Karl Heinz Leesmann

Updated on Sep 28, 2024

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Allegiance Nazi Germany Commands held I./JG 52III./JG 1 Died July 25, 1943, Heligoland Rank Major		Years of service 1936–43 Name Karl-Heinz Leesmann Service/branch Luftwaffe
Battles/wars World War IIBattle of FranceBattle of BritainOperation BarbarossaDefense of the Reich Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, Defence of the Reich, World War II Unit Jagdgeschwader 52, Jagdgeschwader 1

Karl-Heinz Leesmann (3 May 1915 – 25 July 1943) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Karl-Heinz Leesmann was shot down on 25 July 1943, by a B-17 bomber that he was attacking. During his career he was credited with 37 aerial victories, 27 on the Western Front and 10 on the Eastern Front.

Awards

Aviator badge

Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe

Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (5 October 1940)

Iron Cross (1939)

2nd Class

1st Class

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 July 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitan of the 2./Jagdgeschwader 52

German Cross in Gold on 27 July 1942 as Hauptmann in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52

References

Karl-Heinz Leesmann Wikipedia

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