Robert "Bazi"Weiss

[keith A]

Sounds cool Leo!

But another one, gentlemen and friends.... when did he become Oberleutnant? He appears to have been promoted on 1.3.1943 but left 6./JG26 an an Oberleutnant on 1.9.1942!

Was he a Leutnant when he joined JG26? He must have joined the Luftwaffe as a Flak Gunner in 1938/9? training as a pilot in 1939, and not 1940 surely?

regards

Keith

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Keith

My information is that he served with the Flak in 1939 and was selected to receive fighter pilot training in 1940. He was posted to 6./JG 26 as a Leutnant on 1 January 1941. I have no idea when he was promoted to Oberleutnant but it was before 12 January 1943 as he had that rank when he claimed his first victory on the Eastern Front with 1./JG 54 so it quite possibly was while with JG 26 in 1942.

Horrido!

Leo

[keith A]

Hi Leo,

Yep, that's what I have too. He was probably promoted to Oberleutnant in the early Summer of 1942, after his claim in March and before that of May 31. I wonder if it had anything to do with his c.o. Obltn Otto Behrens being wounded 24 March? He would be senior to Wutz Galland, the only other candidate for acting staka.

salut,

Keith

[Teresa Maria]

Originally Posted by keith A

Sounds cool Leo!

But another one, gentlemen and friends.... when did he become Oberleutnant? He appears to have been promoted on 1.3.1943 but left 6./JG26 an an Oberleutnant on 1.9.1942!

Was he a Leutnant when he joined JG26? He must have joined the Luftwaffe as a Flak Gunner in 1938/9? training as a pilot in 1939, and not 1940 surely?

regards

Keith

According to Henry L. De Zeng IV and Douglas G. Starkey:
WEISS, Robert (“Bazi”). (DOB: 21.04.20 in Baden near Wien/Austria). (RE, DKG). Fall 1939 entered
the Luftwaffe and assigned to Flak-Rgt. 22. 1940 trf to the Fliegertruppe for fighter pilot training.
01.01.41 trf to 6./JG 26. 01.04.41 promo to Lt. 1941-42 in 6./JG 26. c. 07.42 trf to 3./JG 54. 09.42
trf to 1./JG 54. 12.01.43 Oblt., 1./JG 54. 29.01.43 Oblt., 1./JG 54. 01.03.43 promo to Oblt.
07.03.43 Oblt., with 3./JG 54. 08.05.43 awarded Ehrenpokal. 12.07.43 Oblt., awarded DKG, I./JG
54. 08.07.43 appt Staka 3./JG 54 (to 15.09.43). 02.08.43 Oblt., 3./JG 54. 11.09.43 Oblt., 3./JG 54
WIA? - Fw 190 A-6 (White 8) damaged over Shatalowka. 15.09.43 appt Staka 1./JG 54 (to 28.09.43).
28.09.43 Oblt., appt Staka 10./JG 54 (to sometime after 31.12.43). 08.12.43 Oblt., 10./JG 54.
15.01.44 Oblt., 10./JG 54. 15.02.44 Oblt., 10./JG 54. 26.03.44 Oblt., awarded Ritterkreuz, Staka
3./JG 54. 01.05.44 promo to Hptm. 05.44 trf to III./JG 54. 21.07.44 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./JG 54 (to
29.12.44). 17.08.44 on furlough (to 17.09.44). 29.12.44 KIA – in Fw 190 D-9 (Black 10) shot down
by Spitfires of 331 Sqdn. over the Lingen/Ems area near Lengerich. 12.03.45 posthumously awarded
Eichenlaub, III./JG 54. Credited with 471 (some sources say over 500) combat missions and 121 air
victories.