Hans Schleef

Hans Schleef (19 July 1920 – 31 December 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II.

He is credited with at least 98 aerial victories achieved in over 500 combat missions.

This figure includes 91 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further seven victories over the Western Allies, including one four-engined heavy bomber.

Schleef was born on 19 July 1920 in Groß Börnecke, present-day part of Hecklingen, at the time in the Province of Saxony within the Weimar Republic.

Following flight training, he was posted to 7.

Born in Groß Börnecke, Schleef was posted to Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) in late 1940.

Staffel (7th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) in late 1940.

The squadron was subordinated to III.

Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 3 and at the time based at Desvres, France.

He claimed his first aerial victory in February 1941 fighting against the Royal Air Force.

In June 1941, his unit was transferred east and fought in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

On 5 February 1941, the Royal Air Force (RAF) flew "Circus" No. 3 targeting the airfield at Saint-Omer.

That day, Schleef claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Hawker Hurricane fighter.

Ten days later, III.

Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations and relocated to Gütersloh Airfield in Germany.

Following the return to Germany, the pilots went on R&R, skiing in Kleinwalsertal from 8 to 26 March.

On 17 April, the Gruppe received a complement of factory new Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 aircraft.

Following familiarization with the new aircraft, the Gruppe relocated to France on 5 May where they were initially based at Auchy-au-Bois.

On 31 May, Schleef claimed his second and last aerial victory on the English Channel when he shot down a RAF Bristol Blenheim bomber.

That day, the Gruppe received orders for relocation east.

The ground elements were withdrawn on 2 June while the air elements of the Gruppe headed for Radom on 9 June.

The Gruppe relocated to an airfield at Moderówka on 18 June where the Gruppe concluded their last preparations for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

At the start of the campaign, JG 3 was subordinated to the V. Fliegerkorps (5th Air Corps), under command of General der Flieger Robert Ritter von Greim, which was part of Luftflotte 4 (4th Air Fleet), under command of Generaloberst Alexander Löhr.

These air elements supported Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South), with the objective of capturing the Ukraine and its capital Kiev.

On 29 June, the air elements of III.

Gruppe followed the German advance and relocated to Lutsk.

Operating from Lutsk, Schleef claimed his first aerial victory on the Eastern Front on 2 July, shooting down a Polikarpov I-16 fighter.

During the early weeks of the Battle of Kiev, Schleef claimed further aerial victories while flying from an airfield Bila Tserkva, including his 20th on 4 August.

By mid-August, many soldiers of JG 3 had fallen ill with Shigellosis, preventing them from flying further combat operations, and in some instances had to be sent home for a period of convalescence.

During this period, Schleef was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 23 September 1941.

On 6 November, III.

On 9 May 1942, Schleef was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 41 aerial victories claimed.

He then served as a fighter pilot instructor with Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost and became an officer.

Transferred back to JG 3 in February 1943, he claimed further aerial victories before his unit was transferred to Germany where they fought in Defense of the Reich.

Schleef was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3.

Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 3 in October 1943.

He was transferred in July 1944, taking command of 8.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 4 (JG 4—4th Fighter Wing) in October 1944.

On 31 December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge, he was shot down and killed in action by US fighters near Bad Dürkheim.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing), a squadron which became 16.