Robert Weiß

Infobox Military Person
name=Robert Weiß
lived=21 April 1920 – 29 December 1944
placeofbirth=Baden, Austria
placeofdeath= near Lingen


caption=Robert Weiß
nickname="Bazi"
allegiance=Germany
branch= Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1939-1944
rank=Hauptmann
commands=3./JG 54, III./JG 54
unit= JG 26, JG 54
battles=World War II
*Eastern front
*Western front
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=

Robert "Bazi" Weiß (21 April 1920 – 29 December 1944) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1939 until his death on 29 December 1944.

Biography

Robert "Bazi" Weiß was born on 21 April 1920 in Baden, Austria. In the beginning of his military career he served with a flak regiment before transferring to learn to fly in early 1940. In early 1941, Leutnant Weiß was a pilot with 6 Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 26 flying on the Channel Front. He claimed a Supermarine Spitfire shot down in September 1941. In September 1942, Weiß was transferred to 1 Staffel, JG 54, based on the Eastern Front flying operations on the Leningrad front. His victory score grew slowly, and by April 1943 had claimed 30 victories. Falling ill in May 1943 he was hospitalised until July 1943 when he was made "Staffelkapitän" 3./JG 54. On 2 August 1943, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. By October he had 68 claims and was "Staffelkapitän" 10./JG 54. He received the "Ritterkreuz" for 98 claims in March 1944.

In May 1944, Weiß was transferred to III./JG 54 engaged in Defense of the Reich missions against the USAAF bombing offensive, although in June the unit transferred to the Invasion Front with Weiss as appointed Gruppenkommandeur. Under Hauptmann Weiß, III./JG 54 became the most successful fighter unit over the Invasion Front, claiming some 100 Allied aircraft shot down for the loss of 50 of its own aircraft in combat. By August, when the unit was withdrawn from operations for re-equipment, Weiss himself was credited with 118 victories. III./JG 54 re-equipped with the Fw 190 D-9, becoming the first operational Gruppe of the Luftwaffe to receive the 'Dora-9'. On 28 September Weiss shot down a Spitfire of 541 Squadron as the first confirmed victory of the Fw 190 D-9. On 29 December 1944, III./JG 54 were ordered up against RAF fighter-bombers in the Osnabrück, Münster and Rheine areas. Weiß led the Stab, III/JG 54 and 11./JG 54 into a large formation of Spitfires from 331 and 501 Squadrons. None of Weiß's Schwarm returned, with 17 aircraft lost and 13 pilots, including Weiss, killed while claiming six fighters.

It is assumed that Weiss was shot down in Fw 190 D-9 (W.Nr. 210 060) "Black 10" by Flight Sergeant Haanes of 331 (Norwegian) Squadron, RAF near Lingen. He was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves on 12 March 1945. "Bazi" Weiss is officially credited with 121 aerial victories in claimed 471 missions. 26 of his victories were claimed over the Western Front. Included in his total are 40 Il-2 Sturmoviks, 12 Spitfires and five P-38 Lightnings.

Awards

* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (8 May 1943)
* German Cross in Gold (2 August 1943)
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (26 March 1944)
** 782. Oak Leaves (12 March 1945)

References

*cite web | title=Aces of the Luftwaffe| work= Robert Weiß| url=http://www.luftwaffe.cz/weiss.html| accessdate=14 May| accessyear=2007
*cite web | title=Lexikon der Wehrmacht| work= Robert Weiß| url=http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/W/WeissR.htm| accessdate=14 May| accessyear=2007
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.