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Karl-Heinz Leesmann - Pilot Profile - Karl-Heinz Leesmann

Karl-Heinz Leesmann

No Photo Available

Victories : 37
-----------------------------
Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis

This pilot scored 5 or more victories during the Battle of Britain, 10th July - 31st October 1940.

Awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
Knights
Cross


Latest Axis Aviation Artwork !
 In early May 1941, in conditions of strict secrecy because the United States was not yet at war, seventeen pilots of the US Navy had arrived in Britain and been attached to Catalina squadrons of Coastal Command.  These experienced PBY pilots were there to assist the Royal Air Force to become familiar with the Catalina, and also to gain operational experience for the US Navy.  On 26th May 1941 Catalina Z of No.209 Sqn, commanded by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs RAF, with Ensign Leonard B Smith USN as co-pilot, joined the search for the Bismarck.  At 1015 the aircraft was being flown in poor visibility at an altitude of 500ft when Ensign Smith sighted the Bismarck at a range of eight miles.  The Catalina was flown towards the contact so that a positive identification could be made and emerged from the cloud only 500 yards from the German ship.  The aircraft met a hail of anti-aircraft fire but was able to make its escape.  As a result of the sighting report from Catalina Z the Bismarck was again engaged by ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and was sunk at 1040 on 27th May 1941.  Leonard Smith can be considered therefore, the first American to be directly involved in action in World War Two.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (American) for his actions.

The Aircraft That Found the Bismarck by Ivan Berryman.
 One of the all time great fighter aces, Adolf Galland is depicted flying Bf 109E-4/N of Stab/JG26 in September 1940.  Galland flew 705 combat missions during World War Two and was credited with a final tally of 104 aerial victories. He survived the war and died peacefully in February 1996.

Tribute to Generalleutnant Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman.
 Walter Briegleb is shown in his Ju88 G.7 4R+BR as he stalks his prey - on this occasion a Lancaster.  Flying below their target, his crew would aim upward firing cannon at the inner wing of the bomber, igniting the fuel tanks.  For the bomber crews, they were very much defenceless against this type of attack, and often had no idea of the presence of an enemy aircraft in the dark.

Tribute to Walter Briegleb by Ivan Berryman.
 The attack by Leutnant Walter Briegleb and his crew on Lancaster Mk.III ND960 DX-I of No.57 Sqn early on 22nd May 1944.  Flying Me110 with codes D5+BV with his crew of Feldwebel Walter Bräunlich and Bordfunker Feldwebel Brandt, Briegleb flew undetected beneath the bomber and used the deadly 'Schräge Musik' - upward firing cannon - to hit the fuel tanks in the port wing between the fuselage and inner engine.  Pulling away, he watched the aircraft burn and could see both gunners in their turrets but no return fire came.  He wondered why none of the crew escaped by parachute with the bomber doomed - it disintegrated in the air over the coast of the island of Fyn, Denmark, impacting near Emtekær at 00:44hrs.<br><br><center>All of the crew were killed :<br>Flight Lieutenant Arthur Richards (Pilot)<br>Flying Officer William Woodall (Navigator)<br>Pilot Officer Athur Bugden (Flight Engineer)<br>Sergeant Thomas Edwards (Wireless Operator)<br>Flying Officer George Ferguson (Air Bomber)<br>Sergeant Harold Griffiths (Air Gunner)<br>Sergeant Cyril Woodmass (Air Gunner)

The Hunted and the Hunter by Ivan Berryman.

Karl-Heinz Leesmann

Squadrons for : Karl-Heinz Leesmann
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Karl-Heinz Leesmann. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

JG1


Country : Germany
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG1
JG1

German World War II fighter unit or wing which used the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft, between 1940–1944. The name of the unit derives from Jagd, meaning hunt and Geschwader, meaning wing. First formed in May 1939 in eastern Prussia, I./JG 1 was one of the original groups created by the Luftwaffe as part of its expansion plans.

Between 1940 and 1942, JG 1 operated primarily over the Western Front and northern occupied Europe. During the initial days of the war, JG 1 faced little resistance, apart from occasional Royal Air Force (RAF) excursions. The unit was rarely engaged in large-scale confrontations during this time. From late 1942 onwards it was tasked with defense of the Reich duties. After D-Day, elements of JG 1 were moved to France and were tasked with air support to the army Wehrmacht, along with their air defense role. Operation Bodenplatte severely reduced the strength of JG 1.

Towards the end of the war, the unit was disbanded and its remaining pilots and aircraft were re-organized. What remained of these groups surrendered to Allied forces at the end of the war.

JG 1 was the first unit to attempt 'aerial bombing' techniques against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) heavy bomber formations. It was the only unit to be equipped with the Heinkel He 162 jet fighter.

In 1944 the Oesau suffix was added to the unit's title, after its late Geschwaderkommodore Oberst Walter Oesau (127 kills), who was killed in action. Some 700 enemy aircraft were claimed shot down during the war.

JG52


Country : Germany
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG52
JG52

The most successful Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II, with a claim total of more than 10,000 victories over enemy aircraft. It was home to the top three scoring Experten of the Luftwaffe, Erich Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn and Günther Rall. The unit flew the various marks of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 exclusively through the war.

Known Victory Claims - Karl-Heinz Leesmann

DATE

PILOT

UNIT

JG

CLAIMED

LOCATION

TIME

FRONT

24/08/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann1JG 52Spitfire5km E. Margate: 4000m17.12Western Front
26/08/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann1JG 52SpitfireDover12.5Western Front
31/08/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52HurricaneSüdrand London: 3500m13.5Western Front
31/08/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52SpitfireBenchley: 2800m14Western Front
31/08/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52Hurricane-19.3Western Front
01/09/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52SpitfireSittingbourne: 4000m11.45-50Western Front
05/09/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52Spitfire-11.05Western Front
07/09/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52SpitfireMaidstone: 4000m18.00-10Western Front
15/09/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52HurricaneThemesmündung: 5000m15.25Western Front
15/09/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52HurricaneThemesmündung: 4000m15.4Western Front
18/09/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52HurricaneTilbury: 5500m13.5Western Front
24/09/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52Spitfire8-10km vor Dover: 2000-2500m14.35Western Front
24/09/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52Spitfire8-10km vor Dover: 2000-2500m14.4Western Front
11/10/1940Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52Hurricane-12.1Western Front
15/02/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann2JG 52HurricaneOstende13.2Western Front
25/05/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52BlenheimN. Nordeney16.35Western Front
28/05/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52Blenheim200kn NNW Texel20.55Western Front
28/05/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52Blenheim200kn NNW Texel21Western Front
12/06/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52BlenheimPl.Qu.148/05 Ost21.05Western Front
13/06/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52Hudson120km W. Texel6.17Western Front
30/06/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52Blenheim150km vor Texel14.47Western Front
30/06/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52Blenheim160km vor Texel14.51Western Front
17/10/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52I-18-15.35Eastern Front
18/10/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52SB-2-11.5Eastern Front
22/10/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52DB-3-10.59Eastern Front
28/10/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52I-18-13.5Eastern Front
28/10/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52Pe-2-15.05Eastern Front
29/10/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52I-18-8.06Eastern Front
05/11/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52I-26-8.52Eastern Front
06/11/1941Oblt. Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab I.JG 52I-16-11.25Eastern Front
25/06/1943Major Karl-Heinz LeesmannStab III.JG 1B-17--Western Front

Known Claims : 31

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