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Hartmann Grasser - Pilot Profile - Hartmann Grasser

No Photo Available

Victories : 103
-----------------------------
Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis
Died : 2nd June 1986


Awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron CrossAwarded Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross
Knights
Cross
Oak Leaves

Hartmann Grasser

Squadrons for : Hartmann Grasser
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Hartmann Grasser. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

JG51


Country : Germany
Founded : August 1939
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG51
JG51

Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II, named after the fighter ace Werner Mölders in 1942. JG 51's pilots won more Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war. Flying Bf 109s and then FW 190s, the wing claimed over 8,000 air victories. Experten included 'Toni' Hafner, Heinz Bär, Richard Leppla, Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, Günther Schack and the legendary Mölders.

Formed in August 1939, and commanded by 48-year-old World War I ace Onkel Theo Osterkamp, the early months of the war JG 51 was based in the West, fighting in the French campaign, and in the Battle of Britain. From late June to mid July JG 51 was the only fighter Geschwader engaged against the RAF constantly. During the whole battle JG 51 lost 68 pilots, the highest casualty rate of the Luftwaffe fighter units engaged. JG 51 was one of the two Geschewader that had four Gruppen. The other being JG 1.

Four Bf 109 of JG 51 in France 1940Whilst based out of the Belgian airfield at Mardyik in late 1940, the German ace Josef Pips Priller was a Staffelkapitän with JG 51, flying Bf 109-E Yellow One. Josef Priller went on to score over 100 victories, the third highest scoring Luftwaffe day fighter ace on the Western Front, fighting solely against the Western Allies.

Against the Western Allies JG 51 had claimed 345 aircraft destroyed by May 1941. JG 51 were therefore one of the Jagdwaffe's elite units, with 'top ten' aces at this time including Werner Mölders with 68 claims, Walter Oesau with 34 claims, and Hermann-Friedrich Joppien with 31. Major Werner Mölders became unit Geschwaderkommodore during July 1940 and led the unit into the invasion of Russia in June 1941.

Barbarossa (1941)

Claiming 69 kills on the first day of the offensive, by 30 June 1941 JG 51 became the first fighter Geschwader to claim 1,000 air victories (113 kills in 157 sorties were claimed for the day). On 24 June JG 51 claimed 57 bombers shot down for the day. Mölders became the first fighter pilot to reach 100 claims in August and in the same month JG 51's Oberfeldwebel Heinz Bär reached 60 claims and was decorated with the Oak Leaves. A total of 500 Soviet claims was reached on 12 July 1941, although 6 pilots had been lost by JG 51 in the intervening 3 weeks since the offensive had started.

After Mölders' departure in September 1941 (and death later that year) the Geschwader adopted his name as a title of honor in early 1942. Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was to remain on the centre sector of the Russian front throughout the rest of 1941. However Oberstleutnant Friedrich Beckh ( one of the few fighter pilots to wear spectacles) proved an uncharismatic commander after Mölders, and it was not until Major Karl-Gottfried Nordmann took over in April 1942 that a worthy successor to Mölders was found. In the period 22 June - 5 December 1941 the unit destroyed 1,881 Soviet aircraft, in return for 84 losses in aerial combat and a single aircraft on the ground.

Air support for the Wehrmacht's Army Group Centre was entrusted to General Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen's VIII. Fliegerkorps. In early January 1942, among the fighter units available to von Richthofen were II, III and IV/ JG 51. With the onset of the sub-zero conditions of the Russian winter, the majority of JG 51's available aircraft became grounded.

The Russian winter counter offensive forced III./ JG 51 into flying numerous fighter-bomber operations in direct support of the infantry, and the gruppe filed few aerial 'kill' claims through January 1942. II./ JG 51 however, accounted for most of VIII. Fliegerkorps's aerial victories during the Soviet offensive. Particularly successful was the duo of Lt. Hans Strelow and Ofw. Wilhelm Mink, both of 5. JG 51. They claimed five MiG-3s of 16 IAP on 4 January (Mink claimed three) and 9 days later Mink claimed a Pe-2 and Strelow destroyed two R-Z biplanes for his 30th and 31st victories. On 4 February, Strelow increased his victories to 36 by shooting down four Russian aircraft. The 19 year-old Strelow claimed his 40th victory on 28 February and claimed 4 victories on both 6 March and 17 March. The next day he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and also shot down seven Soviet aircraft. He was awarded the Eichenlaub on 24 March, his claims total at 66.

Normandy (1944)

7./JG 51, (with Bf 109G-6's) was attached to II./JG 1 in May 1944 from Brest-Litovsk, with pilots arriving at Störmede late in May and hurriedly converting to the FW-190. (It was later renamed 8./JG 1 on 15 August 1944 when the four-Staffeln Gruppe became standard) 7. Staffel was led by Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross winner) Hptm. Karl-Heinz Weber with 136 confirmed kills. Its two other experten were Lt. Friedrich Krakowitzer (23 kills) and Ofhr. Günther Heckmann with 12 kills.

7./JG 51 joined II. Gruppe with 15 pilots on strength at the end of May, and during the first two months of the Normandy campaign the staffel was decimated, with twelve pilots killed, one POW and one severely wounded.

As the war turned against Germany JG 51 was forced to operate closer and closer to Germany, finally staging out of East Prussia.

Known Victory Claims - Hartmann Grasser

DATE

PILOT

UNIT

JG

CLAIMED

LOCATION

TIME

FRONT

16/09/1939Ltn. Hartmann Grasser3JGr. 152--Western Front
01/12/1940Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51HurricaneAshford15.16Western Front
16/04/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51SpitfireBerck18.42Western Front
22/06/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51SB-2-12.37Eastern Front
25/06/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51SB-2-12.32Eastern Front
29/06/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51V-11-18.3Eastern Front
29/06/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51I-16 Rata-19.55Eastern Front
30/06/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51DB-3-11.45Eastern Front
30/06/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51DB-3-15.45Eastern Front
30/06/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51DB-3-15.5Eastern Front
01/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51DB-3-14.5Eastern Front
07/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51V-11-19.3Eastern Front
10/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51RZ-7.5Eastern Front
11/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51DB-3-9.55Eastern Front
12/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51DB-3-18.5Eastern Front
13/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann GrasserStabJG 51DB-3-19.25Eastern Front
26/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Douglas-16.52Eastern Front
26/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51R-3-19.2Eastern Front
29/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51SB-3-18.36Eastern Front
29/07/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51SB-3-18.3Eastern Front
09/08/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2-13.5Eastern Front
13/08/1941Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Jak-154 294: 2500m18.03Eastern Front
26/08/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Douglas15km E. Kaluga18.16Eastern Front
30/08/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51I-18-17.42Eastern Front
30/08/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2-17.45Eastern Front
02/09/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51R-350km SE Sechtschinskaja7.06Eastern Front
07/09/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51SB-325km E. Karlewez17.2Eastern Front
02/10/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51I-18-10.55Eastern Front
05/10/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51DB-3NE Ssewsk14.27Eastern Front
05/10/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51DB-3NE Ssewsk14.3Eastern Front
07/10/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2-14.1Eastern Front
08/10/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2--Eastern Front
22/10/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51I-61-14.59Eastern Front
24/10/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51SB-2-14.1Eastern Front
05/11/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51DB-3-9.32Eastern Front
16/11/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51DB-3-9.53Eastern Front
02/12/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2-11.1Eastern Front
14/12/1941Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2-9.2Eastern Front
04/01/1942Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2-12.15Eastern Front
04/01/1942Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2-12.5Eastern Front
11/01/1942Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51Pe-2-14.05Eastern Front
19/01/1942Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51DB-3-12.2Eastern Front
24/01/1942Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51DB-3-12.45Eastern Front
24/01/1942Oblt. Hartmann Grasser5JG 51DB-3-12.45Eastern Front
31/03/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-3-12.1Eastern Front
31/03/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-3-15.12Eastern Front
01/04/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-3E. Tschern: 2000m10.5Eastern Front
21/05/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51R-Z-6.55Eastern Front
23/06/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51I-153-12.4Eastern Front
25/06/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51I-16 Rata-11.29Eastern Front
26/06/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Jak-1-11.15Eastern Front
03/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51I-153-5.1Eastern Front
05/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Jak-1-4.15Eastern Front
05/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-2-9.33Eastern Front
05/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-2-9.33Eastern Front
05/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-2-9.33Eastern Front
05/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Jak-115km N. Bolkhov: 1500m13.5Eastern Front
05/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51I-153-19.3Eastern Front
09/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51I-153-5.15Eastern Front
09/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51I-153-5.16Eastern Front
18/07/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Jak-1-11.35Eastern Front
02/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-247 582: tiefflug15.12Eastern Front
02/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Pe-247 572: 2500m18.05Eastern Front
04/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51MiG-347 552: 5500m6.35Eastern Front
04/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51MiG-347 551: 3000m6.4Eastern Front
04/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-347 524: 2500m12.05Eastern Front
05/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-256 164: tiefflug17Eastern Front
10/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Pe-247 524: 1500m17.1Eastern Front
20/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51MiG-164 142: 3500m11.55Eastern Front
21/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-355 884: 500m11.35Eastern Front
22/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Pe-254 434: 1500m16Eastern Front
23/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-254 412: tiefflug6.4Eastern Front
23/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-255 883: tiefflug7Eastern Front
23/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-254 422: tiefflug7.33Eastern Front
25/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Pe-264 173: tiefflug6.32Eastern Front
27/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Jak-164 793: 200m17.55Eastern Front
28/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-2NNW Bolchoff: tiefflug14Eastern Front
29/08/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-354 224: 2200m11.35Eastern Front
03/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-3NE Stephanovka: 200m13.3Eastern Front
04/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51I-15373 151: 100m11.52Eastern Front
10/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-347 824: 500m10.22Eastern Front
10/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51MiG-344 132: 1500m15.05Eastern Front
14/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-247 59317Eastern Front
14/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Il-247 59117.22Eastern Front
26/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51R-547 4839.25Eastern Front
26/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51R-547 4839.26Eastern Front
27/09/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51LaGG-347 542: 500m7.55Eastern Front
01/10/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Pe-210km NE Kamarowo11.45Eastern Front
17/11/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Beaufort20km W. Bizerta13.35Western Front
27/11/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Spitfire12km S. Béja: 400m9.19Western Front
28/11/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Lysander8km W. Medjez-el-Bab: tiefflug9.15Western Front
02/12/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51P-386km S. Tebourda: 300m9.4Western Front
02/12/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51P-3830km. W. Tebourda: 1500m9.53Western Front
04/12/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51P-3818km N. Medjez-el-Bab: 3500m10.3Western Front
05/12/1942Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Spitfire8km W. Tebourba: 3000m10.45Western Front
02/01/1943Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51P-38SW Medjez-el-Bab: 6800m12.27Western Front
02/01/1943Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51B-24SW Medjez-el-Bab: 6300m12.26Western Front
21/03/1943Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Spitfire3km SE Gabes: 700m13.07Western Front
22/03/1943Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Spitfire12km S. Mareth: 6000m14.1Western Front
26/03/1943Hptm. Hartmann GrasserStab II.JG 51Curtiss P-404km N. Mannsour: 5500m12.28Western Front

Known Claims : 100

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