
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  • 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.
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