Helmut Mißner

Helmut Mißner^{[Note 1]} (19 May 1921 – 12 September 1944) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. He was credited with 82 aerial victories all over the Eastern Front. In 1944 he was killed in action over Sagan, Poland.

Helmut Mißner
Born	(1921-05-19)19 May 1921 Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany
Died	12 September 1944(1944-09-12) (aged 23) Sagan, Poland
Mass grave	Poznań Milostowo, Poland
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1941–1944
Rank	Oberfeldwebel
Unit	JG 54
Commands	I./JG 54
Battles / wars	World War II Eastern Front
Awards	German Cross Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career

Mißner entered the Luftwaffe 6 January 1941. In 1942 he was transferred to I./JG 54.^[1] Based on his experience, he was one of the instructors for the Luftwaffe.^[2] He was assigned to the Eastern Front^[3] and he had 82 aerial victories.^[4]

Missner was killed in action in Sagan, also known as Żagań, Poland on 12 September 1944.^[5] It is thought that a lack of oxygen caused him to plunge from a high altitude and crash. He was buried at Poznan, Poland in a mass grave.^[1]

Before his death he was recommended for promotion to Leutnant.^[1]

Summary of career

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Mißner was credited with 82 aerial victories.^[6]

Awards

• German Cross 17 October 1944^[3]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 October 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54^{[7][Note 2]}

Notes

1. His name, in German, is spelled with a "sharp S"; see ß.
2. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54.^[8]