Johannes Seifert

Johannes "Hannes" Seifert (6 October 1915 – 25 November 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II.

He is credited with 57 aerial victories achieved in 439 combat missions.

This figure includes 11 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further 46 victories over the Western Allies, including three four-engined bombers.

Born in Pinneberg, Seifert grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.

He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe and was trained as a fighter pilot.

Johannes "Hannes" Seifert was born on 6 October 1915 at Pinneberg, Holstein.

Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing).

Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 26.

This squadron was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) under the command of Major Gotthard Handrick.

Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) was created on 1 May 1939 in Düsseldorf by renaming Jagdgeschwader 132 (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing) and was commanded by Oberst Eduard Ritter von Schleich, a flying ace of World War I. Sources differ as to when exactly Seifert joined JG 26.

According to Caldwell, Seifert was among the first pilots assigned to this unit following his training as a fighter pilot.

While Mathews and Foreman claim that Seifert first served in another unit flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter during the Invasion of Poland before transferring to JG 26.

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

Flying with this wing, Seifert claimed his first aerial victory on 10 May 1940 on the Western Front during the Battle of France fighter aircraft.

He was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3.

Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 26 in March 1940 and in July 1941, Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 26.

On 1 March 1940, Seifert was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3.

Seifert claimed his first aerial victory on 10 May 1940 during the Battle of the Netherlands, as part of the Battle of France.

The claim was made over a Royal Netherlands Air Force Fokker D.XXI fighter shot down near Rotterdam.

On 28 May, during the Battle of Dunkirk, I. Gruppe engaged in combat with Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire fighters from the Hornchurch Wing over the English Channel east of Dunkirk.

Fighter pilots from the Gruppe claimed six aerial victories in this encounter.

This figure includes a Spitfire fighter claimed by Seifert between Dover and Ostend.

Only one Spitfire was lost by the RAF, making a forced landing near Dunkirk on the beach.

Two further Spitfires force landed in England.

He claimed a No. 103 Squadron Fairey Battle light bomber north of Beauvais on 8 June.

The following day, he shot down a Potez 63 bomber 10 - 15 km southeast of Rouen.

This claim took his total to four aerial victories, his last during the Battle of France as he was injured that day.

On 10 July 1941, the Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe, Hauptmann Rolf Pingel, was shot down over England and became a prisoner of war.

The next day, Seifert succeeded Pingel in this capacity, a position he would hold for nearly two years.

Seifert's command of 3.

Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Walter Otte.

Seifert claimed his first aerial victory during the Battle of Britain on 20 September.

That day II.

Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing) flew a fighter bomber attack on London.

Following his 36th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 June 1942.

In January 1943, his unit was posted to the Eastern Front.

In September 1943, he was given command II.

Gruppe of JG 26.

He was killed in action in mid-air collision with a Lockheed P-38 Lightning on 25 November 1943 near Béthune, France.

His brother Gerhard was also a pilot with JG 26, shot down and killed in action on 4 February 1943.