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Leesmann, Karl-Heinz (Jagdgeschwader 52)

Date of birth:
May 3rd, 1915 (Osnabrück/Hannover, Germany)
Date of death:
July 25th, 1943 (In the airspace above Heligoland/North sea)
Buried on:
German War Graves Nordfriedhof
Nationality:
German

Biography

Major, achieved a total of about 37 aerial victories (including 15 in the West).

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Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer
Awarded on:
October 5th, 1940
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
July 2nd, 1941
Captain Balthasar on 26 June achieved his 39th and 40th, Second Lieutenant Leesmann on 30 June his 21st and 22nd aerial victory.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän, 2. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 52 "Grünherz"
Awarded on:
July 23rd, 1941
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Awarded after 22 aerial victories.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 6th, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 52 "Grünherz"
Awarded on:
July 27th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Sources

  • Photo 1: Norbert Beyerlein
  • Photo: Beyerlein sammlung
  • - OBERMAIER, E., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Hoffmann, 1989.
    - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
    - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
    - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
    - Weal, J., Jagdgeschwader 52 – The Experten, Osprey Publishing Ltd., Great Britain, 2004

Photo