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Haupt, Karl Fritz (Kampfgeschwader 3 "Blitz")

Date of birth:
September 4th, 1916 (Leipzig/Saxony, Germany)
Date of death:
January 3rd, 1944 (Großburgwedel/Hanover, Germany)
Buried on:
German War Graves Altenkirchen
Grave: 36.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

01.10.1936: entered the Luftwaffe
00.00.1937: Kampfgeschwader 153
00.00.1939: Kampfgeschwader 26 'Löwen-Geschwader'
00.00.1940: Unteroffizier, Western campaign
13.08.1940-15.09.1940: Unternehmen „Adlerangriff", England
00.01.1941: Feldwebel, transferred to the 8. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 3 'Blitzgeschwader'
23.04.1941: Feldwebel, 8./ KG-3, WIA, Do 17Z coded "5K + DD" was shot up by enemy fighters 20km north of Argos, Greece, wounding also Beobachter Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter Fritz Gerhard Behm (o28.09.1919), and Bordschütze Feldwebel Karl Raddatz
31.05.1941: 36th mission
21.10.1941: Feldwebel, 8./ KG-3, Do 17Z-3 Werknummer 2666 coded "5K + KS" hit by flak in the cockpit 1km north of Dyenezhnoye/Djeneshnoje, Beobachter Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter Fritz Gerhard Behm severely WIA and DOW the same day in Kriegs-Lazarett 906, Witebsk
00.06.1943-00.01.1944: 8. Staffel, III. Gruppe, KG 3, Fliegerhorst Münster-Handorf
09.09.1943: 332th mission,
02.01.1944-03.01.1944: Ofw, 7./ KG-3, KIA, mistaken for an intruder during an illumination mission, Ju 88A-4 Werknummer 550.494 coded "5K + FR" was hit by friendly German Flak and went down with Haupt near Großburgwedel about 20km North East of Hanover. Remaining crew (all bailed safely):
-Lt Robert Goldmann, Obs (DKiG)
-Uffz Karl Heinz Geerlings, R/O
-Uffz Siegfried Rummel, Gnr. (DKiG)

Pilot credited with numerous ground victories in 350 missions

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DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 23rd, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Sergeant)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer
Awarded on:
January 25th, 1942
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Flight Sergeant)
Unit:
8. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 3 "Blitz", Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
September 9th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold mit Anhänger
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel (Flight Sergeant)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer, 8. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 3 "Blitz", Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
February 3rd, 1943
The following press article, dated 14.02.1943, describes the Knight’s Cross actions of Karl Haupt…

“On the recommendation of the Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe, Reichsmarschall Göring, the Führer has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to Oberfeldwebel Haupt, pilot in a Kampfgeschwader. Oberfeldwebel Karl Haupt, born on the 04.06.1916 in Leipzig, has shown himself to be an outstanding bomber pilot in more than 350 sorties over the Balkans and the Eastern front. He achieved his successes through extraordinary bravery and ruthlessness.

During attacks against 12 occupied train stations he destroyed 22 transport trains. Furthermore he has destroyed 55 trucks, a munitions train and 3 large fuel dumps. Strong enemy fighter and anti-aircraft defenses were unable to prevent him from carrying out his missions. Oberfeldwebel Haupt is the son of an innkeeper and currently holds the profession of plumber. He received the German Cross in Gold in September 1942.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

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