Hans Strelow

Hans Strelow (26 March 1922 – 22 May 1942) was a Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 68 enemy aircraft shot down in over 200 combat missions, all of which claimed over the Eastern Front.

Strelow was born on 26 March 1922 in Berlin of the Weimar Republic, the son of a teacher at a Volksschule.

Born in Berlin, Strelow volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1939.

Following graduation from school, he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe in 1939.

Following flight training as a fighter pilot, he was posted to the 5.

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland.

Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in 1941 and participated in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

He claimed his first aerial victory on 25 June 1941.

Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 51, in 1941 holding the rank of Leutnant (second lieutenant).

At the time, II.

Gruppe was commanded by Hauptmann Josef Fözö, and 5.

Staffel was headed by Oberleutnant Hans Kolbow.

In early June 1941, II.

Gruppe of JG 51 was withdrawn from the English Channel and ordered to Dortmund where the unit was reequipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 F series.

On 10 June, II.

Gruppe began transferring east and was located at Siedlce.

On 22 June, German forces launched Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

In February 1942, Strelow was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 5.

Following his 52nd aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 March 1942.

Six days and 14 aerial victories later, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves making him the youngest recipient of the Oak Leaves.

Following a forced landing behind enemy lines, Strelow committed suicide on 22 May 1942 to avoid capture by Soviet forces.

Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 51.

Staffel (5th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing), a squadron of II.

JG 51, under the command of Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders, was subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps), which as part of Luftflotte 2 (Air Fleet 2).

JG 51 area of operation during Operation Barbarossa was over the right flank of Army Group Center in the combat area of the 2nd Panzer Group as well as the 4th Army.

On 23 June, II.

Gruppe followed the German advance and relocated 100 km east to an airfield at Terespol on the Bug.

Two days later, the Gruppe claimed 28 Tupolev SB-2 bombers shot down, including Strelow's first aerial victory claimed northeast of Vyhanaščanskaje Lake.

The German advance required the Gruppe to relocate approximately 220 km east to an airfield at Nowo-Hutkowo near Slutsk on 28 June.

Two days later, II.

Gruppe engaged in aerial combat near Babruysk where Strelow claimed his second aerial victory when he shot down a Ilyushin DB-3 bomber.

For these victories, Strelow received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) on 5 July.

The German advance reached the Dnieper on 9 July.

German forces breached the Stalin Line and II.

Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Stara Bychow, approximately 50 km south of Mogilev on the Dnieper on 12 July.

Operating from this airfield on 16 July, Strelow claimed a Vultee V-11 attack aircraft which was an Ilyushin Il-2 attack aircraft.

That day, 5.

Staffel commanding officer Kolbow was killed in action and was replaced by Leutnant Hans-Joachim Steffens.

Steffens was killed in action on 30 July and command of 5.

Staffel was then given to Oberleutnant Hartmann Grasser.