Hans Strelow

Hans Strelow (26 March 1922 – 22 May 1942) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. He received the award two days before his 20th birthday making him the youngest recipient of the Oak Leaves.

Hans Strelow
Hans Strelow
Born	26 March 1922 Berlin, Germany
Died	22 May 1942 (aged 20) east of Mtsensk, Soviet Union
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Rank	Leutnant
Unit	JG 51 "Mölders"
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Strelow flew more than 200 missions, and was credited with 68 aerial victories.

To avoid capture by the Red Army Strelow committed suicide after he was shot down by a Petlyakov Pe-2 twin-engine bomber in Bf 109 F-2 "Black 10" (Werknummer 8239—factory number). He had made a forced landing 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) behind Soviet lines.[1][2][3]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (5 July 1941)[4]
  • 1st Class (14 September 1941)[4]
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 24 November 1941 as Leutnant and pilot[5][Note 1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 18 March 1942 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 5./JG 51 "Mölders"[7][8]
  • 84th Oak Leaves on 24 March 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the 5./JG 51 "Mölders"[7][9]]

Notes

1. According to Obermaier in October 1941.[6]

References

Citations

1. Messerschmitt Aces, Walter A. Musciano, pages 90-91
2. Bergström & Mikhailov 2001, p. 115.
3. Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front, John Weal
4. Thomas 1998, p. 362.
5. Patzwall 2008, p. 201.
6. Obermaier 1989, p. 49.
7. Scherzer 2007, p. 731.
8. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 415, 505.
9. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 59.

Bibliography

• Bergström, Christer; Mikhailov, Andrey (2001). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume II, Resurgence January–June 1942. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 978-0-935553-51-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
• 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. (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.
• 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.