Helmut Belser

Helmut Belser
Born23 December 1915
Stuttgart
Died19 June 1942(1942-06-19) (aged 26)
Castel-Benito
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Service years1939–1942
RankHauptmann
UnitJG 53
Commands3./JG 53
ConflictsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Helmut Belser (23 December 1915 – 19 June 1942) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Belser claimed 36 aerial victories, 1 over the Western Front and 12 over the Eastern Front and 23 over the Mediterranean Front. Belser was killed in a flying accident 19 June 1942 at the Castel-Benito Airfield.

Career

On 8 March 1942, Belser was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel of JG 53. He succeeded Oberleutnant Hans-Joachim Heinecke who was transferred.[1] On 20 May, III. Gruppe was transferred from Sicily to North Africa where the Gruppe was initially based at Martuba Airbase and placed under the command of Major Erich Gerlitz.[2]

On 19 June at 11:45, Belser was killed in a flying accident at Castel-Benito Airfield. His Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 trop (Werknummer 10278—factory) flipped over during takeoff, burning him to death in the resulting fire. In consequence, command of 3. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Ernst Klager.[3] Posthumously, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 6 September 1942 for his 36 aerial victories claimed.[4]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Belser was credited with 36 aerial victories, 12 of which on the Eastern Front and 24 over the Western Allies.[5] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 36 aerial victory claims. This number includes one claim during the Battle of Britain, 24 on the Eastern Front, and 23 in the Mediterranean Theater including one heavy bomber.[6]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 53.[11]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 213.
  2. ^ Prien 1998, p. 434.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2004, pp. 193, 213, 234.
  4. ^ Weal 2007, p. 122.
  5. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 86.
  6. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 81–82.
  7. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 248.
  8. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 48.
  9. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 34.
  10. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 128.
  11. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 213.
  12. ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1 1985, p. 170.

Bibliography

  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • 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 (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen (1998). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader May 1942 – January 1944. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0292-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • 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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Weal, John (2007). Jagdgeschwader 53 "Pik-As". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 25. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-204-2.
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
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