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Otto Weßling

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Allegiance
  
Nazi Germany

Service/branch
  
Luftwaffe

Years of service
  
1937–44

Otto Weßling httpssmediacacheak0pinimgcom736x4c29b5

Rank
  
Hauptmann of the Reserves

Battles/wars
  
World War IIBattle of FranceOperation BarbarossaItalian CampaignDefense of the Reich †

Awards
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Died
  
19 April 1944, Eschwege, Germany

Award
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Battles and wars
  
World War II, Battle of France, Operation Barbarossa, Italian Campaign, Defence of the Reich

Units
  
Jagdgeschwader 3, Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost

Otto Weßling (23 September 1913 – 19 April 1944) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Otto Weßling claimed 83 victories, in 500 missions. He was shot down by a P-51 Mustang near Kassel on 19 April 1944. He managed to crash-land his damaged Messerschmitt Bf 109 and was killed by a strafing P-51. On 20 July 1944 he was posthumously promoted to Hauptmann der Reserves and received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.

Awards

  • Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
  • Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (22 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (1 July 1940)
  • Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • German Cross in Gold on 11 May 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 3
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 3 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"
  • 530th Oak Leaves on 20 July 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 11./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"

    • References

    Otto Weßling Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA