The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Heinz Frank was credited with 9 victories in 900+ missions. Heinz Frank died on 7 October 1944 in a hospital of a circulatory collapse following an accidental pistol shooting incident, the bullet was lodged in his right hip.
He was interred in Arnstadt in Thuringia.
Bibliography.
Anschluss Medal Sudetenland Medal Aviator badge Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "900" Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (28 October 1939) 1st Class (27 June 1940) Eastern Front Medal Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (30 November 1940) German Cross in Gold on 6 March 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 3./Schlachtgeschwader 1 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 3 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 3./Schlachtgeschwader 1 172nd Oak Leaves on 8 January 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 3./Schlachtgeschwader 1 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 27 April 1944.
