Hans Röhrig

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Hans Roehrig
Born(1919-11-04)4 November 1919
Hindenburg, Upper Silesia
Died13 July 1943(1943-07-13) (aged 23)
near Siracusa, Sicily
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–1943
RankHauptmann
UnitErpr.Gr. 210, JG 53
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans Roehrig (4 November 1919 – 13 July 1943) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Hans Roehrig was credited with 75 victories. He recorded 56 victories over the Eastern Front and 19 victories recorded over the Western Front.

Career[edit]

Roehrig was born on 4 November 1919 in Hindenburg in the Province of Upper Silesia, present-day Zabrze, Poland.[1]

Roehrig was first assigned to Erprobungsgruppe 210. He flew many fighter-bomber missions over England during the Battle of Britain and according to one source, recorded five aerial victories during this time but those victories remain unconfirmed. On 1 May 1941, Roehrig was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) stationed on the Eastern Front.

On 4 July 1941, Roehrig sustained minor injuries during a takeoff accident when his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 6726—factory number) flipped over at Hostynne.[2]

He recorded his first victory on 25 July, when he shot down a Russian DB-3 twin-engine bomber. Roehrig relocated with 3./JG 53 to the Mediterranean theatre at the end of 1941. From bases in Sicily, he flew missions over Malta but was unable to add any further victory during this time.

In May 1942, I./JG 53 relocated back to the Eastern Front. On 30 June 1942, Roehrig engaged in aerial combat with Soviet fighters east of Kshensky. In this engagement, his Bf 109 F-4 trop (Werknummer 10234—factory number) took a hit in the cabin, injuring Roehrig.[3] On 6 August, Roehrig was shot down in his Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 13480) and sustained minor injuries.[4] His victor may have been the Soviet ace Starshiy Leytenant Mikhail Baranov (183 IAP, 269 IAD) flying a Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter.[5][Note 1] At that time, Roehrig had eight victories to his credit. Roehrig claimed his 10th victory on 20 August. In September, Roehrig was particularly successful recording 39 victories during the month. On September 1942, Roehrig had reached 56 victories.

On 28 September 1942, I. Gruppe was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and ordered to Munich-Riem where they would be reequipped with the Bf 109 G-2 trop for redeployment in the Mediterranean theater.[6]

Roehrig was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 2 October 1942. During October, the unit operated over Malta to participate into bomber escort missions.

Squadron leader[edit]

In November 1942, Roehrig was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 53. He replaced Oberleutnant Franz Götz who had been appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 53, a Gruppe to which 9. Staffel was subordinated.[7] He successfully led the unit during the campaigns in Tunisia and Sicily. On 18 May 1943, Roehrig claimed a Lockheed P-38 Lightning twin-engine fighter aircraft shot down 70 kilometers (43 miles) northwest of Trapani. That day, the Western Allies had begun an air offensive in preparation for Operation Corkscrew, the invasion of Pantelleria, attacking airfields in Sicily and Sardinia. Returning from this attack, United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) P-38 fighters from the 14th Fighter Group and Luftwaffe fighters from both Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing) and III. Gruppe of JG 53, engaged in aerial combat. In this encounter, Luftwaffe pilots claimed eleven aerial victories for the loss of one Bf 109 shot down, the pilot escaping unhurt. The USAAF pilots claimed five Bf 109s shot down, further claiming to have damaged five other German aircraft, for the loss of four of their own, one pilot became a prisoner of war, one was killed in action and two were reported as missing in action.[8]

On 9 July 1943, the Western Allies launched Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily.[9] He recorded his last victories, two USAAF P-38 fighters, over Sicily on 11 July 1943. He shot down another two USAAF P-38 on the same day.

On 13 July 1943, Roehrig led 9. Staffel of JG 53 on a fighter escort missions for Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft to drop Fallschirmjäger on the Catania plains. That day, he was last seen 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west of Augusta.[10] Roehrig was shot down and killed in action in aerial combat by Supermarine Spitfire fighters in his Bf 109 G-4 trop (Werknummer 15063) in the area of Syracuse.[11] Roehrig was succeeded by Oberleutnant Franz Barten as commander of 9. Staffel.[12] Posthumously, Roehrig was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 1 September 1943.[13]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

According to Spick, Roehrig was credited with 75 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of missions. This figure is made up of approximately 50 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, the remaining aerial victories were claimed over the Western Allies in the Meditareanean theater and includes one four-engine heavy bomber.[14] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 74 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes 58 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and another 16 over the Western Allies, including one four-engined bomber.[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 4927". 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.[16]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Roehrig an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Roehrig did not receive credit.
  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
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[17]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 7 August 1941
1 25 July 1941 18:50 DB-3[18] 3 3 August 1941 14:45 I-16[19]
2 30 July 1941 13:40 I-153 northeast of Bila Tserkva[19] 4 3 August 1941 14:50 V-11 (Il-2) east of Pervomaisk[19]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[20]
Eastern Front — 28 May – 27 September 1942
5 5 June 1942 12:40 I-61 (MiG-3)[21] 32 11 September 1942 16:07 Pe-2 PQ 4927[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Stalingrad
6 30 June 1942 10:40 Boston 8 km (5.0 mi) east of Kschen[23] 33 12 September 1942 06:02?[Note 2] La-5 PQ 4941[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
7 31 July 1942 13:58 Il-2 PQ 3915[25]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Kalach
34 12 September 1942 16:50 La-5 PQ 4941[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
8 31 July 1942 14:10 Il-2 PQ 3919[25]
vicinity of Kalach
35 12 September 1942 16:57 La-5 PQ 4929[22]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
9 5 August 1942 11:24 MiG-1 PQ 38161[26]
20 km (12 mi) east-northeast of Kotelnikovo
36 13 September 1942 09:35 P-40 PQ 49164[22]
vicinity of Grebenka
10 6 August 1942 06:15 MiG-3 PQ 39891[26]
vicinity of Aksal
37 13 September 1942 15:46 LaGG-3 PQ 4941[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
11 13 August 1942 10:12 LaGG-3 east of Stalingrad[27] 38 14 September 1942 16:07?[Note 3] LaGG-3 PQ 49471[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Stalingrad
12 20 August 1942 16:04 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 49592[29]
50 km (31 mi) south of Stalingrad
39 14 September 1942 16:48?[Note 4] LaGG-3 PQ 49472[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Stalingrad
13 20 August 1942 16:07 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 49532[29]
30 km (19 mi) south of Stalingrad
40 18 September 1942 10:55 Il-2 PQ 4057[30]
20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Stalingrad
14 21 August 1942 14:40 LaGG-3 PQ 4941[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
41 18 September 1942 15:20 Yak-1 PQ 4913[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Grebenka
15 22 August 1942 12:30 Pe-2 PQ 5913[31]
50 km (31 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad
42 18 September 1942 15:29 Yak-1 PQ 4053[30]
65 km (40 mi) north of Grebenka
16 23 August 1942 12:20 MiG-1 PQ 4927[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Stalingrad
43 19 September 1942 09:27 Yak-1 PQ 49132[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Grebenka
17 24 August 1942 12:10 LaGG-3 PQ 4927[32]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Stalingrad
44 19 September 1942 09:32?[Note 5] Yak-1 PQ 49132[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Grebenka
18 28 August 1942 08:12?[Note 6] P-40 PQ 4943[32]
40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad
45 19 September 1942 09:33?[Note 7] Yak-1 PQ 49122[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Gumrak
19 29 August 1942 09:17 MiG-1 PQ 3946[32]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Bassargino
46 19 September 1942 13:55 Yak-1 PQ 49432[33]
35 km (22 mi) east of Stalingrad
20 2 September 1942 14:55 Il-2 PQ 4918[34]
vicinity of Bassargino
47♠ 20 September 1942 09:15 Yak-1 PQ 4913[33]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Grebenka
21 4 September 1942 13:45 Il-2 PQ 4954[34] 48♠ 20 September 1942 11:55 P-40 PQ 4943[33]
40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad
22 4 September 1942 13:50 Il-2 PQ 4956[34] 49♠ 20 September 1942 12:15 LaGG-3 PQ 4929[33]
40 km (25 mi) east of Stalingrad
23 8 September 1942 11:55 Il-2 PQ 5933[35]
80 km (50 mi) east of Stalingrad
50♠ 20 September 1942 14:03?[Note 8] Yak-1 PQ 4945[33]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
24 8 September 1942 16:40 Yak-1 PQ 4075[35] 51♠ 20 September 1942 14:12?[Note 9] Yak-1 PQ 4943[33]
40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad
25 8 September 1942 17:10?[Note 10] U-2 PQ 5063[35]
75 km (47 mi) north of Pitomnik Airfield
52 22 September 1942 16:27 Yak-1 PQ 4922[33]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad
26 9 September 1942 10:50 Il-2 PQ 4055[35]
55 km (34 mi) north of Gumrak
53 23 September 1942 09:18 Yak-1 PQ 4078[33]
20 km (12 mi) north of Gumrak
27 9 September 1942 10:53 Il-2 PQ 4055[35]
55 km (34 mi) north of Gumrak
54 23 September 1942 09:21?[Note 11] Yak-1 PQ 4075[33]
30 km (19 mi) north of Gumrak
28 9 September 1942 17:45 Il-2 PQ 4043[35]
40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Stalingrad
55 23 September 1942 16:26 Yak-1 PQ 4078[33]
30 km (19 mi) north of Gumrak
29 10 September 1942 08:34 Yak-1 PQ 4928[35]
25 km (16 mi) east of Stalingrad
56 24 September 1942 16:35 Yak-1 PQ 4079[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Grebenka
30 10 September 1942 15:45 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 4945[35]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
57 25 September 1942 13:52?[Note 12] Yak-1 PQ 49263[33]
35 km (22 mi) east of Stalingrad
31 11 September 1942 05:30 LaGG-3 PQ 4991[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Stalingrad
58 25 September 1942 14:02 Yak-1 PQ 49264[33]
35 km (22 mi) east of Stalingrad
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[24]
Mediterranean Theater — 1 October – 31 December 1942
59 12 October 1942?[Note 13] 11:07 Spitfire[36] Malta 60 12 October 1942?[Note 14] 11:08 Spitfire[36] Malta
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[37]
Mediterranean Theater — 1 January – 13 July 1943
?[Note 15] 24 January 1943 07:42 Spitfire 68 25 June 1943 12:06 B-17 Strait of Messina[39]
61?[Note 16] 29 January 1943 11:33 Boston 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Bizerte[38] 69 4 July 1943 13:15 B-25 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Gela[39]
62 18 May 1943 14:08 P-38 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Trapani[40] 70 6 July 1943 15:15 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Capo Passero[39]
63 19 May 1943 14:25 P-38 southeast of Sant'Antioco[40]
9 July 1943
P-40[39]
64 22 May 1943 16:15 P-38 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southeast of Marettimo[39] 71 9 July 1943 14:34 Boston 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Gela[39]
65 5 June 1943 15:09 B-25 60 km (37 mi) south-southwest of Porto Palo[39] 72 10 July 1943 19:35 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Syracuse[39]
66 7 June 1943 06:45 P-40 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Cape Bon[39] 73 11 July 1943 11:25 P-38 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Pachino[39]
67 13 June 1943 13:24 P-39 30 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Pantellaria[39] 74 11 July 1943 13:15 P-38 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest Catania[39]

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ IAP—Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk (Fighter Aviation Regiment—Истребительный Авиационный Полк)
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:07.[24]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:57.[24]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:46.[24]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:30.[24]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:10.[24]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:32.[24]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:40.[24]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:52.[24]
  10. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:16.[24]
  11. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:20.[24]
  12. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:58.[24]
  13. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 14 October 1942.[24]
  14. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 18 October 1942.[24]
  15. ^ According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, this claim is attributed to Leutnant Walter Hicke and not to Roehrig.[38]
  16. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[24]
  17. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 53.[43]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 187.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 114.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 40.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 41.
  5. ^ Bergström et al. 2006, pp. 61–62.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 15.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 213.
  8. ^ Shores et al. 2018, p. 36.
  9. ^ Prien 1998, p. 632.
  10. ^ Prien 1998, pp. 638, 640.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2011, p. 278.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2011, p. 260.
  13. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 270.
  14. ^ Spick 1996, p. 237.
  15. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1048–1050.
  16. ^ Planquadrat.
  17. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1048.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 110.
  19. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 111.
  20. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1048–1049.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 21.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 35.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 23.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1049.
  25. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 25.
  26. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 26.
  27. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 28.
  28. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 36.
  29. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 29.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 37.
  31. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 30.
  32. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 31.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prien et al. 2006, p. 38.
  34. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 32.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 33.
  36. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 81.
  37. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1049–1050.
  38. ^ a b Prien et al. 2011, p. 267.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2011, p. 269.
  40. ^ a b Prien et al. 2011, p. 268.
  41. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 172.
  42. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 361, 501.
  43. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 634.

Bibliography[edit]

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