Date of birth:

April 9th, 1920 (Datteln/Prussia, Germany)

Date of death:

December 13th, 2004 (Olfen/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Franz-Josef Beerenbrock flew a total of about 400 sorties during WWII. In this time he achieved 117 aerial victories in the East.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 3rd, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 18th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier

Unit:

Flugzeugführer, 10. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 51

Awarded on:

September 12th, 1941

Published in the Ehrenliste der Deutschen Luftwaffe on 15th September 1941.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier

Unit:

Flugzeugführer, 10. Staffel, IV. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

October 6th, 1941

The following newspaper excerpt (dated 17.10.1941) describes why Beerenbrock received the Knight’s Cross…

“Despite being quite young himself, Unteroffizier Franz Beerenbrock has shot down 40 enemy aircraft whilst engaged in combat against both England and the Soviet Union. Such a result is a testament to both his incredible flying skills as well as his offensive spirit. Particularly praiseworthy was his conduct during an especially fierce aerial battle over a Soviet airfield, where he shot down 3 enemy fighters despite being outnumbered by the foe. He has also inflicted heavy losses on the enemy over the course of many boldly executed ground attack missions.”

345th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Unit:

IV. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders", Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

June 17th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Flight Sergeant)

Unit:

Flugzeugführer, 10. Staffel, IV. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders", Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

August 3rd, 1942

Awarded after 102 aerial victories. He had particularly distinguished himself by shooting down 9 aircraft in one day on the 01.08.1942.

108th Award.

• Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - OBERMAIER, E., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Hoffmann, 1989.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - PATZWALL, K. D., Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2008.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Der Führer: Das Hauptorgan der NSDAP Gau Baden (Edition 287)