Helmut Bergmann

March 26, 1920 (age 24)

Bochum, Arnsberg Government Region, Germany

The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Bergmann claimed 36 nocturnal aerial victories in 135 combat missions. He joined the Luftwaffe in May 1940 and after completing pilot training in July 1941, he was assigned to the Ergänzungsstaffel (Training/Supplement Squadron) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing). He was then assigned to 8./Nachtjagdgeschwader 4 (NJG 4—4th Night Fighter Wing) in early 1942. Promoted Staffelkapitän of 7. in April 1944, Bergmann shot down seven Lancasters in 46 minutes on the night of 10/11 April 1944, all from an Royal Air Force Bomber Command raid on the Aulnoye-Aymeries rail marshalling yard on the Franco-Belgian frontier. 38 Allied aircrew were killed. This was Bergmann"s most successful sortie. Four months later Bergmann and his crew - radar operator Feldwebel Gunter Hauthal and gunner Feldwebel Willie Schopp - were shot down and killed in Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (Werknummer 140320—factory number) on the night of 6/7 August 1944 at Mortain on the Cotentin Peninsula. Flight Lieutenant John Surman, flying a Mosquito of Number. 604 Squadron Royal Air Force, may have shot them down as he claimed a Bf 110 destroyed. However, friendly fire from the 1st Steamship Leibstandarte Panzer division who were launching Operation Lüttich, the counterattack at Mortain may have been responsible. Bibliography.

Helmut Bergmann

Edit Profile

Background

Bergmann was born in 1920 in Bochum.

Career

The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Bergmann claimed 36 nocturnal aerial victories in 135 combat missions. He joined the Luftwaffe in May 1940 and after completing pilot training in July 1941, he was assigned to the Ergänzungsstaffel (Training/Supplement Squadron) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing).

He was then assigned to 8./Nachtjagdgeschwader 4 (NJG 4—4th Night Fighter Wing) in early 1942.

Promoted Staffelkapitän of 7. in April 1944, Bergmann shot down seven Lancasters in 46 minutes on the night of 10/11 April 1944, all from an Royal Air Force Bomber Command raid on the Aulnoye-Aymeries rail marshalling yard on the Franco-Belgian frontier. 38 Allied aircrew were killed.

This was Bergmann"s most successful sortie. Four months later Bergmann and his crew - radar operator Feldwebel Gunter Hauthal and gunner Feldwebel Willie Schopp - were shot down and killed in Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 (Werknummer 140320—factory number) on the night of 6/7 August 1944 at Mortain on the Cotentin Peninsula.

Flight Lieutenant John Surman, flying a Mosquito of Number.

604 Squadron Royal Air Force, may have shot them down as he claimed a Bf 110 destroyed. However, friendly fire from the 1st Steamship Leibstandarte Panzer division who were launching Operation Lüttich, the counterattack at Mortain may have been responsible. Bibliography.

Achievements

Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 1st Class German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberleutnant in the 8./NJG 4 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 8./NJG 4.

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Connections

Connections

Helmut Bergmann

Background

Career

Achievements

Born

Died

Nationality

Awards

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; German Cross in Gold German Cross; Iron Cross; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 1st Class