Hans Klein
| Hans Klein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
17 January 1891 Stettin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 18 November 1944 (aged 53) near Bremen |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 LuftwaffeLuftstreitkräfte |
| Years of service | 1914–19, 1934–43 |
| Rank | Generalmajor |
| Unit | 34th Infantry Regiment 210th Reserve Infantry Division Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 5 Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 6 unidentified Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Jagdstaffel 4 Jagdstaffel 10 |
| Commands held | JG 53 |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Pour le Mérite House Order of Hohenzollern Iron Cross |
Hans Klein (17 January 1891 – 18 November 1944) was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 22 aerial victories.
During World War II he held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 53 "Pik As" fighter Geschwader (wing).
Hans Klein was born in Stettin, when it was still within the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire; today, Stettin is part of Poland because of changing national boundaries. Klein's birth date was 17 January 1891.
When World War I broke out in 1914, Klein joined the Prussian Army. He served first with the 34th Infantry Regiment, then with the 210th Reserve Infantry Regiment on the Western Front, beginning in October 1914. He was commissioned as an officer in March 1915.
Hans Klein transferred to aviation service in March 1916. He first flew with Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie): Flier Detachment (Artillery) 5 and Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 6 on artillery ranging and reconnaissance duties. He then served in an early ad hoc fighter unit, a Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command), claiming a 20 August 1916 aerial victory that could not be confirmed.
Klein was then posted to a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 4, on 4 November 1916. He was credited with his first confirmed aerial victory on 4 April 1917; by the time Bloody April ended, his tally was up to eight, including an observation balloon on the 7th and a pioneering night-time victory on the 8th. He scored his ninth victory on 6 May 1917; three days later, he was wounded in action.
Klein scored his tenth victory on 16 June 1917, and once again began to notch victories. On 11 July, he managed to shoot down two enemy balloons in two minutes for his 15th and 16th victories. He was wounded again on 13 July 1917, in combat versus Nieuport 17s of No. 29 Squadron RFC.
...
Wikipedia