Hubert Strassl

Hubert Straßl[Note 1] (24 May 1918 – 8 July 1943) was an Austrian-born German fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe and fought during World War II. He was credited with 67 aerial victories—that is, 67 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in 221 combat missions. On 8 July 1943, during the Battle of Kursk, Straßl was killed in aerial combat with Soviet fighters near Ponyri.

Hubert Straßl
Born(1918-05-24)24 May 1918
Linz, Austria
Died8 July 1943(1943-07-08) (aged 25)
Ponyri, Russia
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–43
RankOberfeldwebel (staff sergeant)
UnitJG 51
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career

Straßl was born on 24 May 1918 at Linz, Austria. Following completion of flight and fighter pilot training,[Note 2] he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in late 1941.[2]

On 5 July 1943, he became a triple-ace in a day when he shot down 15 enemy aircraft in four missions south of Orel in Russia during the Battle of Kursk. Over the course of the three days, Straßl shot down 30 enemy aircraft.[3] He was forced to bail out of his Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-4 (Werknummer 2351—factory number) following combat with a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 south of Ponyri on 8 July.[4] His parachute failed to fully deploy and he fell to his death.[5][6] On 12 November 1943, Straßl was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes).[7]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Straßl was credited with 67 aerial victories.[8] Spick also lists Straßl with 67 enemy aircraft shot down, claimed in 221 combat missions, all of which on the Eastern Front.[9] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 67 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[10]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47722". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[11]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Strassl an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[12]
Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
1 6 July 1942 06:35 Pe-2[13] 8 19 August 1942 18:37 Pe-2 PQ 47722[14]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Rzhev
2 4 August 1942 12:25 Il-2 PQ 37832[15]
45 km (28 mi) northeast of Bely		 9 19 August 1942 18:40 Pe-2 PQ 47762[14]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Zubtsov
3 4 August 1942 17:07 Pe-2[15] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Bely 10 19 August 1942 18:41 Pe-2 PQ 47762[14]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Zubtsov
4 5 August 1942 11:58 LaGG-3 PQ 57782[15]
40 km (25 mi) southeast of Zubtsov		 11 26 August 1942 06:10 LaGG-3 PQ 47824[14]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Zubtsov
5 12 August 1942 09:45 Pe-2 PQ 47561[14]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Rzhev		 12 2 September 1942 08:50 Il-2 east-northeast of Sychyovka[14]
6 13 August 1942 09:40 Pe-2 PQ 47562[14]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Rzhev		 13 26 November 1942 12:27 Il-2 PQ 46132[16]
20 km (12 mi) north of Konaja
7 19 August 1942 18:35 Pe-2 PQ 47583[14]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Rzhev
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[17]
Eastern Front — 4 February – June 1943
14 30 May 1943 16:15 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 64183[18]
5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Belyov		 17 2 June 1943 04:02 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63883[19]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Zolotukhino
15 1 June 1943 16:40 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ot 63854[18]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Zolotukhino		 18 2 June 1943 04:10 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63782[19]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Zolotukhino
16 1 June 1943 16:42 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63851[18]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Zolotukhino		 19 2 June 1943 07:35 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 62133[19]
25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Kursk
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[20]
Eastern Front — June – 8 July 1943
20 6 June 1943 14:55 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63884[19]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Zolotukhino		 44♠ 5 July 1943 10:36 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63544[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) south-southeast of Trosna
21 6 June 1943 14:58 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63842[19]
5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zolotukhino		 45♠ 5 July 1943 10:42 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63542[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) south-southeast of Trosna
22♠ 8 June 1943 10:47 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63573[19]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Trosna		 46♠ 5 July 1943 10:46 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63551[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Maloarkhangelsk
23♠ 8 June 1943 10:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63721[19]
20 km (12 mi) west of Zolotukhino		 47♠ 5 July 1943 10:49 Boston PQ 35 Ost 63564[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
24♠ 8 June 1943 10:51 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 63722[19]
20 km (12 mi) west of Zolotukhino		 48♠ 5 July 1943 10:51 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63532[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Maloarkhangelsk
25♠ 8 June 1943 19:04 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64722[19]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Telchje		 49♠ 5 July 1943 18:24 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63562[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
26♠ 8 June 1943 19:06 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64751[19]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Oryol		 50♠ 5 July 1943 18:27 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63621[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Maloarkhangelsk
27♠ 8 June 1943 19:17 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63171[19]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Zmiyekka		 51♠ 5 July 1943 18:31 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63551[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Maloarkhangelsk
28 11 June 1943 10:58 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64352[19]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Belyov		 52♠ 5 July 1943 18:33 Il-2 m.H.[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63522[21]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk
29 11 June 1943 11:05 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64354[19]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Belyov		 53 6 July 1943 12:34 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63654[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk
30 11 June 1943 11:11 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64382[19]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Bolkhov		 54 6 July 1943 12:37 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63652[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk
31 14 June 1943 08:12 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64383[19]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Bolkhov		 55 6 July 1943 12:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63653[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk
32 20 June 1943 18:12 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64643[19]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Mtsensk		 56 6 July 1943 19:35 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63582[22]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
33 28 June 1943 07:06 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 635571[19]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Trosna		 57♠ 7 July 1943 04:20 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63751[22]
20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
34 28 June 1943 07:08 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63581[19]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk		 58♠ 7 July 1943 04:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63527[22]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk
35 28 June 1943 07:15 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63592[19]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk		 59♠ 7 July 1943 09:10 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63561[22]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
36 30 June 1943 06:25 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54121[19]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Sukhinichi		 60♠ 7 July 1943 09:24 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63583[22]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
37 3 July 1943 17:38 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 64521[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Telchje		 61♠ 7 July 1943 09:26 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63573[22]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Trosna
38♠ 5 July 1943 03:48 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63651[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk		 62♠ 7 July 1943 18:36 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63714[22]
vicinity of Zalegoshch
39♠ 5 July 1943 03:50 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63631[21]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Maloarkhangelsk		 63♠ 8 July 1943 12:20 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63387[22]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
40♠ 5 July 1943 07:18 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63651[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk		 64♠ 8 July 1943 12:25?[Note 4] Boston PQ 35 Ost 63675[22]
41♠ 5 July 1943 07:25 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63613[21]
5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Maloarkhangelsk		 65♠ 8 July 1943 17:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63584[22]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
42♠ 5 July 1943 07:28 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63652[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk		 66♠ 8 July 1943 17:50 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63582[22]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
43♠ 5 July 1943 10:34 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63543[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) south-southeast of Trosna		 67♠ 8 July 1943 17:51 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63582[22]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk

Awards

Notes
  1. His name, in German, is spelled with a "sharp S"; see ß.
  2. Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[1]
  3. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:25.[23]

References

Citations
  1. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  2. Obermaier 1989, p. 211.
  3. Harvey 2011, p. 153.
  4. Prien et al. 2012, p. 75.
  5. Stühring 2014, p. 235.
  6. Page 2020, p. 19.
  7. Weal 2006, pp. 93, 105.
  8. Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  9. Spick 1996, p. 237.
  10. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1280–1282.
  11. Planquadrat.
  12. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1280–1281.
  13. Prien et al. 2006, p. 330.
  14. Prien et al. 2006, p. 332.
  15. Prien et al. 2006, p. 331.
  16. Prien et al. 2006, p. 333.
  17. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1281.
  18. Prien et al. 2012, p. 61.
  19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 62.
  20. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1281–1282.
  21. Prien et al. 2012, p. 63.
  22. Prien et al. 2012, p. 64.
  23. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1282.
  24. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 463.
  25. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 414.
  26. Scherzer 2007, p. 729.

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"Hubert Strassl". Aces of the Luftwaffe. Retrieved 23 January 2014.

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