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Kieslich, Franz (Sturzkampfgeschwader 77)

Date of birth:
March 17th, 1913 (Bochum/Westphalia, Germany)
Date of death:
August 31st, 2012
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Flew a total of 1078 sorties. During operations in the Black Sea Franz Kieslich and his crew sank a total of 21500 GRT of support shipping, as well as a destroyer and a submarine. Over the course of his career he himself was shot down 20 times.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier (Onderofficier)
Unit:
3.(Schüler) Kompanie / Fliegerschule Fürth
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier (Onderofficier)
Unit:
3.(Schüler) Kompanie / Fliegerschule Fürth
Awarded on:
February 22nd, 1937
Flugzeugführerabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel
Unit:
Flugzeugführer 1. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 168
Awarded on:
December 16th, 1938
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel
Unit:
Flugzeugführer 1. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel
Unit:
Flugzeugführer 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
May 5th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel
Unit:
Flugzeugführer 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
May 5th, 1941
Pilots Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel
Unit:
Flugzeugführer 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
July 10th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberfeldwebel
Unit:
Flugzeugführer 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
August 10th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1e Luitenant vlieger)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
October 24th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer
Awarded on:
April 2nd, 1942
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
July 10th, 1942

Award 74/18.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Gruppen-Adjudant III. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
August 13th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Staffelführer 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
October 13th, 1942
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold mit Anhänger
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
January 5th, 1943
The following newspaper article (dated 22.01.1943) describes why Kieslich received the Knight’s Cross…

“Oberleutnant Kiesling [sic] sunk 23000 GRT of shipping and a torpedo boat while serving as a dive bomber pilot.”

By this time Kiesling had flown 513 ground attack sorties.

720th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann
Unit:
Staffelkapitän 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
March 15th, 1943
Krimschild (Stiftungs ausführing)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann
Unit:
Staffelkapitän 7. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
March 29th, 1943
Ordinul Virtutea Aeronautica - Knight
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Kommandeur III. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
May 18th, 1944
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur III. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Awarded on:
October 10th, 1944
Awarded after flying 1038 ground attack sorties.

619th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Sources

Photo