Friedrich Beckh
| Friedrich Beckh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
17 January 1908 Nuremberg |
| Died |
21 June 1942 (aged 34) near Kharkov |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Weimar Republic.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1926–42 |
| Rank | Oberstleutnant |
| Commands held | JG 51, JG 52 |
| Battles/wars |
World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Friedrich Beckh (17 January 1908 – 21 June 1942) was a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51 and Jagdgeschwader 52.
Born in 1908, Beckh the army in 1926 and transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935, serving as a staff officer and lecturing at the Air War Academy. During 1940 as liaison officer in the Luftgaukommando Wiesbaden, he came to know with Werner Mölders; the two men served in Jagdgeschwader 134. When Mölders became commanding officer of JG 51 on 27 July 1940 he arranged for Beckh to transfer to his unit as an officer seconded from the General Staff.
On 21 July 1941 Beckh was appointed commanding officer of JG 51; in September he was wounded in action. After a period of convalescence, Beckh returned to the Geschwader on 21 December 1941; he was later transferred back to the Reich Air Ministry on 9 April 1942. He was then appointed Kommodore of JG 52.
On 21 June 1942 Beckh was airborne in his Bf 109 F-4 with his wingman for a sortie east of Charkov. In an encounter with Red Air Force LaGG-3 fighters near a Soviet air base, his aircraft was apparently shot down by flak. Beckh was presumed to have been killed in action.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (11 May 1942)[1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 September 1941 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 51[2][3]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- MacLean, French L. (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports — For the Knight's Cross Winners. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders |
Commander of Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders 21 July 1941 – October 1941 |
Succeeded by Major Günther Lützow |
| Preceded by Major Wilhelm Lessmann |
Commander of Jagdgeschwader 52 3 June 1942 – 21 June 1942 |
Succeeded by Major Herbert Ihlefeld |