Theodor Weissenberger

Major Theodor Weissenberger (born 21 December 1914 in Mühlheim am Main, Grand Duchy of Hesse, killed in a car racing accident 10 June 1950 on the Nürburgring) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the end of World War II in 1945. He flew more than 500 combat missions claiming 208 enemy aircraft shot down. 33 claims were made on the Western Front, including some 7 heavy bombers.

World War II


Prewar Weissenberger was a keen glider pilot and was an instructor in the early war years. He finally managed an operational posting in mid 1941, to I(Z)./JG 77 in Norway. He claimed his first kill in October 1941, and went on to score a further twenty-one kills in the Bf 110, in addition to fifteen locomotives, two flak installations, and numerous ground targets destroyed.

In September 1942 he was posted to II./JG 5, based in Northern Finland. Flying with 6 Staffel, and then as commander of 7 Staffel, he had claimed 104 kills by July 1943, and been awarded the Ritterkreuz.

Becoming Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 5 in April 1944, he had claimed some 175 kills by May 1944 in over 350 missions on the Arctic Front.

Taking over I./JG 5 on 4 June, the unit transferred to the Western Front in mid 1944 and through June and July 1944, Weissenberger flew twenty-six sorties and was credited with twenty-five victories over the Invasion Front around Normandy (his claims were half the total score by the whole unit, I./JG 5, during this period). He claimed five P-47's on 7 June, two more P-47's on 9 June, and another three P-47's on 12 June. He scored again on 19 July with three Typhoons and a P-51. On 25 July he claimed two more Spitfires shot down.

Weissenberger converted to the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter in the second half of 1944. In November 1944 he was posted to command I./JG 7.

On New Year's Day 1945 Theo Weissenberger married his teenage love Cilly Vogel. Best man at his wedding was Walter Schuck.

Promoted to Major on 1 January 1945, Weissenberger was put in command of JG 7 as Geschwaderkommodore. He is credited with eight confirmed victories (seven B-17s and a P-51) while flying the Messerschmitt 262.

Despite his excellent talents as a fighter pilot, Weissenberger's casual often 'non-military' attitude and demeanour meant he often got into trouble with his superiors regarding discipline.

Weissenberger became a motor racing driver after the war and was killed at the infamous Nürburgring circuit on 10 June 1950, when his BMW-powered single seater crashed on the first lap of the XV Eifelrennen motor race.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (6 November 1941)
 * 1st Class (17 February 1942)
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (28 May 1942)
 * German Cross in Gold on 8 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 10.(ZS)/JG 5
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
 * Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 13 November 1942 as Leutnant(war officer) and pilot in the 6./JG 5
 * 266th Oak Leaves in 2 August 1943 as Oberleutnant(war officer) and Staffelkapitän of the 7./JG 5
 * Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht

He was recommended by Oberstleutnant Johannes Steinhoff for the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords after his 200th aerial victory. This request was declined on 20 February 1945.