Experten alemanes: Franz Steiner

 

 Oberfeldwebel Franz Steiner

 

 

Fw 190 A-7/R6

 

Steiner entró en servicio con el JG 27 en el verano de 1940, combatiendo contra la RAF durante la Batalla de Inglaterra a bordo de su Messerschmitt Bf 109.  A finales de 1943 comenzó a volar en los Focke Wulf Fw 190, obteniendo 11 victorias en 5 meses de combates. El 6 de marzo de 1944, su Fw 190 A-7/R6 (W.Nr. 642523) “5 Negro” fue derribado por el P-47 del as norteamericano Major James Stewart (11,5 confirmadas, 1 probable y 3 dañados) del 56º FG. Tras ser alcanzado, Steiner logró abandonar su aparato solo con algunas fracturas llegando a tierra y siendo enviado al hospital. A finales de marzo de 1945, fue entrenado para  volar en los reactores Me 262 realizando su primer vuelo operativo el día 27 del mismo mes. Steiner logró un total de 12 victorias, todas ellas en el Frente del Oeste, incluyendo la destrucción de 10 bombarderos pesados. Unidades en las que voló; JG 27, JG 1, JG 11 y JV 44

Fuentes:
MUSCIANO, W. “Messerschmitt Aces” Tab Books, 1989
MOMBEEK, E. “Defenders of the Reich: Jagdgeschwder 1 Volume Three 1944-1945” Classic Publications, 2003
SPICK, M. “Luftwaffe Fighter Aces” Ivy Books, 1996
WEAL, J. “Bf 109 FGK Aces of the Western Front” Osprey, 1999
The War´list (Vincent Bourguignon) 2015

 

English version

Steiner entered service with JG 27 in the summer of 1940, fighting against the RAF during the Battle of Britain aboard his Messerschmitt Bf 109. At the end of 1943 he began flying Focke Wulf Fw 190s, obtaining 11 victories in 5 months of fighting. On March 6, 1944, his Fw 190 A-7/R6 (W.Nr. 642523) “5 black” was shot down by the P-47 of the American ace Major James Stewart (11.5 confirmed, 1 probable and 3 damaged ) of the 56th FG. After being hit, Steiner managed to abandon his device with only some fractures, reaching the ground and being sent to the hospital. At the end of March 1945, he was trained to fly in the Me 262 jets, making his first operational flight on the 27th of the same month. Steiner achieved a total of 12 victories, all on the Western Front, including the destruction of 10 heavy bombers. Units flown; JG 27, JG 1, JG 11 and JV 44

 

Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-7 JG 26 (1944)

 

Sources:
MUSCIANO, W. “Messerschmitt Aces” Tab Books, 1989
MOMBEEK, E. “Defenders of the Reich: Jagdgeschwder 1 Volume Three 1944-1945” Classic Publications, 2003
SPICK, M. “Luftwaffe Fighter Aces” Ivy Books, 1996
WEAL, J. “Bf 109 FGK Aces of the Western Front” Osprey, 1999
The War´list (Vincent Bourguignon) 2015