Helmut Belser

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born23 December 1915

Stuttgart

Died19 June 1942 (aged 26)

Castel-Benito

Allegiance

Nazi Germany

Branch

Luftwaffe

Helmut Belser
Born	23 December 1915 Stuttgart
Died	19 June 1942(1942-06-19) (aged 26) Castel-Benito
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Service years	1939–1942
Rank	Hauptmann (captain)
Unit	JG 53
Commands	8./JG 53
Conflicts	World War II Defense of the Reich Operation Barbarossa Siege of Malta North African Campaign
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Helmut Belser (23 December 1915 – 19 June 1942) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Belser claimed 36 aerial victories, 1 over the Western Front and 12 over the Eastern Front and 23 over the Mediterranean Front. Belser was killed in a flying accident 19 June 1942 at the Castel-Benito Airfield.

Squadron leader and death

On 2 December 1941, II. Gruppe of JG 53 moved to the Mediterranean theater and where then based at Comiso airfield during the siege of Malta.^[1] Here on 29 December, Belser claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operation. Escorting Junkers Ju 88 bombers on a mission to attack two destroyers in Valetta harbor, Belser claimed a Hawker Hurricane fighter shot down.^[2]^[3]

On 8 March 1942, Belser was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel of JG 53. He succeeded Oberleutnant Hans-Joachim Heinecke who was transferred.^[4] In his book series Jagdgeschwader 53: A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader, Prien states that Belser was first made Staffelkapitän of 6. Staffel, succeeding Oberleutnant Otto Böhner who was slightly wounded, on 8 March. Belser then transferred to III. Gruppe in April where he was given command of 8. Staffel.^[5]^[6]

On 20 May, III. Gruppe was transferred from Sicily to North Africa where the Gruppe was initially based at Martuba Airbase and placed under the command of Major Erich Gerlitz.^[7] On 14 June, Belser shot down the Bristol Beaufighter T4885/F from No. 272 Squadron.^[8]

On 19 June at 11:45, Belser was killed in a flying accident at Castel-Benito Airfield. His Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 trop (Werknummer 10278—factory) flipped over during takeoff, burning him to death in the resulting fire. In consequence, command of 3. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Ernst Klager.^[9]^[10] Posthumously, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 6 September 1942 for his 36 aerial victories claimed.^[11]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Belser was credited with 36 aerial victories, 12 of which on the Eastern Front and 24 over the Western Allies.^[12] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 36 aerial victory claims. This number includes one claim during the Battle of Britain, 24 on the Eastern Front, and 23 in the Mediterranean Theater including one heavy bomber.^[13]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 14 West 2734". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km²). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.^[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 2. Ergänzungsjagdgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –^[15] Action at the Channel and over England — July 1941
1	24 July 1941	14:55	Halifax	PQ 14 West 2734^[16]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –^[13] Operation Barbarossa — September – 8 October 1941
2	4 September 1941	11:05	DB-3^[17]		8	21 September 1941	14:40	I-18 (MiG-1)^[18]
3	8 September 1941	11:20	I-18 (MiG-1)^[17]		9	22 September 1941	14:15	SB-2^[18]
4	10 September 1941	18:05	I-16^[17]		10	23 September 1941	14:45	Pe-2^[18]
5	11 September 1941	09:06	SB-3^[17]		11	27 September 1941	16:36	I-153^[18]
6	11 September 1941	09:11	SB-3^[17]		12	30 September 1941	13:10	I-180 (Yak-7)^[19]
7	16 September 1941	10:57	I-16^[18]		13	3 October 1941	09:58	I-18 (MiG-1)^[19]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –^[20] Mediterranean Theater — 15 December 1941 – 7 March 1942
14	29 December 1941	10:10	Hurricane^[21]	Malta	17	27 January 1942	17:30	Battle^[21]
15	4 January 1942	10:25	Hurricane^[21]	southeast of Malta	18	7 February 1942	11:32	Blenheim	Luqa^[22]
16	19 January 1942	13:45	Gladiator^[21]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –^[20] Mediterranean Theater — 8 March – 19 June 1942
19	15 March 1942	11:10	Spitfire^[23]		28	30 May 1942	14:35	P-40	30 km (19 mi) southeast of Ayn al-Ġazāla^[24]
20	1 April 1942	17:01	Spitfire^[23]		29	31 May 1942	07:42	P-40	southwest of Fort Acroma^[24]
21	9 April 1942	17:27	Spitfire^[23]	2 km (1.2 mi) east of La Valetta	30	3 June 1942	12:25	P-40^[24]
22	21 April 1942	12:55	Spitfire^[23]		31	3 June 1942	12:28	P-40^[24]
23	23 April 1942	16:40	Hurricane^[23]		32	7 June 1942	16:11	P-40	5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Al Adm^[24]
24	26 April 1942	15:15	Spitfire^[25]		33	14 June 1942	11:45	P-40^[26]
25	9 May 1942	18:16	Spitfire	1 km (0.62 mi) south of Qrendi^[25] 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Pirte di Krendi	34	15 June 1942	07:28	Beaufort	130 km (81 mi) north-northeast of Derna^[26]
26	12 May 1942	11:40	Spitfire^[25]		35	15 June 1942	07:30	Beaufort	130 km (81 mi) north-northeast of Derna^[26]
27	14 May 1942	17:53?^{[Note 1]}	Spitfire^[25]		36	15 June 1942	07:38	Beaufort	130 km (81 mi) north-northeast of Derna^[26]

Awards

Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class^[27]
- 1st Class (29 September 1941)^[27]
Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 11 May 1942 as Hauptmann and pilot^[28]
German Cross in Gold on 4 August 1942 as Hauptmann in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 53^[29]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 September 1942 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 53^[30]^{[Note 2]}
Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 21 June 1942^[32]

Notes

References

Citations

↑ Prien 1997, p. 333.
↑ Prien 1997, p. 336.
↑ Prien et al. 2004, pp. 88, 142.
↑ Prien et al. 2004, p. 213.
↑ Prien 1991, p. 1655.
↑ Prien 1997, p. 355.
↑ Prien 1998, p. 434.
↑ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1991, p. 651.
↑ Prien et al. 2004, pp. 193, 213, 234.
↑ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1991, p. 658.
↑ Weal 2007, p. 122.
↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 86.
1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 81–82.
↑ Planquadrat.
↑ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 81.
↑ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 602.
1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2003b, p. 134.
1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2003b, p. 135.
1 2 Prien et al. 2003b, p. 137.
1 2 3 Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 82.
1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2004, p. 142.
↑ Prien et al. 2004, p. 143.
1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2004, p. 220.
1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2004, p. 222.
1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2004, p. 221.
1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2004, p. 224.
1 2 Dixon 2023, p. 248.
↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 48.
↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 34.
↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 128.
↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 213.
↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1 1985, p. 170.

Bibliography

Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
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.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
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.
Prien, Jochen (1991). Pik-As: Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 53 — 3 — Das Ende in Italien 1944, Rumänien, Ungarn 1944/45, Einsatz zur Verteidigung des Reiches 1943–1945 [Ace of Spades: History of the Fighter Wing 53 — 3 — The End in Italy 1944, Romania, Hungary 1944/45, Defense of the Reich 1943–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-16-8.
Prien, Jochen (1997). Jagdgeschwader 53: A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader March 1937 – May 1942. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0175-9.
Prien, Jochen (1998). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader May 1942 – January 1944. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0292-3.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Shores, Christopher F.; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1991). Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-16-8.
Weal, John (2007). Jagdgeschwader 53 "Pik-As". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 25. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-204-2.
Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

v t e Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of Jagdgeschwader 53
Franz Barten Helmut Belser Heinz Bretnütz Wilhelm Crinius (Oak Leaves) Fritz Dinger Rudolf Ehrenberger Alfred Franke Franz Götz Heinz Golinski Jürgen Harder¹ (Oak Leaves) Eduard Isken Helmut Lipfert² (Oak Leaves) Stefan Litjens Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn (Oak Leaves) Hans-Karl Mayer Julius Meimberg Gerhard Michalski³ (Oak Leaves) Werner Mölders⁴ (Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds) Friedrich-Karl Müller (Oak Leaves) Hermann Neuhoff Hans Roehrig Herbert Rollwage (Oak Leaves) Franz Schieß Erich Schmidt Herbert Schramm⁵ (Oak Leaves) Günther Seeger Werner Stumpf Wolfgang Tonne (Oak Leaves) Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke⁶ (Oak Leaves & Swords) Walter Zellot
¹Oak Leaves with JG 11. ²Knight's Cross with JG 52. ³Oak Leaves with JG 4. ⁴Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds with JG 51. ⁵Oak Leaves with JG 27. ⁶Oak Leaves and Swords with JG 3.

Aerial victory claims

Awards

Citations

Bibliography

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