As a fighter ace , he was credited with enemy aircraft shot down in combat missions. He claimed twelve aerial victories on the Eastern Front with the remaining claims filed over the Western Allies , including 26 four-engine heavy bombers. Staffel 8th squadron of JG He then led III. He died on 10 February in Ottobrunn.
Staffel 7th squadron of Jagdgeschwader JG thβth Fighter Wing where his flight training began. While serving with this unit, he was promoted to Gefreiter airman first class on 1 October and to Unteroffizier corporal on 1 April Staffel where he made his first flight. On 16 May , he completed his flight training with Flugkommando 23 Flight Commando in Braunschweig. During this training period, he was promoted to Feldwebel sergeant on 1 December Gruppe was withdrawn from the Channel Front on 30 September Relocation to Stade , west of Hamburg , began on 1 October.
There, I. During the following three weeks, I. Gruppe was tasked with flying combat air patrols over the German Bight. In parallel, the Gruppe replenished its losses of 14 men killed or missing in action, four wounded and seven taken prisoner of war, losses sustained while fighting over Britain. Also the losses in aircraft had to be replenished and the equipment underwent a maintenance overhaul.
On 3 December, I. Gruppe relocated to Munich-Riem where it stayed for four weeks. On 24 February, the pilots of 1. Staffel were temporarily sent to Sicily where they flew missions against Malta , protecting the German naval convoys taking the Afrika Korps to Tripoli. During this period, 2. Staffel was based at Comiso. From 7 to 10 March, the pilots returned to Munich-Riem.
Staffel on 1 March. Gruppe flew fighter escort missions for Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers in this campaign. The next day, the unit deployed to Zagreb before transferring to Africa. On 15 April , the first elements of 1. Staffel began relocation to North Africa to Tripoli. Gruppe engaged in combat with Hurricane fighters over Tobruk, claiming one victory by Oberfeldwebel Albert Espenlaub for the loss of Unteroffizier Hans Sippel who was killed in action.
