Robert Weiß (pilot) explained

Robert Weiß
Birth Date:21 April 1920
Birth Place:Baden bei Wien, Austria
Death Place:near Lengerich, Nazi Germany
Child:yes
Death Cause:Killed in action
Placeofburial:Helenen cemetery in Baden bei Wien
Nickname:"Bazi"
Serviceyears:1939–1944
Rank:Hauptmann (captain)
Commands:1., 3., 8. and 10./JG 54,
III./JG 54
Unit:JG 26, JG 54
Awards:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Robert "Bazi" Weiß (21 April 1920 – 29 December 1944) was an Austrian-born Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 121 aerial victories claimed in more than 471 combat missions. Weiß claimed the majority of his victories over the Eastern Front, and 26 over the Western Allies, including three four-engined heavy bombers.

Born in Baden bei Wien, Weiß joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1939, initially serving with the anti-aircraft artillery. He was then accepted for pilot training and was then posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in early 1941. Fighting on the English Channel, he claimed his first aerial victory on 21 September 1941. In September 1942, Weiß was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) which was fighting on the Eastern Front. In July 1943, Weiß was made a Staffelkapitän (squadron leader), first of 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 54, then of 1. and 10. Staffel and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in March 1944. In June, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 54. He was killed in action on 29 December 1944 during the aerial battles of the Battle of the Bulge, shot down near Lengerich. Posthumously, Weiß was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 March 1945.

Early life and career

Weiß was born on 21 April 1920 in Baden bei Wien, Austria. He was the oldest son of a higher city secretary (Stadtobersekretär), a public servant, and police commissioner (Polizei-Inspektor). Following four years of schooling at a Volksschule (compulsory education) in Baden, he attended the Bundesgymnasium (secondary education) since 3 September 1930, graduating with his Matura (maturity diploma) in 1938. In early 1939, he volunteered for military service with the Luftwaffe as an officer cadet, serving with Flak-Regiment 22, an anti-aircraft artillery regiment based at Döberitz.

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. For the invasion, Flak-Regiment 22 was subordinated to the 3. leichte Division (3rd Light Division). Following this campaign, Weiß was trained as a fighter pilot, and was posted to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) on 1 January 1941. On 1 April, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant).

Fighting against the Royal Air Force (RAF) on the English Channel, Weiß claimed his first aerial victory on 21 September. That day, RAF Fighter Command flew "Circus" No. 101 consisting of twelve Bristol Blenheim bombers and escorted by fourteen squadrons of Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane fighters which targeted Béthune and Gosnay. In combat over Étaples and 5abbr=offNaNabbr=off northwest of Berck, Weiß managed to shoot down a No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron Spitfire at 16:25, his first aerial victory. On 9 March 1942, the RAF sent six Douglas A-20 Havoc bombers of "Circus" No. 113 to the power station at Gosnay. Defending against this attack, Weiß claimed a Spitfire shot down 4abbr=offNaNabbr=off west of Boulogne. On 31 May, RAF Fighter Command sent several "Rodeos" to France. II. Gruppe intercepted several Spitfires over the Abbeville-Drucat Airfield where Weiß shot down a Spitfire of the Royal New Zealand Air Force No. 485 Squadron. In September 1942, Weiß was transferred to 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) which was based on the Eastern Front.

Eastern Front

In September 1942, 1. Staffel of JG 54 was commanded by Oberleutnant Heinz Lange and part of I. Gruppe, which was headed by Hauptmann Hans Philipp. The Gruppe was based at Krasnogvardeysk and was fighting in the siege of Leningrad. Weiß claimed his first aerial victories on the Eastern Front on 12 January 1943 when Soviet forces launched Operation Iskra which created a land connection to Leningrad. That day, Weiß claimed two Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down. On 1 March, Weiß was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant). Then fighting and flying with 3. Staffel in the combat area of Leningrad, Weiß claimed his 31st aerial victory on 13 April when he shot down a Soviet Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber making an attack on the Luftwaffe airfield at Krasnogvardeysk. Falling ill in May 1943, he was hospitalized until July 1943. During his convalescence, Weiß was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (German: Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 8 May.

After Oberleutnant Franz Eisenach was wounded in combat on 8 July, Weiß temporarily replaced him as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 54 until his return on 15 September 1943. On 12 July, Weiß was awarded the German Cross in Gold (German: Deutsches Kreuz in Gold). On 20 July, I. Gruppe relocated to an Karachev during the Battle of Kursk. Weiß claimed two Il-2 ground-attack aircraft destroyed, his first aerial victories following his return to combat operations, on 2 August while supporting German troops retreating northwest of Orel and southwest of Kromy. On 15 September, Weiß was temporarily given command of 1. Staffel, replacing Oberleutnant Otto Vinzent who had stepped in for Oberleutnant Walter Nowotny after Nowotny had been put in command of I. Gruppe. On 28 September, Weiß was transferred to IV. Gruppe where was made Staffelkapitän of 10. Staffel of JG 54. He replaced Oberleutnant Alfred Teumer who had been wounded in aerial combat on 3 September. Command of 1. Staffel was then passed to Oberleutnant Kurt Fischer. On 11 September, Weiß made an emergency landing in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 530 337—factory number) at Shatalovka following aerial combat. On 15 February 1944, Weiß claimed his last aerial victories on the Eastern Front when he shot down four Il-2 ground-attack aircraft in support of 16th Army fighting in the combat area near Luga. Two days later, he left IV. Gruppe, handing over command of 10. Staffel to Oberleutnant Paul-Rudolf Deterra. Weiß had telegraphed his fiancée, that for the four weeks he would be rehabilitating at a clinic in Oberschreiberhau, present-day Szklarska Poręba, near Hirschberg, present-day Jelenia Góra in Poland.

Western Front and death

While Weiß was recovering at Oberschreiberhau, the commander of 10. Staffel of JG 54 was killed in action on 21 February 1944. In consequence, Weiß was became Staffelkapitän of 10. Staffel. The Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe of JG 54 and was based at Ludwigslust, fighting in defense of the Reich against the Western Allies. Weiß, who had been nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) while serving with 3. Staffel of JG 54, received the award on 26 March 1944. On 20 April, III. Gruppe relocated to Landau an der Isar. Here Weiß claimed his first aerial victory with III. Gruppe on 19 May when he shot down a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Lockheed P-38 Lightning southeast of Oschersleben. On 27 May, Weiß claimed his first heavy bomber when he shot down a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress northwest of Colmar.

On 6 June 1944, Weiß was temporarily appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 54. On 21 June, he officially succeeded Major Werner Schröer, who had been transferred. Command of 8. Staffel then went to Leutnant Alfred Gross. Weiß was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 1 July 1944. At the time, the Gruppe was based at Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base, France on the Western Front and fought in German retreat following the Invasion of Normandy. The Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations on 5 September, relocating to Oldenburg Airfield (Gruppenstab, 9. and 12. Staffel) and Varrelbusch Airfield (10. and 11. Staffel), where it became the first unit to receive the new Fw 190 D-9. On 28 September, Weiß was credited with the destruction of a Spitfire fighter, his 119th victory claim. His opponent was Flight Lieutenant Duncan McCuaig from the RAF No. 541 Squadron, a photographic reconnaissance squadron.

III. Gruppe became fully operational on 25 December with all three squadrons uniting at Varrelbusch Airfield. On 27 December, III. Gruppe fought Hawker Tempest fighters from the No. 486 Squadron, a New Zealand fighter squadron of the RAF. In this encounter, III. Gruppe lost five aircraft for one victory claimed. On 29 December, Weiß led his Gruppe in combat against Allied fighters of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. Vectored by ground control to the Münster-Rheine area, the engagement ended with the destruction of 15 fighters, plus two further damaged, 13 pilots killed and two wounded. In return III. Gruppe claimed eight aircraft shot down. Weiß was one of the pilots killed, he was shot down in his Fw 190 D-9 (Werknummer 210 060) "Black 10" near Lengerich. His victor was Flight Sergeant K. F. Haanes of the RAF No. 331 Squadron, a Norwegian squadron. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 March 1945, the 782nd officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored. Initially he was interred on the new cemetery in Lingen. In 1958, his remains were moved and reinterred to the war cemetery at Baden bei Wien and again moved to the Helenen cemetery where he now rests in a family grave. He was replaced by Oberleutnant Hans Dortenmann as commander of III. Gruppe of JG 54.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Weiß was credited with 121 aerial victories. Obermaier also lists Weiß with 121 aerial victories in claimed 471 missions. Spick claims that Weiß shot down 90 aircraft on the Eastern front and 31 on Western Front. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 122 aerial victory claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 96 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 26 Western Front, including three four-engined bombers.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 10191". The Luftwaffe grid map (German: 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 360sqmi. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3x in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories
ClaimDateTimeTypeLocationClaimDateTimeTypeLocation
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 –
On the Western Front — 22 June 1941 – 31 December 1941
121 September 194116:25Spitfire5km (03miles) northwest of Berck
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 –
On the Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1942
29 March 194216:40Spitfire 4- west of Boulogne331 May 194219:40Spitfire Abbeville
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
412 January 194309:57Il-2PQ 10191
east of Mga
915 January 194311:47?Yak-1PQ 00252
15km (09miles) west-southwest of Shlisselburg
512 January 194314:19?Il-2PQ 00262
10km (10miles) southwest of Shlisselburg
1023 January 194312:55P-40PQ 10324
10km (10miles) southeast of Mga
614 January 194309:15Il-2PQ 10182
east of Mga
1124 January 194314:47Il-2PQ 00412
10km (10miles) east of Pushkin
714 January 194312:35I-153PQ 10322
10km (10miles) southeast of Mga
1229 January 194314:33Il-2PQ 10153
southeast of Shlisselburg
815 January 194309:25Su-2 (Seversky)PQ 10143
south of Shlisselburg
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
Eastern Front — February 1943
1310 February 194311:15Il-2PQ 36 Ost 10151
southeast of Shlisselburg
1617 February 194315:34Il-2PQ 36 Ost 10611
20km (10miles) northeast of Luban
1411 February 194308:25La-5PQ 36 Ost 00412
10km (10miles) east of Pushkin
1723 February 194314:25Il-2PQ 36 Ost 00283
20km (10miles) west of Mga
1514 February 194315:08I-153PQ 36 Ost 00414
10km (10miles) east of Pushkin
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
Eastern Front — March – 31 December 1943
187 March 194311:44La-5PQ 35 Ost 1835
30km (20miles) north-northwest of Shlisselburg
4314 August 194318:03Il-2PQ 35 Ost 51872
10km (10miles) south of Bohodukhiv
197 March 194311:45Il-2?PQ 35 Ost 18391
45km (28miles) northeast of Cholm
4417 August 194308:50Pe-2PQ 35 Ost 41491
2014 March 194307:45LaGG-3PQ 36 Ost 00264
10km (10miles) southwest of Shlisselburg
4517 August 194308:57Pe-2PQ 35 Ost 41484
2116 March 194307:20MiG-3PQ 35 Ost 18274
20km (10miles) southeast of Staraya Russa
4619 August 194315:25P-39PQ 35 Ost 51551, Popowka
northeast of Bohodukhiv
2217 March 194316:17LaGG-3PQ 35 Ost 18143
20km (10miles) south-southeast of Staraya Russa
4719 August 194315:27La-5PQ 35 Ost 51581
northeast of Bohodukhiv
2320 March 194312:15P-40PQ 36 Ost 00283
20km (10miles) west of Mga
4819 August 194315:30P-39PQ 35 Ost 51554
northeast of Bohodukhiv
2422 March 194308:53Il-2PQ 36 Ost 00421
Pushkin-Mga
4920 August 194315:35MiG-3PQ 35 Ost 51581
northeast of Bohodukhiv
2522 March 194308:54Il-2PQ 36 Ost 00238
20km (10miles) west of Mga
5022 August 194310:26La-5PQ 35 Ost 41691
2622 March 194308:55Il-2PQ 36 Ost 00253
20km (10miles) west of Mga
5122 August 194316:02P-39PQ 35 Ost 61773
15km (09miles) northwest of Kharkov
2724 March 194306:54La-5PQ 36 Ost 10332
20km (10miles) east-southeast of Mga
5223 August 194317:00Pe-2PQ 35 Ost 60123
Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda
2830 March 194318:28MiG-3PQ 36 Ost 00224
15km (09miles) northeast of Pushkin
5323 August 194317:05Pe-2PQ 35 Ost 60133
Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda
293 April 194318:11P-39PQ 36 Ost 00271
15km (09miles) northeast of Pushkin
5423 August 194317:07Pe-2PQ 35 Ost 60132
Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda
308 April 194316:35LaGG-3PQ 36 Ost 01774
25km (16miles) north-northeast of Leningrad
5524 August 194317:04Il-2PQ 35 Ost 60183
Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda
3113 April 194318:02Pe-2PQ 36 Ost 00154
10km (10miles) south of Leningrad
5625 August 194318:17La-5PQ 35 Ost 51713
15km (09miles) southeast of Achtyrka
322 August 194316:50Il-2PQ 35 Ost 54593
30km (20miles) northeast of Karachev
5728 August 194313:40La-5PQ 35 Ost 43792
15km (09miles) south-southwest of Sevsk
332 August 194317:00Il-2PQ 35 Ost 54623
20km (10miles) west of Bolkhov
5830 August 194318:12LaGG-3PQ 35 Ost 35531
20km (10miles) southeast of Yelnya
343 August 194317:13Il-2PQ 35 Ost 54831
10km (10miles) northwest of Karachev
591 September 194305:58La-5PQ 35 Ost 36391
15km (09miles) east of Yelnya
354 August 194311:54?Il-2PQ 35 Ost 54532
40km (30miles) west of Bolkhov
602 September 194310:10LaGG-3PQ 35 Ost 35512
15km (09miles) southwest of Yelnya
367 August 194308:45LaGG-3PQ 35 Ost 54593
30km (20miles) northeast of Karachev
614 September 194308:25Yak-9PQ 35 Ost 35574
30km (20miles) south-southwest of Yelnya
3710 August 194312:30La-5PQ 35 Ost 51573
northeast of Bohodukhiv
626 September 194306:55Yak-9PQ 35 Ost 26851
10km (10miles) north of Yartsevo
3812 August 194317:25Il-2PQ 35 Ost 41691637 September 194316:40Il-2PQ 35 Ost 34234
25km (16miles) southwest of Kirov
3913 August 194307:45La-5PQ 35 Ost 5181647 September 194316:41Il-2PQ 35 Ost 45773
15km (09miles) west-southwest of Kirov
4014 August 194307:08La-5PQ 35 Ost 51832, Dolstrik
10km (10miles) south of Zolochev
6510 September 194316:43?Yak-9PQ 35 Ost 44171
25km (16miles) northwest of Datkovo
4114 August 194318:00Il-2PQ 35 Ost 50214
Gulf of Finland
6610 September 194316:47?Yak-9PQ 35 Ost 34263
45km (28miles) southeast of Ostashkov
4214 August 194318:01Il-2PQ 35 Ost 50213
Gulf of Finland
?15 September 194316:10LaGG-310km (10miles) southeast of Yelnya
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
Eastern Front — September 1943
6722 September 194311:30Yak-9PQ 35 Ost 585146824 September 194310:10LaGG-3PQ 35 Ost 02532
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
Eastern Front — 28 September – 31 December 1943
6917 October 194314:25LaGG-3PQ 26 Ost 90262, east of Oranienbaum
25km (16miles) northwest of Krassnoje-Selo
7517 November 194309:13?Il-2PQ 25 Ost 97483
45km (28miles) northwest of Velikye-Luki
7017 October 194314:30LaGG-3PQ 36 Ost 00152
10km (10miles) south of Leningrad
7617 November 194309:15Il-2PQ 25 Ost 97483
45km (28miles) northwest of Velikye-Luki
715 November 194314:50?Il-2?south of Nevel
south of Nevel
778 December 194311:29Pe-215km (09miles) northeast of Aksis
7212 November 194308:55Yak-9west of Nevel7814 December 194312:28LaGG-3PQ 26 Ost 90272
20km (10miles) south of Lomonosov
7317 November 194309:10P-40PQ 25 Ost 97562
30km (20miles) east-northeast of Idriza
7929 December 194312:57La-5PQ 26 Ost 90423
15km (09miles) west of Gorodok
7417 November 194309:12?P-40PQ 25 Ost 97562
30km (20miles) east-northeast of Idriza
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
Eastern Front — 1 January – February 1944
808 January 194412:13P-40PQ 36 Ost 00182
15km (09miles) northwest of Pushkin
9024 January 194413:32Il-210km (10miles) east of Gagarin
8115 January 194410:38Il-2PQ 26 Ost 90283
20km (10miles) southeast of Lomonosov
9125 January 194410:00Pe-2
8215 January 194413:01Il-2PQ 26 Ost 90414
25km (16miles) south of Lomonosov
9225 January 194410:08Il-2vicinity of Gagarin
8315 January 194413:02Il-2PQ 26 Ost 90421
25km (16miles) southeast of Lomonosov
9325 January 194412:23Il-210km (10miles) northeast of Gagarin
8417 January 194410:50Il-29425 January 194412:25Il-210km (10miles) north of Gagarin
8517 January 194410:55Il-2near Pushkin9515 February 194413:10Il-220km (10miles) south-southeast of Gorodets
8617 January 194410:56Il-210km (10miles) east of Pushkin9615 February 194413:11Il-220km (10miles) south-southeast of Gorodets
8719 January 194409:45Il-215km (09miles) northwest of Novgorod9715 February 194413:12Il-220km (10miles) south-southeast of Gorodets
8819 January 194410:15Il-210km (10miles) west of Novgorod9815 February 194413:13Il-220km (10miles) south-southeast of Gorodets
8924 January 194413:20Il-220km (10miles) southwest of Gagarin
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
Western Front — May – 21 June 1944
9919 May 194413:17P-38southeast of Oschersleben10310 June 194414:21P-47PQ 15 West S/UU-5
Caen
10027 May 194412:1820km (10miles) northwest of Colmar10417 June 194419:03Spitfire PQ 15 Ost S/UT-2
Carpiquet
1017 June 194413:45Spitfire 3km (02miles) southeast of Caen10517 June 194419:08Spitfire PQ 04 Ost N/AA-1
southeast of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives
1027 June 194414:14P-51PQ 04 Ost N/AE-7/1, Guyancourt
Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –
Western Front — 21 June – 29 December 1944
10622 June 194421:15P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/UB-6/9
Bernay
11423 July 194419:18P-38PQ 04 Ost N/BE-4
Arpajon
10723 June 194416:50Spitfire PQ 15 Ost S/UU-2
Caen
11528 July 194420:14B-26PQ 04 Ost N/AA-1
Vimoutiers
10823 June 194416:57Spitfire PQ 15 Ost S/UU-2
Caen
1166 August 194412:21B-24 PQ 05 Ost S/UE/UD
Mantes-Pontoise
10927 June 194413:47Spitfire PQ 04 Ost S/AA-4
Trun
1176 August 194412:22B-24PQ 05 Ost S/UE/UD
Mantes-Pontoise
1104 July 194419:45Spitfire 1188 August 194414:48P-38 PQ 15 Ost S/BT-4
Mortain
11112 July 194414:30P-47PQ 04 Ost N/AB
Conches
11928 September 194416:07Spitfire PQ 05 Ost S/ES-8
1km (01miles) northwest of Apelstedt
11212 July 194414:33P-47PQ 04 Ost N/AB
Conches
1206 November 194414:48P-38 PQ 05 Ost S/CP, Norderney
over sea
11323 July 194419:17P-38PQ 04 Ost N/BE-4
Arpajon
12129 December 194411:00Spitfire PQ 05 Ost S/FQ-7
Gersten

Awards

Dates of rank

1 April 1941: Leutnant (second lieutenant)
1 March 1943: Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)
1 July 1944: Hauptmann (captain)

References

Bibliography